Message from the Senior Vice President, Academic
Posted on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2021
Dear Colleagues and Learners,
I would like to share an update on our Fall Term academic planning, including some positive developments our students and employees can expect in the months ahead. These details will build upon our previous announcement that the current model of limited on-campus and primarily remote course delivery will continue through the Fall of 2021.
Due to the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic – and the fact that many learners have already made decisions about where they will be living – our Fall Term format strives to offer fairness and certainty to our learners and academic programming teams. Underscoring this approach is our guiding principle – to put the health and safety of our students and employees first in all our decision making.
Our campuses successfully re-opened for select on-campus learning in July 2020 – and on-campus student activity has gradually increased since then and is poised for another step forward this fall. That said, there will be a moderate increase in activity on our physical campuses in the Fall Term. A total of 46 percent of our program levels will see some level of on-site learning activities. These programs were selected based on feedback from students and faculty, in compliance with government regulations for in-person learning. (As a reminder, program-delivery details can be found here.)
While our Fall Term academic plans have been determined, a loosening of public health restrictions may allow for more service and activity options on our campuses. The College’s leadership team is examining opportunities to safely increase on-campus operations and student supports in the Fall Term. Any changes to campus services and activities will be communicated to the College community. Note that you can also always find the latest updates here for Campus Services and Student Support Services (for Pembroke information, visit here).
Taken together, this expected moderate increase in on-campus activity is possible due to a variety of factors, including the effectiveness of the College’s COVID-19 safety protocols, and our collective efforts to follow public health guidelines and receive vaccines when eligible. The College has seen relatively few COVID-19 cases throughout the pandemic, and as a result, we have been able to keep our sites open for required academic activity and select support services – while adapting to changing restrictions and guidelines.
If your fall program is being delivered in a hybrid mode (i.e. part remote and part face-to-face on one of our physical campuses), please familiarize yourself with our COVID-19 health and safety protocols and training. New students and employees should be aware of the access requirements for campuses, such as self-screening and complete the online training prior to coming to campus the first time. Those required to be on our campuses can also download and use our College COVID-19 App to self-screen before attending.
Finally, I ask the entire College community to continue to be patient. At present, the size of indoor gatherings at the College is limited to 10 people per space/classroom – with some program specific exceptions. While we are hopeful that we will face fewer restrictions by September, we also need to make our plans based on certainties. With the increasing success of vaccination efforts, I am optimistic that the Fall Term will find us taking increasing steps in the right direction. For the time being, College policy continues to be that only those required to attend campus for learning activities, or employees who support those activities, should be attending campuses. But as public health restrictions change, and onsite services and non-academic activities potentially increase on our campuses, we will update the community on changes to that directive.
We are gradually increasing the presence of learners and employees on our campuses safely and within the parameters of public health restrictions – always considering the evolving and unpredictable nature of the pandemic.
As we continue to strike this balance, and increase on-campus opportunities, we do so knowing that a return to the vibrant on-campus experience lies ahead for all of us. With your ongoing commitment to health and safety standards, we are making progress toward this goal. In that regard, the College is looking forward to planning its Winter 2022 Term and sharing those plans with you as they develop.
Sincerely,
Chris Janzen
Senior Vice President, Academic
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