Update to Queen's faculty re 2021-22 academic programming

Office of the Provost and Vice-Principle (Academic)
Friday, April 30, 2021

I write to update you on our planning for the 2021-22 academic year. Given the current vaccine rollout and positive news about its impact on reducing the spread and severity of COVID-19 illness, we anticipate a return to full in-person, on-campus instruction starting in the Fall of 2021. We are supported in this plan by advice from Public Health professionals and the KFL&A Health Unit who have indicated that it is likely all physical distancing requirements will be lifted by the start of Fall Term for academic programming.

The on-campus student experience at Queen’s is a vital part of our identity. We know that the remote teaching and learning environment has created challenges for students, instructors, and staff, and that our students are eager to return to on-campus learning. The enormous work that instructors and course developers have expended on remote delivery courses will now help to transform and enhance the on-campus learning experience.

To achieve the goal of a full return to on-campus academic programming, the University will prioritize on-campus, in-person teaching and reduce remote instruction as much as possible. Remote instruction will be used in a limited way starting in the Fall for only two purposes. First, it may be used in select courses required to support the progression and graduation requirements of students who may not be able to attend classes in Kingston because of limitations in international or domestic travel. Second, it may be used to accommodate instructors who have a need to teach remotely based on a protected ground of discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Instructors who anticipate a need for accommodation may formally request consideration through the Tier request process as outlined in the Collective Agreement. Given these limited purposes, the University may not be able to grant all requests for remote instruction submitted during the collection of timetable requests in March and April.

We are in the process of reviewing course timetable submissions across the University, and John Pierce, Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) will follow up shortly with additional information for Heads, instructors, and staff on operational details of the plan for the next academic year.

We trust that Queen’s faculty will understand the complex and rapidly changing environment we now work in. We also trust that you will understand that our plans are ultimately subject to the authority of the Provincial government and Public Health Officials. The University will continue to monitor closely the changing course of the pandemic and continue regular discussions with Public Health Officials for advice on the best and safest course of action, and we will immediately update the Queen’s community should our expectations for the 2021-22 academic year change.

Mark F. Green, PhD, PEng | Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)
74 University Avenue, 353 Richardson Hall | Queen's University | Kingston, ON K7L 3N6
t 613.533.2020 | https://www.queensu.ca/provost/

Process to Request Remote Teaching in Fall-Winter 2021-22

Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning)
Friday, April 30, 2021

To all instructors of Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 classes:

The email update on 2021-22 academic programming sent on Friday by the Provost has established on-campus, in-person teaching as the priority for the upcoming academic year and our goal to provide a rich on-campus learning experience for students.

The Provost’s email also indicated that I would be following up with additional information for Heads, instructors and staff on operational details of the plan for 2021-22. This is the first of a series of communications that you will receive to provide these details.

In March we requested that timetable information for 2021-22 be submitted and allowed for you to request your preferred teaching mode. The Provost’s message now indicates that it may not be possible to grant all requests to teach remotely.

If you believe that you will be unable to teach on campus in the Fall and/or Winter Term because of a need, based on a protected ground of discrimination that engages the duty to accommodate under the Ontario Human Rights Code, you should identify your needs as soon as possible using the Tier request process established by the Parties to the Queen’s-QUFA Collective Agreement. As part of the request you will need to outline the reason that you are unable to teach in person, on campus.

To achieve the set timetable production timeline, requests to teach remotely should be submitted as Tier requests to the appropriate individual by Thursday, May 20, 2021. Requests for changes to remote delivery will not be possible in June as previously communicated. Therefore please submit your requests as soon as possible.

John Pierce Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning)