U of W shifting to essential services

The University of Windsor is the latest institution to scale back services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a media release Tuesday evening, the university will shift to an essential-services-only format, effective Wednesday, and is encouraging those staff who can work from home to do so.

The university departments that fall under this classification include the following, according to the release from university President Dr. Robert Gordon.

• Student Health Services
• Campus Community Police
• Energy Conversion Centre
• Central Animal Care Facility
• Facility Services
• Food Services
• Financial Services
• Human Resources
• Information Technology Services
• Residence Services
• Senior Administration

Managers in these departments will be responsible for identifying those employees who are required to come in for work, and those who can perform their duties at home.

"We know that everyone is doing the best they can under some very extraordinary circumstances, and we greatly appreciate all of your ongoing efforts," said Gordon. "We don't know the duration of these new measures, and we will continue to provide updates regularly."

U of W has already cancelled classes at least through Wednesday, with courses moving to an online-instruction mode starting Thursday.