• Avoid campus if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who does.
• Anyone coming or returning to Canada after international travel must undergo a mandatory 14-day period of self-isolation before being allowed on campus.
• Sign in with Security via one of only four (4) entrances to the campus.
• Present photo ID to Security along with your COVID-19 training certificate of completion.
• Sanitize your hands before entering campus and upon leaving.
• Respect physical distancing (2 metres) at all times. Wear a non-medical face covering when inside the College and outside on College property when physical distancing cannot be maintained. If needed, Cambrian will provide a mask upon request. For more details about our face covering policy please visit our Reopen Guide.
• Wear required PPE in your labs and wash your hands frequently. You are also required to wear a face covering in any common spaces like hallways, stairwells, and washrooms.
• Do not share your textbooks or other learning resources.
• Clean your workstation and learning tools after each use.
• Please follow all etiquette in study/eating rooms and open access computer labs: rooms are for eating/studying only, wear a mask except when eating, maintain physical distancing, do not move around chairs, do not linger .
• Leave campus immediately after your lab is finished.
• Student supports and services will be available virtually, though some may be offered in-person as required.
• Common areas will remain closed for the safety of those on campus.

For the 2021 winter semester, the campus will be open for in-person delivery of hands-on components of courses that can only be completed on site. Theory portions of your courses will continue to be offered through faculty-led remote learning. Student services will continue to be offered online. The bookstore will be open to students who must be on campus.

Study/eating rooms are available on campus.

Please observe all etiquette in these rooms: rooms are for eating/studying only, wear a mask except when eating, maintain physical distancing, do not move around the chairs, do not linger.

Computer labs are closed temporarily for the duration of the current lockdown in Ontario.

Student placements, co-ops, and apprenticeships will continue as our community partners are able to accept and support placement and co-op students.

If our community partners must reduce their capacity to take on clinical students, or if we must close student-led clinics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will look into alternative placement models and work with accrediting and regulatory bodies to support student success. In these circumstances, we will do everything we can to give students the opportunity to graduate or advance in their program according to their traditional academic schedule. However, this may not possible in all circumstances, which may impact the program duration.

If you are an Employer interested in supporting a student on placement or co-op, please contact the Cambrian Career Centre for further information, careercentre@cambriancollege.ca.

Access to campus will only be granted to students, faculty, support staff and administration who must be on-site to facilitate hands-on learning.

In order to come onto campus for required hands-on learning, students, faculty, and employees will have to complete a mandatory training module. The module takes about 20 minutes. When you successfully finish the module, you will receive a certificate of completion, which you must present in order to come onto campus.

Here is the link for the module, which is found in Moodle. Use your Cambrian ID number and password to log-in.

Launch Module

We have taken a number of step to ensure a safe return to campus for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Those measures are outlined in our Campus Re-open Guide and Re-open Plan, at the top of the page. We are following all best practices to reduce the risk of exposure and spread of COVID-19. They include controlled access to the campus, pre-screening for COVID symptoms prior to being allowed access to campus, mandatory wearing of a face covering while on campus, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of the entire campus, in particular high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces, and reconfiguring lab and classrooms and closing common spaces to promote physical distancing.

For more on the mandatory wearing of non-medical face coverings, see the section Campus and On-campus Services.

Your online learning will include live, interactive online classes (recorded so you can view them later on, if necessary) and assignments you can complete on your own. Your faculty will provide you with all the information you need.

All our student services and supports will continue to be offered online, including the Library, Learning Centre, Glenn Crombie Centre for Wellness and Accessibility, Career Centre, and more. Details are here on our COVID landing page.

You do not have to be on campus to study online. You can study from your home community.

Our Residence is open and our Campus Re-open Guide has a section on Residence and what we are doing to ensure your safety.

Campus Living Centres has developed COVID-19 Operational Guidelines and Protocols

Learn More

For more information regarding Residence, you can email our Residence management, info@cambrianresidence.ca.

You can learn more about OSAP and what it means for you at www.osap.gov.on.ca
The Government of Canada also has supports in place for post-secondary students. Click here to learn more.

The Government of Canada has reopened travel to international students. Any international traveller must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 within 72 hours of departing for Canada.

Students can now come to Canada to begin or resume their studies if their college of choice has an approved COVID-19 Safe Arrival (quarantine) Plan for International Students.

Cambrian College has received approval for our plan, meaning international students who are now overseas can come to Sudbury for their studies, providing they have an approved study visa, or letter of introduction that shows they were approved for a study permit, and are not limited by other circumstances in their home country.

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, our plan (developed in consultation with Public Health Sudbury and Districts and the Ministries of Health and Colleges and Universities), takes into the account the safety of all concerned.  Highlights include:

• Mandatory Personal quarantine plans for each arriving student as well as co-arriving family members
• Mandatory screening for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival
• Mandatory 14-day quarantine period
• Safe transportation options to the quarantine location
• Mandatory COVID-19 test during the initial quarantine period
• Daily check-ins with College staff and submission of a daily health check

These requirements are among the strictest for any international travellers arriving in Canada, and stricter than current requirements for domestic students who are travelling from other parts of the province or country. These measures will help safeguard the health of our newly arriving international students and co-arriving family members, as well as the health and safety of our students, faculty, employees and members of our community.

Welcoming international students to campus again is undoubtedly good news for our international students and for Cambrian and Greater Sudbury, as their presence both strengthens and enriches us as a community.  Our International students are looking forward to experiencing college life in Canada as much as we are looking forward to their arrival.

International students, if you have further questions about our quarantine plan, contact internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca.

All other inquiries can be directed to covid@cambriancollege.ca.

To learn more about COVID-19 as it relates to international students, visit the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a ministry of the Government of Canada.

According to the website for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada:

“If your in-class courses are being moved to an online-only format because of COVID-19, you’re still eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP).
If you have a study permit, or been approved for a study permit for a program starting in the spring, summer or fall, but you can’t travel to Canada at this time due to travel restrictions, you’re also still eligible for the PGWPP.
If you’re in this situation, you may

• begin your classes while outside Canada, and
• complete up to 50% of your program while outside Canada, if you can’t travel to Canada sooner.

If you start your studies in fall 2020, you won’t have time deducted from the length of your post-graduation work permit for studies you complete while outside Canada between fall 2020 and December 31, 2020.”

If you have questions, please feel free to visit the IRCC website. You can also contact Cambrian’s International Department at international@cambriancollege.ca.

Keep checking back here on the COVID-19 landing page. We are updating it constantly. You can also email us your questions covid@cambriancollege.ca.

You can access these services through our Glenn Crombie Centre for Accessibility and Wellness. Click here.

Our team of Academic Advisors are available virtually and are conducting advising sessions using Zoom. Please contact the appropriate Advisor for your program:

School	Student Success Advisor	Generic Email Address
Business, IT; Creative Arts, Design & Music; & Hospitality	Rose Nixon	Bus.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
Health Sciences, Nursing & Emergency Services	Elizabeth Holmes	Hses.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
Justice, Community Services, & General Studies	Gilles Bedard	Jacs.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca
Skills Training & Engineering Technology & Environmental Studies	Jennifer Ayotte	STT.inquiry@cambriancollege.ca

The following ancillary fees have been waived for the current term due to the current COVID-19 situation:

Athletic Centre ($77.02)

Student Recreation ($16.80)

Varsity Athletics ($41.03)

For the 2021 Winter term, the Student Achievement and Records Fee has been reduced for Upgrading students and for students in their graduating semester (to $42.33 for full-time students and to $4.20 per credit for part-time students).

Full details on ancillary fees are available at www.cambriancollege.ca/fees.

Other ancillary fees remain as these services are provided online and virtually and still accessible to students.

Before the start of each term we will provide updates on the status of ancillary fees.

See our full list of fees and their descriptions at cambriancollege.ca/fees.

Closed.

The bookstore is closed to in-person service, but is taking orders online.

Students can shop online at cambrianshop.ca for all their school year needs including textbooks, supplies and great Cambrian clothing.

The bookstore continues to monitor email and can be contacted at cambrian@bkstr.com.

The bookstore will provide you with your options for pickup.

Our campus is open only for those students, faculty, and support staff who must be on campus to allow for the teaching and completion of hands-on components of programs (labs). The campus remains closed to all other students, faculty, and employees.

To learn more about our campus, visit the Current Semester section on this page.

Our Career Centre is moving to virtual delivery of services. To request career advising by phone or virtually, book through the myCambrian portal or contact careercentre@cambriancollege.ca.

Employers can contact the Career Centre at careercentre@cambriancollege.ca. Students and employers can also contact their Placement/Co-Op Coordinator via phone or email, or contact the Director of Student Success and Recruitment, Renee Scott, at renee.scott@cambriancollege.ca.

We understand that some students may need to access specific software for their programs that can only be accessed on campus. We also know that some students may need to access a computer on campus in order to complete assignments. To help in these situations, we have made several computer labs available by appointment, so that students can access software and systems that they may need as part of their programs. You can only book a maximum of 2 hours per day and must have an appointment to access one of our computer labs.

AutoCAD Computer Lab (room 2654):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040548A9AC29A1FD0-autocad1

General Use & AutoCAD Labs (room 2640, 2646):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040548A9AC29A1FD0-general3

Please note that these computer labs have been physically distanced to support the college’s efforts to keep our campus safe. Please do not remove or add any chairs. You must wear a face-covering when you are on campus and in a computer lab. You should wipe down the keyboard before and after you use the system using the wipes that are found in each room. Please also remember that you must check-in through one of our 4 entrances and present your COVID Training Certificate of Completion before proceeding to the lab.

If you are a student with the Rainbow District School Board and you have questions about Dual Credit courses at Cambrian College, you can contact Dana Kinsella at kinseld@rscloud.ca.

If you are a student with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board and you have questions about Dual Credit courses at Cambrian College, you can contact Kevin Villeneuve at kevin.villeneuve@sudburycatholicschools.ca.

For all other inquiries, please contact Chantale Roy, Dual Credit Coordinator, at chantale.roy@cambriancollege.ca.

To better assist us in meeting your needs virtually or remotely, please update your contact information in your myCambrian portal. This information is found on your student tab, under your personal checklist section.

Please ensure to keep up to date:

• Your e-mail address
• Your mailing address
• Your phone number
• Any Emergency contacts

If relevant, please also complete a release of information authorizations if you wish to grant someone access to your student account. If you have any questions, please contact us at enrolmentcentre@cambriancollege.ca or by phone at 705-566-8101, ext 3003.

Please allow for delays in response time given the extraordinary circumstances and volume of requests.

Use of non-medical face coverings will be required when inside campus buildings (except when alone in personal office space, open office space, storage rooms, classrooms, or Student Residence bedrooms), outside on campus property when physical distancing is not possible (we recommend wearing a mask at all times outside on campus property), and at our satellite sites.  

When another person comes into your defined space, classroom, or lab, you are required to wear a face covering.  

• We also strongly recommend you wear a non-medical mask as opposed to a balaclava, bandana, scarf or gaiter/buff (neck warmer), as they are not as well secured to your head and ears and are more likely to slip out of place. For religious reasons, hijabs and niqabs are acceptable. 
• PPE (i.e.gloves, face shields) will be required when necessary 
• There are some exceptions to the face covering requirement if: 
• the person is a child under the age of two years, or a child under the age of 5 years either chronologically or developmentally and refuses to wear a face covering and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver 
• the person is incapacitated and unable to remove their mask without assistance 
• wearing a face covering would inhibit the person’s ability to breathe in any way 
• for any other medical reason, the person cannot safely wear a face covering such as, but not limited to, respiratory disease, cognitive difficulties or difficulties in hearing or processinginformation; 
• for any religious reason, the person cannot wear a face covering, or cannot cover the face in a manner that would properly control source. 
• Cambrian has purchased 5,000 non-medical, washable masks that will be provided to staff and students upon request (one per individual) as we progress through the phases 
• Masks will be distributed along with our safety protocol and instructions at designated entrances to the College, and receipt of the mask recorded

Students in financial crisis can apply for emergency hardship funds. Please email hardship@cambriancollege.ca (applies for both Canadian and international students). Please allow up to seven business days from the time you submit your application to the time your application is reviewed, plus mail delivery time, if approved.

