As students and faculty navigate the pandemic and the Work To Rule situation, Humber should keep students online for the remainder of the term as the most flexible, equitable  and responsible course of action for all.

This petition is for any Humber College or University of Guelph-Humber student who believes in-person class attendance should not be required nor expected for the remainder of the Winter 2022 term. 

On October 27, 2021, the college announced there would be “significantly more in-person program and course offerings in the Winter 2022 term.” This meant that for most programs and most students, we were set to return to in-person learning, effectively, full time. On December 16, Humber then changed plans to transfer students back online until January 23. By January 6, plans changed once again as Humber announced all theory-based courses would remain online until March 6, 2022.  

This on-again-off again situation creates instability and poses a significant strain on students and faculty alike. Bringing students back to campus, then delaying return multiple times, means many students need to make significant adjustments to work and living arrangements to meet attendance requirements. All while managing the challenges of online learning, the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students rely on public transit to get to school, creating unnecessary potential for exposure and spread of the COVID-19 virus across the entire Humber community. This is especially concerning when considering measures such as social-distancing and masking are proven significantly less effective in containing spread. 

As the pandemic evolved, students and faculty had to pivot and adapt to the circumstances. For students, this in many cases meant changes in their living arrangements, as many were priced out of the GTA while they navigated employment uncertainty, layoffs and workplace closures. Most students continue to be mentally and financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Online learning has been challenging to all. However, at this point, at least for the remainder of the winter term, it is the most fair, flexible and equitable option for students, especially those in their final semester on their programs. We urge Humber to do the responsible thing and keep students online.  

Professors are also required, with very short notice, to put significant, un-paid time into planning a new delivery method for their classes, and have to deal with challenging hybrid learning arrangements as they do their best to support students’ learning needs. 

Sign this petition if you agree online is the best solution for the Winter 2022 term. You can also contact Humber's President, Chris Whitaker at chris.whitaker@gmail.com and let him know your thoughts about the college’s current plan to return to in-person classes.