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Life on campus will soon get a little closer to normal at the University of Windsor with the announcement that most winter semester classes will be face-to-face.
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Some programs will return entirely to face-to-face instruction, while others will have at least a face-to-face component.
“We make sure most of the classes are face-to-face,” said Jess Dixon, a kinesiology professor who chairs the University of Windsor’s Return to Campus Action Group. “That includes lectures, as well as labs and seminars.”
Many teaching and research labs will have a higher capacity, up to the maximum fire code capacity, or 50 students, whichever is less.
The university opened the fall semester last month with about 25 percent of its student body on campus and the rest learning online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We hope to double that number on campus heading into the winter semester,” Dixon said. “It’s all part of our gradual approach to getting things back to normal on campus.”
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Students must be fully immunized or have a recognized accommodation in order to attend face-to-face classes.
The university regularly organizes pop-up vaccination clinics.
“We’re getting there,” Dixon said. “Our vaccine policy definitely helps us move in the direction of a total return.”
The student experience has already improved from last year with many of the school’s recreational facilities now open and the return of college athletics, the university said. Strong health and safety protocols will be maintained, including masking and disinfection.
The university also announced the return of in-person tours of campus for its fall open house, scheduled for October 23.
Open houses last year were strictly virtual, but this month’s will offer both in-person and online options. Those interested in participating in the open house, either virtually or in person, should register online at uwindsor.ca. The university offers two sessions from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“We are very excited to welcome visitors and parents to campus again,” said Dixon. “I know they have a lot of things planned.”
The exact dates in November to register for the winter term will be announced shortly.
Reference-windsorstar.com