For questions about the new federal and provincial 6-month, interest-free moratorium on student loan repayments, please visit nslsc.ca for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information. For OSAP questions, please contact enrolmentcentre@cambriancollege.ca.

Click here for more information about federal government support for post-secondary students.

Our First Step Centre is moving to virtual delivery of client services.

For more information about the First Step Centre, please contact Mary-Liz Warwick, First Step Centre Coordinator at maryliz.warwick@cambriancollege.ca.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, on-campus food services, including meal plans, are not available until further notice. We will let you know when food services and meal plans resume.

The Glenn Crombie Centre for Accessibility and Wellness provides academic accommodations for students with disabilities, counselling services for all students, and Wellness activities. Visit our webpage for more information.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability and require academic accommodations, please e-mail accessibility services at accessibilityservices@cambriancollege.ca.  An accessibility advisor will contact you to arrange a meeting to begin the process.

Orientation for Students with Disabilities – Head Start

Fall Semester 2020: this orientation session will occur during the week of August 31st– September 4th. This orientation is offered through virtual delivery. To find more information or if you wish to register, click here.

Student counselling services at Cambrian College

Counselling services for all students are located at the Glenn Crombie Center for Wellness and Accessibility.  We provide short-term supports for students who may be encountering academic stressors, personal difficulties or mental health related difficulties.

Please contact counsellingservices@cambriancollege.ca for an appointment.  One of our staff will set up a virtual meeting with you.

To book an appointment with a counsellor, accessibility advisor or learning strategist, you can also use your Clockwork portlet in myCambrian. You can do this in 4 easy steps:

• At the Clockwork portlet, select the Student’s Home Page link
• Click on Schedule An Appointment
• Use the drop-down menu to select the appointment type.
• Once selected, click on calendar view to select a time and confirm your appointment.

The worker will then send you an invitation for that date and time with further instructions.

You can contact at HelpDesk@cambriancollege.ca.

Students, faculty, or staff needing help with Moodle, Zoom, or tutoring topics, connect with Learning Centre Staff by email at learning.centre@cambriancollege.ca.  You can also book a remote Staff Tutor appointment following the Booking Advice on our Learning Centre page, cambriancollege.ca/academic-services/learning-centre.

The Library is closed. Most library services are available through the library website, cambriancollege.libguides.com/libraryhomepage and live-chat is available.

Registered Students

For courses hosted through Ontario Learn please refer to your student dashboard on Ontario Learn by logging into https://olportal.ontariolearn.com/login.php  for the most up to date information.  Your facilitator (teacher) will also communicate to you any changes specific to your course.

Dates and Deadlines

Key dates regarding registration, drop dates, and withdrawal dates for Continuing Education courses still apply.  If you would like to withdraw please email continuing@cambriancollege.ca for further information.

New Courses

To view the current list of available courses, visit our website.

https://cambriancollege.ca/coned/

You can reserve a locker by going to your student tab on myCambrian and accessing the “Reserve a Locker” link located in your Quick Links section.

If you have been assigned a locker, please lock it at all times to ensure the security of your books, tools, and other personal items you require for your studies while on campus.

Rent

• Tenants who can pay their rent must do so, to the best of their abilities. Tenants who are having challenges paying rent should speak with their landlords about possibly deferring their rent or other payment arrangements.

Evictions

• No new eviction orders will be issued until further notice and offices will postpone any scheduled enforcement of current eviction orders. Tenants must pay rent while an eviction order is not being enforced.
• Landlords can still give eviction notices, however landlords and tenants are encouraged to work together to explore options satisfactory to both sides, including rent deferral or other payment options.

Click here to learn more about tenant/landlord rights and responsibilities.

Our parking lots are open. 

Parking rates for the 2021 winter semester have been discounted, as Cambrian continues to limit access to campus only to students and staff who must be on-site for hands-on learning. Parking prices have been discounted by 50% on the full amount of the regular price: 

Gold

• Annual – $282.50 (regular rate $565) 
• Semester – $154.50 (regular rate $309) 
• Monthly – $59.00 – (regular rate $77) 

Burgundy

• Annual – $193.50 (regular rate $387) 
• Semester – $113.50 (regular rate $227) 
• Monthly – $38.50 – (regular rate $118) 

Residence

• Annual – $169.00 (regular rate $338) 
• Semester $99.00 (regular rate $198) 
• Monthly $33.50 (regular rate $67) 

Economy

• Annual – $169.00 (regular rate $338) 
• Semester $99.00 (regular rate $198) 

Daily parking rates through the parking kiosks and through the HotSpot app have been reduced by 50%  

*Special note: 

Given the hybrid academic delivery model will continue in the 2021 winter semester, the decision has been made to close some under-utilized parking lots. These lots will not be maintained this winter therefore parking will not be permitted in them.  The following lots or portions of the lots as indicated will be closed (please see the attached campus map): 

• Lot 1W – Snow will be pushed to the far end (west side).  Space will be maintained for the Power Line program. 
• Lot 1E 
• Lot 2 – Only the north half will be closed (access to the field house will be maintained). 
• Lot 3 
• Lot 7 
• Lot 8 
• Lot 11S – Only the Economy section will be closed.  The roadway to the residence section will be maintained. 
• Lot 15 – Back half of the front section (approximately from the gymnasium entrance on) and the right section of the back dog leg.  The roadway in front of the closed section will be maintained.

View 2020-21 Campus Winter Lot Closures

The Print Shop is available to students and employees, but operating under reduced hours of operation.

We will be open Tuesday and Thursday (as necessary) and by appointment only.

To make an appointment, submit print job specifics, or for more information, please contact printshop@cambriancollege.ca.

Print jobs must be submitted electronically by email whenever possible. If this is not possible, you must contact the Print Shop by email to make arrangements to have your material dropped off.

At this time, print jobs for students are being limited to program-related materials only.

When requesting a print job, please include your full name, Cambrian ID number, phone number, and program.

The Print Shop will contact you to arrange a time to pick up completed print jobs. Pick-up will be done at Parking Services (Room 2207, Level 2, across from Amphitheatre). Payment by debit or credit card only (no cash, no student printing credit).

Jobs not picked-up at the arranged time will be held for 2 weeks. If arrangements to pick-up the job after the 2 weeks is not made the job will be discarded and the printing cost will be charged to the students account.

Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to serving you.

In order to make sure that our resources are going to the students with the most immediate need we have merged our food bank efforts with the hardship bursary process. If you are in need of emergency food assistance, please email hardship@cambriancollege.ca. We would also recommend that you contact one of the community food banks which may also be able to assist you.

Closed.

Our Student Residence is open. For more information about Student Residence, please contact info@cambrianresidence.ca, or call 705-566-8101, or 1-800-461-7145 and ask for extension 7583, or visit the website at cambriancollege.ca/residence.

For questions about TSSA testing, please contact your program coordinator.

Academic upgrading is being offered online. Contact madison.brown@cambriancollege.ca.

The on-campus office is closed. For assistance, contact Ron Sarazin, Wabnode, Director, at ron.sarazin@cambriancollege.ca or 705-561-4539 if needed.

For a full list of how your program will be delivered during the 2021 winter semester, click here. 

FAQ

What does the extension of the lockdown mean for classes during the winter semester?

There is NO change for classes delivered completely online or virtually. They continue as usual.

On-campus labs will ALSO continue. However, some on campus-labs will have split classes as class sizes must be limited to a maximum of 10 students at a time.

Your Program Coordinators and faculty are adjusting your lab schedules accordingly, and you can find those adjusted lab schedules in your individual course Moodle shells.

You can also view the updated Winter Semester Delivery Chart, which you’ll find on this page. Look in the Re-Open Plan and under the Academics section to see the chart

How long will this last?

The current lockdown will be in place until January 23^rd

What happens if the lockdown goes past January 23^rd. How will that affect my classes?

There is no impact on classes delivered completely online or virtually.

We will go with split classes for on-campus labs for as long as the lockdown lasts. Once it ends, we’ll look at bringing the classes back together again.

Depending on how long the lockdown goes, we may have to make up some lab time during Spring Break or adding time at the end of the semester.

Will I be able to successfully complete the requirements of my courses?

That is our plan. We will provide you with any updates as we progress through the semester

Is my placement impacted by the extended lockdown?

Your placement will continue as long as your placement site is able to support you during your placement.  If you have any questions about your placement, you should contact your placement coordinator.  If you aren’t sure who that is, please contact Career Services.

Are the general computer labs open during the extended lockdown?

Unfortunately, we cannot open the general computer labs during the lockdown.  As soon as the lockdown ends, we will reopen these labs for individual student bookings.

Ontario’s public Colleges, including Cambrian, have determined not to provide tuition refunds or rebates due to COVID-19 as students continue to receive the education that will allow them to meet the requirements of their Ministry-approved program, albeit through a different method of delivery.  While the delivery method is different than what many are used to or expected, students will still be provided the opportunity to demonstrate the learning outcomes necessary for course and program completion and successful entry into the workforce.

Our campus also remains open to students who must be on camps to complete the required hands-on components (labs) of their courses.

As well, Cambrian continues to work with the provincial government, public health officials and employers to resume placement opportunities as the province moves to the next phase of re-opening.

To help alleviate some of the financial costs facing students, Cambrian College has increased the amount of emergency financial aid available through our Hardship Fund. We have also eliminated a number of ancillary fees until such a time as our campus and all of its on-site services are available to our students.

The pandemic has created a very fluid and ever-changing dynamic for postsecondary institutions, and we appreciate and thank you for your patience and understanding as we work our way together through this new environment.

Cambrian College has implemented a BYOD policy to ensure a rich and flexible learning experience. Learn more about BYOD by clicking here.

The minimum technology requirements you will need for online learning are found on each individual program page. See also our BYOD tab in this section.

If you are a student with the Rainbow District School Board and you have questions about Dual Credit courses at Cambrian College, you can contact Dana Kinsella at kinseld@rscloud.ca.

If you are a student with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board and you have questions about Dual Credit courses at Cambrian College, you can contact Kevin Villeneuve at kevin.villeneuve@sudburycatholicschools.ca.

For all other inquiries, please contact Chantale Roy, Dual Credit Coordinator, at  chantale.roy@cambriancollege.ca.

Student placements, co-ops, and apprenticeships will continue as our community partners are able to accept and support placement and co-op students.

If our community partners must reduce their capacity to take on clinical students, or if we must close student-led clinics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will look into alternative placement models and work with accrediting and regulatory bodies to support student success. In these circumstances, we will do everything we can to give students the opportunity to graduate or advance in their program according to their traditional academic schedule. However, this may not possible in all circumstances, which may impact the program duration.

We will provide you with updates as they become available.

If you are an Employer interested in supporting a student on placement or co-op, please contact the Cambrian Career Centre for further information, careercentre@cambriancollege.ca.

We encourage you to stick with your studies. However, if you feel your program or model of delivery is not for you, we encourage you to first contact our Student Success department to discuss your options. It can be reached at info@cambriancollege.ca.

