Researchers

Update for employees

Earlier this week, we asked you to make some changes to the way that we work at Waterloo considering the Omicron variant of COVID-19. We asked you to:

• cancel all in-person end-of-year gatherings and all non-essential meetings on campus, and
• work from home whenever possible. 

We have endeavoured to ensure students can complete requirements for the current term. The last in-person exams are scheduled for Friday, December 17, with the remaining exams next week scheduled to be online.

Update for employees

Based on the province’s most recent reopening plans and management of COVID-19 for the long term, the University of Waterloo is further adjusting our review and approval of human participant research activity. 

• All human participant research, both on-and off-campus, will be handled by the Principal Investigators and Faculties.
• On and off-campus human participant research safety plans will transition to a simplified plan.
• Faculty Safety Leads will continue to play a critical role.

Update for the UWaterloo community

Over the last two weeks, we’ve shared some important updates about our operational plans as we look to expand in-person experiences for everyone this fall and beyond. We’ve shared the most important updates with you by email, but you might have missed some changes that we shared online. This email is a quick recap of the information you might have missed.

Update for employees

• Domestic travel is now permitted if it essential and safe
• Approvals for domestic travel are returning to pre-pandemic approval arrangements, typically by a Department Head or Chair
   

Update for students and employees

Late last night, we received new instructions from the Ontario Government’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Chief Medical Officer of Health that outline their direction to us for the fall term.

In particular, the government now requires that universities must implement a mandatory proof of vaccination program by September 7 and that we can relax some physical distancing measures in instructional spaces such as classrooms and labs.