Dear Students,

As you are aware in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff, and faculty, all classes in progress have been moved online and are proceeding on schedule.  We will also continue to offer scheduled programs that start in May fully online until further notice.

As a result of the today’s declaration of a state of emergency by the Ontario Government, designed to enhance social distancing, York University will be maintaining only required services on campus. Please see the University announcement below.

As of Wednesday March 18, 2020, all School of Continuing Studies operations and programs will be conducted remotely. All staff will be working remotely. All offices will be closed. All courses will be online.

Implications for Students:

• Students can contact our offices by phone or email, as usual. Please expect slower response times as we adapt to this rapidly changing situation. We appreciate your flexibility and patience.
• Students can also contact their instructor via email or through the Learning Management System, Moodle.
• Many international students are leaving Canada and are currently travelling. We are working on methods to try to accommodate these situations to allow as many students as possible to complete their programs, should they wish to do so.
• Since our reception desks will be closed, all outstanding payments can be made by credit card, through a Canadian bank, or via wire transfer. For the latter two options, it is critically important that payments are directed specifically to the School of Continuing Studies bank account. If you require assistance, please contact regscs@yorku.ca.
• All updates will continue to be sent to students by email and posted here.

Thank you for your understanding during this time of unprecedented disruption. We urge you to follow the advice of your local Public Health agency and reach out to the available resources if you have any health or wellness concerns. In Ontario, support is available through a new online self-assessment, through TeleHealth Ontario, and through new dedicated testing centres.

We are committed to providing you with additional information as it becomes available.

Together we can meet the challenge, and do our part to flatten the curve of the pandemic. Please care of yourself and others.

School of Continuing Studies
York University

---

This morning Premier Ford declared an emergency and new public health guidelines were released. To ensure the health and safety of our campus communities and to prevent the risk and spread of COVID-19, we are moving to offer only required services on our campuses. Effective by end of day Thursday, March 19, buildings on our campuses will close with limited access as needed for required services.

Effective immediately, legally required closures include:

• Libraries
• Child care centres
• Dine-in food facilities – only take-out or delivery is available
• Other changes could come into effect and will be communicated

Transition to Required Services

The University will continue to support our students to complete their academic term — with required employees physically present on campus and all others working off-campus in a virtual mode.

York has continuity plans to guide this shift in operations. Managers will work closely with staff regarding the transition with the goal of having all non-required staff working from home no later than end of day, Thursday, March 19. Implementation details will continue to be communicated to the community through e-mail with follow up from managers, as well as through our website and social media.

We intend to operate virtually as much as possible.

The University is fully committed to helping our students complete the term.

• Our academic plans to complete the term by shifting to various online learning strategies will continue.
• Support for faculty moving their courses to electronic formats will continue.
• Food services and residences will be available for those who cannot return home due to travel restrictions, health, personal circumstances, or various obligations.
• Those in residences who can return home should do so immediately.
• York International is encouraging all students currently studying abroad to come home if they are able.
• Details on final exams will be forthcoming.
• Further information will be forthcoming on how students can access library resources and services online.

Please note that while the University has moved to a required services model, employees will continue to be paid for any currently scheduled days/shifts. Employees may be redeployed to other critical work priorities.

York is committed to continuing ongoing research

• Researchers are encouraged not to start, or submit, any new research protocols requiring on-campus activities. Researchers should also assess the needs for ongoing projects.
• Researchers, their staff, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars should ensure they have the necessary tools, materials and data to continue work remotely where possible.

York is committed to the wellness and well-being of our entire community

We know this situation is causing anxiety and stress for our community. The University offers comprehensive supports that will continue despite the move to a required services model.

• Students: Dedicated staff will continue to provide support to help students manage their academics and well-being. If they’re experiencing anxiety or stress, please encourage them reach out to Student Counselling & Development at 416-736-5297 or visit the website https://counselling.students.yorku.ca/ to learn about remote access of services. Other mental health & wellness resources are available here: https://mhw.info.yorku.ca/resources/resources-at-york/students/. If students need academic support, they can reach out to their course instructor, program office or Faculty advisor.

• Employees: York’s Employee Assistance Program can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week for immediate confidential help at 1-800-268-5211; TTY service is available at 1-800-363-6270.

As always, if you are sick, please stay home.

There are many new travel restrictions which York has communicated and can be found on our dedicated website. It is very important that students, faculty and staff inform themselves on these restrictions.

York employees who are impacted by this directive should speak with their supervisors as soon as possible. Public Health Ontario has resources available to help people learn how to properly self-isolate.

We recognize managers in units across campus may have questions and these can be directed to their Manager or their human resources representative.

More information will follow as it becomes available. If you have questions not addressed on York’s dedicated COVID-19 website please email coronavirusinfo@yorku.ca

Thank you.

I want to thank and acknowledge every member of our community for coming together to support each other. I am profoundly grateful to the faculty and staff who have undertaken all the work necessary to help our students complete their courses and to the staff working long hours to plan and respond to this emergency.

The fight against the pandemic is global, and it includes every one of us. Please take every precaution to keep you and your loved ones safe. We will get through this together, as a community, something which has always been York’s greatest strength.

To all of you, my sincere thanks.

Rhonda Lenton

President and Vice-Chancellor