How Nova Scotia universities are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic

In-person classes at Nova Scotia universities have been cancelled for the remainder of the term amid COVID-19 concerns.

Dalhousie University has cancelled all in-person classes and labs until the fall, including spring and summer courses. Students in residence have also been asked to leave campus.

Students are expected to return home where they will begin to continue classes online on March 23. Exemptions can be made for residents who have travel dates scheduled after Friday.

All non-essential events are cancelled or postponed until June 1. Students will be awarded degrees and credentials, but there will be no graduation ceremonies.  

The provincial government advises that for parents coming from out-of-province to pick up students, they are required to self-isolate for the duration of their time in Nova Scotia. Parents should not go into the university or residence to help students move.

Everyone is expected to maintain a social distance of 2 metres or 6 feet and generally limit contact with other people.

Acadia

The university is closed to the general public. Employees who can work from home are doing so, and students will complete their semester online.

Exams will continue, but there will not be in-person examinations.

Students living in residences were required to leave by March 22.

Cape Breton University

Cape Breton University announced on March 14 it would suspend in-person classes for March 16-18. 

The university has since cancelled all in-person classes for the remainder of the term and there will be no in-person exams this term.

As of the evening of March 24, the campus will be closed to all but essential employees.

All campus entrances except one will be locked, and people going to campus will be required to sign in.

CBU said on its website there is no reason for students to be on campus, and sub-committees are developing plans to support students. Library services are available digitally.

The university said residence students are expected to remain in residence and a meal hall schedule and other safety precautions will be emailed directly to them.

MSVU

As of March 16, in-person classes and labs have been suspended at Mount Saint Vincent University until the end of the term.

Classes will be delivered online and MSVU will not hold in-person exams this term.

On March 19 at 5 p.m., faculty and staff will no longer be permitted on campus with the exception of essential service providers.

Residence will close on March 21, but students who remain on campus for extenuating circumstances will have access to modified food services.

NSCAD

NSCAD University has suspended all in-person classes until further notice.

Students may return home if they wish to do so.

A graduation ceremony for NSCAD students scheduled for May 11, an awards gala and fashion show and all other special events at the school have been postponed indefinitely.

NSCC

Campuses are now closed to all but employees and in-person classes have been suspended. Students will receive updated information about their winter term courses no later than April 3.

In the meantime, students are encouraged to continue to complete course work as directed by their faculty.

Convocation ceremonies will be rescheduled to the Fall of 2020

SMU

Saint Mary's University announced it would suspend all in-person classes for the rest of the term.

Students, faculty and staff were asked to leave campus by Friday, March 20.

SMU will maintain residences and residence-related services like the dining hall.

St. FX

In Antigonish, N.S., St. Francis Xavier University shifted to an online delivery format as of March 23.

Campus is closed to the general public and the closure will remain in place until April 30.

St. FX has prohibited all international travel for students related to academics. Faculty and staff are prohibited from international work travel.

The campus is also closed to the general public as of March 15 until April 30. 

Université Ste-Anne

In an e-mail to students and staff, the French language school said on March 15 it is cancelling all in-person classes and exams for the rest of the semester.

Spring session courses have also been cancelled. 

Classes will be handled remotely and students have been asked to leave residence by March 22.

University of King's College

In-person classes and exams at the University of King's College have been cancelled for the rest of the term.

Instruction online will begin on March 23. Students have been asked to leave campus by the morning of March 22. 

The university has also established an emergency bursary program for current students.

All non-essential events scheduled between now and June 1 have been cancelled or postponed.