University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina extend distance education until 7 February | The Canadian News

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) and the University of Regina (U or R) are extending distance education until February 7, 2022.

The decisions are the result of the increase in COVID-19 positive cases in the province.

On February 7, the U of R will see a partial return of some personal classes.

“Some of those classes can be hybrid. We know a lot of our students want to be back in person, a lot of our professors too, ”said Jeff Keshen, U or R president.

“We want to do it in a way that is measured and careful. We want people back on campus. … But we do not want to overwhelm the campus. ”

On February 22, campus activities will return, but with precautions. Athletic activities will resume, for example, but without any spectators.

Keshen said if all goes well with this plan, the U of R will begin to see the beginning of an end to this pandemic.

“On March 1, we will (come) back to personal classes as the way we expected for the winter 2022 term,” he said. “We look at somewhere between 75 and 80 percent of classes across the U or R and its federated colleges that are personal.”

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The USask’s pandemic response and recovery team (PRT) closely monitored the distribution of the Omicron variant – including modeling data, wastewater results, COVID-19 test positivity in the community, and cases on and off campus.

USask has stated that all classes currently delivered remotely until February 7th and will continue to be in the remote area, and all classes currently delivered in person at this time will continue as such.

The university says that employees currently working remotely will receive direct communication from their respective human leaders, along with guidance on next steps.

“Given the available data, no further extension of precautionary measures is expected after February 7,” according to a USask release. “Because we know we are living through a rapidly changing situation in many parts of Canada, we will continue to monitor and adjust our safety protocols as necessary to ensure the health and well-being of our campus and wider communities.”

Both universities will continue to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants by ensuring that they are fully vaccinated and expecting all members of the campus community to receive their vaccine boosters shots as soon as possible, face masks on the campus wear, use quick tests when needed, and encourage those who feel sick to stay home until they are symptom-free for 48 hours.