Last Updated: February 24, 2023, at 4:30 p.m.
As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we are constantly re-evaluating our plans in light of new information. Being both prepared and flexible is essential to making the best possible decisions at the right time. Carleton University is continuing work with the Ontario university sector and monitoring the advice provided by Ottawa Public Health and other health agencies such as the Public Health Agency of Canada and Ontario Public Health.
For more information relating to COVID-19, please visit Ottawa Public Health.
Should you have additional questions after reviewing this FAQ, please contact covidinfo@carleton.ca.
Other FAQs
Visit these pages for more specific FAQs.
General Information
- What are the current self-isolation guidelines?
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For self-isolation guidelines, please visit the symptom reporting webpage.
If you are experiencing symptoms or would like clarification on how long you need to self-isolate, please submit a COVID-19 Symptom Reporting Form through cuScreen. Environmental Health and Safety or Health Services will be in touch following the report to advise on appropriate timelines.
- What is the protocol when students disclose symptoms potentially linked to COVID-19 or a positive COVID-19 test result?
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Should a student disclose symptoms potentially linked to COVID-19 or a positive COVID-19 test result, and they have been on campus within the past 5 days, please ask the student to complete the Symptom Reporting Form on cuScreen.
Health Services and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) will conduct a risk assessment based on information obtained from the Symptom Reporting Form and a conversation with the student.
Health Services and/or EHS will advise you on the next steps as appropriate. No additional actions will be necessary.
Masks
- Do I need to wear a mask or face-covering when I am on campus?
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On the advice and guidance of public health authorities, Carleton strongly recommends wearing a well-fitted mask, particularly in dense indoor public settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained. In line with other health care facilities, Health Services and the Sports Medicine Clinic will continue to require masks.
Individual preferences regarding mask use will vary. Everyone is empowered to make their own decisions to help reduce personal risk, and we ask everyone to be understanding and respectful of people’s personal choices. Outside of our health care facilities, individuals cannot require colleagues or students to wear masks in classrooms or offices, except in very specific situations such as labs where masks were required prior to the pandemic. Please note that the university’s mandatory mask mandate may be reinstated at a future time, should public health indicators and guidelines change.
- Where am I required to wear a mask or face-covering on campus?
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In line with other health care facilities, Health Services and the Sports Medicine Clinic will continue to require masks.
In line with current public health guidance, masking is strongly recommended as a way to protect yourself from COVID-19 – particularly in indoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Individual preferences regarding mask use will vary. Everyone is empowered to make their own decisions to help reduce personal risk, and we ask everyone to be understanding and respectful of people’s personal choices. Outside of our health care facilities, individuals cannot require colleagues or students to wear masks in classrooms or offices, except in very specific situations such as labs where masks were required prior to the pandemic. Please note that the university’s mandatory mask mandate may be reinstated at a future time, should public health indicators and guidelines change.
- What type of mask or face covering am I required to wear?
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Please Visit our Mask Guidance webpage for more information.
We strongly recommend that individuals continue to seek guidance on masks and face coverings from the Government of Canada website in order to receive the most up-to-date information.
In line with current public health guidance, masking is strongly recommended as a way to protect yourself from COVID-19 – particularly in indoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained. In line with other health care facilities, Health Services and the Sports Medicine Clinic will continue to require masks. Masks are available to all faculty and staff and can be obtained from departmental administrators through eShop. Three-layer cloth masks have also been included in our student orientation kits.
Individual preferences regarding mask use will vary. Everyone is empowered to make their own decisions to help reduce personal risk, and we ask everyone to be understanding and respectful of people’s personal choices. Outside of our health care facilities, individuals cannot require colleagues or students to wear masks in classrooms or offices, except in very specific situations such as labs where masks were required prior to the pandemic. Please note that the university’s mandatory mask mandate may be reinstated at a future time, should public health indicators and guidelines change.
Vaccines
- Is proof of vaccination required to come to campus?
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Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization, long-term impacts from COVID-19 and associated potential disruptions to learning or work. As such, we strongly recommend that all members of the Carleton community get a full course of vaccination and stay up to date with their vaccinations, including receiving any additional doses as soon as they are eligible to do so.
Although proof of vaccination is not required to access campus or participate in Carleton activities, it may become necessary to bring back proof of vaccination requirements on short notice if the situation and public health advice changes. All Carleton students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attest to their vaccination status and, if vaccinated, upload proof of vaccination and subsequent booster doses in cuScreen as soon as possible.
