on covid-19
September 29, 2020
To our community,
In response to the University of Ottawa’s update that all classes, with few exceptions, will remain online for the rest of the 2020-21 academic terms, we wanted to update you on our plans for this year.
First, we want to reassure you that we will continue to deliver events that are both meant to build our community and to support you through your time at University. Our priority has been, and continues to be supporting our students by equipping them with resources, services, and events intended to improve the dvm student experience at the University of Ottawa. Our team has been busy scheduling academic check-ins, virtual study sessions, mentorship programs, and other community building activities. This being said, should you require any academic assistance, need guidance for resources, or need advice on how to proceed in a class or with a grade revision request, please do not hesitate to reach out to Marilou, our VP Academique Franco, at vp.academique.franco@aedsa.ca, or Maddie, our VP Academic Anglo, at vp.academic.anglo@aedsa.ca.
Second, we have adapted our office hours for this year. While there will not be any in-person office hours for the foreseeable future, we have included on the home page of our website a schedule of live office hours, along with a list of our executive members reachable through email and by appointment. We have also created a google form, so if you’re unsure of who to reach out to, indicate how we can support you on the google form, and our VP Internal, Sophie, will direct your question to the person who can answer you best.
Third, we encourage you to explore the resources that we have linked at the bottom of our COVID-19 notice board, which range from a DVM Community Building Facebook group, to academic resources and student rights, to mental health resources. We are also working on making our website a home for us to host all of our events and meetings out of, and we invite you to explore our new layouts and tabs, including the DVM Comittee space, and the new Event Space that we have created. We want this to be a space where you can come as a one-stop-shop for all of your information about events and what we’re planning, since we know that the online world has become a little overwhelming recently. If you have any ideas of what we could add to this space, or have any questions or concerns about the accessibility of our website, please reach out to either Adam at communication@aedsa.ca, or Sinead at design@aedsa.ca.
We have also compiled a report from the survey that was sent to you in August regarding the transition to online learning and your classes. The report is linked in this update. It has been presented to the School of International Development General Assembly, and can inform their actions moving forward regarding your education. If you have any questions about the report or how it has informed change in online learning practices, please contact our President, Natasha, at president@aedsa.ca.
We thank you all so much for continuing to stay engaged with us, and for your patience with us in everything that we are learning to do. We have so much planned for this year, and can’t wait to share it with you!
In solidarity,
Your executive committee.
In response to the University of Ottawa’s update that all classes, with few exceptions, will remain online for the rest of the 2020-21 academic terms, we wanted to update you on our plans for this year.
First, we want to reassure you that we will continue to deliver events that are both meant to build our community and to support you through your time at University. Our priority has been, and continues to be supporting our students by equipping them with resources, services, and events intended to improve the dvm student experience at the University of Ottawa. Our team has been busy scheduling academic check-ins, virtual study sessions, mentorship programs, and other community building activities. This being said, should you require any academic assistance, need guidance for resources, or need advice on how to proceed in a class or with a grade revision request, please do not hesitate to reach out to Marilou, our VP Academique Franco, at vp.academique.franco@aedsa.ca, or Maddie, our VP Academic Anglo, at vp.academic.anglo@aedsa.ca.
Second, we have adapted our office hours for this year. While there will not be any in-person office hours for the foreseeable future, we have included on the home page of our website a schedule of live office hours, along with a list of our executive members reachable through email and by appointment. We have also created a google form, so if you’re unsure of who to reach out to, indicate how we can support you on the google form, and our VP Internal, Sophie, will direct your question to the person who can answer you best.
Third, we encourage you to explore the resources that we have linked at the bottom of our COVID-19 notice board, which range from a DVM Community Building Facebook group, to academic resources and student rights, to mental health resources. We are also working on making our website a home for us to host all of our events and meetings out of, and we invite you to explore our new layouts and tabs, including the DVM Comittee space, and the new Event Space that we have created. We want this to be a space where you can come as a one-stop-shop for all of your information about events and what we’re planning, since we know that the online world has become a little overwhelming recently. If you have any ideas of what we could add to this space, or have any questions or concerns about the accessibility of our website, please reach out to either Adam at communication@aedsa.ca, or Sinead at design@aedsa.ca.
We have also compiled a report from the survey that was sent to you in August regarding the transition to online learning and your classes. The report is linked in this update. It has been presented to the School of International Development General Assembly, and can inform their actions moving forward regarding your education. If you have any questions about the report or how it has informed change in online learning practices, please contact our President, Natasha, at president@aedsa.ca.
We thank you all so much for continuing to stay engaged with us, and for your patience with us in everything that we are learning to do. We have so much planned for this year, and can’t wait to share it with you!
In solidarity,
Your executive committee.
May 12, 2020
May 3, 2020
To President Jacques Frémont of the University of Ottawa:
As select Recognized Student Governments of the University of Ottawa and the direct representatives of students at the undergraduate level across the University of Ottawa, we, the undersigned, call upon the University of Ottawa administration to waive or lower tuition fees for its undergraduate programs for the Spring/Summer 2020 semester.
