Message to students
Dear University of Guelph students,
Congratulations on completing the winter 2020 semester! This past term was much different than what we all expected, but you persevered, and we are proud of what you accomplished.
Now, you are likely wondering what our plan is for fall 2020.
With the University of Guelph’s mission to “Improve Life,” the health and safety of our community must come first. We will therefore continue to follow advice from public health and government guidelines as we make plans for the fall.
Guidance and directives relating to this public health crisis change daily, but we promise that this fall we will be ready to deliver high-quality courses, innovative programs and enriched student experiences, including co-op and research opportunities. We will need to adapt. Course delivery this fall could be face-to-face, blended learning or alternative delivery formats. But whatever the method, our commitment to you, our students, will stay the same. We have a long history of offering courses through a variety of formats, so we will be ready for September. Our dedicated faculty and student-centred services will support you in your studies and the achievement of your goals.
You can expect to hear from us again in the weeks ahead as we finalize plans for the fall semester. Keep an eye on your uoguelph.ca inbox and check our COVID-19 website and social media channels for the most up-to-date information. Our Gryphon Family portal also has useful resources to help you navigate life during the pandemic. We are grateful for your patience as we plan for what comes next.
Being a student during COVID-19 is not easy, but know that the entire U of G community is here to support you.
Sincerely,
Franco Vaccarino
President and Vice-Chancellor
Charlotte Yates
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
Message to faculty and staff
Dear members of the U of G community,
Over the past few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our University academics, research and operations in unprecedented ways, and it continues to affect every aspect of our work and home lives. We are so grateful for everything you have done to help our students finish their winter semester and to keep operations running so smoothly. We especially acknowledge the commitment of faculty to supporting graduate students through their summer research. Thank you.
We know that many of you are wondering about the fall 2020 semester – and you are not alone. We all have many unanswered questions about what to expect come September.
We want to assure you that the University of Guelph will be open for teaching, learning and research for the fall 2020 semester. What the fall term will look like exactly is unclear, but we are engaging the U of G community in finding solutions to this challenge. We will need to adapt amidst uncertainty. Course delivery this fall could be face-to-face, blended learning or alternative forms of delivery. We appreciate the patience you have shown as we sort through the many different considerations and scenarios ahead of us.
The health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty, instructors and staff will always be our top priority. We will closely monitor and follow government guidelines and recommended best health practices around the COVID-19 pandemic as we make plans to offer high-quality courses, programs, research and services for the fall.
Throughout our planning and decision-making, we remain committed to our collegial governance processes. We will continue to engage Senate on academic matters, and will consult with colleges, departments, faculty, students, the broader U of G community, public health, government and other stakeholders as we make plans.
We will have updates to share with you in the coming weeks, and we will communicate any new developments as promptly as we can. Please continue to monitor the University’s COVID-19 website for information.
The strength of our U of G community has been inspiring during this challenging time, and we are proud of everything we have accomplished so far together. Thanks to your contributions, the University has lived up to its mission to Improve Life.
Thank you for your continued patience, collaboration and understanding.
Keep safe. Be well.
Franco Vaccarino
President and Vice-Chancellor
Charlotte Yates
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)