If after that you still feel you want to withdraw from your studies, you can contact our Enrolment Centre to discuss the withdraw process, enrolmentcentre@cambriancollege.ca or 705-566-8101, ext. 3003 or1-800-461-7145, ext. 3003.

Academic upgrading is being offered online. Contact madison.brown@cambriancollege.ca.

DO NOT drop them off at the college. Instead, send your completed assignments electronically to your professors. If you have questions, contact your professor.

Click here for more information about scholarships and bursaries available at Cambrian College.
Students in financial crisis can apply for emergency hardship funds. Please email hardship@cambriancollege.ca (applies for both Canadian and international students). Please allow up to seven business days from the time you submit your application to the time your application is reviewed, plus mail delivery time, if approved.

The federal government has announced a number of initiatives to provide financial support to both domestic and international students.

Click here for details.

The federal and provincial governments have announced a 6-month, interest-free moratorium on the repayment of student loans for people already in the process of paying back their loans. To see a list of other financial measures to assist both international and domestic students, go to the question “What support is the Federal Government offering students?” found on this page.

If you have questions about OSAP, please contact our Enrolment Centre at enrolmentcentre@cambriancollege.ca

Treatment of Government of Canada Income Replacement Programs on OSAP Application

The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) and Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP) are the Government of Canada programs.

• CRB provides income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are directly affected by COVID-19 and who are not entitled to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. More information on CRB can be found at: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/recovery-benefit.html.
• CRSB provides income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19 or have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19. More information on CRSB can be found at: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/recovery-sickness-benefit.html.
• WEPP provides payment of eligible wages owing to workers whose employer has gone bankrupt or become subject to receivership. Eligible wages under the program include salaries, commissions, vacation, termination and severance pay. More information on WEPP can be found at: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/labour-standards/reports/wage-protection.html

CRB, CRSB and WEPP are considered income replacement programs. As a result, for the purposes of the provincial assessment for OSAP, any CRB, CRSB and/or WEPP income received during the study period should be treated as student study period income and is subject to the $5,600 per term income exemption.

Accordingly, this income (alone or in combination with other study period income) must be reported if it results in the student receiving more than $5,600/term in income. Such earnings are to be included as “other income” in the OSAP assessment.

Reporting Income on OSAP Applications

For students with an OSAP application, the CESB, CERB and WEPP are to be reported in the same way as employment and other non-employment income.  Therefore, only report CESB, CERB and/or WEPP in the following scenarios:

• 1-term study period (12-20 weeks): income received over $5,600
• 2-term study period (21-40 weeks): income received over $11,200
• 3-term study period (41-52 weeks): income received over $16,800

Only report income on your OSAP application if it exceeds the threshold above for the length of your study period from the following sources:

1.  Employment Income
2.  Teaching or Research Assistantships
3.  Child support and/or spousal support
4.  Foster parent payments
5.  Rental income
6.  Investment income including interest and dividends
7.  CERB
8.  CESB
9. WEPP

Do not report CERB, CESB or WEPP as government income.  Continue to report EI as you normally would as government income.

Here is a link to the Government of Canada webpage outlining their support for workers affected by COVID-19.

For updates from the Government of Canada, continue to check this link and the website for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html.

Click here to determine if you qualify for CRB or other assistance.

A number of measures are being implemented for anyone entering Canada by air or land, including citizens, permanent residents, international students and visitors. Many of these requirements are already in place for international students under Cambrian’s existing International Student Safe Arrival Plan:

Travel by Air

• Air service to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean has been suspended until April 30, 2021.
• All international flights arriving in Canada must land only at the main airports in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal.
• All travellers arriving by air must undergo COVID-19 testing (at their own expense) upon arrival. This is in addition to the requirement to produce a negative COVID-test within 72 hours of departing for Canada. Testing is currently being done upon arrival at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
• Upon arrival by air in Canada, all travellers must spend up to the first three days of their mandatory 14-day quarantine in a government-approved hotel (at their own expense, estimated at up to $2000 Cdn.), while they wait for the results of the COVID-19 test. Please note Cambrian College WILL NOT be covering any costs associated with your mandatory stay in the government-approved hotels upon arrival. Cambrian College may introduce a bursary to support international students to cover the additional cost of quarantine as mandated by the Government of Canada. Details on the bursary and its eligibility criteria will be communicated at a later date should it become available.
• Special note for international students: if you are spending your entire 14-day quarantine in one of Cambrian’s designated hotels in Toronto or Sudbury, or at Laurentian University Student Residence, Cambrian will reimburse a portion of your costs. Further details are available on your ArriveCAN app or from internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca.
• Travellers who test negative for COVID-19 will be able to complete their mandatory 14-day quarantine at home (private residence), under significantly increased surveillance and enforcement. International students can complete their quarantine at either a private residence, Laurentian University Student Residence, or one of the designated hotels in Toronto or Sudbury, as outlined in our International Student Quarantine Safe Arrival Plan, as found in the iCent app.
• Travellers who test positive for COVID-19 will have to complete their mandatory 14-day quarantine period at a government-approved facility.
• All travellers will be required to submit their travel plans, contact information, and details on a “suitable” quarantine plan, using the ArriveCAN app, which helps facilitate travel to Canada from abroad, before crossing the border or boarding a flight.
• All travellers arriving in Canada will have to undertake an additional COVID-19 near the end (on day 10) of their mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Travel by land

• All travellers arriving at a Canadian land border crossing (with the possible exception of essential workers) will be required to produce proof of a negative test for COVID-19, taken within 72 hours of arrival at the border.
• All travellers (except for a few exceptions such as essential workers) arriving at a Canadian land border crossing will also have to take an additional COVID-19 test (at their own expense) upon arrival in Canada, and go into a mandatory 14-day quarantine. They will not have to quarantine at a government-approved hotel, but can stay at a private residence.

Special note: international students arriving by land will still be required to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine at either a private residence, hotel in either Sudbury or Toronto designated by Cambrian College, or Laurentian University Student Residence. Please contact internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca to arrange details

• All travellers will be required to submit their travel plans, contact information, and details on a “suitable” quarantine plan, using the ArriveCAN app, which helps facilitate travel to Canada from abroad, before crossing the border or boarding a flight.
• All travellers arriving at a Canadian land border crossing will also have to take an additional COVID-19 test on day 10 of their mandatory quarantine.

Many of the new travel requirements for international travellers are already a part of Cambrian’s existing Safe Arrival Plan for international students. See tab “Requirements for Travellers Entering Canada.”
Cambrian is on the list of Designated Learning Institutions with an approved quarantine readiness plan (Safe Arrival Plan)
Requirements and highlights of our Safe Arrival Plan for international students and their travel companions include:

• Downloading of the iCent app and using it to help develop your quarantine plan, including daily check-ins.
• Development of a personal quarantine plan detailing where and how you will spend your mandatory 14-day quarantine while in Canada, including plans and arrangements on how you will access necessities (travel arrangements, food, medical appointments, medicines). You may be asked to show this plan to Canadian authorities upon arrival.
• Proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure for Canada
• Mandatory COVID-19 test upon arrival in Canada
• Mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Canada. The first three days of this quarantine must be spent in a government-approved hotel.
• Daily health checks using the iCent app
• Follow up COVID-19 test near the end of your mandatory 14-day quarantine

*Special note:
All arriving international students must spend the first three days of their mandatory 14-day quarantine in a federal-government approved hotel.

If you test negative for COVID-19, the balance of your mandatory quarantine period can be spent at one of the hotels in Toronto or Sudbury which has special arrangements with Cambrian College, Laurentian University, or a private residence. You can find more details listed on the ArriveCan app. You can also contact Cambrian College International Students Department at internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca.

If you are spending your entire 14-day quarantine in one of the government-approved hotels, one of Cambrian’s designated hotels in Toronto or Sudbury, or at Laurentian University Student Residence, Cambrian will reimburse a portion of your costs. Further details are available on your ArriveCAN app or from internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca.

The federal government has announced a number of initiatives to provide financial support to both domestic and international students.

Click here for details.

No it will not. For more details, please visit the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a ministry of the Government of Canada.

As per the latest update from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), posted December 9, 2020, students who have applied for their study permit prior to the Winter 2021 start date may begin their studies remotely without impacting their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), up until April 30, 2021. Please note all students wishing to continue their studies online must sign a waiver prior to their program registration. For more information, please CLICK HERE

Yes, you may continue your studies online for Winter 2021 if you still possess an AIP status. Should you not receive a final approval, a full refund will be issued to you.Should you not receive a final visa approval, a full refund will be issued to you up to March 19, 2021. Please note all students wishing to continue their studies online must sign a waiver prior to their program registration.

As per the approved academic calendar for 2020-2021, the last day to register for classes in the Winter 2021 semester is January 15, 2021. Exceptions for this rule may be considered on a case-by-case basis should circumstances prevent you from meeting the registration deadlines.

Please contact internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca or enrolmentcentre@cambriancollege.ca to discuss your options.

The Canadian government is advising against all international travel. It has also closed the border to all international visitors, including non-essential travel between Canada and the United States.

It would be wise to stay informed of any travel advisories in Canada and your home country.

For updates on the situation in Canada, visit www.canada.ca/coronavirus, and search under Travel Advice and Canada’s Response.

To discuss your individual circumstances and options, please contact internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca.

IRCC states, “All temporary residents who are already in Canada and unable to depart are encouraged to apply for an extension so that they may maintain their temporary resident status in Canada.  Once the application is submitted, the client will benefit from implied status and may remain in Canada until a decision is rendered on their application, or the required documents can be submitted.”

The Canadian government has closed the border to all international visitors, including non-essential travel across the Canada – U.S. border.

So, it may not be possible or wise for family members to come and visit you.

For updates on the situation in Canada, visit www.canada.ca/coronavirus, and search under Travel Advice and Canada’s Response.

To discuss your individual circumstances and options, please contact internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca.

We have no indication that your student permit will be affected should you test positive for COVID-19 and are currently in Canada.

Our Re-open Guide, found on this page, will walk you through the steps you should take if you suspect you have COVID-19. (link to Re-Open Guide). Contact your local public health authority and follow their guidance (in Sudbury, contact Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705-522-9200 or www.phsd.ca to learn more about COVID symptoms and where to get tested.)

You should also contact International Student Services so they can support you, internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca.

Contact your local public health unit (In Sudbury, it is Public Health Sudbury & District, 705-522-9200) and tell them your symptoms and travel history in the last month. We would also encourage you to contact International Student Services so they can support you.

You have medical coverage through your international student health insurance.

Please make sure that you have logged into WeSpeak to access your benefit card. Here are the steps:

1. Log in and register with WeSpeak student
2. Click on “Student Medical Card”
3. Enter your date of birth and student ID #
4. Print your card and keep it with you at all times

Through WeSpeak you can access information regarding what is included in your plan (under Plan Overview) as well as forms to submit a claim. If you didn’t make changes to your plan you are automatically enrolled in Plan 1.

To receive reimbursement for medical expenses covered under your plan, claim forms can be completed and submitted online through We Speak Student.

If you have any questions they offer a Live Chat feature to assist you.

No, we will work with you and Public Health Sudbury & Districts to support you.

You can contact International Student Services at internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca.

You can access most services of the Enrolment Centre through the myCambrian portal. You can also contact the Centre via email at enrolmentcentre@cambriancollege.ca.

Please allow for delays in response time given the extraordinary circumstances and volume of requests.

IRCC states,  “All temporary residents who are already in Canada and unable to depart are encouraged to apply for an extension so that they may maintain their temporary resident status in Canada.  Once the application is submitted, the client will benefit from implied status and may remain in Canada until a decision is rendered on their application, or the required documents can be submitted.”

