Dear members of the U of G community,
As we move into our fifth week of working, learning and connecting in so many new ways, I remain inspired by U of G’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. In today’s update, I want to share three stories that highlight how our people are supporting each other, and our entire community, through these difficult and unprecedented days.
This week, the Office of Diversity and Human Rights, led by AVP Indira Naidoo-Harris, will launch an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Handbook for Individuals and Organizations During COVID-19. This handbook offers practical advice on how to reduce stigma, be an ally and foster inclusive leadership, especially during a crisis. Equity, diversity and inclusion are foundational concepts at U of G, and this commitment helps us build a stronger University for everyone.
Recognizing COVID-19’s impact on both for-profit businesses and the non-profit sector, the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics launched a partnership with the Guelph Chamber of Commerce to host a series of free webinars entitled Leading Through Crisis. These webinars will cover a range of topics, including strategic resiliency, employee morale and recovery for the hospitality and tourism sector post-COVID-19.
In addition to these new resources, we have announced that we will open our campus to support health-care workers and emergency responders. Starting this week, the University will allot space in campus residences for workers in health care or emergency services looking to live apart from their families while caring for patients or providing other services. Some of these critical workers are worried about exposing their families to the novel coronavirus and are grateful for the option to live on campus. We are so pleased to be able to help out in this way.
And finally, as U of G moves into final exams this week, I am thinking about all of the work that our students, faculty and staff have undertaken to get us to this point. This has included long and challenging days as we master new technologies and working in isolation from our classmates and co-workers. I want to give a big shout-out to the team in Open Learning and Educational Support who are supporting thousands of students and faculty each day. I also want to wish our students good luck as they wrap up the semester and write final exams. You’ve got this, Gryphons!
Thank you to each of you for supporting each other – and truly nurturing our distinct U of G culture.
With warm regards,
Franco
Franco Vaccarino
President and Vice-Chancellor
Daily Updates – April 14, 2020
Students: #GryphonGifts Can Brighten Your Exam Time!
Staying fuelled during study sessions is important to your success and Gryphon Gifts wants to help! On four separate days during the exam period, the U of G Alumni Association will provide 40 U of G students with electronic gift cards for Starbucks or Tim Hortons. Use them to buy study treats wherever you are! For your chance to score a gift card, follow the @uofgalumni Instagram account and check their feed every day from now until April 24.
The University’s COVID-19 website is your best source of information on U of G’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.