Dear Students,
We are weeks away from the beginning of a new academic year. We have missed the excitement and energy of being on campus and look forward to welcoming you back this fall. We also understand the concerns many of you have about the uncertainties of returning to more robust on-campus experiences.
The health and safety of the University of Guelph-Humber community continue to guide our decisions as we return to campus. In preparation for the fall, we have been working diligently to ensure campus facilities and practices meet all public health guidelines.
Today, I am writing to you to announce that the University will be requiring vaccinations for all students and instructors who will be in the classroom, on campus this fall. This requirement follows those adopted by the University of Guelph and other universities in the province. Outside of classrooms and learning spaces, students, instructors, and staff will be required to physically distance indoors across North Campus, including in the University of Guelph-Humber building. As noted in previous correspondence, we continue to establish other health and safety requirements, including mandatory masks or face coverings and strong ventilation measures.
We know that being fully vaccinated significantly reduces the risks of the most serious outcomes of COVID-19. To date, this is also true for the variants-of-concern. Vaccines are now readily accessible in Ontario, and we will be working with Public Health to identify clinics where vaccines are easily available to our students. As a reminder, vaccinations can always be booked through the provincial portal.
Presently, we are developing implementation strategies to operationalize this vaccination requirement. Students who will be taking classes on campus will be asked to have their first vaccination by September 7, 2021 and their second by October 15, 2021. Those who are unvaccinated and need access to our campus will be asked to follow additional safety protocols, which may include regular COVID-19 testing.
Further details on these safety measures will be provided soon. It is important to note that we will accommodate individuals who cannot be vaccinated based on medical or other grounds recognized by the Ontario Human Rights Code. Details on the process to request accommodation will be provided in the near future.
We apologize that this announcement is coming very close to the start of the semester. Mitigating the threat of new COVID-19 variants will require swift action as we continue to prioritize your health and safety. We will continue to keep you informed as new information becomes available. The latest updates can always be found on the University's dedicated COVID-19 website.
As an institution of higher learning, the University is committed to evidence and research-informed decision-making. The University of Guelph-Humber sees itself as part of the broader community. We understand our role in safeguarding our collective health and wellbeing.
Finally, I want to thank you for your support during this transitional period. We appreciate your understanding during these unprecedented times.
I wish you each the very best for excellent health and continued success. I look forward to seeing you on campus this fall.
Sincerely,
David Danto
Acting Vice-Provost
For more information visit our Vaccination Requirements section in the FAQs: https://www.guelphhumber.ca/return-campus-faqs