Additional details for winter term

As a reminder, USask has taken the following precautionary measures to ensure the continued health and safety of our campus community, effective January 4, 2022:

  • There will be a delayed start in many classes and programs until January 10. Please see the list of programs below. For classes beginning on January 10, the last day of classes is now April 8. Additional details for programs will come directly from colleges and schools. 
  • For the start of term, many classes and programs will temporarily be delivered remotely, with efforts in place to protect learning outcomes in labs and other experiential elements by using in-person delivery modes where possible.  
  • At this time, we expect the remote class delivery to be in place for two weeks, until January 24. The readiness of a shift back to in-person classes will be assessed in the interim, but the expectation is a return to in-person classes as soon as safe and reasonable to do so.
  • For students, it is imperative that you watch for and follow messages that come directly from your college and your instructors. If you do not see information about your program on the list below, contact the Dean of your college or your graduate supervisor.

Colleges/schools with a term start date of January 10, 2022

  • Agriculture and Bioresources 
  • Arts and Science 
  • Education (with exceptions for field placements) 
  • Edwards School of Business (except for the MBA program)
  • Engineering 
  • Johnson Shoyoma Graduate School of Public Policy
  • Kinesiology 
  • Pharmacy and Nutrition (except for Year 4 students)
  • Public Health

College/schools with the original term start dates

  • Dentistry (January 4)
  • Edwards School of Business MBA program (January 5)
  • Environment and Sustainability (January 5) 
  • Law (January 5)
  • Medicine (MD Program; January 4)
  • Nursing (January 4/5)
  • Pharmacy and Nutrition (Year 4; January 4)
  • Rehabilitation Sciences (January 4) 
  • Veterinary Medicine (January 4)

Students with questions about registration, withdrawal, or tuition payment deadlines should visit the Class Registration and Withdrawal Deadline website.

The following is a summary of other measures in place for the winter term: 

  • Anyone attending in-person learning or working at a USask location for the winter term is required to be fully vaccinated prior to the January start of term. Submitting rapid test results (or any other COVID test result) in place of full vaccination will no longer be an option for campus access, effective January 4.
  • Starting January 4, if you are not fully vaccinated or choose not to upload your vaccination status to PAWS, you cannot access USask campuses, workplaces, and facilities for any reason, including the PAC, Huskie games, libraries, dining facilities, and any building, office, and classroom. 
  • This full vaccination requirement also extends to all vendors and contractors on our campuses and work locations.
  • With the growing evidence of increased and enhanced protection for individuals and the health-care system, we recommend all members of the campus community obtain their vaccination booster shots as soon as eligible. Once you have received your booster shot, do not yet update your vaccination status in PAWS at this time. Information about campus expectations for booster shots will be shared in mid-January, as well as information on how to update your vaccination status in PAWS.
  • Opening dates and hours for university services may change for the start of the Winter term. Please follow these links for the most up to date information: Library, Physical Activity Complex (PAC), Campus Food Services, Student Residences, and the USask Bookstore. 
  • Student supports and services will all be available beginning January 4, primarily in a virtual format, for the first weeks of January. The Student Wellness Centre will be open with many health staff seeing students in-person and others conducting virtual appointments. Information regarding student supports and services will be continually updated and is available on USask’s COVID-19 site.
  • USask is requesting all employees who can work remotely to do so until January 24. Specific communications will come from your respective people leaders. Like class delivery, the readiness of a return to work on campus will be assessed prior to January 24.
  • Wearing a 3-ply single-use mask will be required on all USask campuses and in all work locations at all times. Cloth masks are not approved unless they are positioned over a 3-ply single-use mask.
  • As a measure of additional protection for yourself and others, everyone is encouraged to obtain the rapid test kits that have been made available by the province and test yourself prior to any gatherings in person with others. Availability of rapid testing kits can be confirmed here.
  • It is important to ensure that individuals who have any symptoms that may be due to CoVID-19, not come to campus until CoVID-19 has been ruled out by testing, or until the symptoms have resolved.   

Any additional changes will be communicated as soon as determined, including any new requirements or restrictions announced by public health. If you have any questions, please consult the FAQ for more information. 

On behalf of the PRT, have a safe and restful New Year’s!

Regards,
USask Pandemic Response and Recovery Team