For the end of the Fall 2021 semester, many Ontario Tech University students have been told that they are returning to campus for final exams. It is unfair to expect students to write an in-person exam, when the entire course has been taught online. On the basis of a recommendation, too many classes have switched to an in-person format for final exams, blatantly ignoring the concerns of OTU students. 

Amidst an ongoing pandemic, students are worried not only for their own health, but for the health and safety of those around them, including many elderly and/or immunocompromised loved ones. OTU students that have chosen to continue their studies at home, while sacrificing the benefits of in-person learning, are now being forced to come in-person just to complete an exam. With case counts rising daily, OTU is failing to consider that Durham region’s cases are not the only ones that should be taken into account. Students at OTU commute from many regions, all of which would be contributing to the possible risk that these students face. As of November 26th, 2021, Ontario reported 927 new COVID-19 cases, with the weekly average continually rising. The positivity rate is increasing week to week as well, almost modelling the spike in cases that we saw last year right before we went into many more months of strict lockdown. As the season progresses, it is unclear how much worse the pandemic will get. In this time of uncertainty, it is unfair to ask OTU students to come to campus while most other major universities in Ontario have chosen to finish off the Fall 2021 semester remotely. 

Many international students who will not be able to return to campus for the exam have already been provided with online alternatives for completing their finals. Domestic students however are still asked to travel to campus, thus not afforded the same accommodations. It is unclear why large portions of the classes can be given the option to complete their final examinations online, while the remaining students have to choose between completing their Fall 2021 courses and their health. OTU students believe that final exams for this semester should follow the format that the course content has been provided in - online, remote delivery. This would allow for the most fair testing methods, and will allow students to be healthy and COVID-risk free for their return to campus in Winter 2022. 

The students of Ontario Tech University ask that the school considers the risk that they are asking students to take on, solely to complete an exam in a different delivery format than what they have been accustomed to for the past semester. While we are also tired of the restrictions that have forced us to stay indoors for the better part of the last two years, we understand that there are serious risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and we want to have the option to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. Science has shown us that reducing exposure to COVID-19 is one of the most effective ways to safeguard ourselves, which is essential if we want a safe and healthy return to campus in Winter 2022. Ontario Tech University should provide online examination options for their courses in Fall 2021 to ease the concerns of their students.