Message from the President – June 24
Posted on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020
Dear Colleagues and Learners,
We are now within days of the return of some of our learners to Algonquin College as we slowly resume in-person education on a limited basis in a government-initiated pilot. This is an exciting time, but also a time for a few reminders about our priorities and future direction.
There have been many questions about our summer pilot initiative and I would like to emphasize that we are proceeding with great care. As I mentioned in my communiqué last week, it will involve a small number of learners (fewer than 200) in a few programs of study at our Ottawa and Pembroke campuses. Our teams are working to make sure that we have the proper resources and equipment available, that the right protocols are in place, and that we are making the health and safety of our employees and learners our first priorities. This is truly a team effort, and as our provincial government has noted, we all have a role to play by continuing to follow public health guidelines, which are informing all of our decisions. Everyone should practice physical distancing with people who are not in our social circles, wear non-medical masks if physical distancing is challenging, and wash our hands thoroughly and frequently. With the great care we are all taking, I know we will have a safe and successful new beginning at our College.
We are also working on a digital Campus Access guide that will feature health and safety measures to help guide the College community during limited campus activities this summer and in the fall. It is designed for the select students and employees who will be permitted on our campuses — when necessary — as part of their work and learning activities. The guide will be on our COVID-19 website and easily downloadable. It will contain information on everything from prevention measures and physical distancing to campus access and the use of protective equipment. It is meant to be a one-stop key information source for those who must be on our campuses in the coming months; we will share more details when it is finalized.
Last week we heard our federal government’s announcement that the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) would be extended by two more months — welcome news to many. I want to acknowledge once again that the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has created hardships for many, and I would like to remind learners who are in immediate financial need to reach out to Financial Aid and our Student Awards team directly at studentawards@algonquincollege.com.
I would like to thank our graduates for their patience as we work to find a suitable time and format to mark the convocation that was postponed this spring. I am pleased to inform our graduates that the launch of our convocation keepsake website will be June 30, providing a place for you, your family, and friends to connect and celebrate your successes. It will include remarks from our valedictorians, our honorary degree and diploma recipients, as well as all of our Deans. You will also find a special digital convocation book that will list your name and credentials. Details about our plans for the fall convocation and the postponed spring convocation will be released the first week of July.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the leadership role that Algonquin College is playing, not only during National Indigenous History Month, but year-round, in connecting Indigenous learners through our efforts with the Burnt Water project. Lighting the Fire is a new and exciting initiative that will bring together Indigenous students and leaders from across Ontario to connect with Elders and Knowledge Keepers as the world contemplates how we can best move forward from the COVID-19 pandemic. The inaugural session will be held today at 2 p.m. and will be led by Algonquin’s Vice President of Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization, Ron (Deganadus) McLester — it is open to employees and learners and you can register to participate here. It is these kinds of activities that unite us, connect us, and help everyone feel that they belong.
Stay well and healthy, everyone.
Claude Brulé
President and CEO
- Posted in
- News