Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
On Jan 19 the following email was sent to Waterloo students
To: Graduate students
From: Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor
Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Subject: Confirming dates and approach for spring 2021 term
With the winter term underway, University leaders have been working on our approach to learning and instruction for the spring term. We are also making some changes to the academic dates for the spring 2021 term.
I am sharing these details with you today so you can plan for the spring term with a greater sense of confidence.
Spring term will start one week later than planned
We recognize that additional time between terms will provide you an opportunity to focus on your wellbeing. The University’s Senate has approved that the spring term will begin a week later than planned, on Monday, May 10, 2021, instead of the original May 3, 2021 start date. Classes will end on Thursday, August 5, 2021 with exams starting Saturday, August 7, 2021.
More details on the revised academic dates for the spring term are available online:
Online learning will continue to be our primary mode of instruction
Our plans for the spring term will be in keeping with our current approach. This means that we must prepare for instruction to continue primarily online, with in-person activities available in limited situations as the regulations allow.
If you have questions about plans for instruction or research in your faculty or program, please discuss them with your academic advisor or supervisor.
I know that many of us would prefer to be making plans for a return to in-person activities. Given what we know about the pandemic today, unfortunately, we cannot safely plan for that at this point in time. The recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Ontario makes it clear that the virus and our collective efforts to stop the spread need our continued attention, posing ongoing difficulties in planning for in-person learning. Please be assured that we continue to revise our plans for a safe and staged return to in-person activities as soon as the conditions allow.
Remember to take care of yourself and each other as we continue into the term, and that help is available if you need it.
Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
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.