Learning and living on campus may begin to return to normal this fall, with about two-thirds of classes expected to be held in person, more students living in university residences, and more opportunities for students to join in-person activities.
“I continue to be optimistic that as the vaccine rollout accelerates, and as infection rates decline, we will return to a more robust presence on campus,” President Sabah Randhawa wrote in a message to campus in March.
Almost all of Western’s classes—along with work in administrative offices—have been conducted remotely since March 2020.
Those who want to teach, learn or work remotely will continue to have that option this fall, Randhawa wrote. “Our aim is to progressively transition to a normal face-to-face operation over the course of the next academic year.”
Of course, how much teaching, learning and working takes place in-person this fall will ultimately depend on local and regional rates of infection. So social distancing and masking up—along with getting vaccinated—are essential in returning to in-person classes.