Students are back in class at Acadia University and the academic term will be completed on time following the four-week disruption to instruction during collective bargaining.  

Earlier this week, the University Administration and the Faculty Association agreed to binding arbitration to resolve outstanding issues related to the 16th Collective Agreement for 350 faculty, instructors, librarians, and archivists.  

At a meeting of the University Senate on March 2, it was determined that the University could complete the academic term by April 30 and Convocation can proceed as scheduled on May 8 and 9.   

“We are pleased to welcome our students and our professors, instructors, librarians, and archivists back to class and campus,” said Dr. Peter Ricketts, President and Vice-Chancellor. “Being able to complete the term on time will hopefully alleviate uncertainty and stress for our students. It is important for us to be back together as a community and focused on the University’s mission.” 

The University is working on addressing the issue of financial compensation for students for the class disruption and will communicate that with students directly.  

Academic dates have been adjusted to increase instruction time resulting in a slightly compressed exam timetable, which will be released on March 30, 2022.   

The new dates are as follows:  

• March 3: Classes resume
  
• March 30: Exam schedule to be posted  
• April 6: Last day for Tests/Major assignments (Tests not to be held in the last week of classes)  
• April 13: Last day of classes  
• April 13: Last day to withdraw from Winter term courses and receive a “W”.  
• April 14: Study Day  
• April 15: Good Friday holiday  
• April 16 to April 25: Examination period (April 17 is the Easter Sunday holiday)  
• April 29: Last day to submit final master’s theses  
• May 8 and May 9: Convocation Ceremonies 

In some exceptional cases, for programs where additional criteria must be met for professional or accreditation requirements, alternative dates may be established and will be communicated to students by Friday, March 11, 2022.  

The University Senate also voted in favour of allowing instructors the discretion to deliver their courses in the modality of their choosing to complete the term, whether virtual, in-person, or blended/hybrid, using either synchronous or asynchronous delivery. Instructors will communicate directly with their students regarding their courses.