Many classes at U of Sask. postponed until Jan. 10 due to COVID-19 concerns

The University of Saskatchewan has postponed the start of many classes this week as the province continues to see a rise in COVID-19 cases.

While classes were initially expected to begin the first week of January, the university has decided to postpone the first day until Jan. 10 for the colleges of arts and science, agriculture, engineering and education.

Once classes resume, students can expect them to be held online until Jan. 24 at the earliest. The university said it will assess the situation in the interim and students will return to in-person classes only when it is safe and reasonable to do so.

The University of Saskatchewan has been talking about a return to campus life since November. At that time, the university announced it would no longer be accepting negative test results when classes resumed in January, and that all students, staff and faculty would need to be fully vaccinated to gain entry to any campus services.

Students found out about the decision to postpone classes in a statement sent out on Dec. 30.

All students are asked to check their email regularly for any updates from professors.

The U of S said there were some exceptions to the delays. Classes at the colleges of medicine, law, pharmacy and veterinary medicine are expected to resume this week as planned.

The University of Regina is following a similar program, with many classes starting Jan. 10 and being delivered remotely until Jan. 22.

Meanwhile, classes at Sask. Polytech are expected to resume this week.

The University of Saskatchewan is asking all employees to work from home until Jan. 24 at the earliest.

Anyone on campus must wear a three-ply disposable mask. Cloth masks are not approved.

Here's a full list of subjects where classes will be delayed until Jan. 10: 

• Agriculture and bioresources.
• Arts and science.
• Education (with exceptions for field placements).
• Edwards School of Business (except for the MBA program).
• Engineering.
• Johnson Shoyoma Graduate School of Public Policy.
• Kinesiology.
• Pharmacy and nutrition (except for Year 4 students).
• Public health.

The following colleges will resume classes this week:

• Dentistry (Jan. 4).
• Edwards School of Business MBA program (Jan. 5).
• Environment and sustainability (Jan. 5).
• Law (Jan. 5).
• Medicine (MD Program; Jan. 4).
• Nursing (Jan. 4/5).
• Pharmacy and nutrition (Year 4; Jan. 4).
• Rehabilitation sciences (Jan. 4).
• Veterinary medicine (Jan. 4).