Inside universities’ fall preparations

From residences to vaccines, what students can expect in September

It’s been a year of educational ups and downs for Grade 12 student Olivia Rymkiewicz and, with “no guarantees” around what universities will look like in September, the uncertainty continues.

The incoming Western University student will leave her home in Calgary to live in residence in London, Ont. She’s tempering her expectations about orientation week events and the fall term, but feels “confident” about her move, knowing the university has mandated at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for students living in residence.

“It’s just the responsible thing to be doing,” Rymkiewicz, 18, said. “The well-being of other students can be directly impacted by a student’s decision not to get vaccinated.”

With Alberta accelerating second doses, Rymkiewicz expects she’ll be fully immunized by the time her move-in date comes around. While Western University has promoted a “full return” to in-person learning in the fall, the prospective nursing student said her first-year courses will mostly be held online, a decision she’s satisfied with.

“I think they’re making the best choice in order for us to move forward … it’s almost time for regular life to start again,” she said.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Anna Banerji said before universities open classrooms, they should require students to have at least one dose of the vaccine and receive the second shortly after, during the first week back.

“If you can’t — or won’t — mandate that students have two vaccines, then they should continue online,” Banerji said. “You might say it’s their right not to get vaccinated, but it’s other people’s right to be safe as well.”

In residence particularly, students should be fully immunized; one dose may not be as effective with the highly infectious Delta variant going around, Banerji said.

As universities across the province announce their plans for a return to education in the fall, their approaches to mandatory vaccinations, online versus in-person learning, international students and on-campus testing vary. The Star asked some Ontario universities about their plans for a safe reopening when classes resume in September.

In-person versus online classes

A memo sent to McMaster professors by Maureen MacDonald, the dean of the faculty of science, states the majority of the faculty’s lectures will be delivered online in the fall. Instructors are asked to rotate small groups of students through in-person lectures, labs and tutorials for the entire fall term. Testing and evaluation will remain online, including final exams, she said.

“Our faculty of science, like the university, is taking a fairly conservative approach to the fall term given the evolving nature of the pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding its trajectory,” MacDonald wrote.

McMaster did not answer the Star’s questions about which other programs will continue operating online, but students from the School of Social Work and faculties of engineering and social sciences told the Star some of their classes will be virtual in the fall. The university is planning to offer at least three instruction modes: virtual classrooms joined synchronously (in real time), online classes to be completed in a self-paced manner, and in person, but some scheduled inperson hours may be offered virtually.

Denver Della-Vedova, president of the McMaster Students Union, said students are hoping for a return to the “on-campus experience” but some will appreciate the choice to learn more remotely. With virtual learning persisting for months, “isolation has become a real struggle,” he said.

“I am worried that students will be boxed into more virtual classes than some may wish to take,” Della-Vedova said.

Class codes have been modified to help identify which classes will be offered in person or online, he added.

Costs to deliver education online can be higher than in person, given the technology requirements, proctoring costs and other supports for students in a virtual environment, said a spokesperson for McMaster University.

“Presenting classes online is not about saving money,” the spokesperson said.

Ryerson University has labelled the fall semester a “transitional” term, with many courses continuing remotely. On-campus learning will be prioritized for courses that require access to physical resources, like clinical instruction.

The university said it has incurred additional costs in dealing with the pandemic and online learning, with more investments expected in the upcoming year.

Ryerson will release timetables to students by early August. Other post-secondary institutions have already released course offerings with more details to be announced later this month.

As of June 1, all of the course offerings for undergraduate students at Western have been released, and communication around a predominantly inperson term is reflected in those offerings, said Zamir Fakirani, president of the Western University Students’ Council. Some courses will continue online because professors and instructors felt “it was the best move pedagogically,” he said.

Course work that does not require in-person learning may be offered online for nursing courses, a spokesperson for the university said.

