The following updates are provided by the Return-to-Campuses steering committee.

On Feb. 12, the provincial government announced that Guelph will move into the Red-Control level of the province’s COVID-19 framework. This means certain activities and operations can resume at U of G.

In the Red-Control level of the framework, the provincial government recommends that trips outside of the home should be only for essential reasons. If you do not need to come to campus, please stay home to help keep our community safe.

If you need to come to campus, remember to complete the U of G COVID-19 Screening Form daily before coming to campus and follow its direction. Wear a face covering when you’re on campus and maintain 2m distance from others. Learn more about safety protocols at U of G facilities.

Classes and labs

• Classes and labs that have been delivered face-to-face throughout the stay-at-home order can continue with this in-person delivery. Classroom capacity is capped at 50 students. No further action is required by instructors.
• At the instructor’s discretion, winter 2021 classes and labs originally scheduled for face-to-face delivery can begin on campus after Reading Week. Instructors should check their Gryph Mail for more information on moving to face-to-face delivery.
  • Instructors should notify students via CourseLink for information about whether scheduled face-to-face classes and labs will take place on campus or continue remotely.
  • ​​​Classroom and lab capacity is capped at 50 students.
  • All U of G classroom safety measures must be followed.

Office and workspaces

• Faculty who need to access their workspaces must contact their department chairs to arrange access. Chairs should check their Gryph Mail for more information on this process.
• Staff should continue working from home when feasible. Speak to your manager if you have questions or to arrange access to your workspace.

Research

• All University research activities continue to require an approved Research Management Plan in order to proceed, regardless of where that research activity takes place (i.e., within or outside of University of Guelph-operated facilities).
• Face-to-face research involving human participants remains paused; however, we are working on ways to resume this type of research as soon as possible. More information will be available soon.
• The Research Continuity Group continues to meet, supporting research activities and following public health and U of G COVID-19 guidelines. Keeping our research community both safe and as active as possible is extremely important to all of us at U of G.

Residences

• Students living in residence will receive an email from Student Housing Services about what the move to Red-Control means for them.
• Residence students who travelled home or elsewhere over Reading Week are required to register their decision on the Housing Portal and isolate when they return to campus.

Services

• The library intends to reopen its building on March 1. Learn more about their available services including access to study space and the IT Help Desk on the library’s website.
• On-campus dining remains available from Creelman Hall, Lennox Addington Grab n’ Go & Grocery, Lennox Addington Starbucks, University Centre Starbucks and Subway, and OVC Café. Seating areas reopen on Feb. 16.

  Brass Taps in the University Centre reopens for take-out service Feb. 16.

• The University Bookstore reopens for in-person shopping Feb. 22.
• Athletics facilities and programming reopen Feb. 16 at 7 a.m. For information on operating protocols and public health restrictions, please visit the Athletics website.
• In the University Centre, the main floor and second floor will be open to accommodate student study space and available food and commercial business services. As of Feb. 16, the building will be open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A safe Return from Reading Week

All students living on or off campus in Guelph are strongly encouraged to remain here and restrict non-essential travel, including during Reading Week. If you travelled home or elsewhere over Reading Week, you should isolate for 14 days when you get back to Guelph. This can help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 to your housemates.

Isolating means staying in your own room, not attending face-to-face classes, wearing a face covering when you walk through spaces shared with housemates (e.g., to the washroom or kitchen), and relying on your housemates or others to pick up and deliver groceries and prescriptions.

COVID-19 testing is available by appointment at Student Health Services for students in residence and faculty and staff working on campus. Call 519-824-4120, Ext. 52131, to book an appointment.

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The University’s COVID-19 website is your best source of information on U of G’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Return to Campuses website provides essential information for those coming to campus. If you need to be on campus, make sure you complete the U of G COVID-19 Screening Form every day before you arrive.