- Do I need a third dose booster to access campus?
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Individuals are now able to upload proof of their fourth and subsequent COVID-19 booster doses in cuScreen. In order to report a booster vaccination status, individuals must first report their previous dose information which must be verified by the Carleton verification team.
Individuals must upload a copy of their enhanced vaccine certificate or related document in PDF format. Please do not include any special characters such as a “#” in the name of the file when uploading your proof of vaccination to cuScreen.
Your vaccination document must include your name, name of vaccine(s) and the date(s) you received your dose(s).
Although not required to access campus, we strongly recommend that all members of the Carleton community get their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and submit it in cuScreen as soon as possible.
- How do I add subsequent booster doses to cuScreen?
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We strongly recommend that all members of the Carleton community get subsequent booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible.
cuScreen can now accommodate reporting fourth and subsequent booster doses. In order to report your booster vaccination status, your previous dose information must be verified by the Carleton verification team.
- Are there exemptions to these vaccination requirement rules?
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Any individual who cannot be vaccinated on medical grounds or other protected grounds recognized by the Ontario Human Rights Code can request an exemption.
Although proof of vaccination is not required to access campus or participate in Carleton activities, it may become necessary to bring back proof of vaccination requirements on short notice if the situation and public health advice changes. All Carleton students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attest to their vaccination status and, if vaccinated, upload proof of vaccination and subsequent booster doses in cuScreen as soon as possible.
Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization, long-term impacts from COVID-19 and associated potential disruptions to learning or work. As such, we strongly recommend that all members of the Carleton community get a full course of vaccination and stay up to date with their vaccinations, including receiving any additional doses as soon as they are eligible to do so.
- I have had one dose of the vaccine. Is that enough?
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Two doses deliver stronger protection against COVID-19. It is important to receive both doses of the vaccine to complete the vaccine series. The protection offered by the first dose helps your body build immunity and the second dose boosts your immunity.
Getting both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and completing the full course of vaccination further reduces your risk of being hospitalized as a result of COVID-19.
In order to be considered fully vaccinated, you must have received the full series of a vaccine or a combination of vaccines approved by Health Canada and received the last dose at least 14 days before the date of their attestation.
- Will students living in residence require vaccination?
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Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization, long-term impacts from COVID-19 and associated potential disruptions to learning or work. As such, we strongly recommend that all members of the Carleton community get a full course of vaccination and stay up to date with their vaccinations, including receiving any additional doses as soon as they are eligible to do so.
Although proof of vaccination is not required to access campus or participate in Carleton activities, it may become necessary to bring back proof of vaccination requirements on short notice if the situation and public health advice changes. All Carleton students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attest to their vaccination status and, if vaccinated, upload proof of vaccination and subsequent booster doses in cuScreen as soon as possible.
Please note that isolation requirements vary based on your vaccination status, with unvaccinated individuals required to isolate longer.
- I am an international student arriving in Canada and not able to get my vaccine until after I complete quarantine. What are my options?
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Although proof of vaccination is not required to access campus or participate in Carleton activities, it may become necessary to bring back proof of vaccination requirements on short notice if the situation and public health advice changes. All Carleton students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attest to their vaccination status and, if vaccinated, upload proof of vaccination and subsequent booster doses in cuScreen as soon as possible.
Please review the definition of being fully vaccinated in Ontario.
For more information, please contact the International Student Services Office at isso@carleton.ca.
- Is Carleton able to offer the COVID-19 vaccine and booster?
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When possible, Carleton will collaborate with Ottawa Public Health on a COVID-19 vaccination clinic. Information on upcoming clinics will be made available on the Health Services website as it becomes available.
Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization, long-term impacts from COVID-19 and associated potential disruptions to learning or work. As such, we strongly recommend that all members of the Carleton community get a full course of vaccination and stay up to date with their vaccinations, including receiving any additional doses as soon as they are eligible to do so.
Although proof of vaccination is not required to access campus or participate in Carleton activities, it may become necessary to bring back proof of vaccination requirements on short notice if the situation and public health advice changes. All Carleton students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attest to their vaccination status and, if vaccinated, upload proof of vaccination and subsequent booster doses in cuScreen as soon as possible.
Submitting Proof
- Will I still need to complete a screening self-assessment before coming to campus if I show proof of vaccination?
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Remaining vigilant and not coming to campus when sick or with symptoms is critically important. Although no longer required, the cuScreen daily screening remains active for those who wish to complete the screening self-assessment before coming to campus.
