As we begin the fall term, we are centralizing access to all pandemic recovery information through wlu.ca/recovery. There, you will find links to remote learning and student support, modified on-campus services and operations, health and safety protocols and frequently asked questions.

For access to all the information you need as a Laurier student, visit students.wlu.ca, continue to monitor your email for important updates, and follow Laurier on social media.

Thank you for your attention to the COVID-19 Digest from March-September – we look forward to keeping you informed at wlu.ca/recovery and students.wlu.ca!

September 3 key updates:

Message from the President: President and Vice-Chancellor Deb MacLatchy shared a statement with students today ahead of the start of the fall semester. “I know this is not how we expected the academic year to be. While it will be different and challenging, Laurier’s faculty and staff have been working tirelessly throughout the summer to develop creative solutions for delivering instruction, conducting research, preparing for fall, and supporting student success.” Read the full message to students.

Information about the winter 2021 semester: After careful consideration, the university has decided that the majority of the winter 2021 term will continue to be offered in a remote and online format with select in-person courses to be determined in consultation with the deans and academic leaders in the faculties. Read the full announcement from Provost and Vice-President: Academic Tony Vannelli.

Laurier welcomes undergraduate students to residence (Laurier video): To keep students and our community safe, residence will look different than it has in previous years. Take a look at how we’re working hard to make the student experience the best it can be in this video for residence students.

Teaching and Learning: Students registered with Accessible Learning requiring academic accommodation are reminded to log in to the Accessible Learning Online portal to activate their accommodation(s) and book their note-taking requests, tests, quizzes and exams.

Updated ICT Help Desk Hours: The ICT Service Desk remains available to you to help support your technical needs. The team will be offering limited on-campus support in addition to remote support in the fall term. To learn more about how you can contact ICT if you have any issues with technology you are using please visit the webpage.

New ICT Webpage: To better support students as we are getting ready for the fall term, ICT has revamped the Tech Support and Services webpage. On this page, you can easily navigate through resources about contacting the Service Desk, accessing your accounts, software availability, online computer labs and more. Visit the website and learn what the ICT team has to offer.

Laurier will hold fall convocation at a future date: We know that as the new academic year approaches, graduating students are eager to celebrate and share their achievements with family, friends, fellow students and mentors. Postponing fall convocation ceremonies to a future date will allow us to hold convocation in person and on campus so that graduating students can celebrate together with their family, friends and the rest of the Laurier community. Degrees and diplomas will be conferred in absentia by Chancellor Eileen Mercier on November 3.

Foundations in Teaching and Learning – Undergraduate Certificate: From explaining a concept to a peer, tutoring a friend, to coaching a soccer team, teaching can take various forms. The Foundations in Teaching and Learning certificate is an opportunity for undergraduate students to gain a foundation for success in various teaching opportunities they encounter on a daily basis. This certificate will help you identify the skills associated with teaching and learning activities and communicate them to future employers, colleagues, and mentors. The next intensive offering starts on September 21. Learn more and view upcoming dates on students.wlu.ca.

Get involved in virtual experiential learning | The shift to a mostly virtual fall means that you’ll get a chance to engage in experiential learning at a distance – find out how you can get involved inside and outside of your courses!

Reminders:

• Residence and move-in from Sept. 5 to 9: visit COVID-19 Residence Updates
• Current status of campus services and spaces
• 5 Keys to Success in Virtual Courses
• Fend Off Digital Fatigue
• Information for incoming first-year, undergraduate Hawks | Laurier 101
• Bookstore updates
• Fall semester FAQs
• Visit the website for a summary of previous digests and updates