Principal Patrick Deane held a virtual town hall for Queen’s faculty and staff to discuss ongoing planning for the Fall 2020 term. Joining the Principal were Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Mark Green, Vice-Principal (Finance and Operations) Donna Janiec, Vice-Principal (Research) Kim Woodhouse, and Special Advisor on COVID-19 David Walker. Together, they shared their thoughts on how the university will be responding to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, and answered question on topics ranging from autumn program delivery methods and research, to health and safety and employee supports.

Stephanie Simpson, Associate Vice-Principal (Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion), hosted the discussion, following a welcome and introduction from Janice Hill (Kanonysyonne), Associate Vice-Principal (Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation).

“The strength of our institution depends on the health, happiness, and prosperity of everyone in it,” said Principal Deane during his opening remarks to over 1,300 employees who joined in the virtual gathering. “In the shadow of a global health crisis like this we all feel vulnerable, so any opportunity for certainty gives us consolation. Our community of staff, faculty, and students has showed remarkable resilience, patience, and dedication as the university continues to respond to this complex global health crisis, and while we continue to move forward senior leadership will be doing all that we can to provide further clarity and support.”

Principal Deane highlighted that the most pressing issue expressed by faculty and staff was preparation for the fall semester.

“The university is planning for a number of scenarios, and our primary concern remains the health and safety of our community,” he said. “Our hope, of course, is that operations will resume as normal, but this is not realistic. We will most likely see a phased-in approach to our return to campus, with many, if not most courses being delivered remotely.”

What will Fall term course delivery look like?

In planning for a variety of Fall term scenarios, university leadership is working closely with local and provincial government and public health authorities to look at how the institution can advance our educational and research mission while maintaining full support of the city’s management of the current health and economic challenges.

“It is becoming increasingly unlikely that public health circumstances will allow a return to normalcy by the fall,” says Provost Green. “While this does challenge the in-person experience for which we are renowned, I am confident that our spirit of innovation and collaboration will guarantee an outstanding fall semester for our students.”

Discussion of fall planning also extended to issues relating to faculty and staff, with questions posed to the speakers about employment outlook and an eventual return to the workplace.

“The university is about its community and, as we find ourselves in this situation, preserving that community has been of paramount importance to me and the senior leadership team,” says Principal Deane.

Employees who could work from home have been doing so for many weeks, and essential workers continue to do exceptional work on campus, however a small number of those whose jobs depended upon services that can no longer be provided in a remote workplace have been issued a temporary lay-off.

“We are seeing this as temporary and we expect to have all of our employees back to campus as soon as it is possible,” says Donna Janiec, Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration). “The planning for a phased-in return to operations is moving ahead and will incorporate measures to see the community back together as health and safety guidelines permit.”

The university continues to work with these employees to assist them in accessing federal relief programs, like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

Following evolving public health advice

In planning for a phased-in return to operations, the university is in close consultation with public health officials. Though the term will be largely remote for most students and many employees, certain programs in the Faculty of Health Sciences and a limited number of graduate research programs will be offered in person.  Some students will be on campus for these programs and others may choose to return to the city even if their studies are largely remote.

“So far, Queen’s and Kingston has done excellent work on prevention, which will now have to be amplified by our ability to monitor this situation as some students return in the fall,” says Dr. Walker. “We continue to work closely with public health officials on these plans and are looking at many strategies that will help mitigate risks, as faculty, staff, and students eventually transition back to campus.”

A video recording of the townhall session will be made available on the Principal’s website in the coming days. Those questions submitted but not answered during the live broadcast due to time constraints will be shared anonymously with senior leadership and be addressed as well.

More information on planning for Fall 2020 can also be found in an update on the Provost’s Office website.