SJU COVID-19 Updates March-April 2020

April 9, 2020 - Update and Easter Wishes

TO: St. Jerome’s University Community

FROM: Dr. Scott Kline, Interim President

Since we first announced on March 13^th that in-person classes would be suspended, the St. Jerome’s University community has been adjusting to the new realities presented to us by the COVID-19 pandemic. The decisions we have made, including work-from-home measures and eventually closing the campus off to the public on March 21^st, have prioritized the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, their families, and the broader community. This priority remains top of mind.

Over the last few weeks, we have been hearing stories of students facing new challenges related to mental wellness and fears over their physical health, loss of income, difficulty accessing materials related to their school work, completing assignments, and paying rent. Our Student Affairs team has been proactively reaching out to our co-registered students to let them know that we are there if they want to talk or if they need help with a situation. For those seeking ongoing counselling, we continue to direct students to Counselling Services at the University of Waterloo.

For students with urgent financial need, St. Jerome’s University will join the University of Waterloo and launch the SJU Student Emergency Relief COVID-19 Fund. We are asking alumni, friends, donors, and members of the SJU community to support this important initiative. When formally launched, I would ask that you consider supporting this fund in any way you can.

Our faculty and staff have also been adapting to the new COVID-19 realities. With our work-from-home measures, many of you are balancing full workloads, new domestic responsibilities, childcare, eldercare, and worries about the health of our loved ones, some of whom may be in front-line jobs. Feeling overwhelmed, out of control, stressed out, or just plain exhausted can become all-consuming. If you’re having these feelings and need some assistance, I would encourage you to reach out to Michelle Watson, SJU’s Director of Human Resources, who will be able to put you in contact with people who can help. As always, you will also find assistance through the Employee and Family Assistance Program, provided by Homewood Health.

As a way to provide additional resources for our faculty and staff adapting to these new realities, St. Jerome’s will be hosting an online session, led by a Canadian leader in workplace health and culture, entitled “Redefining Resilience.” Details of this session, which will take place in early May, will be forthcoming soon.

Finally, I would like to draw your attention to the Easter greeting card that went out earlier this week to the SJU community. There is a quote in there by Dorothy Day, the co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, that reads, “The final word is love.” As we enter the Easter Triduum this evening, I hope you will take a moment to focus on those who love you and whom you love.

May the dawn of Easter bring you hope, joy, and comfort in these uncertain times.

***

March 30, 2020 - Cancellation of the SJU Graduation Ceremony (June 2020)

TO: St. Jerome’s University Community

FROM: Dr. Scott Kline, Interim President

The St. Jerome’s University Graduation Ceremony is the highpoint in our University calendar. It is a time when we, as an academic community, join parents, friends, and supporters to celebrate our students and their success and achievements. Normally, we hold the SJU ceremony the weekend before the University of Waterloo (UW) spring convocation.

As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our way of life. Public health guidelines continue to emphasize the need to engage in physical distancing as way to slow the spread of the virus. As a result, I regret to announce that the 2020 St. Jerome’s University Graduation Ceremony has been cancelled.

In the weeks ahead, St. Jerome’s will be considering alternative ways to honour our graduating students and publicly recognize our academic award winners. We look forward to ensuring our students are acknowledged in a meaningful way in the midst of these unusual circumstances. Additionally, we will work with the SJU Students’ Union to consider how best to honour our student leadership award winners, including the Zach Ralston Award, which is the highest honour SJU bestows on its students.

I continue to be amazed by our community’s creativity and resiliency in these extraordinary times. I want to thank students for your patience as we strive to provide the best university experience possible. I also want to thank our student support staff and all who work directly with our students for your commitment to nurturing a student-centred culture at SJU.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact info@sju.ca.

UW Spring 2020 Convocation Goes Virtual

Please note: the SJU Graduation Ceremony is separate from the University of Waterloo convocation.

Earlier today, Monday, March 30, 2020, UW President Feridun Hamdullahpur announced that UW’s spring convocation will be delivered virtually. President Hamdullahpur’s announcement noted that it would be possible for students graduating in the spring to attend a future convocation ceremony. Regardless of whether students attend these ceremonies, either the virtual one or a later in-person one, graduating students will receive their diplomas through the mail.

For more information on UW convocation, please see their convocation website.

