Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Ontario to enter province-wide shutdown on December 26

The Region of Waterloo will join the rest of Ontario in a provincial shutdown effective Saturday, December 26, which affects teaching, research and other operations on campus.

The restrictions start at 12:01 a.m. on Boxing Day, Saturday, December 26 and will continue, at least in southern Ontario, until Saturday, January 23, 2021.

"The shutdown affects our current approaches to teaching, research and other operations," wrote President Feridun Hamdullahpur in a memo circulated to employees yesterday. The impacts include:

• In-person course activity can only continue for subject matter or instruction that requires that it be taught in-person, such as clinical or hands-on training, with a limit of 10 students per section, with some exemptions in health care disciplines. 
• Face-to-face human participant research on campus must cease immediately upon provincial shutdown restrictions taking effect. It will be restarted when conditions permit.  
• All other research on campus can continue during the provincial shutdown period following approved safety plans. All departments are expected to have in place a plan for scaling back lab research activities in the event that such direction is given. 
• Researchers may NOT travel into or out of other regions to conduct research during the shutdown. Hence, off campus field research is not permitted at this time. 
• Student residences remain open as normal. 
• All food services are take-out and/or delivery only. Dine-in seating is not permitted. 
• Athletics facilities are closed.  
• Print + Retail Solutions will continue to facilitate textbook and course material ordering and offers shipping or curbside pickup options.
• Libraries can be open for curbside, delivery and pick-up. Visitors may be permitted to enter libraries for contactless drop-off and pick-up, or similar services. Most research-related services may continue.  
• General office activity is limited to work that must occur on campus. Any work that can occur remotely should be done from home. 
• At this time, the shutdown does not impact the arrival of international students and does not change any of the federal or provincial quarantine requirements or the provincial COVID-19 testing requirement.

Similar messaging was sent to undergraduate and graduate students yesterday. Campus Housing also circulated a message to students planning on returning to residence in the winter term.

"The Ontario government is strongly recommending that anyone travelling between provinces self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival," President Hamdullahpur wrote in the student memo. "If you are returning to Waterloo from another province after the break, please make a plan to self-isolate before re-integrating with housemates or other community members. Remember that students are not permitted to quarantine in residence."

Students arriving in Waterloo from outside of Ontario can check Campus Housing’s short-term accommodations page for alternative self-isolation options. 

"As a campus community, we need to be prepared for the possibility of an extended lockdown period, or of moving frequently between zones, and understand that this could impact a significant portion of the winter term," Hamdullahpur writes. "Leaders across campus have been planning accordingly to prioritize the most important activities that must occur in person. Employees can expect to hear more from their leaders or department heads about their specific area’s plans." 

"Please continue to do your part to contain the spread of COVID-19 and follow all University safety protocols. As we approach a period of heightened uncertainty, it is also important to take care of yourselves and each other. Help is available if you need it."

We made it, folks: 2020 draws to a close

Well, here we are: the last working day of the year for most Waterloo employees, and not a moment too soon, as the year 2020 seems bound and determined to run out the clock. What a year 2020 was, right? Did March ever really end? It's difficult to say, and in just nine weeks, it will be March again. 

For now, let's focus on the present, because in a couple of days there will be presents.

First off, it's payday for those employees on the monthly payroll. There's just one shopping day left until Christmas - good luck to anyone making last-minute runs to the stores. You can check out the pay dates website for a preview of 2021's salary schedules.

The Centre in Needles Hall is already closed to in-person visits from and will remain closed until January 11, 2021. Connect with The Centre by email, live chat, or at 519-888-4567, ext. 42268 so they can assist you. Official documents will continue to be processed for email, regular mail, and courier.

Central Stores will provide normal delivery/pickup services for all departments today. Scheduled on-campus mail delivery and pick up times may be altered to accommodate continued COVID-19 protocols.

Most Food Services locations have already closed as of Friday, December 18, with The Market at Claudette Millar Hall closing up shop tonight at 7:00 p.m.

All W Store, W Store Essentials and W Print locations will be closed from December 24 to January 3 for the holiday break. All orders placed online via wstore.ca and wprint.ca will be processed in order of receipt beginning January 4, 2021.

Please visit W Store’s Locations + Hours page for the most up-to-date information on physical store locations and hours.

The Library's Book Pickup @ Porter and Conrad Grebel services will end on December 23 and resume on January 4, 2021. Musagetes service occurs once per week on Fridays and is done for the year, resuming on the first Friday in 2021, January 8. 

The DC Study Space service, which moved to afternoons-only in the week of December 14, closed for the holiday at the end of day on Friday, December 18. 

Campus Wellness Services will be closing at 4:30 p.m. today. This includes Covid Testing Assessment Centre, Health Services, and Counselling Services.

All residences will close on December 23.

Those employees and students still on campus will be aware that most academic and student service buildings have been locked effective December 8, and will remain locked through to January 10, 2021. Check the full details on the accessing campus web page.

