Dear King’s students,
We’re excited that many of you will be returning to campus soon! Given the different circumstances of the public health situation this winter, we understand there will be anxiety about the return to campus so we thought the following FAQ would be helpful.
The information you’ll find here deals mainly with academics and classroom protocols. Check your email regularly for information about wider campus Covid-19 safety procedures. As always, consult the student support directory for resources to keep yourself safe this semester.
Best wishes,
Sarah
Sarah Clift
Vice-President
Academic Q&A: Returning to campus for Winter 2022
Is it safe to be back on campus?
Yes, it is safe to be on campus. King’s classrooms are made safe because close to 99% of King’s students, faculty and staff are fully vaccinated, and everyone on campus is required to stay home when they are sick. Ventilation systems in classrooms are operating at an increased capacity. Additionally, everyone on campus is required to wear a three-ply mask. Students must always wear three-ply masks when attending classes, including when entering and exiting the room. Students should not bring food or drink that requires them to remove their mask entirely. Together, these measures create safe spaces to resume in-person learning.
How can I attend my virtual classes while I’m on campus?
Several classrooms on campus have, for certain times of the day, been designated as Quiet Rooms. These rooms are set aside for you in case you need a quiet place to connect to Wi-Fi and attend virtual classes. Consult the Quiet Rooms directory for details on the schedule and location of these rooms.
What will happen with my participation in classes if I’m sick?
If you’re sick, it’s crucial that you stay home. Instructors have individual discretion over making accommodations, but students who are self-isolating will not be penalized for their absence. For your part, be sure to communicate with your instructor as soon as possible if you will be absent, and they will inform you of how to continue participating in the class.
What happens if I test positive for Covid?
In the event a student who has recently been in an in-person class tests positive, they are encouraged to inform their instructor so that other students can be made aware that a potential exposure has occurred. Students should rest assured that their instructor will be careful to safeguard the student’s privacy by not disclosing their identity. Instructors are not being asked to perform follow-up contact tracing.
The current direction from Public Health directs close contacts to monitor for symptoms and to contact Public Health for testing. Close contacts with symptoms must stay home. Close contacts with no symptoms are still permitted to do essential activities, such as attending classes. They must continue to closely follow all Public Health directives, including wearing masks and physical distancing. Additional information can be obtained from Public Health.
Students can also email ukcscreen@ukings.ca to obtain assistance in finding out about the latest direction from Public Health.
What if I want to drop a class?
The deadline to add or drop classes without financial implications was January 14. You can complete the Application for Waiver of Academic Regulation Form (found in the Web for Students section of Dal Online) to apply to be considered for retroactively adjusting your registration for the winter term. If you wish to adjust your registration, please discuss options for each course with your instructor first. You may also wish to talk through any impacts of changing your registration on your plans with an advisor. Please email registrar@ukings.ca to set up an advising appointment.
The last day to drop a Winter Term course without a “W” is Friday, January 28, and the last day to drop a full-year course without a “W” is Monday, January 31.
