Western students to start returning to in-person classes later this month

Western University students are scheduled to start returning back to in-person classes at the end of the month. 

As of Jan. 31, all students — with the exception of first year undergrads — will continue their classes on campus. 

First-year students will start a month later on Feb. 28, with the university citing concerns of COVID-19 transmission in residences among them. They say it's where the majority of first year students live. 

Huron, Brescia, and King's university colleges are planning for the same, except they're bringing all students back Jan. 31, including those in first year. 

Students had gone back to virtual learning as of Jan. 10 in an effort to limit the spread of the Omicron variant. This shift in learning was announced last month, after exams moved online. 

"Our ultimate goal is to return to full, in-person learning for the remainder of the winter term, and this phased plan will allow us to accomplish this as safely as possible and ensure the best possible teaching and learning experiences for our community," Sarah Prichard, the school's acting president, said in a statement.

99 per cent of Western students, and 99.4 per cent of staff have had at least two COVID-19 jabs. They're "encouraging" people to get their booster prior to their return to class. 

The university is prepared to change course if public health measures from the province change, it said.