When it comes to keeping University of Windsor students and employees safe from COVID-19, there’s an app for that.

UWindsor has unveiled a new feature on its Safe Lancer app that allows students, staff, and faculty to do a quick daily health assessment on themselves by answering a few yes or no questions on their mobile devices. Instead of filling out paper questionnaires about symptoms, travel, or potential exposure to the virus, anyone on campus can simply hold up their device to show they’ve completed the assessment.

The app is one of the ways UWindsor is protecting the wellbeing of everyone on campus, said Jennie Atkins, who heads the working groups overseeing gradual return to campus initiatives.

Another includes deploying a team of nursing students across campus to do health screenings, encourage people to wear masks, and practise social distancing, and offer information about how to protect yourself from contracting the virus.

“We are framing all decisions and planning around the best ways to put the health and safety of our entire campus community first,” Atkins said.

The university has spent $1.7 million in new technology and support for online learning.

Nearly all classes will be offered online. The only exceptions are some labs and clinical courses deemed safe for in-person instruction. About 175 students will have in-person classes and 100 more will be working in research labs.

Before heading to campus, for faculty, staff, and students will be required to attend an online session to keep them informed of what they need to know.

The Leddy Library is closed to in-person visits, but materials are available online. Both the library and bookstore are offering curbside pickup.

“Even though the majority of the learning this semester will be virtual, we have put in place supports to ensure students continue to get high-quality learning opportunities,” said provost Douglas Kneale.

Faculty members have turned for help to the online learning experts in UWindsor’s Office of Open Learning and the Centre for Teaching and Learning, as well as mentors within faculties. There’s an army of students acting as peer mentors, too.

“We have great esprit de corps across campus, virtually and actually,” Dr. Kneale said. “Bon courage to everyone as we launch into the fall semester.”

Every building on campus has been analyzed to ensure social distancing and proper traffic flow. New signage directs people though hallways, elevators, and other spaces on campus. Cleaning staff are using hospital-grade disinfectants. Heating and cooling systems have new, upgraded filters, and maintenance staff have them set to take in maximum fresh air.

Everyone on campus will get masks the University selected and purchased after UWindsor researchers used a scanning electron microscope to analyze a slate of prototypes.

Masks are included in the welcome packages handed to the 210 students who will be living in residence this semester. Other items in the package include hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, snacks, and UWindsor swag.

The students will be moving in this weekend between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. While up to two students may share a common living space, every student will have his or her own bedroom this semester. Residence assistants are trained in looking for signs of social isolation, said Ryan Flannagan, associate vice-president, student experience.

Welcome Week events for all students will include online activities.

“The team responsible for Welcome Week went all-out over the summer to move our orientation program online this year,” Flannagan said.

“The chief priorities for our program this year are fun, accessibility, building connections, and, of course, safety. We think the incoming students are going to have a busy and memorable first week even though most of our students won’t be on campus.”

UWindsor is committed to a gradual, safe return to campus. For more information, visit the return to campus website.

—Sarah Sacheli

Windsor Wednesdays are a tradition at the University of Windsor, and the #UWinProud campaign will kick off the fall semester Sept. 9 by sponsoring prizes and giveaways all day long.

Students, staff, faculty, and alumni are encouraged on Wednesday, Sept. 9, to:

• post photos on social media wearing Lancer gear with the hashtag #WindsorWednesday;
• tune into The Windsor Wednesday Show at 12 noon; and
• follow @UWindsor, @UWinStudentExp, and @UWinAlumni on social media

for a chance to win great prizes.

“Although we are not physically on campus, it is important to continue building school spirit and pride of institutions through traditions like Windsor Wednesdays,” says Sarah Racinsky, communications assistant in the Office of Student Experience.

As in years past, the Office of Student Experience plans to host events, contests, and more in partnership with departments throughout the academic year as part of the #UWinProud campaign.

For more information about the Windsor Wednesday Virtual Kick off, visit the Facebook Event page or visit the Windsor Wednesday Virtual Kick Off event landing page.

To learn more about #UWinProud campaign, visit the Office of Student Experience website.

Even in a virtual format, the Science Academy helped grade 12 students experience life as a UWindsor student.

Now in its seventh year but its first online, the outreach program featured presentations from departments across the Faculty of Science, engaging activities, a science-art challenge, chats with undergraduates, and a showcase of student experiences including undergraduate research.

Nida Almas, a secondary student entering her senior year at Vincent Massey Secondary School, said the experience helped her narrow down the options for post-secondary education.

“The virtual presentations, activities, and challenges were informative and allowed me to explore the departments, resources, and experiences offered at UWindsor,” said Almas. “Upon the completion of Science Academy, I had a better understanding of myself and my preferences in regard to my post-secondary education.”

Her schoolmate Sona Regonda agreed.

“The activities, discussions, and lessons truly enlightened me and opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities,” Regonda said.

She was part of a local team sponsored by the Faculty of Science that placed second at the Youreka Canada National Symposium. The resulting research is being published in the Canadian Science Fair Journal.

The Science Academy also introduced attendees to UWindsor projects on COVID-19 being undertaken by undergraduate and graduate student researchers.

“Science Academy provided me with the opportunity to teach and discuss COVID-19 related research with very engaging young people,” says Cory Coba, a doctoral student of chemistry who presented his research on the development of novel COVID-19 diagnostic tests. “I think initiatives such as this are critical to increasing scientific literacy and ultimately helping individuals make more informed, science-based decisions when appropriate.”

Science Academy participants earned a certificate of completion and had the opportunity to compete for one of 10 entrance scholarships to a Faculty of Science program.

A new video series aimed at connecting students, professionals, and educators with the technology community in Windsor-Essex responds to the remote nature of education today, says Yvonne Pilon.

President of the regional technology hub WEtech Alliance, which sponsored the series, she hopes instructors at the secondary and post-secondary levels will share the videos with their students.

“Along with online learning comes a number of barriers, including isolation and disengagement,” Pilon says. “Knowing that connectedness is a key element of a thriving ecosystem, we wanted to provide a virtual way for first-year and existing students to learn how they can connect to tech amid COVID-19.”

UWindsor students Noah Campbell and Aislyn Laurent are featured in the videos, covering such topics as tech community groups, events, initiatives, news, employment, entrepreneurship, and mentorship opportunities.

“With the loss of in-person networking events due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it can be incredibly difficult for students and young professionals to learn how they can get involved with the many initiatives our tech community continues to champion,” Campbell says.

“The Tech Connect video series addresses this need by outlining opportunities available to community members in an easy-to-digest format.”

To learn more about the Tech Connect initiative and watch the video series at www.youtube.com/wetechalliance.

Campus partners are working to maintain a robust set of Knowledge Base Articles (KBAs).

The team will continue to compile a Weekly Digest of the most-referenced KBAs to streamline student-focused questions to ask.UWindsor to support consistent communication with current and future students.

These are this week's top-five referenced KBAs:

• What is an asynchronous course?
• What kind of computer or technology do I require?
• What should students know before enrolling in an online course?
• Is Leddy Library open? What services are available?
• I am a new, incoming Fall 2020 student. How do I get my UwinCARD?

Find Fall 2020 KBAs by clicking here.
Find UWin Online KBA's by clicking here.

You can submit common questions to askkba@uwindsor.ca.