Message from the Vice-Presidents: Phase 4 re-opening and town hall invitation

Campus Update - Phase 4 | September 7, 2020 | View as Webpage

Campus re-opening:

Phase 4 student arrival and town hall invitation

Dear members of the Acadia community,

Today, we are pleased to announce that Acadia is in Phase 4 of our Return to Campus Safely Plan.

Our students are arriving

Phase 4 allows for a gradual return of students so they can complete 14-days of self-isolation required for anyone entering Nova Scotia from outside Atlantic Canada.

Self-isolating students must also check-in daily and have three COVID-19 tests. Students from within Atlantic Canada will not be moving into residence until September 19. Classes begin on September 21.

It is always a challenge to transition to university, and circumstances make this year makes that even tougher. Please continue to support our students as they arrive and during their self-isolation. There is an impressive lineup of online information, orientation, and wellness planning ready to go thanks to the efforts of many of you. Thank you!

Public Health has loosened the restrictions for self-isolating students, which means you will see signage in designated areas on campus that are restricted for their use. There are locations adjacent to each residence building (open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.), and two areas - the Tower Field and University Hall lawn (open 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. weekdays, and 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. weekends) - where these students can get exercise and fresh air. We recommend you avoid those locations during those time periods.

There are also students from inside the Atlantic Bubble who have returned to Wolfville and the surrounding area ahead of classes, so you will see them moving about freely in the community. Please welcome and support them to be good neighbours.

Know your work plan

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. Those who can work from home are encouraged to continue that practice.

Research and unit plans that were submitted earlier for Phase 1 or 2 may need to be updated. Please review and submit changes. Details will be available on the Employee section of the COVID-19 information website.

As we transition through Phase 4, other restrictions may eventually be lifted. Right now, access to the general public remains unchanged.

The Province of Nova Scotia continues to implement its phased Reopening Nova Scotia plan and has recently added helpful resources for post-secondary education. Our work with the provincial government, health authorities, sister institutions, and community has helped us immeasurably.

Mark your calendar

We hope you will join us on Friday, September 11 at 10:30 a.m. for a live Teams Town Hall presentation so we can welcome you back and provide an orientation about Fall 2020. Team Live link

This will be a time like no other in Acadia's history, but we remain committed to providing an exceptional student experience. Thank you for doing your part to protect our community and deliver on our promise to students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Dale Keefe

Provost and Vice-President, Academic

Mr. Chris Callbeck

Vice-President, Finance and Administration

Chief Financial Officer

Returning to campus safely

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

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 4 Measures (announced September 7, 2020):

Modifications to campus spaces and directional and information signage continues.
Requests for employees to return to campus are no longer required, but units and research groups must submit operational safety plans, or update those submitted in earlier phases.
If not already done, all employees returning to campus must complete a Return to Campus Agreement and conform to strict safety measures.
Students from outside Atlantic Canada have arrived in residence. These students are required to self-isolate, check in daily, and have three COVID-19 tests during their 14-day self-isolation.
Students from inside the Atlantic Bubble have also returned to off-campus housing in the Wolfville and area but without a need to self-isolate.
All students must complete an online training module about COVID-19 and protocols, and commit to the COVID-19 Student Safety Pledge.
On September 19, once the initial self-isolation period is complete on campus, Atlantic Bubble students will begin to return to residence. Move-in will take place gradually to allow for physical distancing.
September 21 is the first day of class. Select student programming begins.

Information and resources for your safe return are available on the COVID-19 information website, Employee Guidelines section. Refer to the Mixed On-Campus and Virtual Delivery document for more details.

Join us online!

Teams Town Hall Orientation

for Faculty and Staff

Join our Teams Town Hall for an orientation about our upcoming Fall Term, COVID-19 health and safety measures, and how you can make this term a success.

Friday, September 11, 2020

10:30 a.m. until noon

Team Live link

Province updates criteria in the COVID-19 symptom list

Remember to check your symptoms daily before coming to campus. The Province updated the criteria on September 6, 2020. Be sure to learn what to watch for so you can protect yourself and others.

Check my symptoms