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Â鶹´«Ã½ University, in consultation with local and provincial medical officers of health, will return to our ‘pre-Omicron variant’ lecture, tutorial, and lab section planning beginning the week of Monday, January 31. We assure you that the well-being of the campus community remains the No. 1 factor in how we plan and implement our return to campus.

It is anticipated that all classes, labs, tutorials and other academic activities that were scheduled to have on-campus components for the Winter term will be offered on-campus before the Family Day holiday and study break week. We are planning a gradual return to campus where student needs for in-person labs or instruction are required or desired by accreditation bodies and faculty (unit, department or area) learning norms. This phase-in will occur over the month of February. More details will follow throughout the process.

Student-facing staff will also begin a gradual return to campus beginning the week of January 31 as per the direction of their managers or supervisors in their academic or administrative unit.

All public-health precautions will remain in effect. University community members are strongly encouraged to get their booster dose as soon as they are eligible. If any university community member tests positive for COVID-19, they will be required to self-isolate for 10 days (five initial days of isolation, plus an additional five days as required by Durham Region Health Department in order to mitigate additional risk in a post-secondary environment, where physical distancing can't be maintained).

Returning to campus may cause some members of our community to feel trepidation or anxiety. These are understandable responses to a pandemic that has lasted for almost two years with many twists and turns. We must begin to learn to live with Omicron and future variants as we enter this endemic stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are no risk-free activities if we wish to re-engage in a face-to-face society, but a fully vaccinated university community and a commitment to following strict public health and safety protocols will minimize the risk of serious illness, while also allowing us to address the mental health toll of the pandemic on our community. 

A reminder that counselling services and other supports are available to assist faculty and staff:

• Employee and Family Assistance Program: 1.844.880.9142 or 1.877.338.0275 (TTY service). 

Continuing on with our gradual approach to on-campus activities is safe and prudent. Our campus will slowly and appropriately come to life in February. We look forward to welcoming staff, faculty and students back to campus as required. Please continue to monitor program requirements in your faculty or administrative unit to understand when you may be required to be back on campus.