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Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

President's Update

Jan. 04, 2022 – Don Bureaux

Good morning:

As we prepare to begin our Winter Term online, I thought it would be helpful to share some important reminders and updates.

Online start for Winter Term

  • All on campus learning and service delivery will move online until January 21, 2022, as planned before the holiday break. We will assess whether that date needs to be extended by Friday, January 14.
  • The Winter Term will start as scheduled on Thursday, January 6 (students) and Tuesday, January 4 (employees).
    • Most classes will start the week of Monday, January 10, 2022.
    • Faculty will advise students about class start dates by the end of day on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
    • eCampus classes and programs will begin as scheduled on Thursday, January 6, 2022.
    • Apprenticeship classes and Nautical classes will be online and will begin this week, as scheduled.
    • Academic Recovery will be moved online unless otherwise approved by the Principal or School Dean. Students will hear from their faculty or academic chair.
    • All student services (advising, counselling, learning supports, library and research support and disability supports) are available remotely and general questions can be answered through Live Chat.
    • Orientation for programs that start in January will be held online.
    • The laptop loan program is available at all campuses for students who need to access technology for online learning. Please contact Student Services to set up an appointment.
    • Campus housing will open for Winter Term as planned.
    • We have extended the deadline for the last day to withdraw from winter term classes and receive a 95% fee refund (exclusive of non-refundable tuition deposit) from January 20, 2022, to January 27, 2022. Please review the Academic Calendar for all dates and deadlines that are important to student progress.
  • NSCC campuses and sites are not available for community bookings. We will revisit this in February.

Safety on-site

NSCC has a number of safety measures in place to support safe in-person learning and working where required. This includes masking, physical distancing, capacity limits, cleaning protocols, vaccine requirements and testing centers.

  • Masking is more important than ever. Public Health now recommends a three-layer, non-medical or cloth mask OR a properly fitted medical mask. Proper fit is critical. Masks must cover nose, mouth, and chin – all three at all times – with no gaps.
  • NSCC requires all students and employees to show proof of full vaccination. Those who do not must complete a testing protocol to be on campus. Failure to do so will be treated as a violation of our Occupational Health, Safety and Environment policy.
  • NSCC rapid testing sites will only provide tests to employees or students required to be on-site who are following a testing protocol. As testing supplies continue to tighten and Nova Scotia Health Authority guidance on testing changes, expect NSCC to further restrict access to rapid tests.
  • Given the level of community spread in Nova Scotia, NSCC will report a positive case or cases to the campus community including the date(s), time(s) and location(s) of possible exposures via NSCC email accounts. NSCC will not reach out to individual community members unless directed to do so by Public Health.

Supporting the provincial response

The provincial government continues to increase access to COVID-19 boosters. Getting vaccinated and getting boosted is the most important tool we have to protect ourselves against COVID-19 and its variants. NSCC has been asked to host vaccine clinics on our campuses to support a province-wide vaccination campaign. We will work with Public Health to ensure these are delivered with the safety of our community top of mind. Follow updates and advice from Public Health especially if you have symptoms, have tested positive or have been told you are a close contact.

Taking care of ourselves

I want to wish you all a happy new year. Normally, I would have started with this wish, but I know it lands in the context of very difficult times in our province. By now, many of us have either been directly affected by COVID-19 or know someone who has. We’ve experienced another holiday with smaller gathering limits, shadowed by worry. We must tend to our mental and emotional well-being while we continue to take the steps needed to protect our physical health. My hope is that during your break, you found moments of joy and relaxation, of friendship, family, and community. These treasured bright spots are the fuel that will help get us through this latest surge. It will pass – we will find ourselves on the other side of it – let’s stay on the path of patience, kindness, and respect as we embark on a new term, on a new year.

Thank you,
Don Bureaux

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