Robert Gordon talking to reportersUWindsor President Robert Gordon maintains an appropriate distance while speaking with reporters during a media tour Friday highlighting the transformation of Windsor Hall into a vaccination centre.

Provincial funding to help University address pandemic impact

An injection of $7.6 million from the Ontario government will help the University of Windsor address the financial impacts of COVID-19, president Robert Gordon said following the funding announcement Friday.

“This funding will help to support our efforts in ensuring continued academic excellence and community safety in the face of greater challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Gordon said. "We remain committed to working with the province to restore Ontario’s health and economy and thank the Ontario government for their continued support of the post-secondary education sector.”

The monies — part of Ontario’s total investment of $106.5 million for postsecondary institutions impacted by COVID-19 — are intended to help offset pandemic related costs, including those associated with online learning, personal protective equipment, and enhanced cleaning.

Ross Romano, Ontario minister of colleges and universities, called universities critical to the prosperity of the province and local communities.

“Postsecondary institutions are a key source of job creation, skills training, research, and innovation,” he said. “That’s why our government has established the emergency fund to help address the financial impacts of COVID-19 and ensure they have the tools, technologies, and resources they need to support students throughout their studies.”