***

March 19, 2020 - University Buildings Closed to the Public and Restricted Access for Employees

TO: St. Jerome’s University Community

FROM: Dr. Scott Kline, Interim President

As part of our ongoing efforts to enact social distancing measures intended to promote the health and safety of our students, employees, their families, and the broader community, the St. Jerome’s University campus will be closed to the public as of Saturday, March 21, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. We will remain closed until further notice.

Additionally, as of Saturday, March 21, 2020, employees will have restricted access to SJU campus buildings.

Staff: Staff may work on campus only with the permission of their supervisor. Strict social distancing must be observed. Only those providing critical services should be on campus.
Academic Staff and Researchers: Following the University of Waterloo, faculty and researchers should be on campus only to maintain critical research, which includes lab activities, that if disrupted, would result in serious loss of research data, material, or equipment. Faculty are advised to gather necessary materials for research or classes immediately. After March 21, 2020, any access to office will need the authorization of Dr. Cristina Vanin, the Interim VP Academic and Dean.
Residence Students: Only those students living in our residences will have fob access to prescribed spaces, including the community centre/cafeteria.

It is important that all non-critical services employees avoid campus unless absolutely necessary. Our critical services staff will have in place protocols that ensure strict social distancing. Additional people on campus may pose a threat to those protocols and the health of our colleagues. So please help us maintain an environment that protects the health of our critical services staff as well as the health of their families and the broader community.

What does this mean?

All St. Jerome’s buildings will be locked and inaccessible to the public as of Saturday, March 21, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.
Students and employees must avoid campus. Only those with permission may be on the premises.
Faculty and researchers may access their offices and labs only for critical research reasons. Prior authorization is required from Dr. Cristina Vanin, the Interim VP Academic and Dean.
Students and employees with fobs may continue to access their designated residence rooms, faculty offices, and the community centre. Unauthorized access poses a threat to the health of those living and working on campus. Please avoid campus.
Deliveries will no longer be accepted by the University. If you are expecting a delivery that is time sensitive, please make alternative arrangements with the delivery service.
Mail service has been suspended until further notice.
Classes and exams will continue next week, as planned, with alternative modes of delivery.
Critical services will continue for students living in residence.
The facilities staff will continue to monitor building operations.
The SJU Residence will continue to implement a strict “no-guest” policy, which went into effect on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

If you have any questions, please contact me (scott.kline@uwaterloo.ca), Mike Gourlay (mike.gourlay@uwaterloo.ca), Cristina Vanin (cristina.vanin@uwaterloo.ca), or our SJU information line (info@sju.ca).

I want to thank all of you for your patience, resiliency, understanding, and commitment. These are truly extraordinary times, and we should take pride in the way our community has responded. You are an amazing group of people!

***

March 17, 2020 - Urging Students to Leave Residence and Limited Access to Residence

TO: St. Jerome’s University Community

FROM: Dr. Scott Kline, Interim President; John Arnou, Acting Director of Student Affairs

During this challenging time, we want to thank our students living in residence for their cooperation and patience.

As a community that values solidarity, especially with at-risk and marginalized peoples, we need to be vigilant in observing practices that promote health and safety not only for ourselves but also our families, co-workers, students, and the broader population. Public health officials continue to provide guidance that social distancing is an integral element in combatting the spread of COVID-19.

As a result, the following are in place, effective immediately:

Urging Residence Students to Leave by Noon, Friday, March 20, 2020:

Following the advice of public health officials regarding social distancing, and in line with the University of Waterloo’s announcement regarding their residences, St. Jerome’s University’s have directly contacted our students living in residence to urge them to leave residence by 12:00 noon on Friday, March 20, 2020.

We understand that this measure is unexpected, and so we are offering students an incentive credit to support our efforts to promote the health and safety of our residence community and the broader public.

We will continue to offer essential services within residence for those who are unable to leave; for example, for those people who cannot return to their country of origin.

Limiting Residence Access:

St. Jerome’s University Residence has implemented a guest limitation policy. In an effort to maintain the health and wellness of our residence community and the broader public, we have issued a 24/7, full guest restriction for the foreseeable future. This measure includes all Residence floors and pods, study rooms, and student spaces on the first floor of the Residence Building.

Additionally, we recognize that today is St. Patrick’s Day and students may have had to reassess their plans to celebrate. As responsible citizens concerned for the health of the community, St. Patrick’s Day plans should not include “house parties” or larger gatherings. Students in SJU Residence should practice strict social distancing, which includes maintaining a distance of at least two metres. There will be opportunities in the future to celebrate with one another—now is not that time.

