UG to open in blended format on October 25

…virtual orientation set for October 18 – 22

The University of Guyana will begin its new academic year on October 25, 2021, for new and continuing students with a blended format on both face to face and virtual classes.

Approximately 65% of the University’s classes will remain online for the first semester from October 2021 to January 2022 due to prevailing COVID-19 conditions as well as major building works arising from recent extreme weather conditions, the university said in a press release on Thursday. The remaining 35%, mostly consisting of laboratory and field exercises, are expected to be blended and face-to-face delivered at the various campuses for specific courses or parts of courses only in this first semester October 2021 to January 2022. Students will be notified directly of the schedule as well as safety measures they are expected to comply with if any of their courses are to be held face-to-face.  Schedules will also be posted on Faculty websites.

Meanwhile, the tertiary institution said refresher orientations are being done for continuing students on October 1. The University will be hosting its Orientation for new students during the period October 18 – 22, 2021.

These will all be conducted online. According to the release new students already fully or conditionally accepted to the University for the new year should have received communication with links to the sessions from their prospective departments and Faculties as well as from the University’s Registry. Students will receive emails directly with the necessary login information to register.

The orientation sessions are aimed at providing a step-by-step introduction to all of the systems, policies, personnel, and resources that students need to navigate the University. This will be particularly important for students to start their classes seamlessly on the first day of classes. This also will address programme-related queries and concerns and provide the necessary support and guidance to students to ensure their time at the University is smooth, enriching and fulfilling as far as possible.

The orientation process is an onboarding exercise whereby students are also introduced to the rules, regulations, lecturers, specific processes, given a tour of the physical and online classrooms, how to read and calculate their grade point average (GPA) and academic profiles. They are also made aware of the special services and opportunities available to them during and after their studies.

Key dates for the Academic Year 2021/2022
The first day of classes for the new academic year will be on October 25, 2021.  The traditional commencement ceremony will also be held virtually on October 22, 2021.