A Safe Return to Campus
Tuesday 15 June saw the publication of A Safe Return to Campus framework document, developed by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) in consultation with various stakeholders including Mary Immaculate College, with the primary objective of ensuring that HE, FE and research are recognised as essential services. This framework gives institutions the autonomy to develop their own plans for re-opening their campuses accordingly, but always within the context of the most up to date public health guidelines.
MIC is committed to a significant increase in the level of activity on campus next semester with most of the academic content being delivered on campus and in person and we remain hopeful that the vaccine roll out will facilitate an almost complete return to full on-campus activities before the year is out.
We are planning a safe return to campus for all, including those who have yet to be vaccinated or have a health vulnerability. As always your safety and the safety of our entire community remains our priority.
At a minimum we are committed to providing the following activities and resources on campus as of September providing that public health advice does not change:
Small to medium sized lectures (larger lectures will be delivered online initially)
- Classroom based teaching and learning
- Tutorials
- Workshops
- Laboratory teaching and learning
- Research
- Access to the library
- Access to quiet spaces to join online lectures remotely*
- Canteen service on both campuses*
- An Siopa*
- Sports Facilities*
- Accommodation*
- Clubs & Societies*
*Operational in accordance with public health advice
Semester Dates:
Autumn Semester: For 2nd, 3rd & 4th year students and Postgraduate students the Autumn Semester (Semester 1) will commence on Monday 6 September and end on 18 December 2021. The semester will consist of 12 weeks of teaching, followed by a study week and two weeks of assignments/exams.
First year students will commence on 27 September, to allow for rescheduled Leaving Certificate results and subsequent CAO offers, and will undertake a 12 week semester.
Spring Semester (Semester 2) will commence on Monday 24 January 2022 for all students and will end on Monday 16 May 2022. The semester will consist of 12 weeks of teaching, followed by a study week and two weeks of assignments/exams.
Orientation:
Cognisant of the fact that most of you have not been on campus since March 2020, and indeed some of you have yet to come on campus, we will host Re-Orientation/Welcome sessions for Years 2, 3 & 4 and Postgraduate students. Further details will be available towards the end of the summer.
Timetable:
As always the timetable will be available on the MIC website and student portal the week before the start of the semester (week beginning 30 August 2021).
Ongoing Planning:
The successful implementation of a full return to campus can only take place within public health guidelines and will rely heavily on an effective vaccine rollout programme over the summer months, coupled with everyone continuing to adhere to public health guidelines. We will continue to monitor the situation over the next few weeks and plan accordingly recognising that public health advice is subject to change and that some uncertainty will always exist.
In the interim we would ask you to check into your MIC student account from mid-August onwards should we need to communicate further with you. We will post updated information across all our platforms, including our dedicated COVID-19 Hub, as it becomes available.