- Do I need to provide proof of vaccination status if I am not coming to campus?
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Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization, long-term impacts from COVID-19 and associated potential disruptions to learning or work. As such, we strongly recommend that all members of the Carleton community get a full course of vaccination and stay up to date with their vaccinations, including receiving any additional doses as soon as they are eligible to do so.
Although proof of vaccination is not required to access campus or participate in Carleton activities, it may become necessary to bring back proof of vaccination requirements on short notice if the situation and public health advice changes. All Carleton students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attest to their vaccination status and, if vaccinated, upload proof of vaccination and subsequent booster doses in cuScreen as soon as possible.
- Will I be required to disclose my vaccination status?
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Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization, long-term impacts from COVID-19 and associated potential disruptions to learning or work. As such, we strongly recommend that all members of the Carleton community get a full course of vaccination and stay up to date with their vaccinations, including receiving any additional doses as soon as they are eligible to do so.
Although proof of vaccination is not required to access campus or participate in Carleton activities, it may become necessary to bring back proof of vaccination requirements on short notice if the situation and public health advice changes. All Carleton students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attest to their vaccination status and, if vaccinated, upload proof of vaccination and subsequent booster doses in cuScreen as soon as possible.
- How do I provide proof of vaccination?
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To attest to being vaccinated:
- Log into cuScreen
- Click on “Report your latest vaccination status”
- Carefully read each question and answer appropriately
- Upload proof of vaccination (vaccine dose administration receipts or equivalent documents), preferably in PDF format
- Note: your vaccination document must include your name, name of vaccine(s) and the date(s) you received your dose(s)
All Carleton students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attest to their vaccination status and, if vaccinated, upload proof of vaccination and subsequent booster doses in cuScreen as soon as possible.
- How is my personal information protected?
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Carleton University has partnered with Thrive Health Inc. to provide the cuScreen web portal. As a health care technology company, Thrive Health Inc. has expertise in protecting individual private health information. All data provided or received through the platform is encrypted and your personal information is stored within Canada. Thrive Health Inc. follows data security and privacy standards that align with federal and provincial laws and guidelines such as PHIPA, FIPPA, HIPPA, PIPEDA, PCI, and NIST.
cuScreen has also been assessed by Carleton University’s Privacy Office and Information Security team which confirmed its compliance with applicable privacy standards. For more information, please visit our privacy webpage.
Students
General
- How will the fall 2022 and winter 2023 terms be affected?
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The fall 2022 term has seen a regular in-person schedule with the majority of course components being delivered in person.
The class schedule and registration course planning tool for the fall 2022 and winter 2023 terms is now available in Carleton Central via Carleton360.
When looking at the course schedule, in-person sections will have a room displayed, and online sections will have “ONLINE” in the room column. Additional information regarding online delivery will also be displayed (e.g. asynchronous or synchronous). A glossary of the different online deliveries can be found on the Course Delivery Types website.
In line with current public health guidance, masking is strongly recommended as a way to protect yourself from COVID-19 – particularly in indoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained. In line with other health care facilities, Health Services and the Sports Medicine Clinic will continue to require masks. Please note that the university’s mandatory mask mandate may be reinstated at a future time, should public health indicators and guidelines change.
Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization, long-term impacts from COVID-19 and associated potential disruptions to learning or work. As such, we strongly recommend that all members of the Carleton community get a full course of vaccination and stay up to date with their vaccinations, including receiving any additional doses as soon as they are eligible to do so.
Although proof of vaccination is not required to access campus or participate in Carleton activities, it may become necessary to bring back proof of vaccination requirements on short notice if the situation and public health advice changes. All Carleton students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attest to their vaccination status and, if vaccinated, upload proof of vaccination and subsequent booster doses in cuScreen as soon as possible.
- Will my courses have an online option if I am unable to come to Ottawa/campus?
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Carleton will be completing its full return to campus over the summer. As such, the summer 2022 and fall 2022 terms will see a regular in-person schedule with the majority of course components being delivered in person. All students planning to take classes in these terms are advised to return to Ottawa in time for the beginning of classes in September.
Carleton cannot guarantee that we will be able to offer virtual or hybrid learning options for those who are unable to attend campus.
- Are students required to wear masks in the classroom?
