In the face of rising concerns regarding COVID-19 and the omicron variant, Western University is delaying the start of the winter semester and moving classes online as a precautionary measure.
Following conversations with health professionals and campus leaders, and with Senate consent, Western and its affiliated university campuses have announced that the winter term will begin on Jan. 10 and will last through Jan. 31.
Key Takeaways:
- Amid growing concerns regarding COVID-19 and the omicron variant, Western University is delaying the start of the winter semester and shifting classes online.
- The winter semester at Western and its affiliated university campuses will begin on Jan. 10 and end on Jan. 31.
- Due to the nature of their job, several professional programs and clinical learning in health sciences and medicine will begin in person on Jan. 4 for the winter term.
Faculty and staff will be able to move classes to virtual platforms throughout the extended vacation, ensuring that students have the greatest possible online learning experience.
According to Western president Alan Shepard, returning to online learning, even if just for a few weeks, isn’t ideal, but they are hoping that this proactive action will help them finish the academic year strong.
The institution will be closed for one day longer than scheduled over the holidays, reopening on Jan. 4.
Certain professional programs and clinical learning in health sciences and medicine will begin in person for the winter term on Jan. 4 because of the nature of the work.
Also on Jan. 4, the libraries will reopen, and some research activity will continue on campus.
Students in residence are being urged to postpone their return to campus until Jan. 31, when in-person classes resume.
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in recent weeks, and the threat of the omicron strain has prompted the government and public health officials throughout Canada to take new steps to combat the virus ahead of the holidays.
In order to improve the public’s protection against omicron, provincial governments are speeding up vaccines and expanding access to booster doses.
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