Acadia University has announced new health and safety protocols related to COVID-19 and its variants that will take effect on September 1, ahead of students arriving on campus for the fall term.

The University will continue enhanced cleaning and air quality measures and follow a new masking protocol until at least the Thanksgiving weekend, when the protocol will be reassessed.

Acadia’s leadership team made the decision after consulting with campus stakeholders, Acadia’s COVID-19 Task Force, and the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang.

“This measure is being introduced to help us enjoy the start of the school year safely and to ensure that we do our best as a community to minimize the spread of COVID-19 as students arrive on campus,” said Dr. Peter Ricketts, Acadia’s President and Vice-Chancellor.

As it has throughout the pandemic, Acadia University is offering in-person learning experiences for its students this fall.

Masks will be required in all indoor classrooms, labs, instructional spaces, and high-traffic areas like hallways where physical distancing is not possible. Mask use is welcome on campus and strongly recommended in group study areas and gathering spaces where physical distancing is a challenge.

All members of Acadia’s campus community are expected to stay home when sick.

For more information, read the President’s Message to Campus.

Acadia University and the COVID-19 Task Force will continue to consult closely with Nova Scotia Public Health and campus stakeholders to enhance COVID-19 health and safety measures as needed.