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In line with current public health guidance, masking is strongly recommended as a way to protect yourself from COVID-19 – particularly in indoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Individual preferences regarding mask use will vary. Everyone is empowered to make their own decisions to help reduce personal risk, and we ask everyone to be understanding and respectful of people’s personal choices. Outside of our health care facilities, individuals cannot require colleagues or students to wear masks in classrooms or offices, except in very specific situations such as labs where masks were required prior to the pandemic. Please note that the university’s mandatory mask mandate may be reinstated at a future time, should public health indicators and guidelines change.
- What academic accommodations are in place?
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Carleton University has suspended the need for a doctor’s note or medical certificate until further notice when requesting academic accommodation related to COVID-19. Students should complete the self-declaration form available on the Registrar’s Office website to request academic accommodation for missed course work including exams and assignments.
Students are encouraged to connect directly with their instructors to discuss required accommodations arising from the COVID-19 situation.
- When can I submit a registration override request?
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In order to submit a registration override request, you must first attempt to register after your time-ticket has opened. Time-tickets will be made available in Carleton Central 1-2 weeks before registration.
The Override Request Form can be found on the Add or Drop Classes page in Carleton Central via Carleton360.
- What financial assistance is available for students?
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If you are unsure which resources may be helpful for your particular situation, the Managers of Student Care and Support in the Office of Student Health and Wellness can assist you in exploring and navigating the services that Carleton and the community can offer. You are welcome to submit a Care Report and one of the managers will reach out to you.
Online Learning
- What supports are available for online learning?
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As we continue to deliver courses online, we have put together some resources to help you transition to virtual classrooms.
- Where can I get support with Brightspace?
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Please visit the Brightspace support site for students.
Faculty and Staff
- What is the protocol for reporting self-isolation or illness potentially linked to COVID-19?
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Remaining vigilant and not coming to campus when sick or with symptoms is important to contain any spread. If you are feeling unwell, protect your colleagues and classmates by staying home and following the online symptom reporting process.
- What if a student does not want to wear a mask in the classroom?
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Outside of our health care facilities, individuals cannot require colleagues or students to wear masks in classrooms or offices, except in very specific situations such as labs where masks were required prior to the pandemic. Please note that the university’s mandatory mask mandate may be reinstated at a future time, should public health indicators and guidelines change.
- What happens if there is an emergency situation while participating in an online meeting?
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If you are experiencing an emergency situation personally, please follow standard emergency procedures.
- If on campus, contact Campus Safety Services at 613-520-4444
- If off campus, contact your local emergency service(s)
Please review our Emergency Procedures for Online Situations (PDF, 135KB).
Operations
- Will screening be required?
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Remaining vigilant and not coming to campus when sick or with symptoms is critically important. The cuScreen daily screening is no longer required but will remain active for those who wish to complete the screening self-assessment before coming to campus.
If you are feeling unwell, protect your colleagues, classmates and the Carleton community by staying home. You are required to submit a COVID-19 Symptom Reporting Form through cuScreen. Environmental Health and Safety or Health and Wellness Services will be in touch following the report to assess your circumstances and advise you on appropriate isolation timelines.
- Can I use the tunnels?
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Yes, following the installation of new exhaust fans and air handling units throughout the entire tunnel system, access to the tunnels has resumed.
- What are the cleaning policies and frequencies?
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Facilities Management and Planning (FMP) has cleaning protocols for buildings, classrooms, common spaces and study spaces. For more information, please visit our cleaning information website.
- How are hand sanitizer stations being deployed across campus?
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Hand sanitizer stations have been deployed at building entrances for students, faculty, staff and community members to use while on campus. These stations are monitored regularly to determine the frequency of use. Depending on the traffic volume, additional stations will be deployed as needed. Should a hand sanitizer station require servicing, individuals are encouraged to notify the FMP Service Desk.
- What is the university doing about building ventilation?
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Carleton University is adhering to the core recommendations of the American Society of Heating Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Epidemic Task Force guidelines. This was confirmed by a third-party consultant who was engaged to verify and recommission the ventilation systems.
Across campus, the main air handling systems in all buildings have been fitted with high-efficiency (MERV 13) filters as recommended by ASHRAE.
All main air handling systems are providing pre- and post-occupancy flushes of ventilation air at least two hours before occupancy and two hours after occupancy. The systems are continuously monitored throughout the day by Facilities Management and Planning (FMP) Building Operations staff. Visit the ventilation section of this website for more information.
- How is Carleton ensuring our drinking water remains safe?
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Carleton University has been regularly flushing the water in our buildings, as well as testing for the presence of any Legionella bacteria since March 2020 to ensure the safety of all members of our campus community. More information is available on the water treatment program and legionella testing section of the website.
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