If you have any questions about these measures, please contact me, John Arnou (john.arnou@uwaterloo.ca), or our Student Affairs team at info@sju.ca.

***

March 17, 2020 – Library Closure Update

TO:               St. Jerome’s University Community
FROM:          Dr. Scott Kline, Interim President; Cristina Vanin, Interim VP Academic and Dean;
                       Lorna Rourke, Associate Librarian

Following on last evening’s announcement that University of Waterloo libraries will be closing today, the following will be in effect immediately.

Library Closure as of March 17, 2020: The SJU Library will close at 12:30 p.m. on March 17, 2020, and remain closed until further notice.

Restricted Library Access Today: The SJU Library will be open today only from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Access will be restricted to a single pickup point. Patrons may pick up holds and interlibrary loans they have previously requested at this service point. Additionally, patrons may request other materials, which a staff member will retrieve. Beyond this single service point, the library will be closed to the public.

Library Questions: The Library website will direct patron inquiries to librarians and the library associate (e.g. trouble using databases, reference assistance). Deb, Zack, or Lorna will respond electronically to inquiries between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

As courses are being transitioned to off-campus deliveries, please keep the following in mind:

The same rules that were in place before are in place now. There have been no changes to the assessment of copyright-protected materials.

Linking to Library licensed resources (eBook and eJournal content) is always okay, with the exception of the Harvard Business Review.

Linking to legal, freely available material online is always okay.

Again, we are implementing these measures to limit social contact and to promote the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. We thank you for your understanding.

***

March 16, 2020 - Restricted Library Access and Library Closure

As part of our ongoing implementation of the University’s social distancing measures, the following will be in effect immediately:

Restricted Library Access until March 20, 2020: Beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the SJU Library will be restricted to a single pickup point. Patrons may pick up holds and interlibrary loans they have previously requested at this service point. Additionally, patrons may request other materials, which a staff member will retrieve. Beyond this single service point, the library will be closed to the public.

Revised Library Hours until March 20, 2020: Beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the Library will be open until Friday, March 20, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Library Closure as of March 21, 2020: The SJU Library will be closed as of March 21, 2020, and will remain closed until further notice.

Library Questions: The Library website will direct patron inquiries to librarians and the library associate (e.g. trouble using databases, reference assistance). Deb, Zack, or Lorna will respond to inquiries between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

We wish to encourage faculty to direct their students to use online library materials rather than books or paper Reserves. As you revise your courses, please consider that, even though libraries on the UW campus remain open, the changing situation means that physical library access on the UW campus could change.

As courses are being transitioned to off-campus deliveries, please keep the following in mind:

The same rules that were in place before are in place now. There have been no changes to the assessment of copyright-protected materials.

Linking to Library licensed resources (eBook and eJournal content) is always okay, with the exception of the Harvard Business Review.

Linking to legal, freely available material online is always okay.

We know that these changes may disrupt your plans. We are implementing these measures to limit social contact and to promote the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. We thank you for your understanding.

***

March 16, 2020 - Front Desk Closure and Services

TO:               St. Jerome’s University Faculty and Staff
FROM:          Dr. Scott Kline, Interim President and Vice Chancellor
                       Katrina Kaczala, Executive Assistant to the President

As part of our ongoing efforts to implement social distancing measures, I want to provide you with the following updates regarding our front desk services, effective at 4:30 pm on Monday, March 16, 2020.

The front desk is closed. The university will remain open until further notice.

Services: Any services you might still require that have previously been met by our co-op students will continue as follows:

Paper and toner for the mailroom printer and office printers:
- For those of you who may come into the office and require these, the grey cabinets at the back of the mailroom have been made accessible. For inventory tracking purposes, tracking sheets have been taped to the outside of these cabinets. If you take paper or toner, please indicate how many you have taken, your name, and department to be charged on the tracking sheets.
- The paper in the cabinet can also be used for the mailroom printer as needed. No tracking is required.
- As a courtesy, take only what you need, and if you see supplies dwindling, please inform me at info@sju.ca.

