CNC is preparing for a return to face-to-face instruction this fall.
We wish to share the latest information that we have with students and employees as this process unfolds.
We will commit to providing an update every two weeks or sooner as new information becomes available.
What we must do, and what will guide us in making decisions
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has advised post-secondary institutions to prepare for face-to-face instruction by this fall. Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training Anne Kang said this will take place with all appropriate measures to keep people safe.
CNC is preparing for the return to face-to-face instruction. We will work within the organization, with partners in health care, and many others for a safe return.
The COVID-19 situation continues to unfold. The province will update its Go Forward Guidelines for Post-Secondary Institutions. This will give us further guidance on next steps, and how we can update the safety plans in place since last year.
A lot can still change, we will need time and patience to determine all the steps that need to happen as we bring students back on CNC’s campuses.
What has happened in the past two weeks
On Monday March 8th, the BC Government made its announcement. CNC followed up with its own announcement shortly thereafter.
CNC’s executive met on Wednesday March 10th to discuss the return to face-to-face instruction. We agreed to a communications plan. This would include updates to the CNC community whenever we receive provincial direction or have an important update, and a scheduled general update to CNC students and employees every two weeks.
What we are doing now
Tyson von den Steinen, CNC’s director of safety and security, is participating as a member of a provincial steering committee. Provincial health and education staff and other post-secondary institutional representatives will develop guidelines to help us safely navigate this transition.
As the province’s go-forward guidelines are developed, Tyson and his staff will work together with you to apply them here at CNC. This will likely involve major updates to safety plans that have been in effect since last year.
We are preparing a budget submission for the upcoming fiscal year. This will include spending proposals for COVID-related costs that the college continues to bear.
What you can expect to hear next, and how you can help
We intend to have our next update in two weeks or when a significant provincial update on face-to-face instruction is available (whichever comes first).
For the next several months, we will not have all the answers. We are committed to telling what we know when we know it.
We ask for your understanding as the situation unfolds and thank you for your patience.
The major milestones we’ve reached:
For the past academic year, we’ve provided 35 per cent of our instruction in face-to-face circumstances despite the COVID-19 pandemic. This has happened due to the tremendous efforts of CNC employees, and the perseverance of students across the region.
Further reading:
March 8th: a statement from Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training Anne Kang on the return to face-to-face education: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021AEST0015-000406
March 8th: CNC’s note to students and employees on the return to face-to-face instruction: https://cnc.bc.ca/news/detail/2021/03/09/provincial-direction-regarding-fall-2021-term
CNC’s COVID-19 page: https://cnc.bc.ca/about/campus-notifications
Northern Health’s COVID-19 vaccine plan: https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/covid-19-vaccine-plan#nh-resources
The Government of British Columbia’s response to COVID-19: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/response