Students are returning in-person and online

Acadia University continues to be in Phase 4 of our Return to Campus Safely Plan.

During the Winter Term, Phase 4 allowed for a gradual return of students so they could complete 14-days of self-isolation (quarantine) required for people entering Nova Scotia from everywhere except Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Self-isolating students must complete a daily digital check-in and can also expect routine visits from local law enforcement to ensure compliance.

Students not requiring quarantine (self-isolation) are allowed into their residence on January 17. Classes begin on Monday, January 18.

Testing is strongly recommended

• Public Health is advising those in self-isolation to have COVID-19 testing on day 6, 7, or 8 of their self-isolation, even if they don’t have symptoms.
• Students, or any member of Acadia's community, who are not in quarantine and not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can also attend a Pop-Up Rapid Test Clinic in the Acadia Chapel on January 19 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.
• If any student is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms they must complete a COVID-19 self-assessment.
• Students need to self-isolate for the full 14 days, even with negative test results.
• Students can’t attend in-person classes until their self-isolation is complete and they receive negative test results (when testing was required).
• Campus members with questions related to self-isolation and testing requirements at Acadia can contact our Occupational Health Nurse caroliina.landry@acadiau.ca for help.

Some students will be in quarantine when class begin

Most students required to self-isolate arrived in time to complete the 14-day process before classes. However, recent provincial changes to entry requirements mean students from New Brunswick and some international students will arrive later and will need to be in quarantine at the start of the term.

When possible, students living in residence who need to quarantine will be accommodated in their originally assigned room. Acadia has Public Health-approved protocols in place to ensure the wellbeing of all students living in residence.

Follow campus signage

Acadia's COVID-19 planning for students in residence includes using "bubbles" within residences to allow our students to have limited, safe interaction and dining, and outdoor exercise opportunities while in self-isolation.

You will see signage in designated areas on campus that are restricted for students in self-isolation to use. Only authorized individuals are allowed in these locations, which are mostly adjacent to and in residences on campus.

There are also restrictions in place in the dining hall and laundry areas to accommodate late-arriving students who must self-isolate (quarantine). This will allow for enhanced cleaning of these areas and ensure the wellbeing of our campus community.

All campus members are reminded to use the contact-tracing terminals at building entries by tapping their Acadia identification card until the beep and light indicators are set off.

Stay safe

Pop-Up Rapid Test Clinic on campus Tuesday, January 19, 2021

All members of Acadia's campus community, who are not in quarantine and not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, can attend a pop-up rapid test clinic in the Acadia Chapel on Tuesday, January 19 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.

No appointment is required.

To check your symptoms, visit Acadia's symptom checker. Be sure to use it every day before arriving on campus or leaving your residence room.

We are in this together

Acadia currently has one student diagnosed with COVID-19 who is self-isolating on our campus. So far, they are in good health and good spirits and we wish them well.

We sincerely thank our students, faculty, and staff for being responsible and following public health and campus recommendations to keep themselves and others safe from the spread of COVID-19. By following public health authority recommendations, we will have the best chance to have a meaningful educational experience in our Winter Term.

Any student who is self-isolating is encouraged to reach out for guidance on course participation when they cannot attend in-person. Our staff in Residence Life, Counselling, and Safety and Security are assisting our on-campus students. Resources for our students self-isolating off-campus are also available through the Acadia Students' Union.

Although it is a new year, we are still operating at a time of a global pandemic. Thank you for being a part of the Acadia community and doing your part to protect our community.