“This is the first time since fall 2019 that we welcomed so many people to campus—the energy that the new term is bringing is something we have all missed,” said Jay Wilson, interim vice-provost teaching, learning, and student experience. “September will be an important month for all of us to come together and support our students, many who may not be familiar with the campus yet and have not attended classes in person before due to the pandemic.
“I hope everyone enters this fall term with some extra patience for themselves and for others. This will be a time of relearning, reconnecting and recovery, and I hope for many this also feels like a time of new optimism.”
Today, the 2022 Fall Term first-day-of-classes enrolment snapshot was released online. More detailed enrolment information will be available after the fall term census day in October.
Wilson said graduate and international student enrolment numbers are strong and compared to the first day of classes last year grew by 3.4 per cent and 6.2 per cent, respectively. He said he continues to watch fall class registration activity, with a keen eye on external factors, such as study permit processing delays that may affect some students.
“I believe these numbers reflect students’ desire to join us in person, on campus,” said Wilson. “Some students delayed their start dates, but now that travel restrictions have been lifted and on-campus teaching has resumed, students are ready to come back and that’s exciting.”
Wilson said students continuing their studies at USask this term may be learning in-person for the first time and said programming typically promoted to new students is being made available to all students.
“Our second- and third-year students could be joining us for the first time in person,” said Wilson. “So, we are making sure everyone is aware of the on-campus supports available. We want to provide an inclusive environment for all our learners, regardless of where they are coming from and where they are in their studies.”
This year, a variety of fall welcome programming was offered in person and virtually for all students to attend.