I want to start with some positive news today. Not so long ago, if you had told us all that we would be delivering our courses entirely online, and that we would only have a few days to prepare, and that our preparations had to be done remotely, I think most of us would have found it difficult to believe such a feat would be possible.
I am happy to report that we have achieved this goal, on time and with tremendous grace and professionalism. A resounding thank you to everyone in Learning and Teaching Services (LTS) and our Academic teams for all that they have accomplished in record time and in unprecedented circumstances, and to all of our service areas that have been able to continue providing their outstanding support and assistance during this extraordinary situation. Continue reading Message from the President – March 24 Update
I want to update you on the latest news regarding our College community. It has been quite a week for everyone as we adapted to the realities of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. First, a BIG thank you to everyone who has helped us make these transitions — those of you who remained on campus to help with critical services and those of you who returned home to put social distancing into practice. To all of you, and your families (who, in their own way, have also played a role in supporting our College), my heartfelt thanks.
Although I have a few updates to share, one thing has not changed: we encourage everyone to refrain from visiting our campuses unless performing a critical service or to complete a specific task (such as retrieving a vital item from your locker or work space). We need to follow the advice of Ottawa Public Health, which is simple: remain at home. Continue reading Message from the President – March 20 Update
I promised you I would be in touch with updates as necessary and I have more information to share with you today.
Before I do that, I want to thank all of you for the tremendous work you’re doing to keep our College operating through these challenging times. I know you may wonder if your efforts are going unnoticed, but I am receiving daily feedback and compliments about what you are accomplishing and how hard you are working under these unprecedented circumstances. I know our learners are doing their best to keep up with their studies and that our employees have transformed home space into work space — juggling new tasks and demands for the College while simultaneously caring for their families. I want you to know how much your efforts and dedication are appreciated. Continue reading Message from the President – Building Entrances Update
Our College community is continuing to adapt around the clock and I want to thank all of you for your patience and understanding as we determine how to best handle our daily responsibilities. I know this is not easy — in many cases, we are grappling with questions we have never faced before.
This morning, the Government of Ontario declared a state of emergency effective immediately, announcing a series of new interim measures. The main focus of these measures is aimed at minimizing gathering of people to help slow down the spread of the virus. The Premier is clear that business (manufacturing, construction sites, grocery stores, pharmacies, takeout food outlets, transportation, etc) is to remain open in order to keep the supply chain going. For Premier Ford’s complete announcement, click here.
This new Order from the Government of Ontario does not change our current college posture as instructed in the messages I have issued to our college community, including this message you are reading now. Continue reading Message from the President – Coronavirus Update
Please be aware that the normal operations of the College have been suspended temporarily in response to the community efforts to control the spread of COVID-19.
We are asking that students and learners DO NOT attend Ottawa, Perth and Pembroke Campuses during the period March 16th – April 5th.
Services on campus will be significantly diminished as College efforts are focused primarily on transitioning to online capabilities.
The Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ottawa announced earlier this afternoon that the number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases has doubled in one day and is now asking all people in Ottawa to increase their practices of social distancing, meaning:
· Limiting non-essential trips out of the home;
· Working to maintain a distance of 1-2 meters from other people as much as possible;
· Keeping children at home and not at daycares if possible;
As you know, information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact around the world and domestically is changing at a rapid rate.
Further to our recent communique, the Canadian Government has recently announced a global travel advisory to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada. Further, the Canadian and Ontario governments have recently requested that ALL persons returning from international destinations self-isolate for 14 days.
Out of concern for the public health of our community and the College community, Algonquin College is adopting this as an interim policy for all employees and students who are currently abroad, effective immediately.
(Toronto, March 13, 2020) – Ontario’s colleges will be retooling their operations in the coming days and weeks to establish alternate options for delivery of in-class programs and campus services.
“Protecting our campus communities is our No. 1 priority,” said Durham College president Don Lovisa, who chairs the presidents’ committee for all 24 colleges. “We are committed to providing safe environments for students and employees while also ensuring the continuity of learning for this academic year.”
At this time, all campuses will remain open. Most colleges have cancelled in-person classes beginning next week. In some cases, colleges in regions where there are no cases of coronavirus will continue classes in consultation with local health authorities and are also adapting programs to prepare for a possible suspension of classes.
Information regarding the details and timing at each college will vary according to local circumstances. Students are encouraged to check with their institution for specific details.
The college presidents discussed contingency measures during a system-wide teleconference meeting today. In partnership with Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano, colleges will continue to assess the global pandemic to determine future steps.
