Note: We are now sending two separate digests – one for students and one for faculty and staff – to ensure that as students, you receive the highlights most relevant to you.

Laurier is making daily decisions and service adjustments to contain the spread of COVID-19. Our goal is to keep the Laurier community informed of these updates in a timely and accurate manner. Visit the wlu.ca/coronavirus website and the Internal Coronavirus information page for faculty and staff for the latest information.

We’re collecting stories of sharing, helping and kindness submitted by members of university community, and will add more as they are brought to our attention. Please share your stories by emailing cpam@wlu.ca or tag Laurier in your social media posts.

March 24 key updates:

1. We would like to confirm that Wilfrid Laurier University remains operational following the Ontario Premier’s announcement March 23 about the closure of all non-essential services. The majority of our services are now offered virtually, and we are assessing any remaining on-site services to ensure they comply with the provincial directive. More details can be found on the Coronavirus site.
2. Updates to come: We understand that students, faculty and staff have many questions as university decisions are made in the context of the evolving provincial, federal and global pandemic response. We will be providing further details related to sprummer courses as soon as possible, and information related to student fees, reimbursements and assistance by the end of the week. Thank you for your patience and understanding as the university navigates complex decisions to ensure the best solution for our community.
3. All Laurier librarians are available to provide students and faculty with research assistance, either by email or online. Find contact information for your subject librarian, or use the book a librarian feature for an online appointment. Librarians can support faculty and students in the MyLS platform by adding them as a resource to your course. Contact your librarian for more details.
4. FAQs for International Students: As countries around the world respond to COVID-19, there are regular updates about international travel and border procedures, as well as immigration processes. To help Laurier’s International students stay informed, Laurier International has compiled a list of frequently asked questions, which will be updated as more information becomes available.
5. Software and Technical Resources for Students: Laurier's ICT department has developed a list of tools and resources to help students learn remotely, including information about accessing Microsoft Office, AppsAnywhere, computer labs and contacting the Service Desk for support. The site will continue to be updated as we receive additional requests from our community and more resources become available.
6. The Laurier Bookstore announced that to help you complete your studies, VitalSource, a leading eBook provider, is providing free access to digital learning materials through the remainder of the Winter 2020 term. You will be able to access up to seven e-books from participating publishers at no cost from March 23 to April 30, 2020.
7. Simon Coulombe, assistant professor of psychology, and Tyler Pacheco, a graduate student in community psychology, are studying the effects of social isolation on Canadian workers in real time in their study, “Overcoming the unseen: The effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the mental health of Canadian-based workers.” The research team aims to determine how social distancing measures like working from home impact individuals’ mental health, family relationships, finances and overall wellbeing. They also seek to provide recommendations on workplace policies and government legislation that could minimize the negative impacts. Read the full news release.