Regular mail:
- As the University of Waterloo is still operating as usual, mail service is still operating. Mail will be delivered to the mailroom, but it will not be sorted into individual mailboxes at this time.
- Please feel free to sort through and retrieve your mail. A box of disposable gloves has been left in the mailroom to use while sorting mail.
Deliveries received via courier:
- Facilities has agreed to meet couriers and sign for packages while the front desk is not operational. These packages will be left in the mailroom as well.

Email questions to info@sju.ca. This account will still be monitored, triaged, and answered as usual.

We want to thank our two co-op students, Lauren and Angelo, for their tremendous professionalism and commitment to St. Jerome’s University. We also want to thank John Arnou for his assistance in putting this plan together.

***

March 15, 2020 - Corona Virus Update: SJU Social Distancing Measures

TO: St. Jerome’s University Faculty and Staff

FROM: Dr. Scott Kline, Interim President and Vice Chancellor

As you know, the number of cases of COVID-19 has continued to grow in Ontario and around the world. The purpose of this memo is to communicate the social-distancing measures we are undertaking at SJU to limit human contact and slow down the spread of the virus. The Government of Canada provides a wealth of advice on social distancing on its COVID-19 site, including avoiding crowds and maintaining a two-metre distance from others when able.

SJU is, therefore, implementing the following, effective immediately:

Suspension of in-person classes: Based on the latest update from the University of Waterloo, in-person classes have been cancelled. SJU will continue to be open and provide basic operational service to students during this time.

Work from home: Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, and until we communicate otherwise, all SJU employees who can work from home should make arrangements with their supervisors to do so. If you have already been in discussion with your supervisor about working from home and you are prepared to do so, you should not come into work on Monday but, instead, stay at home and work.

For those employees whose work cannot be done remotely, strict social distancing should be implemented, including limiting contact with others, staying more than two metres apart, and avoiding groups of people. If your work necessitates you being on campus, please speak to your supervisor immediately to determine if there are any additional supports you need.

The primary objective with this measure is to limit the density of people on campus.

Restructure, reschedule, or cancel university meetings & contact with guests: Limit the number of visitors/guests coming to SJU. Instead of face-to-face meetings, use teleconferencing and online meeting software such as Skype for Business. If in-person meetings with visitors, students, or guests are essential to the continuation of our core services, then practice strict social distancing, including the two-metre rule.

Also, avoid or limit in-person attendance for internal meetings by requesting the use of virtual solutions (teleconference, Skype for Business, etc).

Faculty may meet in-person with individual students, if both agree to do so. Strict social distancing practices must be observed in such cases. From a public health perspective, it is far more advisable to hold these meetings via the phone or Skype for Business.

For information on meeting software alternatives such as Skype for Business, see the email sent by Ashish Bhagat, entitled “Collaborating options from home,” sent Thursday, March 12, 2020, at 9:46 am.

Self-isolation for persons who have travelled abroad: Public health officials are instructing recent international travelers to self-isolate for 14 days upon return. As a result, anyone who has travelled abroad in the past 14 days should avoid campus and any potential contact with the community.

All employees who have travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days are required to work from home during this 14 day period following their return to Canada. Upon your return, you should also do the following:

Continue to self-monitor for symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) for 14 days and call a health professional if at any point symptoms occur. An important resource is Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-575-4400. Also, if you display symptoms, please contact your supervisor.

If symptoms occur at work on campus, go home immediately and call your doctor and/or Region of Waterloo Public Health. They will be able to advise you.

SJU is suspending all University-sanctioned international travel. If you must travel for personal reasons, please visit Canada’s Travel Health Notices website before your trip.

Notify your supervisor of your personal travel plans before you leave.

You will be required to self-isolate for 14 days after you arrive home.

We all know that uncertain times like these can sometimes increase levels of stress and anxiety. Please also know that there are supports in place that can help you.

Please remember that one resource is the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), a benefit for all SJU employees and your immediate family members. You can access the support 24/7 at Employee and Family Assistance Provider (Homewood Health).

As always, if you have questions, please ask your supervisor, me, and or any of the following:

Mike Gourlay (mike.gourlay@uwaterloo.ca)

Cristina Vanin (cristina.vanin@uwaterloo.ca)

Veronica Austen (veronica.austen@uwaterloo.ca)

I want to thank all of you for the tremendous work you’re doing in these extraordinary times and conditions. Patience and sleep can be in short supply. Please continue to respond to one another generously. You are an amazing group of people.