You can contact International Student Services at internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which is a ministry of the Government of Canada, is also posting updates on its webpage.

IRCC states that “In regards to working on or off-campus, given that COVID-19 is beyond a student’s control, international students who were eligible to work on or off-campus can continue to work on or off-campus even if they have been forced to drop to part-time studies or take a break in studies.

However, these students are still subject to the authorized number of hours they would have been permitted had they been full-time students. Therefore, they can work part-time (up to 20 hours a week) off-campus during an academic session and full-time during a regularly scheduled break.

DLIs should be prepared to provide letters of support in the event that a student is questioned regarding how COVID-19 impacted their full-time status.”

Dear students:

I want to share the latest update on the current Ontario lockdown and how it affects academic delivery during the current semester.

The Ontario government has announced a phased lifting of the lockdown and stay-at-home order.

In Greater Sudbury, this lifting of the lockdown and stay-at-home order will occur on Tuesday, February 16.  At that time, the City will return to the colour-coded provincial framework. Click on this link to learn more.

What colour Sudbury will be under the framework will depend on the local COVID-19 situation at the time.  However, the cancellation of the lockdown and stay-at-home order on February 16 means that we can merge those labs where we had to reduce section sizes and introduce an alternating attendance pattern beginning on February 16 unless we hear otherwise.  Please prepare to attend your labs next week.

As we shared with you last week, due to the length of the lockdown and stay-at-home order, it will be necessary for some of you to attend on-campus labs during Study Week.  We are now determining where we may need to extend the semester to allow students in impacted labs to meet the learning outcomes of their courses. This information will be available next week once your faculty have been able to finalize semester completion plans.  Please check Moodle, myCambrian, and the Academic Delivery Chart on our COVID-19 landing page for updates. If you have any questions, please contact your faculty or program coordinator.

Please also remember that if you are studying online this semester, there is NO impact on you.  Placements will also continue as long as our community partners are able to accommodate you.

We want to thank you for your patience and understanding during the lockdown and state of emergency. We regret some of you will have to attend labs during study week and / or have your semester extended, but this was beyond our control due to the provincial lockdown. We are doing everything possible to minimize the impact and ensure your safety while studying.

We also know this can be very difficult and stressful. Please remember we have support services available to you, including wellness and mental health supports. You can find our support services listed at our COVID landing page.

Even though the state of emergency has been lifted, it is essential that we continue to follow all infection-control best practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Learn more at www.ontario.ca/covid and on our COVID landing page.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your semester.

Paula

Dr. Paula Gouveia
Vice-President, Academic
Cambrian College

Dear students:

I want to give you an update on what our plans are, academically, for the remainder of the semester, in light of the current state of emergency and lockdown in Ontario.

The state of emergency and lockdown are in effect until February 11^th. Our campus remains open for necessary on-site labs. However, in order to meet the requirement of no more than 10 students per lab, some classes have been divided into smaller sections where we are using an alternating lab attendance schedule. Thank you for working with us in those affected labs.  With your cooperation, we moved quickly into this new model and on-campus learning continues.

If the state of emergency and lockdown are cancelled on February 11^th, we will begin the process of merging these smaller lab cohorts together into their intended original classes.  However, in some cases, we will have to make up for the lost lab time by holding labs during Study Week or even extending the end of the semester in order to allow you to complete your required labs and achieve the course learning outcomes. Your faculty have been working very hard over the last few weeks to determine if we do have to make any of these scheduling adjustments.  Please visit our updated Academic Delivery Chart to confirm if labs in your program have been impacted.

Please remember that there is NO impact to any courses that you are taking that are being delivered online or virtually.

If however, the province extends the state of emergency and lockdown, we will have to evolve these plans further.  This would involve extending the end of the semester further.  How long the semester is extended in these affected labs/courses will depend on the length of the state of emergency and lockdown. As always, your faculty will let you know about lab completion plans through your individual course Moodle shells.

We will provide you with updates as they become available, through your student email, myCambrian, and your course Moodle shells.

We want to thank you for your patience and understanding during the lockdown and state of emergency. We know this can be very difficult and stressful. Please remember we have support services available to you, including wellness and mental health supports. You can find our support services listed at our COVID landing page.

It is also essential that we continue to follow all infection-control best practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  Learn more at www.ontario.ca/covid and on our COVID landing page.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your semester.

Dr. Paula Gouveia
Vice President, Academic

Hi folks.

In today’s COVID update, I would like to share with you how we are changing the way we report COVID-19 cases involving members of the Cambrian community.

There has been a great deal of feedback from you over the past months around how we share information of cases on campus, and there are number of different approaches that have been taken by other organizations, colleges and universities across the province.

After a review of best practices and your feedback, moving forward we will only report on positive cases if the person has been on campus within the previous 14 days. If the person has not been on campus, there is no impact on students and staff and we will not be reporting those details (though we will continue to support these individuals).  This approach has become standard procedure among many colleges and universities in Ontario.

To ensure a consistent means of presenting information to you, we have also created a new landing page, www.cambriancollege.ca/covidcases where we will post updates of positive COVID-19 cases in a new dashboard.  The page will also have further information that may include details such as the last time the person was on campus and the general area when appropriate. This approach allows us to protect the privacy of individuals who test positive while giving you information that can guide you in protecting your health.

For cases involving class cancellations, area closures, and/or cases in Residence if and as required, we will continue to inform you through your employee and student emails and myCambrian.  For situations where there are no cancellations or impacts to the operation of the College, the dashboard will be updated with appropriate details, but we will not be emailing you directly.

As such, I encourage you to bookmark the new dashboard, and revisit the page on a regular basis.

Let’s continue to do what we need to do to protect ourselves and each other. Stay engaged, stay connected, and stay safe.

You have my sincere thanks for your ongoing cooperation.

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

Good Evening,

Thank you for your cooperation this week as we worked with our ministry partners around details of the Government of Ontario’s state of emergency and stay at home orders.

This afternoon, we received further information from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities confirming that classes and labs will continue as previously communicated and that there will be no further changes to on-campus and other academic-related activities. For employees, continue to work at home unless you are required to be on campus – this is a continuation of what we are already doing.

We have also fielded a number of questions about what this means for Cambrian and what you are allowed to do, so we have created a new FAQ that you can find HERE

For full details about what it means outside of Cambrian, please visit the Government of Ontario’s COVID website, https://covid-19.ontario.ca/

We will provide you with any further updates as required.

Once again, stay safe and thank you for your cooperation.

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

Hi everyone.

As you may have heard this afternoon, the Government of Ontario has declared a state of emergency, effective immediately and remaining in place for the next 28 days. The province has also announced a stay-at-home order, effective this Thursday.

The Ministry of Colleges and Universities will be following up with regulations on Wednesday and it is our understanding the current practices at colleges will not be changing. While we await further information from the ministry, we will continue to follow the existing regulations and guidelines.

Therefore, classes will continue as they are while we remain in a state of emergency unless otherwise notified. This includes hands-on labs where we have introduced smaller group sizes and an alternating lab schedule. 

We will update you further on any changes to the status of on-campus learning as soon as details become available.

For more information regarding the additional restrictions: CLICK HERE

I remind everyone to review the new regulations and recommendations from the government and public health, and continue to follow all best practices for the prevention of COVID-19.

Stay healthy.

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

Dear students

I want to provide you with an update on the current lockdown situation in Ontario.

The Ontario government has decided to extend the current lockdown in Northern Ontario past January 9^th. The lockdown has been extended until at least January 23, 2021.

As a result, we will be implementing our contingency measures. There will be no change for classes that are delivered virtually or completely online. However, we are making adjustments to on-campus labs.

Only classes that must be delivered on-campus will be permitted. All other learning will take place online. On-campus labs will be limited to a maximum of 10 students, with the exception of certain health care program labs.  Those programs are as follows:

1. Diagnostic cardiac sonography and diagnostic medical sonography
2. Diagnostic ultrasound
3. Medical imaging
4. Medical laboratory assistant and Medical laboratory technician
5. Medical radiation technology
6. Medicine
7. Mental health and addictions services, including psychology services, social work services and counselling services
8. Nursing
9. Paramedic
10. Personal support worker, supportive care worker, home care worker or a similar occupation
11. Pharmacy/pharmacy technician
12. Public health inspector, if the program is accredited by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
13. Rehabilitation sciences (nutrition, speech language pathology, occupational science, and physiotherapy)
14. Respiratory therapy

For almost all other on-campus labs, we will be dividing the sections into cohorts of 10 students or less and will alternate weekly attendance in labs while in lockdown. You can view a complete list of those programs and semesters where we are dividing the sections into smaller groups of 10 and alternating lab attendance by reviewing the 2021 winter semester academic delivery chart on our website.

For all on-campus labs, your faculty will be sharing with you any changes to your on-campus lab schedules via your course Moodle sites. Please make sure to consult your Moodle course site for any on-campus labs before you come to campus.  If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact your Program Coordinator or your course faculty directly.

Depending on how long the lockdown lasts, we may have to take additional measures, including scheduling labs during Study Week and extending the semester to the end of April.

For those on placement this term, your placement will continue as long as our community partners are able to accommodate you on placement.  If you have any questions about your placement, please reach out to your placement coordinator.

Lastly, we will not be able to open the general use computer labs until the lockdown has ended.  I apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.

We will continue to follow the situation closely and will provide you with updates as they become available.

Please continue to check your student email and myCambrian accounts daily for updates.

One last reminder: continue to follow all infection-control best practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you are feeling ill, please delay your arrival in Sudbury and on our campus and get tested for COVID-19. Do not come to Sudbury or campus unless you are symptom-free for at least 24 hours.  Learn more about what you can do to protect yourself and others at www.ontario.ca/covid.

Thank you and have a wonderful start to the year.

Paula Gouveia
Vice-President, Academic
Cambrian College

Good Evening Everyone,

Welcome to the 2021 winter semester, and a special welcome to students who are beginning their studies with us this January. We are so pleased that you have chosen Cambrian College to start your post-secondary journey. We are all looking forward to the start of the winter semester on Monday, January 11^th.

As you may have heard, the Province of Ontario announced earlier today that lockdown measures will be extended until January 23^rd.  As our VP-Academic, Paula Gouveia, mentioned in her email to you earlier this week, this will have no impact to classes being taught virtually (online), but there will be an impact to on-campus labs. In order to meet the requirement of a maximum of 10 students per lab, lab classes in affected programs are being divided into smaller groups and each group will attend lab on alternating weeks.

Students are encouraged to check individual Moodle course sites for further information regarding –  and adjustments to – your lab schedule. In the interim, please visit our updated Winter Semester Program Delivery Chart, found on our special COVID-19 landing page, under the Academics section to determine if your on-campus labs have been impacted by the lockdown. Or you can link directly to the Program Delivery Chart.

As we move into the new semester, we’ll also be changing how we will be reporting cases of COVID-19, based on your feedback. Since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we have been sharing with you all positive cases involving members of the Cambrian community. Moving forward, we will inform you of cases of COVID-19 only if the individual has physically been on our campus within 14 days of receiving a positive test result via a new COVID-19 reporting dashboard that we will share in the coming week.

The new dashboard will provide sufficient information to help you make informed decisions about your level of risk, such as when the individual was last on campus, and we’ll also share what measures we are taking to mitigate against any potential risks.  The dashboard will be updated during regular business hours, and we will provide you with updates after hours (through email) if there is reason to do so (i.e. need to cancel classes, etc.).

