BREAKING: U of A expecting 90 per cent of courses to be in-person for Winter 2022
90 per cent of courses are expected to be delivered in-person, with up to 10 per cent remaining virtual to accommodate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emily WilliamsBy the end of January 2022, the University of Alberta is expecting at least 90 per cent of courses to be delivered in-person.
In a statement issued by Bill Flanagan, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Alberta, on November 5 the university announced an increase in the percentage of courses delivered in-person for the upcoming Winter 2022 semester. The U of A expects 90 per cent of courses to be delivered in-person, with up to 10 per cent remaining virtual to accommodate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic such as travel complications.
The statement recommended students refer to Bear Tracks to check the delivery format of their courses.
The university partially credited on-campus COVID-19 precautions and measures for the increase in in-person programming. The following measures were mentioned:
- Mandatory masking policy
- Mass vaccination clinics
- A vaccination directive
- A rapid testing program for those with exemptions
- The CampusReady system
Faculty and administrative staff may begin returning to campus “according to applicable public health measures and the U of A’s phased return to on-campus work” once the provincial work-from-home measure is lifted, according to the statement. The university voiced plans for all staff groups to return to on-campus work by the end of January.
Information about applying to an optional work-from-home program is expected to be shared with university employees by November 15.
Flanagan expressed thanks to the university’s Public Health Response Team and the academic, administrative and research teams and leaders for “plan[ning] and balanc[ing] student experience and research needs with community safety requirements.” He concluded the statement by voicing hope for “a complete resumption” of campus life.
