Students at Western University will shift to online learning until the end of January as a precaution amid “rising concerns” about the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the school announced late Friday afternoon.
Students at Western University will shift to online learning until the end of January as a precaution amid “rising concerns” about the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the university announced Friday.
“We know this is hard,” said Alan Shepard, Western’s president. “The shift back to online learning, if only for a few weeks, is not our ideal scenario, but we hope this pre-emptive measure sets us up for success in seeing out the academic year.”
The school, as well as its affiliates Brescia, Huron and King’s, will also delay the beginning of the winter term until Jan. 10, one week later than originally scheduled. Campus will reopen one day later than expected, on Jan. 4, the school said. Western’s libraries will also reopen Jan. 4.
“Students in residence are being asked to delay their return to campus, where possible, until in-person classes resume on Jan. 31,” school officials said.
Students had returned to campus in September after more than a year of online classes. The school shifted to virtual teaching in March 2020, days after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
After consultation with health experts and campus leaders, and with the approval of Western’s Senate, we are delaying the start of the winter term to January 10, 2022. Most classes on main campus and at affiliates will be virtual until January 31, 2022. https://t.co/TBeIzWxYuc
Western cited rising COVID-19 infections in recent weeks in its decision and the “continued threat” of the Omicron variant, which is “believed to be more infectious than its Delta predecessor,” school officials said.
The move comes after the university on Tuesday moved in-person exams scheduled for Dec. 17 to 22 to an online format.
London’s Fanshawe College announced Thursday it is moving to online studies in the new year , also citing the growing threat posed by Omicron. Fanshawe officials likewise moved the start of winter semester back to Jan. 10.
Western’s announcement mirrors what is happening at other universities in the province, including Hamilton’s McMaster University and Toronto’s York University, that are delaying the return of students to campus while shifting courses online in the interim. On Dec. 12, Queen’s University moved its fall semester exams to a remote format.
Shepard urged students to celebrate the holidays safely. “Please consider keeping your gatherings small to minimize the impact to our community and the one you may be returning home to,” he said. “We want everyone in the community, including their loved ones, to remain safe and healthy.”
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