Community Update #50 - Interim Update on Provincial Announcement, Vaccine Requirement & Screening

Yesterday the Ontario Government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced that the province will be pausing its Roadmap to Reopen and will remain in Step 3 at this time. The Province also announced that it will be supporting vaccine policies in post-secondary institutions to enable a safe return to campuses this […]

Community Update #50 - Interim Update on Provincial Announcement, Vaccine Requirement & Screening

Yesterday the Ontario Government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced that the province will be pausing its Roadmap to Reopen and will remain in Step 3 at this time. The Province also announced that it will be supporting vaccine policies in post-secondary institutions to enable a safe return to campuses this […]

Community Update #49 - New Vaccine Requirement at York University

Dear York Community,  The health and safety of our community members remains our highest priority, and we continue to advance multiple strategies and initiatives to protect our students, staff, faculty, instructors, and researchers from COVID-19.  At yesterday’s Town Hall, we discussed the University’s plans to support a safe return to campus, and our support for the Council of […]

Community Update #48 - Interim Update on Provincial Guidance for the Fall Term

Late last week, the Deputy Minister of Colleges and Universities (MCU) distributed a memo providing guidance to the post-secondary sector for Fall 2021 planning, based on progressing vaccination rates in Ontario and continued improvements in public health indicators. This guidance includes:  The resumption of all in-person instruction and on-campus activities without capacity limits;  No physical […]

Community Update #47 - Update on Step 3 Reopening

Today, the province is officially moving into Step 3 of its Roadmap to Reopen. We are very encouraged by an improving public health situation and surpassed vaccination targets. However, we are mindful of recent comments made by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health about the importance of having the highest rate of vaccination possible heading into September, as […]

Community Update #44 - Update and Support for Fall Term Planning

With a return to more in-person learning planned for the fall, there are understandably questions about how planning is progressing. In this update, I will focus on in-person teaching, but please also rest assured that the COVID-19 Planning and Response (CPR) team continues to work on a range of processes and initiatives to protect health […]

Community Update #40 - Revised Outlook on the Fall and Winter Terms

In my last update in March, I shared details with you about our plans for the safe return to York’s campuses this fall based on public health and government guidelines. Faculties began the work of identifying priorities for in-person instruction based on an assumption of being able to utilize about 25 to 30 percent of our space. […]

Community Update #39 - On Campus Research and the Stay-at-Home Order

Following the last update that was shared after the release of additional restrictions by the Provincial Government, I am writing on behalf of the Research Continuity Group (RCG) to provide further guidance for on-campus research activities during the current provincial Stay-at-Home order. At this time, the University is not further restricting access for those researchers […]

Community Update #34 - What the Provincial Emergency & Stay-at-Home Order Means for York

Yesterday, the Ontario government declared a third Provincial State of Emergency, issuing a stay-at-home order and additional public health restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19, effective Thursday, April 8 at 12:01 a.m. Under these orders, everyone will be required to remain at home with the exception of essential trips, such as for groceries or […]

Community Update #33 - Update on the Provincewide Emergency Brake

As we have entered a new phase of provincial restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic, this is undoubtedly a very challenging time for all members of the York community. While we can confirm that the Provincewide Emergency Brake shutdown does not pose any significant impact to on-campus classes that have been planned for the Winter or […]