The University of Minnesota has announced the closure of the Boynton Health Dental Clinic as it plans potential renovations, with the University moving dental operations to the School of Dentistry Dental Clinics and Faculty Dental Clinic.

In a statement, the University said this effort comes from a push to provide better care for the University community.

“This will provide patients with expanded services and access to a multi-specialty team–ranging from expert faculty to the next generation of dental innovators–while also maintaining a convenient on-campus location,” the statement read. 

In response to this closure, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3800, a labor union for campus employees, held a press conference in front of Boynton Health clinic last Wednesday. The conference urged the University to reopen the dental clinic, as union workers at the clinic are now left without jobs, and argued the move could leave thousands of graduate workers without dental care, in violation of their union contract. 

AFSCME has created an online petition about the clinic’s closure, with 1,690 signatures as of publication. 

To continue care at the University’s School of Dentistry Dental Clinics and Faculty Dental Clinic, the University said they recommend contacting Boynton Health at 612-624-9998 to transfer dental records or completing Boynton’s Release of Health Information form and emailing it to [email protected]. 

The University said Boynton’s other medical services are not impacted and will continue. 

Clarification: The University disputes the AFSCME statement that thousands of graduates will lose dental care. This is a statement made by the union and does not reflect the views of the Daily.