Universities to offer more campus activities next term

The Globe and Mail 11 December 2021

Many of Canada’s largest universities say they will offer more on-campus activities and in-person lectures next term, as they come under pressure from students eager for a return to something resembling pre-pandemic campus life, writes Joe Friesen for The Globe and Mail.

But it’s a balancing act. The schools – which include the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia (UBC), McMaster, Queen’s and Western – must weigh the benefits of live lectures against possible health risks. They’re still awaiting details on the implications of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. And they’re hearing from students and faculty who have come to appreciate the convenience of online education.

At McMaster, 90% of instruction will be in person in the upcoming winter term, up from about 55% of course components this fall. At UBC, 96.5% of courses will have an in-person component, an increase from 93% over the fall term. At the University of Toronto, more than 80% of the university’s 12,500 courses will be in person next term, compared with 55% in the fall.
Full report on The Globe and Mail site

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