Ontario enters shutdown level

A message from Dr. David Malloy, King's Principal:

The King's community has done an extraordinary job staying safe during the pandemic, with no transmissions or cases on campus so far that we know of. Our region and province, along with the rest of the country, is sadly continuing to deal with increased positive test cases. To this end, on Monday December 21, 2020, the Government of Ontario announced that, as of 12:01 a.m. on December 26, 2020, the province will enter a Shutdown level of the COVID-19 response framework, for a period of 28 days. This means that King's, and everyone in the London and Middlesex area, will implement widescale measures and restrictions, including closures, to halt or interrupt transmission of COVID-19 and to help prevent our hospital system from being overwhelmed.

As most of the King’s campus will close for the winter break at the end of day, December 21, 2020 until January 4, 2021, there is no impact on remaining exams with this change. However, access to campus will change.

Like all other organizations in Ontario, we will act in compliance with the advice, recommendations and instructions of public health officials, including any advice, recommendations or instructions on physical distancing, cleaning and disinfecting, something we already exceed in my opinion. The entire campus has been kept sparkling clean and will be cleaned and disinfected again as per the Shutdown level requirements. Faculty and staff needing to access their offices or spaces at King’s are asked to contact security prior to coming to campus and again when they leave so that any spaces being used can be cleaned and disinfected.

I want to personally commend and thank our King’s essential workers who have kept our community safe. We have worked together as a strong team. It has been tough on everyone and you have showed your resilience and innovation. Core staff who are required to ensure the operation of campus and service to students and employees can continue to access campus. All others should work from home.

If you or anyone you know in the King’s community needs help, please reach out to me or to our services. We will continue to evolve in the ways we adapt to the demands of the pandemic and we will return to an in-person community as soon as possible.

In the Shutdown level, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others:

• trips outside of the home should only be for essential reasons (work, school, groceries/pharmacy, health care, assisting vulnerable individuals, or exercise and physical activity)
• no indoor organized public events or social gatherings are permitted, except with members of the same household (people who live alone can gather with one household)
• work remotely, where possible

The move from red to Shutdown also affects a few specific areas on campus, including:

Residences

We want to assure those residence students who have registered to stay on campus during the holiday break that they may still do so. Those residents will receive more detailed emails from the Residence and Campus Life Office regarding the cleaning services, and ongoing residence services during the holiday closure.  

Residents who are leaving campus for the holidays are welcome to return to campus any time after January 2, 2021. Residence will remain open under the Shutdown level protocols. Residents are asked to monitor their Western email accounts regularly over the holidays for updates on return to residence information. All safety protocols remain in place; please refer to the Residence website for more information. Food Services will be open to serve our residents in 2021 with food service delivery models to be determined. Follow food services on Instagram for updates: https://www.instagram.com/kingsfoodservices/.

Cardinal Carter Library

Beginning January 5, 2021:

• Building access closed
• Open for contactless book pick-up in the foyer at the front entrance during scheduled hours
• Book returns to external book drop
• Online Digitization Requests for virtual documents available
• Online chat help available
• Online research and course reserves materials available

For more information, please visit the library's website: https://www.kings.uwo.ca/library/

Student Life Centre

All operations in the Student Life Centre will be closed. The King’s Connection has an online store, The Write Place has online services and the King’s University College Students’ Council has online services via their website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Study Spaces

For those students who have personal circumstances that may require a study space on campus, we have a limited number of spaces that will be available. Students must contact the Dean of Students at acsd@kings.uwo.ca for approval prior to coming to campus and students must adhere to all COVID-19 safety protocols.

Parking

All parking lots will have the gates down. If you must come to campus to provide an essential service, and you have a parking pass, you can access your designated parking lot.

Central Services (mailroom and printing)

Central Services closed at 2:30 p.m. on December 21, 2020 plans to reopen on January 4, 2021 at 9 a.m. with limited in-person services.

Finance

All financial services are available online or by phone, email. The financial help desk is currently closed and plans to reopen in January to accept in-person tuition payments with limited in-person services at Student Financial Services. 

Enrolment Services

All enrolment services are available virtually including information sessions on admissions and scholarships. You can chat with current students and staff, take a 360 virtual tour of campus, and access a customizable virtual viewbook with details and videos of all our programs and student services.

Academic Dean’s Office (ADO)

The Academic Dean’s Office will re-open on Monday January 4, 2021, and will continue to offer services via phone, email, and Zoom.

Classes

Classes will resume on Monday January 11, 2021. Courses will continue to be online; some will be blended which means they include online scheduled “virtual face-to-face” sessions using Zoom. Other courses are fully online with no scheduled virtual class times but use asynchronous course delivery. 

Please use our searchable timetable to find out if your courses have any scheduled virtual face-to-face class times.

Accessibility Services, Personal Counselling, Career Services and Learning Skills 

All services are available virtually to support students. Please review the website for updated information.

King’s International

All King’s International services are available virtually. Updated information for new arrivals and quarantine guidelines are posted on the King’s International website.

Campus Ministry

Campus Ministry services are being offered virtually. Masses and Daily Prayer are being streamed as long as the community is in the Shutdown Level. Christmas Eve Mass will be live-streamed at 7 p.m. and Christmas Day Mass will be live-streamed at 11 a.m., through Campus Ministry's Facebook and YouTube channel. Pastoral Counselling and programming continue to be offered virtually. Updates are posted through the Parish Bulletins on the Campus Ministry homepage and Facebook page. 

Alumni and Development

For 2020 year-end donations, please visit www.kings.uwo.ca/give. All eligible online donations received prior to midnight on December 31st will be issued a 2020 electronic tax receipt. For gifts of securities, please contact Jana Gordon at jana.gordon@kings.uwo.ca or 226-972-4724. To contact the Alumni and Development department, please email alumni@kings.uwo.ca. 

Human Resources

All Human Resources services are provided virtually.

ITS

All ITS services including the Help Desk are provided virtually.

Communications

All Communications are virtual. Please follow updates on our homepage, MyKing’s portals and via our social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok and LinkedIn. The Things@Kings newsletter is distributed every Monday and you can subscribe to it by emailing Communications.

Please note these are the directives at this time and this information could change quickly. We continue to work closely with federal, provincial and local health officials, and should things change, we will communicate with you via email, social media and King’s dedicated COVID-19 website. As well, Western University will reach out to all members of the wider Western community, including students, faculty and staff at the affiliates.

Staying safe over the holidays

Recent news of approved vaccines gives us optimism as we head into the New Year. However, with COVID-19 cases on the rise locally and across the country, it is more important than ever that we stay vigilant and take care of each other, our community and ourselves.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit is asking individuals to drastically reduce close contacts with others for 14 days before travelling. This will lower your risk of COVID-19 exposure, as well as the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to others.

The Health Unit also strongly advises that holiday gatherings be conducted virtually. We recognize the importance of connecting with family and friends, but we encourage you to avoid indoor gatherings and find alternative ways to connect.

Western’s COVID-19 Testing Centre is be closed for the winter break and will reopen on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 with a new online booking tool to schedule appointments up to three days in advance. If you require a COVID-19 test over the break and are remaining in London, please visit one of the city’s COVID-19 Assessment Centres.

I am extremely proud of how our faculty, staff and students have responded to the pandemic. You have shown incredible commitment, resilience, ingenuity and empathy for one another during these challenging times.

As always, take care of yourself, each other and we will take care of this place until you return.