Update on ‘Return to Campus Plans’ for September
Message from President and Vice-Chancellor Dawn Russell—An Update on Our ‘Return to Campus Plans’ for September
Monday, March 22, 2021
As we approach registration for upper-year students (March 26, 29, 30), we are seeing positive signs indicating the possibility of a more traditional return to campus in September and so I wanted to provide you with an update.
Much of our optimism is driven by developments in New Brunswick. The Province is in the Yellow Phase and successfully expanded the household bubble to include 15 contacts (“Steady 15”) in March and has announced a High School Return-to-School Plan that will see students return to in-person learning in April. Conditional upon COVID-19 cases remaining low, the Atlantic Travel Bubble will reopen next month. The Province is also making progress on its vaccination plan and their goal is to have every New Brunswicker vaccinated by the end of June.
We are planning for the resumption of in-person classes in September, and students should expect to return to campus unless something significant changes with Public Health’s direction and guidelines. At the same time, we recognize that some students may not be able to return to campus this fall, and we will be working with faculty to ensure that those students will be able to access a number of courses remotely so they can begin or continue their studies.
Planning for a Return to STU Campus
As we work towards in-person classes for September, a variety of options—ranging from in-person, a blend of in-person/remote, and remote course delivery—remain part of the planning process. We are planning for all student spaces, including the Study Hall, Computer Lab, Great Hall, JB O’Keefe Fitness Centre, and Dining Services, to be open.
Residences
Residences (including the newly refurbished Vanier Hall) will be open. Applications for residence are being accepted now.
Current students can apply here.
Incoming first-year students can apply to live in residence through the online application portal once they have been accepted to STU. If you apply before April 15 you are guaranteed a room in one of our three Residences. To apply, go to your Application Portal and click on the “Next Steps” tab. You will find detailed instructions on how to apply for residence there.
Current Student Course Registration for September
The 2021-22 course offerings list is available for students on WebAdvisor and at Semester 1 Course Offerings and Semester 2 Course Offerings. The Course Registration page provides all the information that you need to register. We are encouraging students to enroll in the courses they wish to take next year. You will be able to adjust your course schedule depending on any adjustments that we may need to make. Students participating remotely should not expect their courses to be offered asynchronously and should plan to be available to participate in classes during the time the course is scheduled.
Incoming First-Year Student Course Registration for September
Course registration will open for incoming first-year students on Tuesday, April 19. Accepted applicants will receive information on how to register for their first year of courses via email approximately one week before registration opens. There will also be a First-Year Course Registration virtual event prior to registration opening on Wednesday, April 14 a 8:00 pm (ADT). Please watch your email and the STU social media channels for more information.
If you haven't applied to STU yet, apply today at STU.ca/applynow
In the coming weeks, we will be watching Public Health requirements, the evolution of the pandemic, travel requirements, and vaccine rollout. It is prudent for us to plan for a number of scenarios, to be flexible, and to make timely decisions so that you can prepare for the fall. As always, the safety and health of students, faculty, and staff will be paramount.
We know there are many questions to answer and we will have more information to share. In the meantime, please reach out to ask@stu.ca if you have any further questions.
Dawn Russell
President and Vice-Chancellor