College and university students to return to campus this fall
Ministry to allow post-secondary schools to hold classes without capacity limits
Ontario colleges and universities should prepare for all in-person classes and activities to resume this fall without capacity limits or physical distancing requirements.
It's “anticipated” that all in-person instruction and on-campus activities will be allowed again this fall, said Ministry of Colleges and Universities deputy minister Shelley Tapp said in a memo.
However, the ministry has also told the institutions to have plans for how learning will continue in the event of COVID -19 outbreaks.
Ontario reported 130 new confirmed cases of COVID -19 and no new deaths on Monday, the 11th consecutive day in which COVID cases numbers in the province have remained below 200.
Ottawa Public Health reported only two new cases on Monday, down from five new cases reported on Sunday and seven new cases reported on Saturday.
Universities and colleges will still have to follow public health and workplace safety rules, including requiring masks indoors. The schools will still have flexibility to offer teaching in ways that best suit their needs, including virtual and hybrid models, Tapp wrote.
In case of COVID-19 outbreaks, institutions must have a “continuity of education” plan ready by September, including health protocols in the event of an emergency and how instruction will continue if in-person learning is disrupted.
Guidance on measures such as masks, screening and cleaning is to be issued in early August.
Colleges and universities are being encouraged to use rapid antigen testing for routine screening of asymptomatic people, as well as wastewater surveillance for levels of COVID-19.
In a statement released on Friday, the University of Ottawa said as government regulations and public health measures evolve and as Canada's vaccination program progresses, the university is “ramping up its planning efforts" in support of a progressive return to on campus activities for both students and employees this coming fall.
“Naturally, the situation will remain unpredictable during the coming weeks and months and we will continue to provide an iterative, agile, and flexible approach to ensure continued compliance with public health and safety requirements.”
A Carleton University working group concluded last spring that the COVID landscape would look very different in September and recommended that a significant proportion of courses, in particular seminar courses, labs, experiential learning and smaller classes, be offered on campus in a safe way — but some online offerings will be available to provide flexibility.
“We recommend that students return to Ottawa for fall 2021, recognizing that medical reasons or travel restrictions may limit the ability of some students to do so,” Carleton stated on its website.
In a statement to the Algonquin College community, president and CEO Claude Brulé said the college's leadership team is examining Step 3 regulations to determine how they may affect Algonquin's existing plans by increasing the number of students.
“As for employees, in mid-August we will be in a better position to update you on what activities and who will be returning on-site for the fall term. For now, if you are working remotely, your position will continue to work remotely until your manager communicates the plans for your program or service.”