Every college has extensive pandemic plans and protocols in place and have maintained consistent contact with public health officials. College presidents are participating in calls with Ontario’s chief medical officer of health and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities on a regular basis.
“We will work with students, faculty, staff and the provincial government to ensure everything we do is in the best interest of students and employees,” Lovisa said. “We take this very seriously. Given the pace with which changes are taking place, colleges need to come together – now more than ever – to support each other.
“While we cannot predict the future, we will get through this challenge, based on the strength of our system. We are confident our students will complete their programs.”
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For more information:
Rob Savage
Senior Director of Communications
Colleges Ontario
(647) 258-7687 savage@collegesontario.org
As you know, information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact around the world is changing at a rapid rate. We are assessing plans on an ongoing basis to make sure that we are prepared and protected, and we are guided at all times by advice from our public health agencies at municipal, provincial and federal levels. We are communicating changes to our college community as quickly as possible, and taking many factors into consideration.
Even though the public health risk associated with this virus is still considered low as stated by the Federal Public Health Agency of Canada, there is heightened anxiety and an increasing number of people who are self-isolating as a precautionary measure. I want to acknowledge that this is creating many challenges for everyone and emphasize that the mental and physical health of our college community is our priority. For this reason, we are adopting new measures, effective immediately.
All face-to-face classes and labs at all campuses and locations have been suspended as of Monday, March 16, 2020 until 10:00 pm on Sunday, March, 22 inclusive in order to provide faculty time to prepare online delivery and term completion plans. Online classes will continue as scheduled. Exams and assignments scheduled during this period of suspended activity are now postponed and new dates will be posted as soon as they are known. Students should monitor their Algonquin College email and Brightspace accounts for updates.
For co-op work-terms, practicums, field and clinical placements, work will continue at host employers as long as it is safe to do so and employers continue to operate. In some cases, this may involve working remotely from the main work environment, if appropriate. Students should continue to complete all of their placement assignments and deliverables. It is important to closely monitor and follow the directions from public health sources and employers. If work placement has been negatively impacted, learners should contact their placement coordinators to discuss next steps.
During this one-week suspension, the College (including services, such as health services and food services locations, the library, and common areas) will remain open. However, learning enterprises including Restaurant International, the Dental Clinic and the Massage Clinic, AC Salon and Spa and Savoir Faire will be closed.
Work will continue for all College employees. If you require accommodation to continue working — for health reasons or due to the closing of your child’s elementary or high school — please speak with your supervisor to make appropriate arrangements. Read the employee FAQ here.
For those who have not already signed up for VPN access, instructions will be posted to the FAQ site shortly.
During the one-week suspension, students may remain at home or residence. We would encourage learners to keep up with their course material, either by studying, reading or using online resources to stay in touch with classmates.
Classes will resume on Monday, March 23, 2020 but many will be delivered using alternative instruction methods, primarily online, for the remainder of the term. Learners should monitor their Brightspace accounts for details of their specific courses. We ask our faculty to use the one-week suspension to plan for the delivery of the remainder of their courses until the end of the term. Each faculty member may have different approaches or may use different tools in order to provide instruction and meet course requirements and learning outcomes. The College will be providing support to faculty who need assistance. We realize this presents unique challenges, particularly in some trades or areas of applied learning, but we must find ways rise to this challenge so that our learners can achieve successful learning outcomes.
We ask all employees and students to postpone events scheduled before April 30, 2020.
I encourage all of you to keep up with our College’s response to COVID-19 by checking our information page at www.algonquincollege.com/coronavirus. You will find all the latest updates as well as a place where you can submit your own questions and concerns.
I understand that these changes to our daily routines can cause some upheaval. We are dealing with unprecedented circumstances and trying to find the best solutions for everyone who works, studies and lives at Algonquin College. I thank all of you for your support and your feedback, and for your efforts in the days ahead as we adapt to this ever-changing situation.
The next few weeks will be challenging. We will continue to keep you informed about any new developments as they arise. I would ask all of you to continue to show understanding, patience and, above all, caring.
As many of you know, Ottawa Public Health has confirmed the first case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ottawa. With the virus now confirmed in our region, we understand concerns will be heightened within our college community.
Nationally, the Public Health Agency of Canada continues to assess the overall risk to the public as low, and this risk is being assessed continually as new information becomes available.
Just because the risk is low does not mean that we shouldn’t plan for the possibility of changing scenarios related to this situation, and many activities have been going on behind the scenes at the College to ensure we are prepared. We will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as required.
The frequency of our communications will increase, as needed, as local updates – and their potential implications – become available.
Dear Colleagues and Learners,