COVID-19 - March 19 - Update from Dean Maioni

Dear Members of the Faculty of the Arts,

We are in an unprecedented situation as the Faculty of Arts community at McGill University responds to the Quebec Government’s call to action to contain the propagation of COVID-19. All of us in the Faculty – students, staff, instructors, – are doing our part to comply in a responsible manner that ensures the reliable flow of information, so as to maximize the health and well-being of our communities.

As a Faculty, we are also committed to ensuring that we adapt to the situation with as much flexibility and generosity as possible, understanding the stressful new reality that everyone is facing. At the same time, we want to ensure that the integrity of our programs and the continuity of our faculty affairs are maintained to the fullest extent possible. The Associate Deans, Chairs and Directors, and administrators and staff are doing their utmost to do so.

As Dean of Arts, I have been in constant contact with the other Deans of Faculties as well as the Academic Planning Group and the Emergency Operations Centre of the university administration. The Associate Deans and I have also been updating Chairs and Directors, as well as the Director of Administration, on all of these fronts.

The University is endeavouring to keep you informed in a timely manner of the directives being put into place to address this to this unprecedented public health crisis. The University also maintains a webpage with regular updates and FAQs: mcgill.ca/coronavirus/faqs. This Faculty website will serve as an additional resource for Faculty-specific issue that flow from these directives to ensure clear and comprehensive information to all our members.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Associate Deans, or me, if you have further concerns or queries. We are here to help in any way possible. And, again, it bears repeating to all of you, wherever you may be: your health is of primary concern. Keep practicing health precautions, such as good hygiene and social distancing, and any public health directives that are in place. In Quebec, contact 1-877-644-4545 should you develop symptoms of the virus, and keep abreast of public health news via: quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/.

Sincerely,

Antonia Maioni, Dean of Arts (Antonia.maioni [at] mcgill.ca)

Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs (jim.engle-warnick [at] mcgill.ca)

Associate Dean for Student Affairs (lucy.lach [at] mcgill.ca)

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (Michael.fronda [at] mcgill.ca)

Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs and Research (Tabitha.sparks [at] mcgill.ca)

Director of Administration, (Richard.courtois [at] mcgill.ca)