We, the students of Wilfrid Laurier University who signed the Wilfrid Laurier University Hybrid Schooling Model Petition, request for the Wilfrid Laurier University institution to offer its schooling through some form of hybrid in-person/online model for the Winter 2022 term. We understand that Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) would like for its courses to return to being offered in-person, but the truth is returning to school grounds is simply not possible for every student. The use of the online/in-person hybrid model would ensure the meeting of every students’ schooling needs since it permits students to decide whether in-person or remote schooling would benefit their experience the most. This flexible method would ensure students’ connection to the university continues; students would not need to defer terms, drop out or lengthen the time spent completing their degree with such model. By limiting course offerings to in-person only, the university is denying numerous students the opportunity to continue their studies, should their COVID-19 influenced life experiences prevent their involvement in in-person courses. The use of the hybrid model would ensure every student gets the opportunity to continue with their schooling despite their proximity to WLU school grounds. WLU’s return to in-person schooling is thought to benefit the students in the mind of the university institution, but those who signed the Wilfrid Laurier University Hybrid Schooling Model Petition contend there to be a need for hybrid schooling models which ensure the return to Wilfrid Laurier University in the Winter 2022 term benefits every student, not only those privileged enough to return to in-person courses. 

     The hybrid model is one of the only options for people who live remote from WLU school grounds, do not wish to go to in-person courses due to the risk of COVID-19 infection, do not wish to be surrounded by other students who commute to in-person courses from cities with high COVID-19 incidence, prefer not to be immunized for COVID-19 due to their beliefs or wellness concerns, would be burdened by the university closing in-person courses should COVID-19 spike, do not hold enough funds to rent housing close to school grounds, do not own vehicles to get themselves to school grounds, need to be home for their children or loved ones, prefer schooling online or work full-time while in school to continue with their university schooling.

     When the province-wide COVID-19 lockdown occurred at the beginning of 2020, students were forced to decide how to best pilot their lives to survive the complex stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous students needed to move out of their student residences in Brantford, Ontario into housing with long-term commitments, the homes of loved ones, or other residences which do not yield to in-person schooling well. Some students were blessed with new children during the lockdown which prevent them from returning to in-person courses. Some students do not feel they should risk their lives driving for long periods in inclement winter conditions should they need to be present for in-person courses. Some simply do not wish to return to WLU school grounds for their courses out of worry for surges in COVID-19 incidence which would burden students to return to their homes for schooling or for the risk of becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus due to being exposed to other students who commute from multiple different cities with high incidences of the virus. 

     Every student’s COVID-19 experience is uniquely complex; WLU should be committed to compassionately considering, recognizing, and responding to such unique complexities. This is possible if WLU promises to offer flexible hybrid schooling models, thus opening up opportunities for students’ schooling needs to be met despite in-person-only course offerings. If WLU does not offer hybrid schooling models for its students, there will be no equity in the WLU schooling experience, students’ quality of education will suffer, and student participation and engagement will be prevented. Wilfrid Laurier University’s use of a hybrid learning model would yield “exceptional academics and an unparalleled student experience” (Wilfrid Laurier University, 2021) for every student, not only those privileged enough to return to in-person courses. 

     The Wilfrid Laurier University students who signed the Wilfrid Laurier University Hybrid Schooling Model Petition propose the need for every student to be permitted enrollment in in-person courses despite their power to be present in-person for such courses. We propose the need for remote student honor systems which would expect students who could not be present for in-person courses to submit more in-depth lecture notes or discussion posts to compromise for non-attendance. We propose the need for the attendance and participation of remote students to be marked through supplementary activities, assignments, or creative arts. We propose the need for in-person course lectures to be recorded through audio or film then posted to the university’s MYLS forum, where professors could see whether or not the recording file got opened by the remote student to grant participation marks. Furthermore, we propose the need for in-person lectures to be shown live on Zoom so students could be present for lectures either in-person or online. The inclusion of Zoom meetings for remote students is possible should WLU provide the professors with one computer for Zoom or should WLU request for professors to use their computers to film for Zoom. Every professor comes to lectures with some form of technology to present their PowerPoint slides, therefore there is the opportunity for professor-led Zoom meetings to be resourced to remote students without the use of school computers.

     The Wilfrid Laurier University Hybrid Schooling Model Petition requests for one, if not every, proposed suggestion to be utilized by Wilfrid Laurier University to permit the opportunity for every one of its students to continue their university schooling through the use of some flexible in-person/online hybrid model. The University of Toronto, York University, McMaster University, Trent University, Lakehead University, and Mohawk University will be implementing hybrid schooling models for the 2022 semester, why not Wilfrid Laurier University? We deserve equity. We deserve schooling. We deserve support. Therefore, we need you to listen to our concerns, we need you to help us despite our uniquely complex experiences, we need you to remodel your schooling method to be inclusive of every one of your students’ needs. 

Signed,

The students of Wilfred Laurier University who signed the Wilfrid Laurier University Hybrid Schooling Model Petition