Laurier pausing vaccination and mask requirements as of May 1

Print | PDF

Update April 12, 2022 

Responding to the recent increase of COVID-19 cases in our local communities, Wilfrid Laurier University will keep its mandatory face-covering policy in effect until May 31. We will reassess these requirements at the end of May.

March 22, 2022

Dear Laurier community,

We are writing today to give you an update on public health restrictions on our campuses that will come into effect May 1.

As the province of Ontario relaxes public health restrictions as part of the Roadmap to Reopen, and with the support of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Waterloo Region Public Health, and the Brant County Health Unit, Wilfrid Laurier University will pause its proof of vaccination and mask requirements beginning May 1.

These decisions are contingent on continued positive conditions in key public health indicators as determined by local and/or provincial public health. As we have done throughout the pandemic, Laurier will continue to follow recommendations from public health. Should these recommendations change, vaccination and mask requirements can be brought back on short notice.

Community members should remain up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, including third and fourth doses, as recommended by public health. The high vaccination rate in our Laurier community is one of the main reasons we are able to make the changes on May 1. Remaining up-to-date on your vaccination status will ensure your work or study is not disrupted, should vaccinations be required to access any of our campuses or locations in the future and/or the meaning of “fully vaccinated” changes to include additional doses.

Laurier strongly recommends continued use of masks in indoor spaces and will continue to provide masks to students, staff and faculty at no cost. We recognize that comfort levels around masking will vary. Please demonstrate consideration and care for each other during this transition. For students, instructors and university staff may request that you wear masks in instructional spaces and within their personal office spaces. We ask that you please be respectful of these requests as many members of our community have personal or family reasons for wearing masks.

Active daily symptom screening through the SAFEHawk app will also be paused as of May 1. Laurier community members should continue to self-monitor and refrain from attending campuses when ill.

We want to thank you for your continued consideration and commitment to keeping our community safe as we join others in the broader public sector in navigating this transition.

Important information for students:

• Should the vaccination requirement be reinstated, the university will not offer remote or hybrid options for in-person classes for students who do not meet the vaccination requirement. Failure to demonstrate proof of vaccination under a future mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy risks deregistration from in-person courses for students who cannot verify compliance.
• Any accommodation requests will be handled per the university’s normal processes and obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Important information for full-time and contract teaching faculty and staff:

• Human Resources will follow up directly with those who are impacted by these policy changes to provide information on next steps. Staff and faculty who are not up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations risk being put on unpaid leave should the vaccination requirement be reinstated.
• Any accommodation requests will be handled as per the university’s normal processes and our obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code. To ensure confidentiality, accommodation requests from faculty and staff should be directed to Human Resources.

We appreciate that these updates will be met with varying levels of comfort by members of our community. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Laurier has relied on public health guidance to protect the health and safety of the community. We remain committed to ensuring a safe and healthy in-person experience for our students, staff and faculty.

In addition to supplying masks for our community, we have enhanced ventilation and cleaning practices, and have ensured one of the highest rates of vaccination among any workplace or educational setting in the province. Please visit the COVID-19 recovery hub for more resources, including FAQs.

We recognize the pandemic has been an exceptionally challenging time and remain grateful to all of our Laurier community members who have demonstrated care and consideration for the health and safety of each other through this time.

Sincerely,

Deborah MacLatchy, PhD
President and Vice-Chancellor

Tony Vannelli, PhD
Provost and Vice-President: Academic