Questions?
Please email coronavirus@uwaterloo.ca.
Public Health guidance and University of Waterloo operations may have changed. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our COVID-19 frequently asked questions.
This message was originally sent to students by president and vice-chancellor Feridun Hamdullahpur.
In-person learning that was previously suspended for the stay-at-home order will resume on Monday, February 22, pending confirmation of the government’s instructions.
We strongly advise you to avoid any travel over reading week
As we approach the end of the government’s recent stay-at-home order, I am writing to clarify our immediate next steps to restart our phased return to campus.
If the order is lifted on February 11, we will resume limited in-person teaching and learning after reading week on Monday, February 22, 2021.
This buffer gives instructors time to prepare for in-person learning that the recent lockdown suspended. It also allows some time for our support functions to resume their work to support those who are on campus.
Other campus activities will go back to the operational levels from before the Winter break when the stay-at-home order is lifted. If you are enrolled in on-campus courses you should check with your instructor for course plans. If you have lab- or research-based activities, please contact your faculty supervisor or graduate officer for direction.
These immediate plans may need to change if the government extends the stay-at-home order, imposes other restrictions or provides new direction for post-secondary institutions. You can expect to hear more from us once we know more.
Please continue to review the COVID-19 website for the latest news and updates on campus reopening.
We are all Waterloo Warriors, and we must continue to protect each other and our campus community. As you make your plans for a safe and restful reading week, it is very important to continue to follow all government regulations and COVID-19 safety guidance.
The government strongly advises that you only travel if it is absolutely essential. While we look forward to the year ahead with hope as vaccines are distributed across the country, we must remember that COVID-19 still poses an immediate risk, and new variants of the virus present an added threat.
The government advises that if you must travel for essential reasons, you should reduce close contact with others 10 to 14 days before traveling. Do the same before coming back to Waterloo.
As you make your plans, please remember:
I understand, many of us feel fed up and tired of these restrictions. But unnecessary travel will put people at risk and we must not let our guard down.
I know it has been a challenging time, and the upcoming reading week will provide a much-needed rest.
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.