Frequently Asked Questions

Personal health is an intensely private matter governed by provincial law. CNC will not be publicly disclosing information on cases amongst staff or students, unless we are directed to do so by Northern Health or the Medical Health Officer.

Here is when you might be informed of a COVID-19 case:

• Everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will receive a call as soon as possible from Public Health. Northern BC residents who receive a message or call with a COVID-19 positive test result, should self-isolate immediately, along with those in their household; Public Health will be in contact with you.
   
  Northern Health has shifted to gathering information on, and notifying, close contacts only in certain situations (including health care workers, including those in long-term care; cases related to industrial projects, and in First Nations communities, cases that are related to elementary and secondary school communities and; those that are part of a known cluster or outbreak). This will ensure public health can respond quickly to developing clusters of cases or potential outbreaks for those that are most vulnerable.
   
  Rates of COVID-19 activity in the North during this second wave mean that all residents, whether or not they are known close contacts of a lab-confirmed COVID case, are at similar risk. For this reason, everyone should be following public health advice and orders, closely self monitoring for symptoms, and seeking testing if symptoms develop.
  
   
• A public exposure alert would be issued when public health officials are unable to ensure they can identify and directly contact everybody who may have been exposed to a potentially infectious case of COVID-19 in a public setting.
• Individuals who have not had close interactions with, or who have been simply present in the same location as, a confirmed case do not need to take additional precautions beyond the public health advice and guidance for all British Columbians, for the prevention of COVID-19.

We advise members of the CNC community to adhere to COVID-19 protocols on mask use, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and self-monitoring for symptoms at all times.

If you have questions or concerns, call HealthLink BC (811) or take the BC COVID 19 Self-Assessment test, and follow the directions you are given.

CNC is following the BC Government’s return to campus guidelines to increase the amount of face-to-face education while taking measure to protect the health and safety of students and employees. CNC has developed a Return To Campus Plan and a Communicable Disease Plan.

Self-isolation means you do not have contact with other people.

• Set up a space that is only for the person being isolated.
• Stay out of contact with other people. This will help stop the spread of disease in your home and in your community.
• If you are fully vaccinated, isolate for 5 days.
• If you are unvaccinated, isolate for 10 days.
• If your fever persists longer than your isolation period, isolate until your fever goes away.

People arriving from outside of Canada are required to self-isolate. That means you must stay home. Do not go to work or school. Keep watching for signs of illness 14 days after you arrive in Canada.

• How to self-isolate at home
• Self-isolation vs self-monitoring 

Campus housing will remain open and students are not being asked to or expected to leave housing at this time. The housing team can be accessed during regular hours as posted, in person or by text, phone, and email.

This is a difficult and uncertain time, and your mental health is important.

Here2Talk (BC Government Initiative)

Chat sessions with a trained counsellor can be accessed by downloading the Here2Talk app* or visiting here2talk.ca

Students can speak to a counsellor by phone, toll free at 1 877 857-3397 or direct 604 642-5212. Students calling from outside Canada can dial 1 604 642-5212 (international calling charges may apply).

*Browser requirements for Here2Talk

CNC Resources

To help protect the health and safety of students and employees, we are strongly encouraging students to access counselling by phone or virtually. Call 250-561-5818 or 1-250-562-2131 Ext 5377, or email wellnesscoach@cnc.bc.ca to make an appointment. There are also a variety of self-help resources available online.

CNC typically does not defer admission, but we are currently exploring options in light of COVID-19. Any decisions will be communicated to students and posted on cnc.bc.ca/COVID-19.

CNC follows provincial health office guidance and has carefully planned the academic schedule with student safety in mind. Any format of educational delivery will have the appropriate precautions in place. CNC will switch formats should it be recommended by the provincial health office due to inherent risks.  

Students experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to apply for financial assistance by completing and emailing an application using the following links:

• Domestic Students
  Please fill out the application and send to finaid@cnc.bc.ca

All applications will be adjudicated to determine eligibility.  On approval, cheques will be mailed within 5-7 business days upon receipt of your application.

• International and Out of Province Students 
  Please fill out the application and send to aid@cncsu.ca

Student Aid BC also provides a list of emergency benefits and supports that students may be eligible for.

The safety and health of students and our communities is our top priority. CNC recognizes these are critical methods of program delivery and students can therefore continue if the host organization permits their presence and social distancing and preventative measures are in place. Students who feel unsafe in their practicum should contact their instructor or Associate Dean to discuss alternatives.

If you need to miss a class because you’re ill or need to self-isolate, follow the current process for reporting absences in your program.

Shop classes are still being held in Trades and Technologies, following provincial direction on maintaining safe social distance.  CNC is in daily contact with the Industry Training Authority (ITA) to ensure safety and compliance.

If you are a student in any Health Sciences program, please follow the directions from your faculty concerning labs.

CNC is working closely with training providers across the Province and BC Apprenticeship and the Industry Training Authority (ITA) on viable solutions to program delivery. We will continue to update you as additional information becomes available. Where feasible, alternate delivery is being utilized in all Trades programming

Please follow your instructor’s directions for how your program is being delivered in a safe manner.

How will apprentices complete their programs?

To address the unique circumstances, we have adapted to the program completion and assessment as follows:

• Students who have completed 70% of the course work and attained a class mark of 70% or higher can be considered as substantively complete for the level. No standard level exam (SLE) is required.
• Where last level of technical training is occurring an Inter-Provincial (IP) exam will need to be scheduled at completion date.

What about provincial trade qualification exams for apprentices?

All blended SLEs for the foreseeable future will be cancelled.

The following program completion requirements are in effect from March 17, 2020 until further notice:

• No Certification of Qualification (C of Q) exams are required to progress to the next level at this time.
• Certification of Qualification (C of Q) exams that complete out an apprenticeship, will be scheduled at completion date of the program.We will continue to update you as additional information becomes available.

The Student Union Foodbank is still an option. Please contact CNCSU via email. info@cncsu.ca

For all MSP related inquiries, please contact https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents-contact-us 

If you have moved, you will need to update your new mailing address with MSP.  If you are not sure if you applied for MSP, please email scott@cnc.bc.ca

Guard.me claims are online.  Please have your policy number handy and visit:  https://www.guard.me/

Computer labs 2-314 and 2-315 will remain open to students 7:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday.

When accessing a computer lab, students must:

• Wash hands before entering
• Sit or stand two metres apart from each other
• No food or drink to be brought in
• No more that 10 people in the computer lab at any time
• Do not move furniture
• Wash hands after leaving

Students can also check out a loaner computer at Media Technology Services Monday to Friday, 7:45am-3:30pm.

• Academic Advising for Domestic Students
• International Students & Academic Advising for International Students
• Tutoring

See special measures to help temporary and permanent residents and applicants affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID 19) updates here.

Flexibility in post-graduation work permit rules to help international students and Canadian post-secondary institutions

One of our advisors can support you remotely with this request. You can book a phone appointment with an international student advisor or email intl_edu@cnc.bc.ca.

You can also access this self-help video to apply for a study permit extension.

When contacting the international office, please include your full legal name and student ID for verification.

For admissions related question, registrarsoffice@cnc.bc.ca
For academic advising related questions, advising@cnc.bc.ca
For immigration advising related questions, intl_edu@cnc.bc.ca