The University is planning to offer in-person programming next year, pandemic permitting.

The Office of the Provost sent an email to students on Wednesday afternoon detailing plans for expanding on-campus activities in the 2021-22 academic year.

The University is planning to offer small classes, labs, and tutorials in-person in Fall 2021, with proper safety protocols in place. It expects larger classes to be delivered remotely, should public health restrictions like physical distancing and class size limitations remain in place.

“We will still be living with COVID-19 in the fall, so flexible options may still be required as appropriate,” Mark Green, provost and vice-principal (academic), wrote in the email.

The University is “cautiously optimistic” it will be able to offer a full return to normal, on-campus operations in Winter 2022. This decision will depend on the vaccine distribution timeline, government regulations, and public health guidance.

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These decisions are being made by the Academic Operations Group, the Campus Operations Group, and the Senior Leadership Team. 

According to Green, these groups consider public health advice, government regulations, international travel restrictions, forecasts of the Canadian vaccine roll-out, student needs, and various consultations when making decisions.

“I know this past year has been challenging, and I want to thank the Queen’s community again for all you have done to adapt to these difficult circumstances and limit the spread of COVID-19,” Green wrote. 

The University will continue to update its plans for the upcoming academic year on the official COVID-19 website.