Both the University of Regina (U of R) and University of Saskatchewan (USask) are planning for their fall semesters to be done online, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The announcements were made on Tuesday, following consultations with public health and Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer.
“We are now developing principles and protocols that will guide a cautious approach to Fall 2020 course delivery,” U of R’s interim president Tom Chase said in a letter posted on the school’s website.
“The situation is fluid, changing daily. As it changes, we will communicate with you. Over the next several weeks, comprehensive work on fall term course delivery will continue.”
The Academic Incremental Recovery (AIR) group, which is chaired by interim provost David Gregory and has broad campus representation, will be in charge of what online learning will look like for students and faculty.
“We will build on efforts made and knowledge gained since the emergence of COVID-19 in the province,” the letter read.
“I am confident that our consultations and planning will yield a delivery model that meets teaching, learning, and research needs while keeping people safe.”
At USask, a recently-formed Pandemic Recovery Team will be leading the charge, and will be consulting with deans, associate deans and graduate chairs, among others.
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“The initial PRT work involves finalizing a September 2020 implementation plan, developed with consultation across all areas of university activity and with health officials,” the school posted on its website.
“The goal is to have the fall implementation plan finalized and approved by the end of May.”
The school said health and safety is its primary focus in its decision to work remotely.
“With thoughtfulness, responsiveness and resiliency, we will continue to work with the province to adjust our plans as necessary as we remain focused on delivering our world-class academic programming and research,” the school said.
Global News requested an interview with a USask official behind the plan but was referred to the online statement.
Autumn LaRose-Smith, president of the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU), said there are still many questions to be answered, but she appreciates the institution’s focus on safety.
“I think it’s really important to release more information as soon as possible because this will definitely affect which classes students register for,” LaRose-Smith.
Many students have expressed concerns about the quality of their remote education so far, though the USSU president acknowledged the university had to respond quickly after the pandemic hit.
LaRose-Smith said the USSU has met with university senior leadership and doesn’t know yet what the union’s involvement in the pandemic recovery team will look like.
For more information visit USask and U of R’s website.
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.
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