We hear daily of the struggles our students experience to finance their studies and cope with the stresses of postsecondary education. In the face of COVID-19, it is imperative that the University of Ottawa acts in the interest of students and works to provide equitable access to post-secondary education by alleviating some of the financial burden faced by its student body. Students represent a vulnerable group during the COVID-19 crisis and it is in the face of this crisis that the University of Ottawa can emerge as a leader in protecting our students’ well-being and promoting equitable access to education.
The University of Ottawa community is strengthened by its diversity of students coming from across Canada and the world, from different socio-economic backgrounds, and speaking different languages. Each student that attends this University is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the betterment of themselves and their communities. All students have a right to equitable access to education, and it is through this equitable provision of post-secondary education that we can continue to build a diverse, innovative, and growing campus community.
The 2019-2020 school year has come with unprecedented challenges for many of our students, including significant cuts to financial support for university students and a mental health crisis confronting our campus community. The circumstances surrounding COVID-19 have exacerbated many of these challenges, and placed many of our students in financially precarious situations. As such, we urge the University of Ottawa administration to consider the following:
In Solidarity.
As select Recognized Student Governments of the University of Ottawa and the direct representatives of students at the undergraduate level across the University of Ottawa, we, the undersigned, call upon the University of Ottawa administration to waive or lower tuition fees for its undergraduate programs for the Spring/Summer 2020 semester.
We hear daily of the struggles our students experience to finance their studies and cope with the stresses of postsecondary education. In the face of COVID-19, it is imperative that the University of Ottawa acts in the interest of students and works to provide equitable access to post-secondary education by alleviating some of the financial burden faced by its student body. Students represent a vulnerable group during the COVID-19 crisis and it is in the face of this crisis that the University of Ottawa can emerge as a leader in protecting our students’ well-being and promoting equitable access to education.
The University of Ottawa community is strengthened by its diversity of students coming from across Canada and the world, from different socio-economic backgrounds, and speaking different languages. Each student that attends this University is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the betterment of themselves and their communities. All students have a right to equitable access to education, and it is through this equitable provision of post-secondary education that we can continue to build a diverse, innovative, and growing campus community.
The 2019-2020 school year has come with unprecedented challenges for many of our students, including significant cuts to financial support for university students and a mental health crisis confronting our campus community. The circumstances surrounding COVID-19 have exacerbated many of these challenges, and placed many of our students in financially precarious situations. As such, we urge the University of Ottawa administration to consider the following:
- WHEREAS many of our undergraduate students are experiencing lost wages caused by lost jobs, the cancellation of student work positions, etc.;
- WHEREAS students previously living in residence in the 2019-2020 school year faced unexpected living and moving expenses caused by the sudden evacuation of university residences;
- WHEREAS marginalized populations are disproportionately affected by the negative impacts associated with COVID-19 situation;
- WHEREAS the social and physical distancing measures prescribed by the government, the economic downturn, and a variety of individual factors relating to students’ identities may have negative impacts on the mental health of our student body;
- WHEREAS the administrative costs of providing courses will be significantly lower during the Spring/Summer 2020 semester without the costs associated with university facilities, administering certain campus services, etc.;
- WHEREAS a petition calling on the University to waive Spring/Summer 2020 tuition fees has received 5,254 signatures from students, professors, and supporters, and has received support of CUPE 2626, GSAÉD, and APTPUO;
- WHEREAS equitable access to education is imperative to defending the well-being of the most vulnerable during this crisis; and
- WHEREAS the strength of our community is rooted in the universal and equitable access to education, responding to the diverse needs of its members;
In Solidarity.
March 27, 2020
Dear DVM community,
In this uncertain time, the Development Students Association remains dedicated to advocating for you and promoting community support. While we are no longer holding events and office hours, we have compiled some resources below. Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have any questions or require support in this time.
In this uncertain time, the Development Students Association remains dedicated to advocating for you and promoting community support. While we are no longer holding events and office hours, we have compiled some resources below. Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have any questions or require support in this time.
The goal of this Facebook group is to bring together the uOttawa DVM community to share resources and support, and to remind us all that we are not alone is this. We encourage you to join!
Academic Resources and Student Rights*:
Academic Resources and Student Rights*:
The University has produced a self-declaration form for students to request academic accommodations. If you cannot participate in course learning activities, write an exam or hand in an assignment for medical or other reasons due to changes in learning conditions caused by COVID-19, complete and submit the form found on the COVID-19 website within 10 business days of your absence or your assignment deadline. Please complete one form for each day you are requesting academic accommodations. You must also inform your professor as soon as possible if special arrangements must be made.
*Please continue to check your email for updated academic information as the situation
evolves
Mental Health Resources:
*Please continue to check your email for updated academic information as the situation
evolves
Mental Health Resources:
Public Health Resources
Important Contact Information