With September quickly approaching, and as a decline in COVID cases and rise in vaccination levels support a gradual re-opening province-wide, I am writing to provide an update on our planning for a return to on-campus work, which is scheduled to begin for some areas as soon as late summer.
As vice president, Academic Fiona Allan recently shared with students, on the academic side we will see a significant increase in on campus learning for the Fall 2021 term, with more than 80 programs offering at least some on-campus classes or labs in September. With a strong focus on safety, the Return to Campus Taskforce has been hard at work planning for the return of services and supports to our campuses to support this increase in in-person learning.
Our approach to the gradual return to on-campus work will use a three-tiered approach:
- In addition to essential services, functions and academic areas already operating on campus, the first tier will see critical student and employee supports and resources return to on-campus work in late August/early September;
- The second tier will see less critical but important services and supports return to on-campus work between mid-September and mid-October;
- The third tier will see all other supports and resources return from mid-October to December.
If you haven’t already, you will hear more in the coming days or weeks as to how this three-tiered approach applies to your area.
As we prepare for a return to campus, managers from all departments/areas of the college will lead the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment and planning template that will ensure that all appropriate measures are being taken to protect the health and safety of students and employees. Each area will complete this process before returning to campus.
As we review the many lessons learned from the pandemic – including the need to quickly pivot our operations to remote and virtual work, the college is also finalizing a formal policy for flexible work that will come into effect for employees as they return to on-campus work. Further details regarding this policy will be provided in the weeks ahead. Until that time, current processes for determining remote or on-campus work will remain in place.
The college is also reviewing solutions for college-owned desktops to support remote or flexible work, and additional information will be provided closer to the start of the Fall term. Assessment and implementation of these solutions will be gradually implemented over the Fall term as decisions are made and equipment is available and deployed.
Recognizing that students who live in on-campus residences are in close proximity, and sharing living spaces and amenities, we recently introduced a mandatory vaccination policy for students living in Niagara College residences at the Welland Campus and Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. While vaccines won’t be mandatory for on-campus classes, labs and activities in the fall, we strongly encourage all members of the college community to contribute to the safety of our learning environment and workplace by getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Studies continue to show that vaccines are safe, and the most effective tool in reducing the risk of serious illness, and limiting the spread of COVID-19. On-campus classes/labs and activities will also continue to operate in strict compliance with any and all public health and government measures and directives that are in place at the time.
Your managers will keep you informed at a departmental level as we begin this exciting transition through late summer and the fall. Should you have questions regarding the return to on-campus work, please contact your supervisor. For ongoing updates on COVID-19 operations, visit www.niagaracollege.ca/covid19.
I hope you will have time for well-deserved rest and relaxation over the summer months, and I extend my heartfelt thanks for your continued hard-work, resilience and commitment to our students during such an exceptional time in our work and in our lives.
Pam Skinner
Senior Vice President, College Operations