We encourage you to continue to voluntarily disclose to your faculty coordinator or supervisor if you have tested positive for COVID-19, regardless of whether you have been on campus, so that we can provide you with any support you may need from us.

To date, we have had to collectively be nimble, adjusting quickly and frequently to adapt to the growing impact of COVID-19.  As this semester begins, we are already having to make changes, and we do need to be prepared for more changes to come as they are required.  This is no easy task for any of us, so I ask that you continue to be patient and safe as we work through the coming weeks and months to ensure the health and safety of our entire Cambrian community, and to ensure the health and safety of loved ones.

Continue to visit our COVID landing page to learn more about what we are doing to ensure our campus is a safe place to learn, live, and work, particularly in our Re-open Plan and Re-open Guide.

I hope you have a great semester, and thank you for being part of the Cambrian College community.

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

COVID-19 Update – January 6 – How Ontario’s current lockdown could affect your classes if extended

Hello students.

We look forward to having you join us for the 2021 winter semester, starting Monday, January 11, 2021.

I want to provide you with an update on the current COVID-19 situation in Ontario that could impact your studies.

Ontario is currently in lockdown in order to reduce the number of new cases of COVID-19. The lockdown is due to end on January 9 in Sudbury.  If that is the case, our semester will proceed as usual.

If the lockdown is extended past January 9, it will not impact you if your studies are completely online this semester. However, if you have on-campus labs, and the lockdown is extended, there will be some changes.

According to the rules of the lockdown, on-campus labs must be limited to a maximum of 10 students, except for a limited number of health care programs. For non-health-care labs of more than 10 students, we will divide the class into smaller group sizes and alternate on-campus labs to ensure that we respect the new smaller lab size restrictions.  If the lockdown extends beyond several weeks, we may need to look at scheduling additional lab time over Study Week and even into the end of April.

Your faculty will be sharing with you details of any changes to your lab schedule via your Moodle course sites on January 11, but I will have an update for you on January 10 once we know if the lockdown will be extended.

Once again, these plans are contingent upon the provincial lockdown being extended beyond January 9. 

Please check daily your student email and myCambrian. We will also post necessary updates to our special COVID-19 landing page, www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen.

One last reminder: continue to follow all infection-control best practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you are feeling ill, please delay your arrival in Sudbury and on our campus and get tested for COVID-19. Do not come to Sudbury or campus unless you are symptom-free for at least 24 hours.  Learn more about what you can do to protect yourself and others at www.ontario.ca/covid.

Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to you resuming or starting your education with us.

Dr. Paula Gouveia

Vice-President, Academic

Cambrian College

As many of you will have heard, the Government of Ontario announced earlier today new COVID-19 restrictions and will be implementing a province-wide shutdown, beginning Saturday, December 26, 2020.

Restrictions for Northern Ontario will be in place through to Saturday, January 9, 2021, while restrictions will remain in effect through to January 23, 2021, for all public health regions in Southern Ontario.

As a result of today’s announcement, please note the following implications for Cambrian students and staff:

• Cambrian’s campuses, initially scheduled to re-open Monday, January 4 following the holiday break, will remain closed through Sunday, January 10, save for essential workers to maintain campus facilities and to prepare for essential academic delivery;
• Employees will report to work virtually Monday, January 4 as we prepare for Winter semester start-up (consult with your supervisor for further direction and information);
• Students can still access college supports, resources and staff working virtually beginning January 4, 2021;
• Classes and labs will begin as planned on Monday, January 11, 2021.

We will provide further information as it becomes available, or as required should there be any changes to the details above.

Students and staff are reminded to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines over the course of the holiday closure.

I wish everyone a safe holiday season.

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

 

Hi students. Your semester is done. Congratulations on your hard work so far this year and I hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday break with loved ones.

This is just a reminder that our campus will be closed for the holidays, beginning Thursday, December 24, and reopening for regular office hours Monday, January 4^th, with classes in the winter semester beginning January 11.

If you are staying in Greater Sudbury and need health care or other emergency services over the holiday season, there are resources in the community available to you. We have created a special landing page listing those services.

During the holiday break, I also want to encourage you to be COVID-safe: everyone, everywhere, all the time, particularly if you are travelling to another part of Ontario or Canada for the holidays. It is best to avoid travel if you can, but if not, there are things you can do to protect yourself and others.

For starters, know what the status is in your area, whether you are staying in Sudbury or travelling to your hometown, as there may be local restrictions in place that you must follow. Click here to find out about the COVID status of the area you are visiting. Continue to do everything necessary to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID over the holiday season.

But before that, just a quick note on coming back to Sudbury or returning to campus or Student Residence after the holiday break.

If you are feeling ill as you are preparing to return to Sudbury, please stay in your home community, isolate, and be tested for COVID-19. Return to Sudbury, campus or Student Residence if you have tested negative for COVID-19 and are symptom-free for at least 24 hours.

You should also not return to Sudbury, campus or Residence if Public Health has identified you as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 over the holidays. Only return when cleared to do so by the local Public Health authority.

If you do have to delay your return to Sudbury, please let your Program Coordinator know. The Coordinator will work with you on any potential academic accommodations that may need to be made.

If you are in good health with no symptoms of COVID upon your return to Sudbury, still monitor your health for the first 14 days of your return. Limit contact to the people you live with, stay home except for essential trips, avoid public areas and public transportation if at all possible, and wear a face covering at all times when out in public.

If your program requires you to be on campus for the first time in the Winter Semester, you will have to complete your mandatory COVID-19 training module. You will find that on Moodle. Once you successfully complete that training, your record of completion will be added to your file. When you come to campus, remember to sign in with Security at the designated entrances using your student ID card which contains your COVID training certification. Always have your card or student ID number ready when coming to campus. Remember, you must wear a mask while on campus and follow all our COVID-19 prevention protocols.

For more information on how to keep yourself and others safe over the holidays and upon your return, and what we’re doing at Cambrian to keep you safe, visit our special landing page.

Have a great holiday break, and we’ll see you in the new year.

Alison De Luisa
Associate Vice-President, Human Resources and Student Services

Hello Everyone

We have come to the end of the semester and the end of the calendar year.  And what a year it has been!

Who would have thought 2020 would have turned out this way? A year ago, no one had even heard of COVID-19.  Fast forward two-and-a-half months, and we were all engulfed in a global pandemic, forcing Cambrian to transition to an online college in the span of a week. It would be months before we could allow a limited number of students and staff back on campus for hands-on learning to continue.

But we did it. Everyone has worked so hard to get our organization and our students to where we are today. As faculty and staff, you completely changed your way of doing things and you made – and continue to make – whatever adjustments were necessary. As students, you adapted, stayed with your studies, and pushed forward while trying to stay a step ahead of COVID.

All of you should be proud of how you’ve managed so far. It most certainly hasn’t been easy, but I hope that you can take pride in what has been accomplished.

I would like to thank you all for the effort and determination that you have put into your work and studies.  Over the holidays, take time to enjoy your time away from work and school, and reflect on what 2020 has taught us. Treasure your loved ones, even if you may not be able to be together face-to-face.

I think we are all a little bit stronger for what we’ve gone through together this year, and as we bid farewell to 2020, we can look forward to a better 2021. The arrival of the COVID vaccine carries with it the hope for a return to a more typical, but forever changed campus life..

Enjoy the holiday break, in a COVID-safe manner.  Please keep doing what you need to do to protect yourself and others.

From my family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Enjoy our holiday card at the following link https://cambriancollege.ca/happy-holidays/.  

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

Since our last update of Friday, November 13, three more people associated with Cambrian College have self-disclosed to us that they have tested positive for COVID-19.  They have not been on campus this week, and are all self-isolating.  One individual is associated with our on-campus townhouse residence and is self-isolating off-campus.  We are providing whatever support is necessary.  We wish everyone a complete recovery.

Public Health follows up with all close contacts. If you are not contacted by Public Health, you are not considered a close contact.

All potentially affected areas of campus have received a deep cleaning in addition to the daily, thorough cleaning of high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces.

I would like to remind everyone to remember to follow all infection-control best practices when on campus, for your own protection and the protection of those around you:

• face coverings are mandatory on campus (inside or outside) except if you are in a private workspace
• maintain physical distancing whenever possible (minimum 2 metres from the nearest person)
• wash/sanitize your hands often, particularly after tasks or when moving from one place to another on campus
• clean your work and/or learning space before and after each use
• stay home if you are sick
• avoid unnecessary travel, close contact, crowds, and confined spaces

As we move into the winter season and more students may be utilizing our designated eating/study areas:

• masks are required at all times, except when eating
• remember to keep your distance from others
• do not move chairs around
• refrain from using the space as a lounge or meeting place
• depart the space once your task is completed

Take time to review our Re-open Guide for more instructions on how to keep yourself and others safe while on campus, www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen.

Stay well and stay healthy!

Bill Best
President of Cambrian College

In this latest COVID-update I would like to share with you that another four people have self-disclosed to us that they have tested positive for COVID-19.  They are linked to the previous cluster of 23 cases involving members of the Cambrian family. These individuals have not been on campus since last week and are currently self-isolating.

As always, I know you will join me in wishing everyone a full and quick recovery, and please know that we are supporting them during this time.

I understand that these Cambrian affiliated cases have raised concerns.  The best way to address these concerns is with evidence and the expert assessment we’ve received from Public Health Sudbury & Districts (PHSD), namely:

• there is no evidence of COVID-19 being caught or spread on campus;
• there is no outbreak at Cambrian;
• if you are not contacted by PHSD personally, you are not considered a close contact of someone who has tested positive.

As well, just yesterday, the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) visited our campus for an inspection as a result of the cluster of cases affiliated with our campus community. The Ministry, like PHSD, has concluded that all of our infection control practices and protocols are in order and no areas of concern were flagged.

That said, we continue to make improvements to support a safe learning and work environment.

I shared with you earlier this fall that we were working on upgrades to our heating and cooling systems.  Some of you will be aware that we launched a comprehensive Healthy Building audit conducted in partnership with Honeywell, and gained a thorough understanding of best practices from all known healthy building measures.  As a result, I’m pleased to advise that we are near completing the integration of new needlepoint bipolar ionization units into our campus heating and cooling system.

The ionization process cleans the air from airborne mold, bacteria, allergens and viruses by allowing filtration to be more effective.  The decision to invest was made early in the pandemic, and Cambrian was an early adopter of the technology in order to augment our efforts to combat the virus – it just took some time to procure and install the equipment.  This will also ensure superior indoor air quality for staff and students on an ongoing basis.

The stringent protocols we have established on campus have been validated in the past week by both Public Health and the Ministry of Labour, and should give us confidence.  But now is not the time to relax our vigilance.  As such, we will be increasing the monitoring and enforcement of our protocols on campus to continue to ensure physical distancing, sanitization and appropriate wearing of masks occurs, inside and outside of our buildings.

While we’ve been very prescriptive of what is expected on campus, I encourage us all to do the right things to prevent COVID from spreading in our personal lives and our city, where we all have responsibility.

I encourage every member of the Cambrian family, at all times, and in all settings, to follow infection-control best practices:

• If you are sick, stay home, and get tested for COVID-19;
• Limit your social circle to members of your household, either family members or roommates;
• Limit gatherings of any size and limit travel;
• Maintain physical distancing (2 m/6 ft) from anyone outside your circle;
• Wear a mask at all times in public indoor spaces and when you can’t maintain physical distancing;
• Wash your hands often.

As Sudbury’s Medical Officer of Health warned us this week, Sudbury could find itself back in lockdown unless we reduce the number of new cases in our community, and we can all play a role by being COVID-wise everywhere, all the time.

