COVID-19 Update
Classes at Lakehead University will officially move online, beginning Wednesday, March 18th.
The announcement comes after a string of event cancellations, including the 32nd annual LUNSA Powwow, scheduled to take place at the C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse this weekend.
A message from Lakehead University President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Moira McPherson was emailed to students on Friday, March 13th, announcing the change:
“Since December 2019, Lakehead University has been working through its emergency planning processes to assess and be prepared to respond to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. Following recent developments and our ongoing contingency planning at Lakehead, we have updated the next phase of our Institution’s action plan in response to COVID-19.”
“Lakehead University is cancelling classes on Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17 to provide instructors, faculty, and academic support staff the time to prepare to deliver course content in alternative ways… Starting Wednesday, March 18 and for the remainder of the term, Lakehead University will be delivering all of its courses using online or alternative modes of delivery.”
Several other universities in Ontario made similar announcements Friday, including York University, Ryerson University, and University of Toronto. Laurentian University was the first in Canada to move online, making the announcement Wednesday, after a case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Sudbury.
While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Thunder Bay or Orillia, a graduate student at Lakehead University, who prefers to remain anonymous, told The Argus: “It makes a lot of sense to decrease population density on campus, and supports people who may be wanting to stay home at this time anyway just to be cautious.”
Though courses have moved online, both Lakehead campuses will remain open, including residences, libraries, research facilities, laboratories, athletic facilities, student health and wellness services, and food services.
However, The Outpost Campus Pub and The Study Coffeehouse, which are run by the Lakehead University Student Union, will be closed March 16th and 17th. All events at both venues have been cancelled until further notice.
In a message delivered to students just hours after the online class announcement, LUSU says they “will reevaluate as the situation progresses,” but for now, their offices and centres will remain open.
According to the university’s announcement, any exams set to take place on March 16th and 17th will be rescheduled. Additionally, the university is working on developing “alternate solutions” for “specific academic programs [that] may have unique requirements,” presumably those with placement hours.
More information is expected early next week. You can stay updated here: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/about/coronavirus