As we prepare to commence the second semester of the 2021/22 academic year on Monday, January 17, 2022, we extend a warm welcome to students joining us this semester and welcome back our continuing students. May the New Year take you safely along your road to success.

Barbados like the rest of the world continues to face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the recent advent of the Omicron variant, hence the Cave Hill Campus will continue the delivery of teaching and learning operations in a blended format in semester II. This will involve the majority of classes being conducted via web conferencing technologies including Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Blackboard Collaborate. This arrangement is in keeping with the advice of public health experts to avoid congregate settings and maintain physical distancing in public indoor spaces or facilities.

Disciplines in which pedagogical effectiveness necessitates in-person teaching will offer face-to-face classes under the strictest health and safety conditions. These include the teaching of clinical skills in the Faculty of Medical Sciences; laboratory instruction in the Faculty of Science and Technology; and classes in movement and performance in the Faculty of Sport and the Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, which have been given special consideration by the appropriate authorities. The timetable which is currently accessible to students will indicate the delivery mode for classes.

Please note that our campus remains fully open for in-person business and services, and that national protocols and workplace guidelines remain in place. Our Halls of Residence continue to be operational while fully complying with public health-directed requirements; and offices will be staffed to deliver a level of service in keeping with student requirements and demands.

Following Barbados’ national policy decision not to mandate vaccinations, there is no requirement at this point for you to be vaccinated in order to access the campus or its facilities. However, we recognise the efficacy and the safety of vaccines in curbing the spread of COVID-19 and strongly encourage you to take the critical step to become vaccinated and apply all precautionary measures to stem the further spread of this dreadful illness.
We thank you for your cooperation and understanding during these times of uncertainty. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Barbados as we endeavour to do all in our power to ensure your utmost safety and that of everyone within our campus environment. We encourage you to check periodically the Campus’ dedicated COVID-19 website at https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/covid19/home.aspx for official notices and updates.