Thank you

Bill Best
President of Cambrian College

I would like to take a moment to provide you with a further update related to my November 8^th message regarding recent COVID-19 cases in Greater Sudbury.  This is an ongoing, evolving, and rapidly changing situation in our community.

We have supported Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) in their investigation into a number of COVID-19 cases involving members of the Cambrian family.  As mentioned yesterday, PHSD has determined that to date:

• there is no evidence of transmission on campus;
• there is no outbreak at Cambrian;
• there are no further actions required.

More so, out of an abundance of caution, we:

• cancelled three classes; and
• conducted deep cleaning of affected areas

The latest information that I can share with you is, at this point, twenty-three members of the Cambrian family have self-reported that they have tested positive for COVID-19. In all cases, transmission occurred in the community, not on campus.  We continue to support them in their recovery, while adhering to PHSD guidelines and the need to uphold the confidentially of all involved.

As you may have heard Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health and CEO of PHSD, on CBC Radio this morning, some of the new cases in Greater Sudbury are the result of close contact through living arrangements, or affiliations of small social circles, and not through a large social gathering or super-spreader event.  You can hear the full story here:  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/covid-spike-sudbury-1.5795174

To reinforce, there is no evidence of transmission on campus, and public health has said that there is no need to take further action beyond our current protocols.  We must continue to rely on the expertise of our partners in public health, and to understand that the measures we have taken are working to keep people safe on campus.

As a Sudbury community, we are learning from this situation.  I cannot stress enough the importance of continuing to follow infection control best practices on campus, and especially in the broader community.  I remind everyone to stay home if feeling ill, get tested, wear a mask in public, practice physical distancing, and limit your social circle to household contacts.

As always, I encourage you to share your concerns to COVID@cambriancollege.ca.

We must all continue to do our part to keep ourselves, and each other, safe.

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

I wanted to take a few moments to advise you that we have worked throughout the weekend to support the contact tracing efforts of Public Health Sudbury & Districts (PHSD), as they relate to a number of community cases involving members of our college community.

PHSD has confirmed that our safety measures on campus have been effective and informed us this afternoon that to date:

• there is no evidence of transmission on campus
• there is no outbreak at Cambrian College
• no further actions are required, other than what we already have in place as part of our ongoing COVID response plan

Please know that if you are not contacted by Public Health, then you are not considered a close contact.

Over the weekend we conducted an additional deep cleaning of campus, in addition to our daily cleaning of high-traffic and high-touch surfaces.

As this latest increase in cases demonstrates, COVID-19 is spreading in our community, and we all have a responsibility to keep ourselves and others safe.

Therefore, we must all be prepared for COVID-19 at all times by following infection-control best practices:

• Stay home if you are sick, and get tested if you have a COVID-19 symptom
• Stick to household contacts
• Limit gatherings of any size
• Limit travel
• Maintain physical distancing especially for people outside your household
• Wear a face covering at all times in indoor public spaces and when physical distancing is not possible
• Wash/sanitize your hands frequently, especially if you are going from one location to another
• Avoid touching your face and cough or sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue

If you are concerned you may have been exposed to COVID, you take a self-assessment at www.ontario.ca/coronavirus. You can also contact Public Health (www.phsd.ca). There is no cost to you to be tested for COVID-19, and there are financial supports available to students should you test positive for COVID or need to self-isolate as a precaution.

Our special COVID webpage, www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen has more information about our response to COVID-19 and how you can protect yourself.

I would also like you to know that we will do our best to be as transparent with you as possible about the impact COVID is having on our campus, while at the same time meeting our legal obligation to protect the privacy and personal health information of people who test positive for COVID-19. We will follow the lead of the Medical Officer of Health and the team at Public Health Sudbury & Districts.  We have modified our communication to respect this balance.

Our thoughts need to continue to be with the members of our community who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or who have been asked to self-isolate as a precaution. They need our support, our kindness, and our concern.

Please continue to be diligent on campus and in the community.

Thank you

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

I want to inform you that we have been advised by Public Health Sudbury & Districts (PHSD) that members of the Cambrian community have tested positive for COVID-19.

These members of our community are currently self-isolating. We wish them a full and quick recovery and are supporting them in any way we can.

Public Health has shared with us that there is no evidence of transmission on campus and there are no additional public health measures required beyond what we already have in place. Public Health has also advised us that there is no outbreak on campus.

We are cooperating fully with PHSD in its ongoing investigation. There is a legal obligation to protect the privacy and health information of the individuals involved, and as such we are not able to share further information at this time.

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is also conducting the contact tracing. Some community members may hear directly from Public Health and receive specific instruction based on their investigation. If you are not contacted by Public Health, you are not considered a close contact.  If you have concerns, you can contact Public Health at 705-522-9200 or visit www.phsd.ca.

In order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 on campus, we are reminding you once again to stay home if you are sick.

To learn more about our numerous COVID prevention measures, and what you can do to protect yourself, visit www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen.

If you have any questions, please send them to covid@cambriancollege.ca.

Thank you for your patience and support.

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

I want to share with you that a member of the Cambrian community has tested positive for COVID-19. This person is now in self- isolation and we are supporting them in any way we can. We wish them a full and quick recovery.

This individual has not been on campus this semester. The campus remains open for those who must be on-site for labs and other hands-on learning, and those sessions are continuing as scheduled.

Contact tracing is being managed by Public Health Sudbury & Districts (PHSD), which will contact anyone who has come into close contact with this individual.

I would also like to take this time to remind you of our measures to prevent COVID-19 on campus. They include daily, thorough cleaning of high-traffic, high-touch areas and surfaces such as labs and washrooms; limiting access to campus to only those who need to be here for academic purposes, controlled entrances, pre-screening for COVID-19 symptoms before access is granted, mandatory completion of a COVID training module, physical distancing measures throughout campus, and the mandatory wearing of face coverings while on campus.

Let’s do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  If you are sick, stay home. Maintain physical distancing, wear a face covering while on campus and practice proper hand hygiene, and cough or sneeze into your sleeve.

To learn more about our COVID response measures and what you can do to protect yourself, visit our website, www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen.  There you will find our Re-Open Plan, Re-open Guide, and COVID on Campus Procedure to show you what to do if you suspect you have COVID or just a cold or flu.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Thank you. Stay safe

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

Hi folks,

I hope everyone is having a safe and enjoyable Reading Week.

We have a new development around International students so I wanted to take the opportunity to bring you up-to-speed.

As was shared during our all staff Zoom session earlier this week, the Government of Canada is in the process of reopening travel to international students. Students can now come to Canada to begin or resume their studies if their college of choice has an approved COVID-19 Safe Arrival (quarantine) Plan for International Students.

Cambrian has received approval for our plan, meaning international students who are now overseas can come to Sudbury for their studies, providing they have approved study visa, and are not limited by other circumstances in their home country. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, our plan (developed in consultation with Public Health Sudbury and Districts and the Ministries of Health and Colleges and Universities), takes into the account the safety of all concerned.

Highlights include:

• Mandatory Personal quarantine plans for each arriving student as well as co-arriving family members
• Mandatory screening for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival
• Mandatory 14-day quarantine period
• Safe transportation options to the quarantine location
• Mandatory COVID-19 test during the initial quarantine period
• Daily check-ins with College staff and submission of a daily health check

These requirements are among the strictest for any international travellers arriving in Canada, and stricter than current requirements for domestic students who are travelling from other parts of the province or country. These measures will help safeguard the health of our newly arriving international students and co-arriving family members, as well as the health and safety of our students, faculty, employees and members of our community.

Welcoming international students to campus again is undoubtedly good news for our international students and for Cambrian and Greater Sudbury, as their presence both strengthens and enriches us as a community.  I know our International students are looking forward to experiencing college life in Canada as much as we are looking forward to their arrival.

As shared last week, beginning Monday, November 2, one of the controlled entrances to the campus is changing from the Student Life Centre to the International Student Centre entrance. To access this entrance, turn onto MacIssac Drive (Trades Building entrance) off of Barrydowne Road. This decision was made based upon a traffic utilization review in anticipation of the winter weather and provides greater balance for students and staff in some of our Health Sciences and Trades programs.

If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, I would like to remind you not to come to campus if you are sick. If you are feeling fine, but someone you live with is sick, we have prepared some scenarios in conjunction with Public Health that will help you figure out what to do. Go to www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen and in our Top Ten list, go to #10 and click on “scenarios.”

As always, if you have a question or comment about our ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please send them to covid@cambriancollege.ca.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.

Bill Best
President of Cambrian College

Good morning everyone

You’ve been receiving many messages from me of late, so I’d like to begin by thanking you for reviewing them, providing feedback, and for your cooperation in supporting our pandemic efforts.

As we head into our first-ever fall Study Week, work through the second wave of the pandemic and our second case of COVID-19 connected to Cambrian, I wanted to take a moment to provide you with some additional information and considerations that I hope will help you.

As I shared with you Wednesday, the member of our Cambrian family that has contracted COVID-19 is currently isolating and we are hopeful for a quick recovery. As you undoubtedly know by now, if you are not contacted by Public Health, you are not considered a close contact, and therefore you are deemed at low risk of exposure.  We remain confident that the cases are not related, and it is our understanding that neither were contracted on campus.

Many of you will note class or cohort cancellations or self-isolation measures in some elementary and secondary schools when a case of COVID-19 has occurred.  Due to the measures we have in place, including minimizing the number of people we have on campus at any given time, face coverings, cleaning and physical distancing, the lead agency involved – Public Health Sudbury and Districts – has not determined that Cambrian has needed to adopt these measures at this point in time.  We will continue to work with them closely, and follow their expert advice.

The measures that we have put into place like the use of plexi-glass, mandatory face coverings and physical distancing are there to minimize the potential of transmission on our campus.  What we can control are the safety measures on campus, so let’s ensure we continue to follow these practices as they have proven to be effective.

That said, the announcement of a second case connected to Cambrian no doubt raises some questions. This is natural.  Announcements like ours are becoming more commonplace as we work together to curtail this second wave, I implore us all, now more than ever, to be focused in both our personal and our school lives.  We must all do our part.

Not to be lost amidst the events of this week, students are heading into fall Study Week and many will be travelling to other parts of the province.  The government is recommending that you avoid travel as much as possible – and this includes plans for Study Week. For students, I’d like to remind you that if you do choose to travel, please continue to follow all best practices when it comes to reducing the spread of COVID-19, including the 3 Cs: avoid Close contact, Crowds, and Confined spaces with others.  As always, resources are available to you at our special COVID landing page.

The College will remain open during Study Week for students who require access to our computer labs in order to continue or complete assignments. You can book an appointment to use a computer in one of these labs by visiting: https://cambriancollege.ca/reopen/ and scroll to Campus and On-Campus Services.

Nearly two months into our semester, we have recognized some trends related to entrance utilization, so after Study Week, we are going to make some slight modifications to your options to enter the building.  We are relocating the current entrance at the Student Life Centre to the International Centre entrance, located across from Parking Lot 14 (map below). The other entrances remain the same.

Again, my sincere thanks for your consideration and support, and my appreciation for the effort that you have put forward to date.  I have likened this pandemic to a marathon of 1,500 metre sprints. This means there are many individual milestones involved in completing this race, and we have a ways to go.  Some of those sprints will be easier and smoother than others.  In that, Cambrian is not alone.  

Students, I hope you all have a safe and productive Study Week. Remember to be COVID-smart. Practice the 3 Cs and be safe.

We have assembled an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for you regarding COVID to help in answering questions you may have or questions coming to you from someone else.   A number of questions and answers are outlined below.

