Students

The University strongly recommends that you receive a booster shot prior to your return to campus. Those unable to access a booster shot where they are can also book an appointment at Western’s Vaccination and Testing Centre.

Booster shots will continue to be available at Western’s Vaccination and Testing Centre.

On February 9th, Ontario began distributing 5.5 million rapid antigen tests each week through pharmacy and grocery locations across the province, as well as through community partners in vulnerable communities, as part of a time-limited program. To learn more please visit the provincial government’s Rapid Testing for at-home use page. 

Based on guidance from the Middlesex-London Health Unit, rapid testing is available for high-risk settings on campus, and the majority of students do not participate in these activities.  Students who are currently part of a rapid testing program will continue to be able to access testing at Western’s Vaccination and Testing Centre.

Western has recently aligned its self-assessment with the provincial tool. Individuals are asked to review and complete the Daily Return to Campus Self-Assessment each day they need to attend campus and follow the instructions provided.

Western has recently aligned its self-assessment with the provincial tool. Individuals are asked to complete the Daily Return to Campus Self-Assessment each day they need to attend campus. Please follow the direction given by the result of the assessment. Additional guidance is available at ontario.ca/exposed.

Western is providing medical grade (ASTM Level 3) masks that must be worn by students and employees when on campus. These masks must always be worn while indoors, as well as outdoors when physical distancing is not possible. Students can pick up their new masks at Western libraries using their Western ONEcard when they return to campus. There are some exceptions for those learning in designated clinical or research areas where an N-95 mask is required and provided.

Yes, Western’s plan was developed in consultation with the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) and has its support. As always, the University takes direction from the MLHU as well as provincial and federal health officials, and will change direction if required.

Campus Eateries that were previously closed have since reopened. Designated study spaces that provide options for taking a nutritional break are also available throughout campus. All designated study spaces will follow current provincial guidelines including physical distancing requirements.

Ontario Hall, Saugeen-Maitland Hall and Medway-Sydenham dining halls are also open for students living in residence with pre-approved early arrivals.

No.  Although water was permitted during December in-person examinations, that was in the context of exam seating arrangements. Seating in lectures is less controlled, and food and drink have not been approved in those settings.

As with the Fall 2021 term, the Middlesex-London Health Limit has approved full classroom occupancy this term. Note that Western's strong COVID-19 vaccination requirement is still in effect, and we have upgraded to medical grade (ASTM Level 3) masks.

Students will need to make arrangements to be in London by the date specified for their courses to return to in-person delivery. Students with unavoidable delays should work with their academic counsellors and instructors to determine if short-term arrangements can be made. Instructors will not be asked to deliver courses in multiple formats, however.

The guidance from local and provincial health officials has been consistent – classroom learning environments are considered low risk. We have also increased masking requirements to medical grade ASTM level 3, which must be worn by students and employees on campus.

Western University has been clear on its intention to deliver an in-person experience to the extent possible this term. In some cases, lecture materials may be available online. However, delivering courses in multiple formats would in many cases diminish the classroom experience and opportunity for experiential learning.

Students with a medical condition that prevents them from attending in-person classes should consult Accessible Education to explore their accommodation options.  Accommodation may not be possible in all cases, given that in-person activities are in many cases essential course elements.  Accessible Education is not able to accommodate individuals other than the student, however.

The mechanisms for requesting academic considerations remain unchanged: you have the option of submitting a request for a Self-Reported Absence or requesting academic considerations (medical or non-medical) from your Academic Counselling Office or Dean’s Office of your Faculty of Registration.

In keeping with our desire to avoid additional burden on the medical system, academic counsellors may at their discretion not require documentation for occasional, short-term absence requested through the academic considerations process. To preserve the integrity of our courses and ensure fairness to all students, medical documentation may be required for frequent absence or high-value assessments. 

Although first-year classes will remain online until February 28th, there will be a number of study spaces available for any students who need a place on campus to attend a synchronous online class. Additional quiet space suitable for non-interactive classes may be available in the Libraries.

The refund schedule for dropped classes is available on the Registrar’s website.

International students are encouraged to contact the International & Exchange Student Centre prior to withdrawing from a course.

Students should check the course OWL announcements and monitor their University-issued email account for updates.

Instructors are preparing for this possibility. Available solutions will vary for different courses but may include:

• continuation of in-person lectures by other faculty members and/or TAs
• a temporary return to synchronous online instruction
• posting asynchronous online lectures
• assigning readings

Undergraduate students: If you are required to self-isolate as a result of direction obtained from a COVID-19 Self-Assessment, please do so. If you are not able to complete your remote learning or attend campus for an in-person assessment or final exam, please contact your home Faculty Academic Counselling Office to request academic considerations.

Students in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Education, Ivey Business School, and School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies: If you require academic considerations because you cannot attend campus for a required in-person assessment or final exam due to illness or self-isolation, request Academic Considerations via the usual process for your faculty.

Of course! We encourage students to continue their studies to the extent that they are able. You may not attend in-person classes, tutorials, or laboratories during your period of self-isolation, however.

If the results of a COVID-19 Self-Assessment require you to self-isolate, you may send a request for academic considerations to your Dean’s Office, who will advise you on next steps.

A large proportion of first-year students live in residence and shared-living/congregate environments, which will not permit sufficient self-isolation in the event of an outbreak. In order to retain in-person instruction for as many students as possible, the decision was made to delay the return to in-person instruction for first-year courses on main campus.

First-year students with in-person classes resuming in-person instruction on February 28th should expect to return to residence beginning Thursday, February 24th.

Those first-year students with in-person classes resuming on January 31st (e.g., senior courses or first-year courses at an Affiliate University College) will be approved for an early return to residence beginning January 27th.

Students returning for the start of in-person classes on February 28th will receive prorated refunds covering the period when they could not access their residence room. These credits will appear on their Student Center accounts in March.

Students registered in Year 1 who are enrolled in courses numbered 2000 and above will need to attend classes in the delivery mode specified in the course timetable. Aside from courses listed as online delivery, this will require their presence on campus.

The Affiliate University Colleges will resume in-person instruction for all courses, including first-year courses, on January 31st. Main Campus students registered in such courses will be expected to attend in-person, unless informed otherwise by their instructor.