Academic Planning for 2020-21

Fall term will be delivered in three formats — unscheduled courses (online only), scheduled courses (online only), and scheduled courses with online and on-campus elements. Academic planning, led by the provost in consultation with faculty members, researchers, and librarians, also includes many scenarios and contingency plans.

Planning for the academic year has been constructed to offer flexibility for students and faculty alike. We are planning for a fall term where we have students in Sackville (either in residence or their own off-campus accommodation) as well as those studying online.

We also appreciate that we will have students who may want to study online based on personal preference and/or travel challenges. Students living outside the region will be residing in different time zones, potentially making courses with scheduled class times difficult to manage; therefore, unscheduled courses with online delivery are offered to address this situation.

Course formats for Fall 2020 will include:

• Online instruction only: Virtual instruction with specific class times as noted in the course timetable for lectures and other activities. Faculty and instructors also have the flexibility to integrate additional online activities directly with the class and /or individual students.
• Online instruction with on-campus elements: Courses in the sciences, music, and fine arts are among those that often require some on-campus activities to complete course requirements. Mount Allison has put together a comprehensive list of courses to be delivered with online/on-campus elements. On-campus activities will include labs, tutorials, and studio components. Classrooms, labs, and studios will undergo a number of adjustments consistent with public health guidelines and the continuing need for physical distancing.
• Unscheduled, online instruction: These courses are not scheduled in the timetable, and as such provide students with the flexibility to complete a course based primarily on their own schedule. They will provide flexible options for students who wish to study online and/or who will be residing outside the province in time zones that would make it difficult for them to align with courses scheduled in the Atlantic Time Zone.

Course registration for the fall and winter terms is now open for all students (new and returning). Additional information and FAQs around course registration and delivery is available on the Registrar's Office website.

Academic support services such as the Library, Meighen Centre, and Experiential Learning and Career Development will continue to operate. Health and wellness programming, counselling services, peer tutoring, and academic advising will be delivered in a virtual or in-person format, following Public Health guidelines, and will be communicated at a later date.

A range of instructional supports are also being developed for faculty through the Purdy Crawford Teaching Centre at Mount Allison. These will be communicated to all instructors over the coming months to support the development of curriculum and teaching strategies aligned with the revised course delivery models.

Residence accommodations for 2020-21

Residences will be open this fall to accommodate students. Residences, the dining hall, and food services on campus always operate with a central focus on the well-being of students.

• For 2020-21 residence rooms will house one student only. All rooms will be singles.
• A structured move-in process will be developed to ensure physical distancing practices and public safety.
• Common areas will be reconfigured to adhere to physical distancing.
• The dining hall will operate as normal with changes being implemented to follow Public Health protocols.
• At this time, Public Health guidelines require students coming to Mount Allison from outside New Brunswick to self-isolate for 14 days. The University will support residence students to enable them to safely self-isolate on campus.

Over the summer a number of new health and safety measures are being put in place for the fall term, all designed to support student health upon arrival and throughout the academic year.

The University will have a detailed plan to ensure health and safety including face masks, self-monitoring tools, protocols to follow for illness, and processes to address COVID-19 testing if needed.

These plans conform to New Brunswick's current stage in its Recovery Plan (Stage 3 or Yellow) and follow specific recommendations for educational institutions.

Contingency plans for any changes in these recommendations (e.g., should the province experience a second wave of illness and need to move back in the recovery plan) are also being developed. Details on these scenarios and what they might mean for Mount Allison will be shared accordingly.

Faculty and student researchers who require specific campus facilities began moving back to campus as of May 25.

Information on return to campus planning and protocols can be found on the University's return to campus activities page. Operational plans for each area are being developed under the Government of New Brunswick's Phased Recovery Planning guidelines and are required before a campus return.

The majority of staff across the University are still working remotely but will be gradually returning to work in the next month or two.

The University campus remains closed to the public until further notice.

Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau
President and Vice-Chancellor