McMaster University announces plan to delay start of winter term classes
Published November 19, 2020 at 2:36 pm
McMaster University announced on Thursday (Nov. 19) that they would be delaying the start of winter term classes until January 11, 2021.
The university announced that while it will reopen after the holiday on Jan. 4, the school’s Virtual Learning Task Force recommended that class start times be moved to a later date to help staff and students ‘recharge.’
“This change in the starting day for most classes will give faculty, instructors and staff the opportunity to spend their working time the week of January 4th on preparation for the winter term,” a letter signed by the university’s provost, Susan Tighe, said.
“The delay also gives students time to recharge and those who went home for their Christmas break the chance to isolate for an additional week to help limit any potential COVID-19 cases.”
Classes will be extended into the exam period which will be adjusted so there is no overlap between classes and exams and the overall winter term will end as originally scheduled, the letter explains.
Reading Week is also expected to take place as planned during the week of February 15th.
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There are a couple programs, however, that will still have to start on Jan. 4th. They include:
- Faculty of Health Sciences programs, except for the Bachelor of Health Sciences, will begin classes the week of January 4th as originally planned
- Graduate student thesis defences already planned for the week of January 4th will also go ahead as scheduled
Mac’s announcement comes a day after Ontario’s minister of education, Stephen Lecce, announced that there will be no extended holiday for elementary and secondary students across the province.
Lecce said provincial COVID-19 protocols for schools are enough to keep kids safe.
— with a file from The Canadian Press
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