Q. Can I come to campus if I only feel unwell, but not sick?

We’ve consulted with Public Health Sudbury & Districts to come up with a quick guide as to whether you should come to campus or not, if you or someone you live with are sick.

You’ll find that on our website, www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen. In point #10 of the top ten list, click on “scenarios”.

Generally, though, we are asking you not to come to campus if you are feeling sick.

Q. If I start feeling sick, should I get tested for COVID-19?

Monitor your health. You can visit www.ontario.ca/coronavirus to take a self-assessment. Based on your results, testing may be recommended. You can also use that website to find a COVID testing centre near you. You can also go to your local public health website (in Greater Sudbury, visit www.phsd.ca).

Even if testing for COVID-19 is not recommended for you, we ask that you not come to campus until you have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours, or at least 48 hours if you experienced vomiting or diarrhea.

Q. If I have been sick, do I need a doctor’s note to come back on campus?

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, yes, you will need clearance from an appropriate health care professional to return to campus.

If you have tested negative for COVID-19, we ask that you only return to campus if you have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours.

If you have not been tested, monitor your health, and only return to campus when you have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours, or at least 48 hours if you experienced vomiting or diarrhea.

Q. What if I miss labs and other necessary hands-on learning?

You can contact your Program Coordinator, who will work with your Dean and faculty to make arrangements with you.

Q. Why don’t you shut down the campus if you get a confirmed case of COVID-19 and do a deep cleaning of the entire campus?

When we are informed of a confirmed case of COVID-19 on campus, we do undertake a thorough cleaning of the areas of campus where the individual may have been. This includes labs, classes, washrooms, exam/lunch areas, door handles, handrails, etc.

It may assure you to know that, every day, we do a thorough cleaning of high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces on campus.

This cleaning protocol remains the same, whether the campus is open or closed.

In addition, we have in place other rigourous infection-control practices such as limiting campus access to only those students and employees who need to be here, controlled entrances, pre-screening for COVID symptoms before you are allowed on campus, a mandatory face covering policy, and cleaning of learning spaces and tools before and after each use.

Health and safety is our top priority, followed by ensuring our students are able to complete the lab portions of their courses. We’re confident the measures we put in place daily will achieve both.

Q. Why don’t you give us more information when there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 involving someone at Cambrian?

We are legally obliged to protect the personal health information of employees and students. As such, we cannot reveal information that could lead to the identity of someone within the Cambrian community who tests positive for COVID-19.

But we know you want information to help you determine your level of risk.

We will tell you when the person was last on campus and general areas where they may have been (i.e. Trades Building, Student Residence) to help you make that determination of your level of risk.

This level of disclosure is similar to what is being done at some other colleges and universities.

Q. But how am I supposed to know what my level of risk is?

Public Health Sudbury & Districts (or your local public health authority) is responsible for notifying anyone who may have come in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. If you are not contacted by Public Health, you are NOT considered a close contact.

You are a close contact if you HAVE BEEN within 2 metres (6 feet) of someone who is COVID-positive, for at least 15 minutes, without you wearing personal protective equipment (face covering)

The best way to protect yourself from exposure to COVID-19 is to follow best practices all the time, whether you are on campus or out in the community:

• maintain physical distancing
• avoid crowds
• wear a face covering in public spaces and when physical distancing cannot be maintained
• cough into your sleeve or a tissue
• wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face
• stay home if you are sick and avoid other sick people as much as possible.
• Download the free COVID Alert app

If you do these things consistently, you will lower your risk of exposure to COVID-19, wherever you are.

If you are still concerned about your risk of exposure, we absolutely encourage you to contact Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705-522-9200. Share with them your circumstance and they will provide you with an official assessment and further guidance. Remember, you can also do a self-assessment at www.ontario.ca/coronavirus.

At what point would you declare an outbreak at Cambrian if you’ve had more than one case and would you shut down the college if an outbreak was declared?

It is Public Health that declares an outbreak based on the individual circumstances, and it will provide direction on what we should do.

An outbreak is not declared just because you have more than one case at the same time or have had more than one case in total.

The Ontario Ministry of Health, Infectious Disease Protocol provides some criteria to consider when determining if an outbreak has occurred:

• Are there two or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases with a link in the workplace within a 14-day period and where it is reasonable to assume the individuals acquired their infection in the workplace.

The declaration of an outbreak does not automatically mean the shutdown of the college. Outbreaks were declared at two universities in Ontario, and they remained open because of the measures that were put in place to contain the spread.

We will inform you if ever there is an official declaration of outbreak at Cambrian and we will also share with you our plans to deal with it, while respecting the personal health information of those who have tested positive.

We hope this helps answer some of the questions you may have. If you have other questions please let me know or please feel free to contact us at covid@cambriancollege.ca

Thanks and stay safe.

Alison De Luisa
Associate Vice President, Human Resources and Student Services
Cambrian College

Good Afternoon

We want to inform you that, this afternoon, a member of the Cambrian community informed us that they have tested positive for COVID-19.

The individual is in self-isolation and we are supporting them in any way we can. We wish them a full and quick recovery.

This person was last on campus Monday, October 19, for most of the day, in various locations, but none involving student instruction or active portions of Student Residence.

Contact tracing is being managed by Public Health Sudbury & Districts (PHSD).  If you are not contacted by Public Health, you are not considered a close contact, and are therefore deemed low risk. A close contact is defined as being within 2 metres (6 feet) of someone with COVID-19, for at least 15 minutes, without personal protective equipment (PPE). We are not aware at this point that anyone at Cambrian is considered a close contact because of potential exposure on campus.

The College will be conducting extra cleaning of the areas on campus where this individual may have been, over and above our daily routine of thorough cleaning of high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces.

As part of our routine COVID prevention measures, we also require the cleaning of teaching areas and teaching tools before and after each use, controlled entrances and pre-screening for COVID symptoms before access is granted to campus, physical distancing measures, and a requirement to wear face coverings while inside campus buildings. We are confident these measures will help us minimize the risk of the spread of COVID on campus. If you follow these best practices, your risk of contracting COVID on campus is low.

As such, work and learning assignments for staff and students for the remainder of the day will continue as scheduled.

If you have concerns that you may have been at risk of exposure, you can contact PHSD at 705-522-9200, or visit their website at www.phsd.ca. You can also contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 and www.ontario.ca/coronavirus to take a self-assessment. That self-assessment will help determine your level of risk of exposure and what steps to take.

To learn more about our COVID response measures and what you can do to protect yourself, visit our website, www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen. On that page, you will find a Top 10 list for COVID prevention on campus. Under Point #10, review the scenarios on when to come to campus and when to stay home.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at covid@cambriancollege.ca

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Bill Best
President of Cambrian College

Hi everyone.

We are entering the season of sniffles. The cold and flu season is arriving at around the same time as the second wave of COVID-19 is hitting us. So we can expect more of us to become sick.

You may have questions about whether you should come to campus if you or someone in your household (family member, roommate) is sick, especially if you have travelled recently.

We’re passing along to you the guidance that we have received from Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

I’ve included numerous scenarios for you to review, you’ll find them below.

It is very important to note that, while we cannot control what happens with COVID-19 out in the general community, we can control what we do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on our campus.

That is our main task and that is why we have put in place such an extensive COVID response plan.

You can find that plan and our re-open guide at www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen.

You can make a difference by following all infection-control best practices, including the scenarios described below, plus:

• Frequent hand washing
• Sneezing or coughing into your sleeve or a tissue
• Maintaining physical distancing
• Wearing a face covering when physical distancing is not possible
• Keeping a very tight social circle (bubble)

We will continue to update you on COVID-19 developments as they relate to Cambrian, including positive cases involving a member of the Cambrian community, updates to our procedures or academic delivery, and any new directives from government and public health officials.

We will inform you through various channels, such as the myCambrian portal, our website, all-staff email, and for students, your preferred email  as indicated in your myCambrian student portal. I encourage staff and students alike to update your emergency contact information in myCambrian.

Stay alert and stay healthy to prevent the spread of the cold, flu, or COVID-19.

Take care,
Alison

Scenarios

I’m feeling sick or ill:

If you are experiencing symptoms, stay home and self-isolate right away. Follow the direction from your health care provider, Telehealth, local public health authority, or the COVID-19 Self-Assessment tool. If you receive a negative COVID test (or alternate diagnosis), you should only return to campus if you have no fever and once your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours. Other direction would apply if you have travelled outside of Canada in last 14 days, have been identified as a close contact of someone who has confirmed as having COVID-19, or and have not been directed by a health care provider (including Public Health) to isolate. Contact Public Health if any of these circumstances apply to you.

A family member or my roommate is sick, but I don’t have symptoms

If someone you live with is experiencing symptoms, limit your contact with them as much as possible, and take preventative measures such as cleaning any shared spaces frequently and practising good hand hygiene. If you do not have any symptoms, you can come to campus. Monitor yourself for symptoms and if you begin to feel unwell, stay home and self-isolate right away. Follow the direction from your health care provider, Telehealth, local public health authority or the COVID-19 Self-Assessment tool.

A family member or roommate is sick and awaiting a COVID test result, but I am not sick or have symptoms:

If someone you live with is experiencing symptoms and awaiting COVID-19 test results, they should self-isolate and you should avoid contact with them. Take preventative measures such as cleaning any shared spaces frequently and practicing good hand hygiene. If you do not have any symptoms, you can come to campus. Monitor yourself for symptoms and if you begin to feel unwell, stay home and self-isolate right away. Follow the direction from your health care provider, Telehealth, local public health authority or the COVID-19 Self-Assessment tool.

A family member or roommate is sick and has tested negative for COVID, but I am not sick or have symptoms?

If someone you live with is experiencing symptoms and has received a negative test result, limit your contact with them as much as possible, and take preventative measures such as cleaning any shared spaces frequently and practicing good hand hygiene. If you do not have any symptoms, you can come to campus. Monitor yourself for symptoms and if you begin to feel unwell, stay home and self-isolate right away. Follow the direction from your health care provider, Telehealth, local public health authority or the COVID-19 Self-Assessment tool.

I have returned home from international travel, but I am not sick or have symptoms.

Under federal law, you must remain in self-isolation for 14 days from your return date. It’s important to know that if you travel abroad or within Canada, you may come in contact with the novel coronavirus. Emergency orders under the Quarantine Act require any person entering Canada by air, sea or land to self-isolate for 14 days whether or not they have symptoms of COVID-19. As you self-isolate or quarantine, you must practice physical distancing at all times and monitor yourself for symptoms. You are required to stay at your place of quarantine and not leave unless it is to seek medical attention; in such circumstances, you must not use public transportation. You must not have visitors and you must limit contact with others in the place of quarantine and wear a mask or face covering if physical distancing cannot be maintained. You must not go to school, work or any other places. For more details visit Public Health Sudbury & District’s website.

A family member or roommate returned home from international travel, but neither of us are sick or have symptoms.

It is required that those returning from international travel self-isolate for 14 days upon return.  It is recommended that someone not quarantine in places where they cannot separate themselves from those they live with. You should monitor yourself for symptoms, limit your contact with them, and take preventative measures such as cleaning any shared spaces frequently and practicing good hand hygiene. For additional information please visit the government of Canada website.

A family member, roommate, or classmate has tested positive for COVID, but I am not sick or have symptoms?

If you are considered a close contact of a positive case, you will be contacted by Public Health with further direction. In general, you will be required to self-isolate for 14 days from your last exposure to the individual and seek COVID-19 testing. You can return to campus once you have been cleared by public health. If you have not been contacted by Public Health, you are not considered a close contact and can return to campus as long as you are not experiencing any symptoms.

