An open letter to the University of Guelph to delay the return of in-person learning has received support from numerous groups ahead of the slated return to in-person learning on Jan. 31.
The letter addresses the issues with the return to in-person learning, citing the belief the return to campus will accelerate community transmission and compromise the health and safety of the U of G and the Guelph community at large.
“The decision to return to campus on January 31st will have catastrophic consequences. As well as the immediate increased risk of illness, hospitalization, and death, COVID-19 has long-term effects which are not yet well understood, including the cluster of symptoms known as Long COVID. The University’s decision to return to campus will disproportionately affect marginalized members of the University community including people with disabilities and chronic health conditions, people with families, international students, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), and low-income people. As we have learned throughout the pandemic, low-income and BIPOC students are most likely to live in multi-generational homes with family members who are vulnerable to exposure. The stress and anxiety of potential exposure may cause significant mental health issues, and the inevitable absences of ill students and faculty will greatly impact course delivery. The quality of student learning will be significantly reduced under these stressors, and students should not be required to choose between their health and their education,” the letter reads.
The letter, which began circulating on social media on Monday morning, received over 100 signatures by mid-afternoon and had been shared across Twitter by U of G faculty and staff.
The letter states three key points the authors would like to see, which consist of calling for all students to be provided with the option to fulfill all course and program requirements remotely for the duration of the winter 2022, providing all teaching staff with the option to work remotely and offer increased support to those struggling with student engagement in an online format through the Office of Scholarship and Learning for the duration of the winter 2022 semester and provide and encourage the use of adequate PPE (N95 or equivalent masks) and sanitation procedures for all in-person activity on campus.
"We are all tired of this pandemic and would like to see a safe return to campus. However, the decision to move to in-person learning on January 31st at the University of Guelph poses a critical threat to the health and safety of our staff, students, and community members. No one should have to choose to sacrifice public and personal health in order to obtain an education," the letter reads.
Kinnery Chaparrel, the main author of the letter and a mature student at the U of G, said the hope of the letter is to establish the understanding that some students are terrified to go back to campus and there needs to be an ability to access educational resources.
"We're not asking for nobody to be allowed on campus, we're asking for the choice. We're asking for students to be able to choose, and instructors to be able to choose if they want to be on campus," said Chaparrel. As it is, when inevitably students or instructors get ill there is no way for them to engage in many of their classes."
Chapparrel said another hope is the letter stirs discussion at a U of G town hall planned for Thursday and provides a meaningful conversation that takes into account the student's voices that have been presented.
The letter can be viewed here.
"The University of Guelph’s priority for the Winter 2022 semester was preserving the quality of the academic, research and student experience while keeping the campus and greater Guelph community safe," said Lori Bona Hunt, director, integrated communications. "Learning and working together in person are critical to mental health and well-being for many students, faculty and staff. In-person learning and working also have positive impacts on learning outcomes and are fundamental to the U of G student experience. As we return to in-person teaching and learning, we will continue to prioritize health and safety and follow guidance from government and public health. The focus is on preventing the most serious negative health effects of COVID-19 and variants of concerns. We will continue to rely on proven public health measures, notably high vaccination rates on campus and in the greater Guelph community. We will also continue with our multi-layered approach to keeping our U of G community safe, including our vaccine mandate and enhanced mask-wearing policy."
Mary DeCoste, president of the University of Guelph Faculty Association said there are many UGFA members who are looking forward to a return to campus. There are many other UGFA members who, for various reasons, are reluctant to return to campus. The UGFA is currently negotiating a Letter of Understanding with the University administration that we hope will address the concerns of both of these groups.
In December, a letter from the UGFA said in part: "While we understand that a return date must be contemplated, we would have appreciated that the Administration engage with the UGFA about when that might be, given that a return to in-person course delivery depends upon the work of UGFA members."
This letter follows in the wake of letters addressed to the U of G from students and faculty when issues arose with the return to campus and in-person learning during the autumn semester.
Previously, a letter signed by over 200 University of Guelph graduate students was presented to the university outlining the concerns felt regarding the universities transparency, decision-making process and proposed plan for the upcoming semester.
The graduate letter followed an earlier letter calling for the U of G administration to revise the then-current return to campus plan to ensure the safety of the campus and broader Guelph communities.
