Dear York Community,

Last week, I shared that as of September 7, the University will begin to require proof of vaccination through YU Screen for all who will be attending our campuses this fall. Yesterday, we received long awaited guidance from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities for the fall. This direction appears to align with much of our planning for the upcoming academic term but we will be carefully analysing the revised regulations for the post-secondary sector over the next 24 hours. We expect to provide a further update regarding any impacts of this guidance, including more detailed information on York’s vaccination policy and procedures later this week.

In light of the revised MCU guidance, and in order to allow more time for everyone to submit their proof of vaccination or be vaccinated at one of our upcoming clinics, I am writing to provide an important update regarding the return to campus dates. We believe the changes we are making further strengthen our approach to a safe return to campus this year.

Return to Campus Update

• All classes, including those scheduled for in-person instruction will be delivered online or remotely, up to and including Sunday, September 12.
  • For courses scheduled with an in-person meeting between September 8-12, instructors are asked to communicate directly with students to indicate how classes will be delivered remotely on those days.
  • In any in-person course where remote delivery between September 8-12 would put student learning outcomes at risk, instructors should approach their Associate Dean for an exception to teach in person on those dates, or to make other arrangements including make-up classes later in the term. 
  • Where exceptions are approved for in-person learning, instructors will be in touch with students. Osgoode Hall Law School has been excepted and the Dean’s office will be in touch to explain required steps before coming to campus. 
• On-campus instruction for all classes designated as in-person will commence on Monday, September 13, 2021.
• Instructors and faculty members can access support for online and remote teaching through Going Remote.
• Events planned for this transition period extending between September 7-12 can continue in alignment with current physical distancing and masking requirements and researchers and others who have already been approved to access our campuses can continue their work during this time.
• Please note that up until September 6, access to many buildings on our campuses will remain restricted and individuals must use the Campus Access System to request approval. From September 7 onwards, community members will only be required to use the YU Screen tool before coming to campus to: 1) self-screen and 2) upload their proof of vaccination or submit a request for a medical exemption. More information will be forthcoming later this week for individuals who are not fully vaccinated by September 7.

• Staff will also work remotely from September 7-12 and will return to campus for the week of September 13, subject to specific exceptions for those staff providing required services or who are otherwise engaged in fall preparations and therefore need to attend campus before September 13. Your manager will be in touch with you about how this may apply.
• Full details on York’s vaccine policy and exemptions will be shared with the community later this week.

I appreciate the patience and goodwill on the part of all community members as we continue to work together to ensure a safe return to our campuses this fall. Please know that the well-being of our community is our top priority. I look forward to sharing more details with you later this week and to seeing you on our campuses this fall.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Lenton
President & Vice-Chancellor