The University of Calgary has announced that the first three weeks of classes for their winter term will be online.

In a statement sent to students and staff on Wednesday, President and Vice-Chancellor Ed McCauley stated that rising Omicron cases in the province was the reason for the move.

“Starting the semester online will allow our communities the time we need to assess the new variant’s potential impact, particularly after the holiday season,” said the statement.

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said yesterday that the Omicron variant was now the dominant strain of Covid-19 in the province.

U of C pre-semester block week classes starting on Jan. 3, 2022, had already been moved online as a precaution.

The new measures extend to all classes, with in-person learning expected to resume on Jan. 31.

The statement said that the University of Calgary will not be closing its campus beyond the regular holiday season break.

MRU, SAIT to delay classes as well

Mount Royal University said in October of this year that their winter semester classes would be delayed. Classes at that post-secondary institution begin on Jan. 10, 2022.

The University said that it was monitoring the situation with the Omicron variant in the province, and would provide updates in the new year if warranted.

Starting in the new year, SAIT classes will be delivered online from Jan. 3 to at least Jan. 21. On-campus labs will run in person starting on Jan. 10.

Further details are expected soon for continuing education and corporate training programs.

Vaccine mandates in the new year

Several Calgary post-secondary institutions will be requiring their students to be fully vaccinated come January.

The University of Calgary is requiring students to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 1.

SAIT is also requiring all of its students to be fully vaccinated by the same date. As of the new year, they will also not be accepting rapid tests in lieu of vaccination.

St. Mary’s College is requiring all students, staff, and faculty to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 3.

Mount Royal University required all students and staff to be fully vaccinated on Nov. 1. The university is ending its rapid testing program on January 1.