Speaking of locking up, the Safety Office is reminding researchers to suspend most laboratory operations for the year, effective 4:00 p.m. today. All processes that may be vulnerable to utility failure should be shut down, and all hazardous waste removed from labs. All hazardous materials that cannot be removed should be stored properly and in containment areas and laboratory workers should ensure that containers are closed or sealed.

All compressed gases and gas supply lines to equipment should be shut off, and electrical equipment, where possible, should be turned off and unplugged.

If you have any questions about preparing your lab for shutdown contact the Safety Office at x35755.

In the event that you have a lab incident, the Safety Office asks that you report failures of equipment or physical plant to Plant Operations at x33793. Contact the Safety Office or UW Spill Team through UW Police at 519-888-4911 or x22222 if you have concerns relating to hazardous materials spills.

Campus prepares for a holiday during lockdown

2020's final gift to us appears to be a provincial shutdown, one that will last from Boxing Day, December 26, to January 23, 2021. This casts the University's usual holiday shutdown in a new light. Waterloo's campuses will be closed down from Thursday, December 24 to Sunday, January 3, 2021, with operations going back to a "new normal" starting on Monday, January 4.

All IST service desks will be closed from December 24, 2020 to Sunday, January 3, 2021. Regular business hours will resume on January 4, 2021.

"As of December 26, the Region of Waterloo is under strict lockdown for 28 days," says Athletics in an announcement on their website. "Both the PAC and CIF will be closed as a result until January 25. Please stay home and stay safe Warriors."

The Early Childhood Education Centre is closed for the holiday break from December 23 to January 8, 2021, and looks forward to seeing families back on January 11, 2021.

Bright Starts Co-operative Early Learning Centre will be closed for the holidays beginning Thursday, December 24 and will remain closed until Friday, January 1, 2021 reopening Monday, January 4, 2021. "The recent announcement of the Provincial lockdown will not impact our operations," says a note from Executive Director Stacey Reid.

The School of Architecture and the School of Pharmacy will follow the main campus's holiday shutdown.

The Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business will be closed until Monday, January 11, 2021. The student study space, currently available on Tuesdays and Thursdays with pre-booking required, will likely change according to public health and University guidelines in light of the provincial shutdown.

A small group of international students are participating in the December International Student Stay Program during the break, with Campus Housing teams supporting them over the holidays.

Snow removal on the main campus over the holiday period will be limited, according to Sharon Rumpel, associate director of Grounds, Parking and Transportation within Plant Operations. "Grounds staff will respond to serious snow issues," is the official word, especially to clear priority areas such as the ring road. Added Rumpel, “During the holiday break, grounds staff will be on call to do winter maintenance of emergency routes on campus as requested by either UW Police Services or Central Plant.”

All parking lots will be open and free throughout the holidays, except for lot D under Needles Hall and the Early Childhood Education Centre (ECEC) lot at the Psychology, Anthropology, and Sociology (PAS) building. Gates to the lots around campus are raised and open. 

Students who live in residence and are leaving their cars on campus over the break should register with Parking Services and will be told where where to park their car, for the sake of snow clearing operations. Enforcement of parking rules on fire routes and in accessible spaces will continue, the university police say.

A major exception to the seasonal campus closing is the Student Life Centre. Scott Pearson, Operations Manager of the SLC, writes that the building will be open with limited hours throughout the holiday season, the Turnkey Desk (519-888-4434) “will be staffed during these hours with friendly Turnkeys to provide assistance to those who stay on campus,” says Pearson.

The SLC will be open on Thursday, December 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wednesday December 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursday, December 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The SLC will resume its current operating hours on Monday January 4, which is weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Only the Ring Road doors will be open during these periods.

Most of the SLC's businesses will shut down entirely throughout the break including Lifetouch Photography, W-Store, Tim Hortons, Brubakers, International News, Student Health Pharmacy, WatCard and SOS Physiotherapy.

CIBC will be open on December 24 and 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on December 29 and 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Regular hours resume on Monday January 4.

Campus Dentist and Student Health Pharmacy closed on Friday December 18 and will reopen on Monday, January 4. 

SOS Physiotherapy will close on Wednesday December 23 and will reopen on Monday January 4, 2021.

In light of the provincial shutdown, SLC director Scott Pearson notes that the facility's hours will remain as previously provided, with only the CIBC branch and Turnkey Desk open as scheduled. 

Other than that, the University is effectively closed from December 24 to January 3, and only essential personnel should be on campus during this time. Access to research space during the closure will be granted by faculty Deans and will be limited to COVID research and critical lab maintenance activities.

Campus-wide COVID-19 public health cleaning precautions will not be maintained while the University is closed, and temperature/ventilation will be lowered.

What to expect after we kick 2020 to the curb

The University will resume operations, after a fashion, on Monday, January 4, 2021. Lectures and classes are not scheduled to commence until Monday, January 11, 2021, and the provincial shutdown has mandated that classes be held virtually during the shutdown period, with some exceptions for clinical or hands-on training, with a limit of 10 students per section (with some exemptions in the health-care disciplines).

Please note that any of the following operational descriptions are subject to further change and revision given the provincial shutdown.

Food Services operations have been modified with regard to the provincial shutdown.

• The Market at Claudette Millar Hall will reopen on Sunday, January 3, 2021 as an essential service from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Market's hours for the first week back will be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. 
• Catering willonly be producing delivered meals to the Radisson Hotel for the International Student Quarantine program and for any students self-isolating at CLV who have signed on for the food package.
• The Tim Hortons in the Student Life Centre will open on Monday, January 4, 2021 with reduced hours; 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Other locations, including Starbucks STC, Brubakers, DC Bytes, and Tim Hortons DC will remain closed during the provincial shutdown until at least January 25, including the mobile order and delivery app locations (Pizza Pizza, Shawarma Hub, Subway, Catering and UC Eats, and Rolltation).

Residences will reopen on Saturday, January 2, 2021 and resident move-in will take place from January 2 to 11, 2021.

The Centre in Needles Hall will reopen on Monday, January 11, 2021.

W Store and W Print will be operating online-only until further notice. W Store’s contactless curbside pickup service will re-open January 4, 2021. 

The Library's DC Study Space service was anticipated to resume on the first day of classes, January 11, 2021, but will likely not be available during the provincial shutdown. Book Pickup @ Porter and Conrad Grebel services will resume on January 4, 2021. Musagetes service occurs once per week on Fridays and will resume on the first Friday, January 8, 2021. The Book Pickup @ Porter service will continue during the shutdown.

"Starting January 4 we will continue to offer our online programming as well as our new Warrior Reset program," says a note from Athletics. "The fees for Personal Training Consultation and the Warrior Reset program will be waived during the lockdown. Visit our Healthy Warriors at Home page or the Warrior Reset program for more information."

Campus Wellness Services, includes the Covid Testing Assessment Centre, Health Services, and Counselling Services,will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, January 4, 2021. 

The Student Life Centre will maintain its hours in January from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays. The Turnkey Desk will be open during these hours, and the building will be open to access the services and businesses only. All seating for dining and studying has been temporarily removed.

CIBC, Campus Dentist, International News, Student Health Pharmacy, SOS Physiotherapy, and the Watcard Office will remain open. Feds Used Books will be open for purchases via phone and pickup at the Turnkey Desk, and Food Bank hampers will also be available for pickup.

WUSA services will be available at Turnkey including bus passes and cheque pick-up.   

W Store Essentials and Lifetouch Photography will be closed.  

For updated details, refer to the Campus Access website.

Finally, the Daily Bulletin will return on Monday, January 4, 2021. Have a safe and healthy holiday, everyone.

A thank-you to 2020's Daily Bulletin contributors

Throughout 2020, I have had the privilege of working with many talented people across campus and beyond who have written material for the Daily Bulletin and who have helped keep the campus community informed about life at the University of Waterloo. This year in particular, with so much uncertainty, we relied on the contributions of many people and units to ensure that we could help the University navigate uncharted waters. Here is this year's honour roll:

Abby Rudy-Froese, Adam McGuire, Adam Presslee, Aiju Chau, Alana Rigby, Alyana Versolatto, Angelica Sanchez, Anne Galang, Ayooluwa Solaja, Becky Elming, Beth Gallagher, Beth McLay, Bethany Mulder-Kelly, Boon Khoo, Brian Caldwell, Bruce Campbell, Carol Truemner, Chantal Vallis, Chris Wilson-Smith, Claire Mastrangelo, Clark Baldwin, Dan Ackerman, Daniel Opperwall, Dave DeVidi, Edita Gatchene, Elizabeth Kleisath, Elizabeth Robertson, Esmeralda da Conceicao, Etta Di Leo, Eugenia Xenos Anderson, Feridun Hamdullahpur, Janet Janes, James Skidmore, Jean Becker, Jim Rush, Jodi Szimanski, Joe Petrik, Jude Doble, Katelin Hamilton, Katharine Tuerke, Kathryn Blair, Kayleigh Platz, Landon Jennings, Lesia Bandura, Leslie Berger, Katrina Steckle, Maddie Nichols, Marilyn Thompson, Marisa Benjamin, Mark Seasons, Mary Lynne Bartlett, Megan Vander Woude, Meghana Anthannagari, Melanie Misanchuk, Namish Modi, Nancy Schnarr, Natalie Quinlan, Nora Emtesali, Olivia Davitt, Pamela Smyth, Rachel Figueiredo, Rachel Hannusch, Ravnish Kaur, Robin Morden, Rose Simone, Ryon Jones, Sandra Ace, Sandra Banks, Siobhan Mullally, Sonya Buffone, Stephanie Longeway, Susan Fish, Tara Sutton and Teresa Chung.

My apologies if I have missed giving someone a byline. In addition, I would like to thank the Faculties, departments, academic support units, committees, and other organizations that contributed material to the Daily Bulletin this year.

And a special shout-out to all the Good Buddies of the University contributors who helped brighten many a morning with photos of their pets.

The Internal and Leadership Communications team is here to amplify the many voices on campus that contribute to the daily life of the University both in print and on the Beyond the Bulletin Podcast. We wouldn't be able to do it without you. We look forward to continuing that tradition into the new year.

And so: a thank-you to all, and to all a good night.