WINNIPEG - The University of Manitoba is adding theirs to voices of confidence in the continued decline of the spread of COVID-19, announcing their preparation to gradually welcome students back to campus for the coming fall term for in-person instruction.
U of M President Michael Benarroch says learning thrives on personal connections, and, while the past year has been a challenge for everyone, school administrators are looking forward to seeing that reconnection between students, educators, and each other happen soon.
Benarroch says, considering today’s public health guidance and vaccine rollout expectations, the school is developing plans to return to having more classes being held face-to-face in what they’re calling a phased transition. He says the transition will have several limitations:
- As long as space is available, classes with a maximum registration of 20 students can go ahead with in-person instruction;
- Lab classes will have a maximum of 25 students, or whatever a room’s COVID capacity limit is, whichever is smaller;
- Larger classes will continue being delivered virtually;
- Effective immediately, units can plan to allow increases in the percentage of staff accessing U of M campuses up to a maximum 40 per cent capacity, which can include teaching, research, and academic work
Benarroch says the school is confident they’ll be able to fully resume in-person activities for the Winter 2022 Term, but cautions students and staff that the situation can change quickly. Updates to their policy around pandemic response will be regularly posted on the U of M COVID-19 web page.
What do you think?