We are now planning for the fall in earnest with our continued commitment to providing a dynamic OCAD University learning environment consistent with our academic mission and spirit of creativity and innovation. Our top priority is to ensure that our students will have an excellent student experience and we are working very diligently to make this happen. We will be sharing more details within the next few weeks.
We were very pleased by the recent federal government announcement of $9 billion in new COVID-19 funding for Canadian students and recent graduates. This was welcome news – not only for returning students – but for students choosing to join our community this fall.
This support includes the Canada Emergency Student Benefit and creation of 76,000 additional jobs in sectors that need help or those responding directly to COVID-19. Financial support will also be available to students who volunteer in their communities to help during the pandemic through the new Canada Student Service Grant.
We continue to work with the Council of Ontario Universities to impress upon the provincial government the contribution of the university sector in responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, the presidents and principals of Ontario’s universities issued a joint message to highlight these efforts, noting that universities are also valued partners in the recovery process.
I am also pleased to announced that OCAD U has launched, in partnership with Kolab Project, a call for submissions from members of our community. The Next Fourteen Days is a new initiative that will provide grants of $1,000 to realize 14 new projects that speak to this time of physical distancing and self-isolation.
We are finalizing our plans for the June 12 virtual convocation and will be announcing an exciting slate of honorary doctorate recipients next week, so stay tuned.
I hope that you all keep safe and healthy at this time, and thank you again for all of your continued support.
Warm regards,
Dr. Sara Diamond, C.M., O.ON., R.C.A., ICD.D
President and Vice-Chancellor