From Catherine Dauvergne | What you need to know about safety measures in place on campuses

This email is sent on behalf of Catherine Dauvergne, vice-president academic and provost. It has been sent to all faculty and staff.

Welcome back to campus. For me, and you as well, this is an exciting time of meeting colleagues in person for the first time and seeing our campuses buzzing with the energy of students. As we approach the end of the first week of the Fall term, I want to acknowledge there is uncertainty ahead. Fall will be another period of adjustment to a new phase of this pandemic. It is important we continue to be compassionate, flexible, and patient with ourselves and each other as we navigate this transition together.

Last week the province released the Return to Campus Public Health Guidance including more details on the public health orders for masks, proof of vaccination and gatherings. At SFU we also added new measures including vaccination declaration and rapid screening. All safety measures are included in the Safety Plan that now replaces the four-stage Campus Recovery Plan.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Masks – Are required in all indoor common areas and learning spaces. Details about where mask are required, masking exemptions and how mask compliance will be enforced are available on the Mask page of the Return to Campus website.
2. Vaccine Declaration – Our expectation is that all students, faculty, staff and visitors submit their vaccination declaration by September 20, 2021. As of September 8, 2021, 18,000 declarations had already been submitted. Vaccination is the number one thing we can all do to keep ourselves and our community safe. The purpose of the declaration is to encourage the community to get vaccinated and to help SFU plan for safety measures on campus including rapid screening. Visit the Vaccine Declaration page to learn more and submit your declaration. Though we are not requiring proof of vaccination at this time, we will be conducting audits to determine accuracy of declarations. If inaccuracies are found in data submissions, we may require proof as an additional step.
3. BC Vaccine Card – Proof of vaccination using the BC Vaccine Card will be required to access non-essential SFU activities businesses, and events starting September 13, 2021. Proof of vaccination is not required to access essential SFU activities including learning, teaching, research and essential services. The latest information is available on the BC Vaccine Card page.
4. Rapid Screening – Rapid screening will be available on or near our campuses the week of September 20, 2021. We expect those who are not vaccinated or who choose not to disclose their vaccine status to undergo regular rapid-screening. Visit the Vaccine Declaration page to learn more and submit your declaration. 
5. Ventilation – In preparation for return to campus, Facilities Services conducted air quality surveys in more than 1000 spaces across our three campuses, including all classrooms. Ventilation in classrooms has been optimized, and classrooms that were unable to meet ASHRAE standards have been pulled from scheduling. Visit the Air Quality page to learn more and to download a detailed list of the air quality survey results conducted.

I will continue to update the community as more details are available and measures change.

Yours truly,

Dr. Catherine Dauvergne, QC
Vice-President, Academic and Provost
Simon Fraser University