Here’s your timely & targeted compilation of key events, noteworthy news and important dates for the upcoming week.
We recognize that you have received several communications from us this past week, so this edition of This Week @ York is dedicated to recapping and directing you to that information as well as providing resources relating to COVID-19’s impact on your studies and student life. Please note that any information found in this newsletter has already been communicated to the community and can be found on the Student Updates page on York's Coronavirus and Information website.
If you don't have time to read This Week @ York, or would like to refer to it again, every edition can be found here.
ANNOUNCEMENT
York University is committed to providing a proactive approach in communicating all information concerning the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) to the York community. To stay updated:
- Visit the Student Updates page on York's Coronavirus and Information website as a central source for York community information.
- Follow links to expert health agencies, organizations and resources for additional information.
- Check the website frequently: we will communicate with all York community members by email, social media or yFile when the University has posted a community update.
- All this information is accurate at the newsletter’s time of publication. Given the fluidity of this situation, there may be changes to some of the information below between publications.
IMPORTANT DATES
The deadline to Withdraw from a Course Without Receiving a Grade for F/W 2019-2020 and W 2020 courses has been extended to Saturday, May 9.
The deadline for students to opt in or out of the Pass/Fail grading option has been extended to the last day of the final examination period: Saturday, May 9.
Course instructors should inform students of any adjustments to evaluation and grading schemes by Friday, March 27.
Information about Summer courses will be available no later than April 17, 2020.
Here are some other things to keep in mind this week:
| 1 | Changes to Summer 2020 Term. Due to the unprecedented extenuating circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, Summer 2020 terms will be delivered exclusively by online/remote learning formats. Learn more about the changes at the link above. |
| 2 | Student Loan Information Update: The Governments of Canada and Ontario announced a six-month interest-free pause on the repayment of federal student loans and Ontario provincial student loans for all those in the repayment process. For more details, visit the National Student Loans Service Centre website or call them at 1-888-815-4514. |
| 3 | Information about Graduation and Convocation. You may have questions about how the current COVID-19 situation may impact your graduation and the convocation ceremony. Consideration is being given to alternative convocation plans, including virtual options and an expansion of the Fall 2020 ceremony to which you will be invited. Learn more at the link above. |
| 4 | Stay engaged with the Registrarial Services website for updates and changes to the ways you can access services. At this current time, Registrarial Services can be accessed by email only, at rscheck@yorku.ca. We are working on providing additional ways to access services in the near future. |
| 5 | REMINDER: York recognizes that students may be experiencing a variety of circumstances as a result of COVID-19 and we are here to help. Senate Executive has agreed to waive, until further notice, the requirement for students to submit a doctors’ note or Attending Physician’s Statement in support of a request for deferred standing or petitions.
REMINDER: Check for available self-serve tools and resources on My Online Services. Get what you need, from wherever you are, at almost any time of the day. The list of available resources is growing daily as new online and mobile methods are introduced to deliver services and resources you need. |
| 6 | As all courses have moved online, your friends at Learning Skills Services have compiled a number of online learning resources to help you succeed as an online learner during COVID-19 and beyond. You can also check out York’s Student Guide to eLearning for information and tips on how to get started, what to expect and how to be a successful online learner.
The Writing Centre is now online! Their writing instructors are available to help you with your writing assignments online through 50-minute one-to-one appointments via video chat as well as asynchronous etutoring, where you upload your paper to their website and an instructor will reply with feedback within 24 hours. If you’d like to book an appointment, visit the Writing Centre schedule. Career Centre services are available online, over the phone, and via skype ONLY. The Career Lounge remains open online and Career Peer Educators will be online on Zoom during dedicated Lounge hours. One-to-one appointments are available over the phone or Skype. The Career Centre website also has online resources and tools to help you with your job search and career questions. |
| 7 | Residence Update: Residences remain open only to international students who cannot return home and to those with extenuating circumstances.
If you have not yet done so, please complete the Changes To Your Housing Status Form. We encourage everyone that can go home to do so as soon as possible. |
| 8 | Exams Update: York has cancelled all in-person exams during the formal winter exam period of April 7 to 25, 2020. More information will come from the Provost and Deans regarding alternatives to in-person exams. There are exceptions for Osgoode Hall Law School —those students will receive information from their course directors.
The Alternate Exam Centre has suspended operations. All previously booked tests and exams have been cancelled and students notified. Students should connect with their instructors to discuss what the method of evaluation will be such as a take-home or online exam. |
| 9 | Student Counselling and Development (SCD) walk-in counselling is CLOSED and telephone counselling for single session, crisis and emergency support is now available by calling 416-736-5297. Details and additional support resources are available at the link above.
For additional and after-hours support, our partners at Good2Talk have advised us that they are remaining remain open at this time, and in addition to telephone support, have introduced a new texting feature. |
| 10 | Borrow a Laptop from York. The University has secured 1,500 laptops for students who don’t have a home computer to learn remotely. Detailed instructions about how to register to borrow a laptop can be found if you follow the link above and look under the heading “If you don’t have a computer at home.” |
| 11 | Your Academic Advisors are here – virtually – to assist you with your advising needs during the COVID-19 situation. Visit the Academic Advising website, find your Faculty and click to see updated service information. |
| 12 | Here’s a list of what’s open and what’s closed on campus:
All on-campus events are CANCELLED. The Tait Mackenzie Centre and the Glendon Athletic Club will be CLOSED until April 30. Administrative offices are CLOSED. All shuttles have CEASED OPERATION. The following services are offered at York Lanes with reduced hours: Appletree Medical Centre (see below), Cucinetta (take-out only), Grocery Checkout, Hero Burger (take-out only), Sakura (take-out only), Shopper’s Drug Mart and York Lanes Dental (Emergencies Only). These are subject to change, so please check the link above for updates. Appletree Medical Centre remains OPEN with physicians now doing consultations via telephone and virtual care. Call 647-722-2370 or visit www.appletreemedicalgroup.com to book an appointment online. The Stong, Winters and Glendon College cafeterias remain OPEN. The Tim Horton’s Location in the William Small Centre remains OPEN. Facilities Services: Maintenance, Grounds, Central Utilities, and Custodial services will continue. Students can report any issues by phone or online by visiting the Housing web site. Mail will continue to be delivered to the undergraduate residence Housing offices. Mail is delivered directly to the York Apartments by Canada Post. The York Bookstore is also continuing to receive and process online orders. |
| 13 | All York University Libraries are CLOSED. All research and instruction questions and consultations are virtual. Interlibrary loans are also down. However, there are a number of services still available. During the period of closure, York libraries will not collect late fees for overdue books. There are still services, like renewing books, e-books, journals, and Ask a Librarian chat tools available online. |
| 14 | Note about YU-Cards: In the case where a YU-Card machine is malfunctioning when purchasing food at an on-campus vendor, each location should have a meal voucher form for you to complete for later billing. |
| 15 | It is important to stay up-to-date with the Government of Canada’s current travel advisories. Any member of the York Community who is impacted by the current travel restrictions, please contact goglobal@yorku.ca immediately for further guidance. More details are available in the Travel FAQs on the Student Updates page on York's Coronavirus and Information website.
York International and other services across campus are still available to support international students. This includes International Student Advisors, Immigration Specialists, UHIP staff and more. They have also set up a page for FAQs for International Students about COVID-19. York International’s Coffee Breaks are going virtual! Join student leaders on Zoom and meet other students from various programs, Faculties, countries and cultures to connect and get to know each other! No appointment required. Running every day this week until Friday, March 27, 2 to 4 p.m. |
| 16 | Parking Update. Anyone required to be on campus can park at no charge. If you have purchased a permit, you will automatically receive a prorated refund or credit. |
| 17 | York understands that social isolation can occur with no in-person classes and physical distancing measures. In addition to the resources above, you can stay connected through online communities. Stay informed and in touch with @yorkustudents and @studentlifeyu to get the latest information. |
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