Dear members of the 捆绑SM社区 community,鈥赌��
We are writing to share some details about what the next two weeks will look like for 捆绑SM社区 students, faculty and staff as the University follows the鈥疩uebec government鈥檚鈥痙ecision to temporarily close鈥痑ll schools and universities.鈥疘t is important to note that the situation is extremely鈥痜luid鈥痑nd this two-week closure may be extended; thank you for your understanding as we navigate these uncertain times together.鈥赌�
The University fully supports the Quebec government鈥檚 decision and is committed to helping contain the propagation of COVID-19 by 鈥渇lattening the curve,鈥� so that health services do not collapse under the resulting patient load.鈥疶o promote social distancing, we are implementing measures to have fewer individuals on, or commuting to, our campuses.
We understand that this situation can be extremely stressful, both in people鈥檚 personal lives and in their academic and professional careers. While we can鈥檛 completely assuage this anxiety, we hope that providing clear communication regarding 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 operation in the coming weeks will help clarify the situation.鈥赌�
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Teaching and assessments鈥�
While academic activities lie at the core of 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 mission, they are being suspended鈥痠n light of鈥痶he government directive.鈥疉ll classes (in-person鈥�and鈥痮nline), teaching labs, exams, assignments and other forms of assessment are suspended for two weeks 鈥� except thesis defenses. Students with thesis defenses are asked to contact their supervisors to discuss possible alternatives.鈥疭ome鈥痩imited online instruction will proceed with critical disciplines in the Faculty of Medicine.
Be assured that we are committed to ensuring that all courses that can be taught online will be in an online format starting on March鈥�30. The goal is to ensure that as many students as possible鈥痑re able to鈥痗omplete most, if not all, of their academic term remotely. Alternative formats for final examinations are also being explored so that the examination period will not involve in-person sit-down examinations on our campuses. We recognize that this will not work for some courses and programs, and for some students, and we are therefore evaluating alternatives for these situations.
During the next two weeks, instructors will contact students about how teaching will resume after the suspension period, and any possible adjustments to modes of assessment.鈥�
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Research鈥�
We realize that a ramp down of on-campus research may represent significant hardship for those involved in certain research projects that are in progress. Unfortunately, due to the current crisis and the importance of preserving the health and safety of our community, the government's and 捆绑SM社区's default position is that all non-essential research activities on campus must be postponed or halted in the short term. Ultimately, we must accept that the current COVID-19 situation is a unique emergency that requires exceptional measures that will inevitably have important impacts on everyone's work. 捆绑SM社区 is in communication with funding agencies to address the resulting issues.
Faculty deans will shortly send out detailed steps to take as well as the process that allows you to request an extension or exemption from the ramp-down.
Graduate Students who have questions related to the continuation of their research activities in this context should contact their Graduate Program Directors and/or the Associate Deans at鈥�Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.鈥�
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Workplace鈥�
As per clarifications from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, 捆绑SM社区 will remain operational for the duration of the two-week suspension, beginning on Tuesday, March 17, but only necessary functions and activities will be provided on campus.鈥�
鈥疷nless otherwise notified, employees are to work remotely whenever possible for the duration of the two-week suspension period. Supervisors will contact employees to determine which functions will be maintained over this period, who is to perform their duties, and how. We ask everyone to adjust tasks, set priorities, and redistribute work as they are able.
Employees are asked to consult鈥疘T鈥檚鈥痝uidelines for remote work at鈥�,鈥痺here guidance is provided under 鈥淢eeting & Collaborating Remotely.鈥�鈥�鈥�
Academic and support staff are asked to use the following tools:鈥�
- Zoom will soon be available to all instructors for teaching and learning activities鈥赌�
- MS Teams is currently available to all employees for all collaborative work (web conferencing, chat, etc.)鈥赌�
- WebEx will soon be available to employees for all Web conferencing needs.鈥赌�
It has been decided not to use Skype as the product is nearing end of life.鈥�
All academic and administrative staff, including casual and work-study employees who were scheduled to work over the two-week suspension period, will be paid.
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Health鈥�
Once again,鈥痺e strongly encourage people to continue practicing proper鈥�health precautions, including washing their hands often and covering their mouth and nose with their arm when coughing or sneezing.鈥赌�
Should you develop a fever, cough or begin to have difficulty breathing, you should:鈥�
- isolate yourself from others as quickly as possible鈥�
- immediately call鈥�1-877-644-4545鈥�
- describe your symptoms and travel history鈥�
- follow their instructions carefully鈥�
If you have decided or been advised to self-isolate:鈥�
- All students: report your situation to your student affairs office or your department.鈥�
- Students living in residence: report your status by contacting Student Housing and Hospitality Services at鈥�housing.residences [at] mcgill.ca. Self-reporting will ensure that assistance is provided to you and services are maintained.鈥赌�
- Employees: report your status by contacting your immediate supervisor.鈥�
Note: Rest assured that this information will be treated confidentially.
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Student Services will remain in operation but by phone and online. The Wellness Hub will be closed over the coming week and will move to online operations.
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Students will continue to have access to a number of health services. Students have virtual access to doctors via the鈥�Maple app. Moreover, Keep.meSAFE, a mental health counselling service offered to students in partnership with SSMU and PGSS, provides鈥�24/7 access鈥�to licensed counsellors through telephone and mobile chat in more than 60 languages. To access this service, download the鈥疢ySSP鈥痑pp in the鈥�Apple App Store鈥痮谤鈥�Google Play.鈥�
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Libraries
All 捆绑SM社区 libraries are closed until March 30. Online library services will still be available during this period.鈥�鈥�Please note the following:
- The Library is offering a retrieval service for research print materials from downtown libraries. Only items that can normally circulate can be requested via a form that will be accessible on the Library鈥檚 homepage and FAQ page.
- Materials from Macdonald Campus Library are not available鈥痑t this time.
- Physical items placed on course reserves will not be available at this time.鈥�
- Reference services will be moving online for the next two weeks:鈥�Chat, email or text a librarian鈥痜rom Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting Monday, March 16.鈥赌�
A link to a FAQ page outlining the Library鈥檚 contingency plan will be available on the Library鈥檚鈥�homepage鈥痮n Monday, March 16.鈥�鈥�
Services鈥�
All 捆绑SM社区 Athletics & Recreation facilities are closed until March 30.鈥�
Food services will remain open with regular鈥�hours of service鈥痠n all residential dining halls (except Douglas Hall), Starbucks, Premiere Moisson and鈥疶wiggs鈥痑t Macdonald campus. All other food service locations on campus will be closed.鈥赌�
捆绑SM社区鈥檚 shuttle service between the downtown and Macdonald campuses will operate on the same鈥�reduced schedule鈥痑s per reading week.
The鈥疷niversity鈥痺ill鈥痗ontinue to update the鈥痗ommunity鈥痑s the situation develops and following further government instructions.鈥�
Please see the鈥�coronavirus page鈥痮f the 捆绑SM社区 website for the most current information.鈥赌赌赌�
If you have any questions, write to鈥�COVID-19.info [at] mcgill.ca.鈥赌赌赌�
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Sincerely,
Christopher Manfredi, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)
Yves Beauchamp, Vice-Principal (Administration and Finance)
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