With new information yesterday coming from both the federal and provincial governments, the situation continues to evolve quickly. We continue to monitor the situation closely under the guidance of the Provincial Health Officer and working with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. The health of our college community, students and employees is our top priority.
Updates will be posted daily as new information comes to us and as we work toward facilitating social distancing at Coast Mountain College.
Classes temporarily suspended March 18-20 during transition to distributed learning models
The College remains open at all campus locations, however, all classes will be temporarily suspended at all campuses as of Wednesday, March 18 to Friday, March 20 to allow instructors, senior administrators and the team at our Centre of Learning Transformation (COLT) to identify and implement distributed learning models as alternatives to face-to-face teaching and learning. This distributed learning model will look different for students depending on the program or courses they are enrolled in.
As in yesterday’s update, we want to remind students that Coast Mountain College has a complex array of programs and courses with varying methods of instruction delivery and many of which don’t fit in to the traditional semester system. It’s imperative that we have a multi-pronged approach to find solutions that fit each program and course. Where possible, CMTN will implement distributed and tech-based learning solutions, but students should be prepared for a variety of solutions depending on the nature of their program and courses.
Students should communicate with their instructors to find out the distributed learning models that will begin effective Monday, March 23.
Work from home options for staff and move to online and tele-meetings
In the interest of promoting social distancing CMTN employees are encouraged to discuss work-from-home options with their supervisors/managers to establish a work plan moving forward.
In addition, all employees are encouraged to employ telephone, on-line or other virtual options of conducting meetings in lieu of face-to-face meetings, where possible.
Travel
Today, March 16, 2020, the federal government announced a number of travel restrictions affecting incoming travellers to Canada. We know many incoming international students are wondering what impact this announcement may have on them. As you can understand, this is a quickly evolving situation and Coast Mountain College is currently looking into all potential impacts and will communicate updates as we learn more information.
We are reminding all staff, faculty and students who have returned from travel outside of Canada (including the US) to self-isolate for 14 days, as per the advice of the Provincial Health Officer. Employees should communicate with their managers if they need to self-isolate. Students should communicate with their instructors to find alternative ways of keeping up with assignments while in self-isolation. This is not optional. If you have been away, please stay home and follow the self-isolation guidance available on the website of the BC Centre for Disease Control.
We also remind staff and students that non-essential travel outside of Canada, including the United States, is not recommended. Travel advisories and updates can be found at the Health Canada web links on the CMTN COVID-19 updates page.
CMTN event cancellations and limits of 50 people to a gathering
March 16, 2020 the Provincial Health Officer and Ministry of Health’s update included a recommendation that no gatherings of more than 50 people should take place. With a number of events scheduled for all campuses in the coming weeks, we have taken the decision to cancel many upcoming gatherings. CMTN will not be hosting any events that could draw more than 50 people until further notice.
All cultural events on all campuses have been cancelled for the next several weeks. These are important events for our staff, students and community members, but this decision was made out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of health and safety, particularly for elders who are involved in many of these events.
Cancelled events in Terrace include:
- Think Digitally: Computer Literacy Drop In
- First Peoples Talking Circles
- 'Xbisuunt Dance Group Practices
- Elders Tea & Volunteer Recognition
- Farewell Feast
- Student Stressbuster
- Pop your luck
- Soup & sleep skills
- Positivi-tea
- Nature walk/hike
The CMTN Book Sale scheduled for March 17 at the Terrace campus has been cancelled.
Please check our
events page on the CMTN website for updates on upcoming events, cancellations and postponements. This may take some time to update, so please be patient.
Terrace campus fitness centre temporary suspension of operations
As of 4:30 p.m. March 16, the fitness centre at the Terrace campus will be closed until further notice. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of social distancing.
The Salon closes to public appointments
The Salon, operated in conjunction with CMTN’s hairdressing program, is no longer accepting any public appointments. Any appointments scheduled after March 16 are cancelled.
Further information
Media contact
Sarah Zimmerman, APR
Executive Director, Communications
Cell: 250-641-2206
szimmerman@coastmountaincollege.ca