Here are the COVID-19 policies at local universities and colleges

With just over a week until classes resume, differing COVID-19 policies are in place at universities and colleges across southwestern Ontario.

On Saturday, hundreds of people turned out in London, Ont. to protest Western University’s rules, which include mandatory third dose booster shots.

“Choice should be restored for students,” said rally co-organizer Kendra Hancock. “We should be able to choose whether we get vaccines or whether we wear a mask.”

Western University issued a statement ahead of the protest on Saturday.

“We know this decision has spurred significant conversation – and as a centre of higher learning we encourage the exchange of differing viewpoints and ideas, while valuing constructive debate,” the university said in part.

Earlier this week infectious disease expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch weighed in on the varied approaches at Ontario universities.

“I think having greater consistency across the board would be very helpful,” Dr. Bogoch said.

“At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves what is the goal? Is the goal to protect everybody, or to protect the individual? I think these rules and regulations might reduce the risk of this, but they are not going to eliminate the risk.”

WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY

Wilfrid Laurier University is the only post-secondary institution in Waterloo region requiring face-coverings in classrooms.

The university says masks will also be mandatory in labs and any other “in-person gathering space associated with the delivery of academic courses.”

The university’s mandatory vaccination policy remains paused.

Daily symptom screening has also been suspended. The university strongly advises people refrain from attending campuses when ill.

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO

The University of Waterloo says it strongly encourages people to wear a mask to limit the spread of COVID, however, there is no mask requirement being implemented at this time.

The university’s proof of vaccination requirement was suspended on May 1.

The University of Waterloo also encourages its students and faculty to stay home if exposed to the virus, when feeling ill, or developing symptoms of COVID.

CONESTOGA COLLEGE

Conestoga College is requiring staff, but not students or visitors to provide proof of full vaccination.

The college dropped its mandatory masking policy on July 1.

Demonstrators protest Western University's COVID-19 mandates on Saturday Aug. 27, 2022. The London, Ont., university announced Monday that anyone on campus in the fall must have at least three COVID-19 shots and wear masks in classrooms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne

WESTERN UNIVERSITY

Western University is requiring anyone on campus to have at least three COVID-19 shots. Students and staff will also be required to wear masks in classrooms.

The policy has been met with pushback. More than 400 people turned out to protest the university’s rules on Saturday Aug. 27.

UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH

The University of Guelph paused its COVID-19 vaccination policy on May 1. Proof of vaccination is not required to access university spaces.

Masks will be “strongly encouraged” but not required in most areas of campus.

The university says it will designate “a few areas” where masks will be mandatory. It says details on these spaces will be made available soon.

Since October 2020, U of G researchers have been sampling wastewater from campus residences, looking for fragments of the COVID-19 virus. Sampling will continue to be conducted in all student residence wastewater, seven days a week.

With files from CTV London