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Please email coronavirus@uwaterloo.ca.
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This message was originally sent to faculty by Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor.
Later today I will share some high-level direction about fall term with our whole community. Before I do, I want to share some guidance with you in our instructional community on how we will implement our plan for the fall.
In short, my message later recognizes that the public health situation means that while large courses will happen online, we may be able to offer some activity in person. Clearly, if we are going to be able to deliver programming on campus, we need to make important decisions about what instruction will take place in person if circumstances allow it.
I want to be clear:
This week, as part of the Integrated Coordination and Planning Committee, faculties and central leadership have engaged in discussions to determine the best approach for the fall, given the above considerations.
Our consultations to date make clear that we should prioritize research graduate programs for in person activities given the size of this cohort, their need to access campus for research, and because of the support graduate students provide to University’s teaching.
For undergraduate programming, the academic associate vice presidents and associate deans have developed provisional criteria for determining priorities for in person delivery. These are that:
The University and the Faculties continue to require equity in programs that will have students registered who may be unable to take part in on-campus activities, for example, international students unable to travel to Canada. For these students, we must make provisions for them to successfully complete their programs in a timely way. This might include remotely delivered versions of on-campus offerings, or alternative pathways through the program so they can take courses in later terms.
In some Faculties, associate deans have already reached out to departmental leaders seeking input into these decisions, and others will do so soon. We need to make more detailed decisions about Fall Term soon, but this is a decision best made with appropriate input from all faculty involved in program delivery.
The Registrar’s Office will communicate to the associate deans the required timelines for information to be provided in order to complete the fall term scheduling.
I hope this information aids in your departments planning for the fall term and that our my full message later helps everyone better understand the full picture for our fall plan.
Please email coronavirus@uwaterloo.ca.
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.