York University plans to offer up to 50 per cent of courses in person for the fall term. All faculties will offer a mix of inperson and virtual learning to provide choices to students with different needs, a spokesperson said.

Some University of Toronto programs will continue to rely on remote delivery “in response to unique constraints,” a spokesperson said. The university will prioritize key in-person learning activities, such as placements, or student cohorts composed of health-care professionals involved in the pandemic response.

Queen’s University spokesperson Mark Erdman said the institution is planning for “a full return to campus this September.” Safety measures are being discussed, with more information to be announced in the coming weeks.

Vaccinations in residence

Western University and its affiliated colleges — Brescia, Huron and King’s — have mandated at least one dose of the vaccine for students living in residence. If students are unable to access the shot before their move-in date, they will have 14 days to get vaccinated on campus. Accommodations can be requested by those who have medical reasons for not seeking a jab or other protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

“There has been a minority that are concerned that constitutes a form of discrimination and I think it’s important we’re unequivocal in combating that rhetoric,” Fakirani said, noting the dense living arrangement. “Living in residence is a privilege, it’s not a right.

“This is not a form of discrimination. This is a public health measure.”

Trent University announced it would implement the same rule on June 1, with the University of Toronto following suit on June 8, requiring vaccinations across its residences within campuses in Toronto, Scarborough and Mississauga. Students living in residence at Ryerson University will also be required to have their first dose before moving in, the institution has announced.

A York University spokesperson said students moving in or currently living in undergraduate residence buildings will also need to receive a first dose of a vaccine. The requirement will not apply to a small number of students living in apartment settings on campuses.

McMaster University will not require students living in residence to be vaccinated. Residences will only be open to first-year undergraduate students.

International students

Eunice Oladejo, president of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, said a provincial initiative to extend the current one-year tuition freeze for colleges and universities “comes at the expense” of rising rates of tuition for international students. Guidance around everything from travel study permits to plans for a safe return have been inadequate, she added.

“These are very unpredictable times,” Oladejo said.

“It’s clear these choices (safety measures) would affect revenue and cost, and universities do rely oftentimes on international students’ tuition to fill revenue gaps, but international students shouldn’t have to shoulder that financial burden.”

Ryerson University has not communicated whether vaccinations will be mandatory for international students or when they can begin to make plans for a return to the province. The university said students currently outside of Canada should continue to monitor entry restrictions, airline policies and mandatory self-isolation protocols.

York University has a quarantine program in place that provides students accommodation for the 14-day quarantine period and wellness checks. The service is paid for by the university, a spokesperson said.

Western University is working to find solutions for students who have difficulty entering the country and will be facilitating transportation from designated government quarantine hotels, a spokesperson said.

Carleton University has recommended students return to Ottawa for the fall term, but recognizes medical reasons or travel restrictions may limit some students from doing so. Seminars, labs and other experiential learning will be offered in-person, with a more significant return to classrooms in 2022.

Testing and vaccinations on campus

“If you can’t — or won’t — mandate that students have two vaccines, then they should continue online.”

DR. ANNA BANERJI

INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST

Western University will operate an on-campus vaccination clinic later this summer to accommodate first and second doses for students, staff and faculty, a spokesperson said. The university also operates a COVID-19 testing centre.

Meanwhile, York University has partnered with Humber River Hospital to host an oncampus vaccine clinic at the Keele Campus on Tuesday and Wednesday. A screening and testing program will be offered in the fall on both Keele and Glendon campuses.

McMaster is “examining” vaccination and testing on campus,. The university has also begun canvassing students for their intent to be vaccinated ahead of the fall term through an online survey.

The Ryerson Community COVID-19 Pop-Up vaccination clinic is administering first and second doses of vaccines to those who meet eligibility criteria. Both Ryerson and U of T have partnered with local public health authorities and hospitals to host vaccine clinics on campus this past term.

Queen’s University is working with the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington public health unit on a vaccination strategy, in case students arrive on campus before they receive a second dose.