Message to Campus - No change in on-campus protocols


Update, September 14: Please note that the Province of Nova Scotia has decided to delay moving to Phase 5 until at least October 4.


Dear Acadia community member,

Nova Scotia will enter Phase 5 of its reopening plan on September 15 in anticipation of achieving a 75% full vaccination rate in the province. While that means changes in Public Health requirements off-campus, Acadia University will continue to follow its current health and safety measures on campus. As our commitment to the safety of students, employees, campus service providers, and the broader Wolfville community remains of paramount importance, there will be no change to our on-campus protocols at this time. We will reassess in the coming weeks.

Acadia's core measures include multiple layers of protection:

  • full vaccination for as many people as possible
  • regular rapid testing for everyone, especially for those not fully vaccinated
  • on-campus vaccination clinics
  • regular on-campus asymptomatic rapid testing clinics
  • on-campus symptomatic testing centre
  • daily self-assessment checks
  • separate facility for self-isolation of residence students when deemed necessary
  • mask wearing when indoors in non-exempt spaces and when physical distance can't be maintained
  • physical distancing of one metre or more in specified areas
  • frequent hand hygiene
  • enhanced sanitizing of high-touch surfaces
  • maximum fresh air exchange
  • a required student pledge to get vaccinated if eligible and able and to follow the public health and behavioural measures in place (note that Acadia's Student Code of Conduct applies to off-campus as well as on-campus behaviour)
  • minimal public access to campus (exceptions include the fitness centre, Woodland Trails, Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens, and the electric vehicle charging station)

We will continue to work with public health and government partners and reassess our approach. We will provide an update by the end of September. Additionally, we are investigating what the proof of vaccine requirements for non-essential activities announced by the province of Nova Scotia will mean in practical terms for Acadia. As details become available for our sector, we will update the campus.

In the meantime, Acadia Athletics is working with Atlantic University Sport (AUS) so that student-athletes can compete safely across the Atlantic provinces. Details of its protocols are available in the AUS news release.

Thank you for working together

We must remain vigilant on our campus as we begin our academic term. Acadia offers asymptomatic rapid testing weekly on Mondays and Thursdays and upcoming vaccination clinics on September 14 and September 16 (no appointments necessary) for students, employees, and campus service providers. Additional vaccination clinics may be scheduled based upon demand. Learn more on our clinic information calendar.

Thank you for doing your part to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 and its variants. If the past 18 months taught us anything, it has been that we must be supportive as we work together through rapid change. We have been successful so far in our efforts, so let's keep it up and stay safe.

Sincerely,

Dr. Peter Ricketts
President and Vice-Chancellor

Dr. Dale Keefe
Provost and Vice-President, Academic

Mr. Chris Callbeck
Vice-President, Administration and Chief Financial Officer


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Need Answers?

Contact residencelife@acadiau.ca for residence-related COVID-19 inquiries, and visit our Student Services page for mental health support and more.

Employees should speak with their direct supervisor.