Physical distancing measures will prevail in Montreal for an indefinite period. Given that physical distancing is difficult to maintain on the Sir George Williams and Loyola campuses, the university is moving the bulk of its fall term online.

You will be able to access Concordia’s fall 2020 term anytime, from anywhere in the world. The university is putting all its efforts into providing a quality education and preparing you for whatever you’re planning next. As such, Concordia is focusing its energies on developing the best-quality online experience for all students.

A few exceptions will be made for activities where a hands-on element is key, including experiments, teaching labs and studio work that require a physical demonstration of skills and competencies. These activities will take place on campus, provided that appropriate health and safety measures can be observed, but with fewer participants than usual.

Concordia is currently identifying in-person course activities across all faculties. More information will follow.

Concordia remains committed to providing an online version of in-person sessions for those who cannot, or choose not to, attend for any reason. This is part of the university’s commitment to be accessible and equitable. Whether you are a student in your home country or your Montreal apartment, you will be able to fulfill your course requirements.

For graduate students, limited access to research labs will gradually resume starting May 25. Your supervisor will be informed of the schedule the university is creating to ensure everyone adheres to physical distancing guidelines.

Although the Webster and Vanier libraries, as well as the Grey Nuns Reading Room, will remain physically closed, access to digital collections, “Ask a Librarian,” consultations with subject librarians, interlibrary loans and other online services are functional, and will continue to expand to include instruction and additional digital resources.

Professors are making your course content available in Moodle. Some faculty may opt for synchronous learning — this means live videoconferencing sessions with their students using ZOOM, a conferencing software.

Some faculty may also opt to add other kinds of resources to Moodle that you can explore on your own. This may include videos they or others have made, discussion boards, readings, links, etc. This is called asynchronous learning.

No matter the delivery type, in most cases you will find your course content on Moodle.

No in-person classes will be offered during the summer term - instruction will be offered remotely. 

Tutorials can continue through the online delivery mechanisms proposed — your professor will be able to give you more information.

For questions related to internships, co-op placements and other experiential learning activities, please consult with your program director. 

Follett, the new bookstore service provider on campus, will help with all your course material needs for the fall 2020 term. Students will be able to purchase digital course materials through the provider’s website. Follett will also ship textbooks and coursepacks to students’ homes, whether they’re living in Montreal or elsewhere.

You will benefit from a diverse selection of digital learning technologies that provide access to the course materials you need, when you need them. Follett will also offer affordable open educational resources content and courseware through Lumen Learning.

Follett’s cost-saving print options include used books offerings and a text rental program that saves students up to 80 per cent compared to the price of a new title. Follett also has a popular price matching program, which helps ensure students get materials at the lowest cost possible, and a year-round buyback program.

Staff are working remotely to provide services via email throughout the campus closure.

The Financial Aid and Awards Office can be reached at fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca during the closure. Office staff are available to assist with questions or concerns related to bursaries, loans and scholarships.

There are a number of additional resources available to help answer questions and offer support during Concordia’s closure, including the Concordia University Student Parent Centre, the Aboriginal Student Resource Centre and mental health resources for students. Refer to the list of Concordia’s COVID-19 resources for contact information.

Concordia is increasing and adapting its student services to support you through this exceptional time, including:

• more online student advising
• more online mental health counselling
• more peer-to-peer and mentoring exchanges
• virtual campus-life opportunities to help combat isolation

The university is also exploring ideas to build partnerships to help students enjoy the Montreal experience virtually.

Read more about advising during the university’s physical closure.

The Birks team is working remotely and is happy to help however they can. You can reach them either by phone at 514-848-2424, ext. 2668, from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, or by email at study@concordia.ca (please include “Birks” in the subject line).

Requests that were previously made in person at the Birks Student Service Centre can now be made online at concordia.ca/birks.

The Access Centre for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) on both campuses are closed. Accommodated exams will not take place in person, however exam accommodations will be considered for online exams.  Booked appointments and booked intakes will take place as scheduled. The advisor will contact the student.

Moodle, Office 365 and ZOOM can be accessed from your mobile device.

Check with your service provider as some service providers have lifted data caps on plans.

Follow these instructions on how to install Office 365 on your device.

Follow these instructions on how to access Moodle from your device.

ZOOM can also be downloaded to your mobile device by clicking on a meeting link (this will allow you to download the app, or it can be preinstalled via android or Apple app stores).

There are a number of resources available to learn, teach and work from home. Please check it regularly since the content will be updated regularly.

The university has created a form for students, faculty, and staff to request IT equipment during the COVID-19 crisis. Please note that this request does not guarantee availability of equipment as stock is limited.

Please use it to submit your request to borrow a computer, webcam or microphone if you are:

• A student enrolled in a summer term class without access to a computer
• A professor teaching a course without access to a computer, microphone or webcam
• A staff member whose supervisor has approved a request to borrow a computer to work from home

The Centre for Teaching and Learning has instructions to a step-by-step workflow on how to access your courses in Moodle — this can be done from a phone or a computer. More information will be added to the CTL website as it is available. 

Zoom-bombing describes when someone other than the host takes over an online meeting or class and disrupts it with irrelevant or offensive material.

Concordia has adjusted default settings on our Zoom licence to help lower the risk of such occurrences. The changes were also instituted to offer students additional privacy.

The setting changes mean that you may not be able to interact with your instructor or fellow students as freely as before. If this is an issue for you, we recommend you discuss it with your instructor.

PLEASE NOTE: You should never share a Zoom class ID. You should also know that Zoom-bombing a class could lead to a complaint under Concordia’s Code of Rights and Responsibilities.

• If one of your classes has been disrupted by Zoom-bombing, please email help@concordia.ca.
• If you want to file a complaint about a Concordia community member’s offensive or disruptive behaviour, please contact the Office of Rights and Responsibilities.

No final exams will be done in person. Your professor(s) will advise you on the format of your evaluation as many faculty members have created alternative forms of final assessments. 

Some students will be asked to write online exams that will be open-book and do not require any online invigilation. These exams will be administered via Moodle.

Your professor can decide to apply the redistribution as they feel is appropriate. Some professors may be able to accommodate students with grade redistribution and others may not. The decision rests entirely with the professor, not the university.

More information on online exams is available at concordia.ca/cole.

The university is working to prioritize being able to complete the term in these challenging circumstances. Professors have been adjusting their courses in order to allow students to be able to finish their course. In some courses, this will involve shifting the weighting of some of the assignments and exams. If you have specific concerns about how this weighting will impact you, we encourage you to speak with your professor and raise your concerns.​​ The next step would be to discuss this with your department chair.

Students who unexpectedly find themselves with urgent financial need for immediate and necessary expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and who are currently attending for-credit classes in the Winter 2020 term and residing in Canada, are eligible to apply.

This includes graduate students who are currently continuing in program (CIP).

This fund is intended to help students who have unexpectedly and without other options suddenly lost revenue due to the pandemic, and it can complement government initiatives.

On the online application form, when asked about government student aid, all applicants must choose “No I did not apply.” This is the case even if you did apply and/or are receiving government student aid.

COVID-19 has had a significant financial impact on many students. As such, the university has extended tuition deadlines for all Concordia students.

The best way to reach us is by sending us an email to studentaccounts@concordia.ca.

The full team is working remotely and will get back to you by email. 

Due to the significant impact the COVID-19 crisis is having on the financial situation of many students, kindly take note of the tuition fee deadline extension announcement on the COVID-19 tuition fee payment web page.

Please reach out to the SAO by emailing studentaccounts@concordia.ca. A member of the team will address this on a case-by-case basis.