The return to in-person learning has brought out our campus’ vibrancy

It has been wonderful to see McMaster’s campus thriving once again this September with the return of regular, in-person learning, student services and activities. Of course, it didn’t just happen. It took resilience and dedication on the part of our faculty and staff since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to fulfill McMaster’s commitment to our students.

Recognizing that it is people who make a university excellent, McMaster’s president and vice-presidents held an appreciation barbecue in August to express our thanks to the faculty and staff members whose care toward our students and toward each other over the past two-and-a-half years exemplified our institutional values of inclusiveness and teamwork. More than 2,000 meals were served at the event and I hope everyone at McMaster, whether they were able to attend the barbecue or not, feel that their efforts are noticed and appreciated.

Students Back On Campus

It has also been great to welcome our first-year students to the beginning of their academic journeys as thousands arrived on campus for Welcome Week at Mac. It takes hard work, talent and dedication to make it to university and we are thankful to those who chose McMaster. Our students have the potential to make our university’s promise of creating a brighter world a reality.

It is exciting that our newest students will soon experience McMaster’s approach of developing the whole person. Student success depends on factors beyond what is learned in the classroom. Wellness, a healthy and inclusive campus culture, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are all part of the whole student experience.

This is important to think about because the beginning of first year in university can be both exciting and a little scary. I have two tips that I shared with incoming students in the welcome video below.

First … go to class. It sounds obvious, but many first-year students are transitioning into a new self-directed phase of their lives. We know from experience this can be difficult and attending class will help those students feel grounded and on top of their responsibilities.

The second tip is for students to choose their peers wisely. To find friends who reinforce what makes them amazing and don’t reinforce bad habits. Students should look to surround themselves with classmates and friends who challenge them, who are kind and who have their back.

One week after the arrival of first-year students, our returning students made their presence felt on campus when classes started after Labour Day. McMaster is home to more than 35,000 students in all and these photos from the first week of classes show that learning and collaboration can happen anywhere on our beautiful campus. The opportunities to exchange ideas, grow and develop together are many.

Supports And Resources

Over the next 13 weeks of the fall term students will have experiences inside and outside the classroom that will impact them on many levels. It is always a good reminder that wellness is another important aspect of the journey toward personal and academic success. McMaster’s Student Wellness Centre offers various services to enhance the emotional, physical and personal wellbeing of our students. They range from counselling options, to medical services and wellness programs.

Students will also want to know about the library updates for the fall term. Mills Memorial Library and H.G. Thode Library of Science and Engineering now allow food and beverages once again. Innis Library, McMaster’s business library, is still closed in anticipation of a move to its new home in the McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery. Business resources can be found online and at Mills.

Another highlight this fall is the resumption of art tours organized by the McMaster Museum of Art. There are 15-minute art tours on Wednesdays as well as audio architecture tours of campus by scanning the QR code in front of the museum.

National Day For Truth And Reconciliation

Finally, it is important to note that Friday Sept. 30 marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is an significant date for the McMaster community. While the university will be open with faculty and staff working as usual, no classes are scheduled for that day, as noted on the Office of the Registrar’s website under dates and deadlines.

Sept. 30 is also referred to as Orange Shirt Day to raise awareness of the legacy of residential schools and to honour survivors. The cancellation of classes presents an opportunity to reflect on the broader issues related to truth and reconciliation and to be inspired by the potential universities have to make positive contributions toward reconciliation through education and inclusion. More information on programming will be shared with students, staff and faculty in the coming weeks.