Below is the announcement shared with students from Interim President, Dr. Kevin Wamsley, and Incoming President, Dr. Andy Hakin. To view FAQs and other information related to COVID-19 and Stfx's plans to reopen in September, click here.
Dear StFX Students,
We are pleased to announce that, earlier today, StFX’s Board of Governors approved a recommendation to welcome students back to the StFX campus for the fall semester. Beginning Monday, September 14th, we will offer a Senate-endorsed approach of mixed-method course delivery, with most classes taking place in-person and some being offered online.
This is a decision that comes after much careful planning and deliberation. The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff, and faculty, as well as the members of our Town and County of Antigonish, is our top priority and will remain so as we welcome our community back to campus.
Over the past few months, we have been working with the Province of Nova Scotia, the Public Health Authority, and community stakeholders to fully understand health and safety protocols, and analyze whether or not we can confidently create conditions that meet these thresholds that limit the spread of COVID-19. Plans regarding our faculty, students, and staff returning to campus in September were developed and presented to the Province and Public Health for review. These plans included protocols related to our physical spaces, logistics, and movement on campus to ensure social distancing can be maintained, to practices relating to new cleaning and disinfecting standards consistent with the guidelines issued by Public Health. For certain, it will take the effort of the entire community to ensure our collective health and safety. Therefore, new behavioural standards and expectations of our community have been developed and will be shared in the days and weeks ahead.
As per Public Health guidelines in place on June 19th, all domestic students (i.e. living on or off-campus) who are coming from outside of Nova Scotia will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. This requirement may be altered in the coming weeks but remains the standard of practice today.
Students planning to live in residence and travelling from out-of-province will be contacted in July by University Housing to schedule their arrival time on August 30th or 31st, two weeks before the official beginning of the fall term. Students planning to live in residence and not requiring self-isolation, will be contacted in July to schedule their arrival date between September 10th and 13th.
Off-campus students travelling from outside the province must make arrangements to arrive in Antigonish so that their self-isolation period will end by the start of classes on Monday, September 14th. All off-campus students will be required to submit a health and travel declaration form to Student Life prior to arriving to Antigonish and will be required to check in at a designated, central location. Please be prepared should it be necessary for StFX to schedule your arrival and move-in dates in advance.
Reflecting the seriousness of maintaining a healthy and safe community environment, only those students who adhere to the health and safety protocols will be allowed access to the campus. All students, whether living on or off-campus, will be required to adhere to the health and safety guidelines throughout the academic year. Failure to do so will be a serious violation of the Community Code and may even result in expulsion from the university.
STAY INFORMED: TOWN HALL INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
We recognize that there is much more information to communicate to our students and their families. It is with that in mind that we have scheduled online Town Halls for students and parents, beginning with three sessions next week. These interactive meetings will introduce the new procedures being implemented in preparation for the September term.
All times are Atlantic Daylight Time:
- Thursday, June 25 10:00 – 11:30 AM
- Thursday, June 25 1:30 – 3:00 PM
- Thursday, June 25 6:00 – 7:30 PM
To participate, click (or copy and paste this URL) to join: https://zoom.us/j/95809763171
You can also Join by telephone (long distance charges may apply): +1 438 809 7799; Enter webinar ID: 958 0976 3171
You can also find information by accessing our website www.stfx.ca/coronavirus or by sending us an email: @email. A member of our staff will get back to you at first opportunity.
The situation regarding COVID-19 remains fluid. We will keep you informed and up-to-date over the summer as new information becomes available.
In the meantime, we look forward to warmly welcoming you home to StFX.
Sincerely,
Kevin B. Wamsley, PhD Andy Hakin, PhD
President & Vice-Chancellor Incoming President & Vice-Chancellor
StFX University (July 1, 2020)
