Message from the Vice-Presidents: Phase 3 re-opening

Campus Update - Phase 3 | August 14, 2020 | View as Webpage

Campus Re-opening:

Moving toward Phase 3 and Fall 2020

Dear Members of the Acadia Community,

Today, we are pleased to announce that on Monday, August 17, 2020, Acadia is ready to ramp up on-campus operations as part of Phase 3 of our Return to Campus Safely Plan. Phase 3 allows most employees to return to campus in preparation for student arrival and in-person programming.

Unit plans must still be submitted and researchers who operate a facility, such as lab or institute, that employs research assistants or students must still complete a return to research plan. However, individuals are no longer required to apply to return to campus.

As we transition through Phase 3, other restrictions may eventually be lifted. Right now, access to the general public remains unchanged.

As you know, the Province of Nova Scotia continues to implement its phased Reopening Nova Scotia plan. Our work with the provincial government, health authorities, sister institutions, and community has helped us get closer to our goal of re-opening our campus safely.

In a few short weeks, we will be ready to begin our Fall Term. What is an exciting-but-routine event typically, is now a significant milestone because of the global pandemic.

While the term will look and feel different, our commitment to providing an exceptional student experience is unchanged. Our success in delivering that promise is only possible because of the resiliency, effort, and cooperation of so many. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Dale Keefe

Provost and Vice-President, Academic

Mr. Chris Callbeck

Vice-President, Finance and Administration

Chief Financial Officer

Returning to Campus

The health and safety of our campus community take precedence in our planning and operations.

Provincial guidelines recommend that individuals in high-risk groups and those 65 years and older continue to stay at home and exercise caution. Individuals in these groups should work with their supervisors to adjust their work so that it can be performed remotely.

Employees and supervisors are encouraged to discuss their return to campus requirements. Those employees or units able to perform their duties and provide services by working at home should continue to do so as part of our mitigation measures.

Phase 3 Measures (effective August 17, 2020):

Most employees can return to campus in preparation for student arrival and in-person programming.
Unit plans must still be submitted and researchers who operate a facility, such as lab or institute, that employs research assistants or students must still complete a return to research plan.
Individual employees are no longer required to apply to return to campus.
Everyone returning to campus must complete a Return to Campus Agreement and conform to strict safety measures.

Information and resources for your safe return are available on the COVID-19 information website, Employee Guidelines section. Additional wellness training will soon be available.

Check your symptoms daily

Each day, all students, faculty, and staff will be expected to complete a COVID-19 self-diagnosis symptom check questionnaire before coming to campus or leaving residence halls.

The tests are a way to inform individuals about whether they should remain at home or in their residence room rather than coming to campus.

Check your symptoms

Wear your complimentary mask

As an added precaution in response to COVID-19, Acadia University requires anyone entering publicly accessible buildings on campus to wear a non-medical mask or face covering. Exceptions will be made for those individuals for whom wearing a face-covering poses health concerns or physical challenges.

Faculty, staff, and students can pick up Acadia-branded cloth masks from Safety and Security. Acadia-issued photo identification is required at the time of pick up. Two masks per faculty, staff, and student are available without cost. New students will be issued their masks when they arrive.

Anyone who needs an exemption from wearing a mask is asked to contact Safety and Security to request a mask-exemption card.

Follow signs and safety measures

There is now significant signage and visual indicators displayed on campus to provide instruction on safety, hygiene, traffic flow, physical distancing, and occupancy counts.

To help protect our community and ourselves from the spread of COVID-19, we are all required to adhere to health and safety rules.

Learn more about health and safety measures.