***

March 13, 2020 - Corona Virus Update: In-course Activity Suspended

TO: The St. Jerome’s University Community

FROM: Dr. Scott Kline, Interim President and Vice Chancellor

Earlier this today, Feridun Hamdullahpur, the University of Waterloo’s President, announced that UW is suspending all in-course activity. St. Jerome’s is following suit.

We are suspending all activity for on-campus courses for one week, from March 14 to March 23, 2020.

At the end of this suspension, all in-person course activity is cancelled until the end of term, including in-person final exams. Instructors are working on alternate ways to deliver remaining course work and exams/assessments.

Fully online courses will continue, but in-person exams for these courses are cancelled and may be replaced with alternative assessments.

Campus operations will continue.

As President Hamdullahpur noted in his memo, these are unprecedented times and we know that many people are dealing with increased stress and uncertainty. Please reach out to your supervisors if you need support.

We are introducing measures that we believe help protect the safety of our students, employees and our community. We also want to make sure that we ensure students get the best outcomes from their hard work so far this term.

All activity for on-campus courses (e.g., classes, labs, tutorials, etc.) is suspended for one week. Course activity will stop on March 14. We will resume course activities in alternative formats on Monday, March 23.

In the next week, instructors will provide students with information on how they will complete their courses.

The Centre for Extended Learning’s fully online courses will continue.

We will use this pause in course activity to allow instructors to plan alternative ways of delivering learning – including ways of measuring achievement instead of in-person final exams.

At the end of the suspension of activities, the University is cancelling all in-person course activity, including in-person exams, through the end of the Winter Term on April 25, 2020.

Instructors will inform students how assessment will happen.

The cancellation of in-person exams includes the in-person exams for fully online courses.

Accommodation for illnesses

We have made the University of Waterloo Verification of Illness form for students a self-declaration, which means students do not need a doctor’s note for accommodation if they become ill. Students can find the Influenza Absence Declaration in the Personal Information section of Quest.

University operations

Along with UW, We at SJU will maintain business and administrative operations during this period of uncertainty. Office buildings will remain open. A reminder: those who are sick should stay home seek the advice of a health professional.

All residences remain open and operational.

Libraries, food services, health and wellness centres, athletics and recreation facilities, and other public spaces on all campuses will remain open on the UW campus. Any changes to this at SJU will be communicated in a timely manner. In all cases, we recommend you use social distancing and proper hygiene as a preventive measure.

We have engaged our cleaners about enhancing their protocols on campus. We will continue to work with them in this regard. We are also in the process of procuring additional cleaning supplies for personal hygiene (e.g., sanitizer, soap).

We have not changed the revised travel and event instructions that we issued on March 12.

This situation is extremely challenging and I know many people across our campus are working to help reduce uncertainty. Please know that we will continue to monitor the situation and respond. There are measures we can all take to reduce the spread of the virus and work together to try to protect our community.

Additional information and resources

The University of Waterloo is keeping the its COVID-19 website up to date with information. We’ve posted FAQs and other important information, updated in real time.

If you have questions or concerns about coronavirus and Waterloo, please email coronavirus@uwaterloo.ca and our team will help find the right campus contact. You may also reach out to Cristina Vanin at cristina.vanin@uwaterloo.ca or Mike Gourlay at mike.gourlay@uwaterloo.ca.

Everyone involved with the coordination between UW and the AFIW appreciates your patience. People are getting tired, so please respond generously to one another.

***

March 12, 2020 - Corona Virus Update: Events Suspended, Classes Continue

TO: The St. Jerome’s University Community
FROM: Dr. Scott Kline, Interim President and Vice Chancellor

Earlier this evening, Feridun Hamdullahpur, the University of Waterloo’s President, announced that UW is suspending all events that are not vital to the academic mission of the university. St. Jerome’s is following suit.

St. Jerome’s University is suspending all events that are not vital to the academic mission of St. Jerome’s University.

Please note the following from UW:

“Classes, labs, courses, and final exams are vital to the academic mission of the University and will continue. We will monitor this situation and will send further updates in the coming hours and days.

We [UW] have asked instructors to consider alternatives to in-person instruction and examination, in case we need to make changes. We are sending separate information to instructors.”

Classes will, therefore, continue at St. Jerome’s.

