by Linda Straker
- SGU campus will be reopening for in-person class for August 2021 semester
- Covid-19 vaccinations will be required for all students, faculty, staff, and administrators, vendors and visitors on campus
- SGU contributes no less than 22% of Grenada’s GDP
Thirteen months after facilitating the departure of thousands of students back to the United States and other parts of the world because of the Covid-19 pandemic, St George’s University (SGU) has announced that its campus will be reopening for in-person class for the August 2021 semester.
“Today, St George’s University (SGU) announced that all students in the Schools of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Arts and Sciences, and Graduate Studies will be welcomed back to in-person learning on campus in Grenada for the August 2021 term,” said a statement from the university on 15 April 2021.
The statement explained that the leadership of SGU considered all aspects of a safe return, placing the health and safety of students, faculty and staff on campus, and that of the Grenada community as a priority. “As part of our plan for a safe return to campus life, Covid-19 vaccinations will be required for all students, faculty, staff, and administrators, vendors and visitors on campus. Many universities around the world are requiring Covid-19 vaccination as part of their return strategies for the Fall term.”
The statement which was issued weeks after Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell said that all frontline and hospitality workers will be mandated to be vaccinated.
The University said that while it is an expectation that all students will eventually return to campus, it also recognises that the situation regarding the pandemic, travel, and vaccination delivery is evolving.
“Although our goal is to return all students to in-person learning as quickly as possible, we will be reasonable in our consideration of exceptions to in-person education and use of online education for the August 2021 term,” said the statement which confirmed an alternative to attending classes.
“An option to continue online learning will be made available for students who have a lack of access to vaccinations in their country, challenges with travel visas, passports, and flights from some countries and other situations that may require students to remain online for the August term,” the statement said.
Dr Charles Modica Chancellor of SGU said, “SGU will continue to collaborate with the Government of Grenada to support its public health response to combat the spread of the virus. This collaboration has helped to inform our decisions throughout the pandemic. We are working closely with the airlines who will be adding significant capacity throughout the summer in response to booking demand.”
“The University has implemented public health procedures to ensure Grenada’s Public Health (Covid-19) Regulations and Quarantine Act are followed and to ensure the health of our students, faculty and staff and the wider Grenadian community. We are very excited about a safe return to a vibrant campus.”
2018 data from the Ministry of Finance shows that the University contributes no less than 22% of Grenada’s GDP.
See any foreign owned entity thinks they own Grenada. Don’t see hiw you can mandate something that affects the general public. Maybe no one will come and fix your plumbing, electrical or any other necessity. Jen Jen
If you didn’t know, SGU has it’s own fulltime electricians, plumbers, masonry workers et al. I don’t think very much of these workers making $2000-$5000 + a month in Grenada is going to give up their rather lucrative jobs.
Finally some good news for a change….
If everyone going into campus has to be vaccinated does that mean that the students will not be allowed out??
Help me understand — if they are vaccinated, why shouldn’t they be allowed out?
EV
The article makes it sound like the objective is that everyone that might come into contact with the (vaccinated) students inside SGU campus has also to be vaccinated. So it made me wonder if they would let the students outside where they would be mingling with the currently 90% un-vaccinated Grenada population…
Wow……22% GDP is like holding you by the *alls and laugh in your face.
So you know that you are not in control of any decisions made by this establishment.
Therefore you do as they say.
Oh just shut your pie hole storm