COVID-19 Update: Sept. 3, 2021

The following updates are provided by the Return-to-Campuses steering committee.

Vaccinations, exemptions and work on Sept. 7

The University's mandatory vaccination requirement comes into effect next week. As of Sept. 7, to access a U of G space for work (i.e., a University building or University-managed facility at the Guelph or Ridgetown campuses or at a U of G research station), you must be vaccinated or have an approved exemption.

All faculty and staff must complete the University of Guelph Vaccination Proof and Exemption system before accessing U of G buildings or University-managed facilities.

The following information may help you understand what to expect on Tuesday.
 

FULLY VACCINATED - If you are fully vaccinated (i.e., it has been at least 14 days since you received all required doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine), you will be permitted to attend work on-site, provided you comply with all health and safety measures including daily screening.
 

EXEMPT or PARTIALLY VACCINATED - If you have an approved exemption, OR are partially vaccinated (i.e., you have received one dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine OR it has not yet been 14 days since you received all required doses of an approved vaccine), you will be permitted to attend work on-site. You must comply with all health and safety measures including daily screening and rapid testing. Please send an email to r2w@uoguelph.ca for information about accessing rapid testing. 

NOT VACCINATED and NOT EXEMPT - If you are not vaccinated and do not have an approved exemption, you are not permitted to attend work on-site. Please speak with your dean, supervisor or manager.

• Employees who are continuing to perform their job duties remotely based on operational plans may continue to do so. You must be vaccinated or have an approved exemption when you return to work on-site.
   
• Employees who perform their job duties on-site based on operational plans or the nature of the work will be placed on an unpaid leave as of Sept. 7 until they become vaccinated or are granted an exemption.
   
• Employees who are performing their work both on-site and remotely based on operational plans should speak to their manager about the possibility of working remotely when they are scheduled to be on-site. Such arrangements can be in place until Sept. 28, at which point you must be vaccinated or receive an approved exemption. 
  
  If such an arrangement is not available, as of Sept. 7 and until you become vaccinated or receive an exemption, you will be placed on an unpaid leave for the time you are expected to work on-site. 
   
• Employees who are continuing to perform their job duties remotely based on operational plans may continue to do so. Please complete the U of G Vaccine Proof and Exemption System. You must be vaccinated or have an approved exemption when you return to work on-site.

Per public health requirements, you must complete the U of G COVID-19 Daily Screening Form to access buildings and University-managed facilities at the Guelph and Ridgetown campuses and U of G research stations.

Answers to frequently asked questions about U of G's vaccine mandate, exemptions, testing requirements and more, as well as the latest information and updates relating to COVID-19, are available on the University's COVID-19 website.

We appreciate your continued patience and understanding during these challenging and ever-changing times.
 

Physical distancing on campus this fall

Earlier this week, the Government of Ontario updated the conditions under which universities can safely operate while in Step 3 and the Roadmap Exit Step under the Reopening Ontario Act. Starting Sept. 7, previous physical distancing and instructional space capacity limits may be removed only for indoor instructional spaces (e.g., classrooms, laboratories and libraries).

Although physical distancing is no longer required in instructional spaces, U of G will proceed with its plans to reduce density in classrooms. Classroom capacities will not exceed 75 per cent in most cases, and we continue to cap classes at 250 students.
 

Safety measures in classrooms

As students return to campus, class monitors will be available during the first week to help students navigate learning spaces and remind them of our safety protocols.

Our Health and Safety Protocols for In-Person Course Delivery have been updated. If you are teaching on campus, please familiarize yourself with the protocols.
 

Visitors to campus

Following recent direction from the provincial government, visitors are permitted to access U of G buildings and University-managed facilities provided they attest to their vaccination status through the U of G COVID-19 Daily Screening Form. This process will be updated in the weeks ahead to require proof of vaccination or an approved exemption.
 

The University's COVID-19 website is your best source of information on U of G's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Return to Campuses website provides essential information for those coming to campus. If you need to be on campus, make sure you complete the U of G COVID-19 Screening Form every day before you arrive.