Along with UW, SJU is suspending events out of caution and concern

COVID-19 continues to change rapidly across the world and we want to take steps to limit the spread and risks of the disease in our community. With this goal in mind, SJU is suspending all events that are not vital to the academic mission of the University.

This means that you should cancel, postpone, or move online all events of more than 50 people. If you need to have a gathering (such as for business meetings for operational, academic, and administrative purposes) you should consider the following risk mitigation actions from the Public Health Agency of Canada:

reducing the number of participants or changing the venue to prevent crowding

staggering arrivals and departures

providing packaged refreshments instead of a buffet

increasing access to handwashing stations

promoting personal protective practices (hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, staying home if ill) before and during the event

offering virtual or live-streamed activities,

changing the event program to reduce high risk activities such as those that require physical contact between participants, and

postponing or cancelling the event.

Classes, labs, and courses will continue, but may change from original plans

Gatherings like courses, lectures, classes, and exams are vital to the academic mission of the University. This means that in many cases classes and exams will continue as planned. Some classes and exams may see changes to the way they are delivered. We are keeping this situation under review and we will provide updates in the coming days and hours.

UW is keeping the their COVID-19 website up to date with information. If you have questions or concerns about coronavirus and Waterloo, please email coronavirus@uwaterloo.ca and our team will help find the right campus contact. You may also contact Mike Gourlay (mike.gourlay@uwaterloo.ca) or Cristina Vanin (cristina.vanin@uwaterloo.ca).

***

March 12, 2020 - Corona Virus Update: Travel Outside Canada Suspended

TO: The St. Jerome’s University Community

FROM: Dr. Scott Kline, Interim President and Vice Chancellor

Earlier today, Feridun Hamdullahpur, the University of Waterloo’s President, announced that UW is suspending all travel outside Canada that is not vital to the university’s academic mission.

St. Jerome’s University, too, is suspending all travel outside Canada that is not vital to our academic mission.

Both UW and SJU are providing this direction to protect the health, safety, and wellness of our community.

Travel suspended outside Canada

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) described COVID-19 as a global pandemic. Global Affairs Canada has issued active travel health notices for several destinations.

In light of these changes, St. Jerome’s University is suspending all travel outside Canada that is not vital to our academic mission until further notice.

Travel that is vital to SJU’s academic mission includes, but is not limited to programs such as Beyond Borders, which is currently scheduled for the Spring 2020 academic term. The evolving situation and new information may lead to other decisions at a later time. Students registered in the

Following UW, travel that is not vital to our academic mission includes, but is not limited to:

participating in academic conferences or presentations

meetings with academic partners or collaborators

professional or personal development

If you are uncertain or need advice, please discuss with your supervisor or, if you are a faculty member, the Vice President Academic and Dean (VPAD).

You don't have to travel if you don't want to

You do not have to travel on behalf of the University if you do not want to do so - even if the travel is vital to our academic mission. This includes both domestic and international travel.

If you do travel, the University expects you to take all reasonable precautions to reduce the likelihood of exposing the university community to increased risk when you get back. For most people, this may mean you need to monitor for symptoms or self-isolate.

Consider alternatives to travel

If you have upcoming travel plans, either personal or University-sanctioned, you ought to consider:

is the travel vital to our academic mission?

what is the risk at your destination?

can you make alternate plans like videoconferencing?

Normal operating funds bear costs of cancellation

If you have booked University travel and need or want to cancel, individual departments or units will need to bear cancellation costs (faculty may refer to the email sent by Cristina Vanin on Monday, March 9, 2020, regarding reimbursements of non-refundable travels fees).

If you would pay for the trip with money other than the University's operating funds, you should check with the source of those funds to see if they will reimburse cancellation costs. Researchers can apply to their Tri-council funding agency for reimbursement of cost incurred due to COVID-19.

If you do make plans to travel, we encourage you to buy fully refundable fares and bookings to reduce the cost of cancellations.

New requirement to register all University-sanctioned travel

Starting immediately, all employees must register all international travel with the Safety Abroad Team at the Univeristy of Waterloo. Doing so allows the team to provide you with:

to access travel safety information

emergency help

access to Anvil Group services

More information is coming

The University of Waterloo expects to provide us with more information and advice related to COVID-19 in the coming hours and days.

UW will keep its COVID-19 website up to date with information. If you have questions or concerns about coronavirus and Waterloo, please email coronavirus@uwaterloo.ca and their teams will help to find the right campus contact.

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