The University of Waterloo says students can expect more in-person learning this coming September and is planning to hold classes at 50 per cent capacity.
At a virtual town hall this week, president Feridun Hamdullahpur said the university is taking this “hopeful” approach of bringing students and staff back on campus, based on the country’s vaccine rollout.
“Last year [at] this time we had absolutely … no hopes or vaccines available. However, at this particular point in time as we’ve seen, the whole country is experiencing a very positive rollout of vaccines,” said Hamdullahpur.
“We are hopeful that as the government indicated many times, many of us will have the opportunity to be vaccinated,” he said.
Officials said the university is relying on the Ontario government’s current vaccination rollout goals, and getting approval from Region of Waterloo Public Health to expand in-person activity guidelines so that it can safely and successfully have students and staff on campus.
“We’re still following strict safety rules and regulations, we have been doing mandatory campus check-ins and screening for everybody,” said Hamdullahpur.
“We are asking for mandatory masks from everybody in indoor spaces and also outdoors.”
Options for virtual learners
For students that are unable to attend classes in-person — like international students — the university will accommodate by offering as many online classes it can, and have academic advisors available to guide students through their virtual studies, said David DeVidi, associate vice-president, academic.
DeVidi said support hubs including the student support office, accessibility services, libraries, writing and communication centre, graduate and postdoctoral affairs, will be available for students both on and off campus.
“All of these [services] provide important support to our students to help succeed wherever they are,” said DeVidi.
“There’s a lot of planning that’s going into ‘how do we offer all of these services so that they’re available to students that are [on campus] and also available to students that aren’t.”
Hamdullahpur also said the university has upgraded its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system to ensure the safety and quality of indoor air, and highly-touched surfaces and will be regularly and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to avoid further propagation of the virus.