Key contacts or resources

www.ontario.ca/coronavirus – to take a self-assessment and find a nearby COVID testing Centre in Ontario

www.canada.ca/coronavirus – to take a self-assessment and find a nearby COVID testing site outside Ontario

Telehealth Ontario – 1-866-797-0000 – 24-hour guidance on health issues

Public Health Sudbury & Districts – 705-522-9200, www.phsd.ca, for information on COVID situation and protective measures in Greater Sudbury

Alison De Luisa
Associate Vice President, Human Resources and Student Services
Cambrian College

I hope you had a restful, heathy and happy Thanksgiving long weekend. 

In terms of Wellness This Week events, it’s a shorter calendar to match the shorter work and study week. Cambrian Student Council is hosting a Virtual Escape Room tonight. Our Student Running Club is a go for tomorrow at 3 o’clock and don’t forget our Moment of Meditation on Thursday. 

More events are listed below. You will find the Zoom codes at myCambrian. 

I just want to add a reminder that your mental health continues to be important. We have resources here at the college and in the community to help you maintain your mental and emotional well-being. 

For our employees our Employee and Family Assistance Program is here to support you and your family.  

For students, the Glenn Crombie Centre for Accessibility and Wellness has a number of services available. Please visit www.cambriancollege.ca/Glenn-crombie-centre for details. 

We have also gathered a list of community resources that are available to you. 

You will find this list at www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen, under the special Wellness tab.

Have a great short work week. 

Alison De Luisa
Associate Vice President, Human Resources and Student Services
Cambrian College 

Hi everyone.

This is a special edition of Thanksgiving Edition of Wellness This Week. As you may have heard, the Ontario government is recommending that we consider celebrating Thanksgiving only with members of our own household. If you live alone, you can join another household. 

Whether in our own home or somewhere else, we are also being asked to “stick to the script” when it comes to following all best practices to avoid the spread of COVID-19. 

They include: 

• Follow the 3 Cs approach: avoid Close contact, Crowds, and Confined spaces. 
• If you can, celebrate only with members of your own household (government regulations say no more than 10 people inside, 25 outside, and they can’t be combined).  
• If that’s not possible, wear a face covering and maintain social distancing.  
• Don’t travel if you are sick. 
• If you become sick during the holiday weekend, isolate yourself as quickly as you can.  If you are travelling, consider coming home right away. 
• If you develop symptoms, consider a self-assessment at www.ontario.ca/coronavirus. Based on the results, consider booking an appointment for COVID-19 testing. 
• Do not come to campus if you are sick. 
• To learn more about what you should do to keep yourself and others safe, visit www.ontario.ca/coronavirus.

This weekend, I encourage you to take a break. Go for a walk, enjoy cooking and get outdoors if you can.  Try to take some time for yourself and your loved ones. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, I want you to know that we are here for you. 

For our employees, our Employee and Family Assistance Program offers various services including mental health, family, and financial counselling. This is available to full-time and part-time employees. Visit the EFAP tab in the myCambrian staff portal or at https://www.workhealthlife.com.   

For our students, if you need mental health or academic support, counselling or other supports, you can contact the Glenn Crombie Centre for Accessibility and Wellness. Click here to visit the website. 

There are also a number of supports available to you in the community. Here at Cambrian, we have partnered with Togetherall to promote positive mental health and wellness. It provides online mental health support and resources around the clock. To learn more, visit www.togetherall.com 

We have also created a list of other services for you on our Re-open webpage, under the Wellness heading. 

One final note: Saturday, October 10th, is World Mental Health Day. On this day, let’s all do something to support our own mental health, but also to help others that we know are struggling with theirs.

Have a great week. I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving long weekend. 

Good afternoon, 

As we head into the Thanksgiving weekend, we know that many of you are interested in knowing more about what our Winter semester beginning January 2021, will look like in light of the ongoing implications of the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

With the health and safety of students and staff top-of-mind, our 2021 Winter Semester will be delivered in the same hybrid manner as this current semester. Theory will be delivered remotely (i.e. Zoom). Necessary hands-on components of classes will be delivered on-campus. Access to campus will be granted only to those students, faculty, and employees who must be on site to facilitate learning.

Our safety measures remaining in place, such as mandatory COVID training, wearing of face coverings while on campus, and designated entrances and screening for COVID symptoms. All student support services will continue to be offered online, and Student Residence will remain open.   

As well, as we head into the Thanksgiving long weekend, I would like to take a moment to remind everyone to continue to follow all advice and requirements provided by the various levels of government and Public Health.   

But in case you don’t have the opportunity to scour websites, here are some tips: 

• Follow the 3 Cs approach: avoid Close contact, Crowds, and Confined spaces. 
• If you can, celebrate only with members of your own household (government regulations say no more than 10 people inside, 25 outside, and they can’t be combined).  
• If that’s not possible, wear a face covering and maintain social distancing.  
• Don’t travel if you are sick. 
• If you become sick during the holiday weekend, isolate yourself as quickly as you can.  If you are travelling, consider coming home right away. 
• If you develop symptoms, consider a self-assessment at www.ontario.ca/coronavirus. Based on the results, consider booking an appointment for COVID-19 testing. 
• Do not come to campus if you are sick. 
• To learn more about what you should do to keep yourself and others safe, visit www.ontario.ca/coronavirus

Thank you all for your continued cooperation, and as you go about your long weekend, please keep each other in mind when it comes to being patient, considerate and above all, safe. 

Happy Thanksgiving 

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

Hi everyone,

It’s been quite a week here so far at Cambrian. As you know, on Monday, we reported our first confirmed case of COVID-19 involving a member of the Cambrian community. This individual was last on campus Wednesday, September 30, in our Trades building. Today, that person is isolating at home safely and we are all hoping for a quick and problem-free recovery.

Since COVID-19 became part of how we operate last Spring, I have committed to being open, transparent, and immediate when it comes to relaying information to the entire Cambrian College community.

Today, I want to provide you with a follow-up, and address some of the questions that have been raised, and what we are doing on an ongoing basis to make our campus safe.

So, let’s get to it.

How we responded to the first COVID-19 case

The moment we became aware of this positive case, we followed our COVID Response Plan. We cancelled a scheduled lab for that day and a thorough cleaning was conducted of areas on campus where this individual may have been. We also informed the students and faculty affected by this decision, and then we informed the entire student body and staff (using all staff-email and the myCambrian staff/student portal, and main-page on our website).  It worked well, and expediently, and thanks to our strong protocols developed with Public Health, ongoing cleaning of common areas and labs, use of masks and physical distancing guidelines, the risk of transmission was determined to be low.  That means our protocols worked.

But there’s always room to learn and improve, and we will.

Notifications to students

A number of students did not see the update shared to their myCambrian account.  That is a good point, so moving forward, we will also be sending an all-student email, using the address students have provided as their preferred email. Our students will receive this message to their preferred accounts later today, in addition to posting to myCambrian per our usual practice.

Campus closure and cleaning

Some of you wondered why our campus was not closed for an extended period to conduct a deep cleaning of the entire facility. Well, we do a thorough cleaning of high-traffic, high-contact areas and surfaces every day, including labs and classrooms used for teaching and learning, washrooms, and other common areas and surfaces, on campus and in Student Residence.  When we were informed of a positive case of COVID-19 on campus, we also conducted an extra deep cleaning of any affected areas. Our day-to-day cleaning regimen has been recognized and approved by Public Health Sudbury & Districts, and the deep clean is over and above requirements.  We want these combined measures to help you feel confident that our campus is being properly cleaned and disinfected daily, so that you can safely work and learn.

Self-isolation, low risk and close contact?

Public Health, the lead agency responsible for contact tracing, determines exposure levels, risk, and the need to self-isolate, and Public Health Sudbury & Districts (PHSD) is managing contact tracing in this case.  I shared their feedback with you in my statement on Monday: if you are not contacted directly by Public Health, you are not considered a close contact, and therefore deemed low risk, and are not required to self-isolate at this time. Keep in mind that the safety measures in place and enforced on campus, if followed properly (and they were in this case), minimize the potential for anyone to have ‘close contact’ with a COVID-19 infected individual.  However, close contact can and may happen off-campus, and staff and students should always monitor for symptoms.  Should you be concerned about your level of exposure in this case, please by all means contact PHSD at 705-522-9200 or www.phsd.ca.

Who to contact when you think you have COVID?

You will find posted in myCambrian a message about who to contact if you think you have COVID-19.

But to summarize:

• Students: contact your Program Coordinator, who will inform your Program Dean and then the VP-Academic. They will work with you on the supports you may need. If you live in Residence, also contact Residence Management
• Faculty: if you are contacted, please refer students to the Program Coordinator
• Employees: contact your immediate supervisor

We’ll then implement respective elements of our plan and work with Public Health.

There’s been a lot to take in, so I hope it provides some additional clarification around some of the questions you may have.

Let’s continue to work together and realize that navigating a pandemic is new to us all, and keep your suggestions coming.

Thanks
Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

I would like to share with you that a new confirmed case of COVID-19 involves a member of the Cambrian community.

The individual is in isolation and we are supporting them in any way we can.  They were last on campus September 30^th in the trades area.

Contact tracing is being managed by PHSD, who look specifically for people who have been in close contact with infected individuals. A close contact is defined as being within 2 metres (6 feet) of someone with COVID-19, for at least 15 minutes, without personal protective equipment (PPE). 

PHSD notified us this afternoon that, unless otherwise notified by them, individuals in contact with the confirmed case are deemed low risk.  A low risk contact is someone who may have been at a location with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 while the person was wearing a mask and was practicing physical distancing; or who had limited interaction with the person (e.g. walked by or was briefly in the same room as the case) and had no physical contact.   

Our campus remains open and work and classes continue. The College is conducting a deep clean of the areas on campus where this individual may have been. People are always encouraged to monitor themselves for symptoms. 

If you have concerns that you may have been at risk of exposure, you can contact PHSD at 705-522-9200, or visit their website at www.phsd.ca. You can also contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 and www.ontario.ca/coronavirus to take a self-assessment. That self-assessment will help determine your level of risk of exposure and what steps to take.

I would also like to highlight our routine measures to prevent COVID-19 on campus. They include asking you to stay home if you are sick, limiting access to campus to only those who need to be here for academic purposes, controlled entrances, pre-screening for COVID-19 symptoms before access is granted, mandatory completion of a COVID training module, physical distancing measures throughout campus, and the mandatory wearing of face coverings while on campus. 

Let’s do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

To learn more about our COVID response measures and what you can do to protect yourself, visit our website, www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen, in particular our Re-open Guide.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

Hi Everyone,

As the COVID-19 cases in Ontario continue to rise, and as part of Cambrian’s efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19 among students, faculty, and employees, I want to share with you some actions you can take if you are concerned you may have been exposed to COVID-19.  Here is a checklist for you to consider:

1. Know what the symptoms are and monitor your health daily. To learn more about symptoms, risk factors and to take a self-assessment, visit www.ontario.ca/coronavirus.

2. If you have symptoms, isolate yourself as quickly as possible, and avoid other people. If you live in Residence, stay in your room and alert Residence Management.

3. Depending on your symptoms or results of your self-assessment, you should consider being tested for COVID-19. Find a testing centre near you at www.ontario.ca/coronavirus. If you are outside Ontario, visit https://ca.thrive.health/covid19/en . If you are an international student studying in your home country, consult your local health authorities.

4. If you are in the process of being tested for COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19, please let us know. This is to help us work with you to make whatever arrangements are necessary for academic or work accommodations and to help keep others safe.

• Students: contact your Program Coordinator. You will find the name of your Program Coordinator on your program’s individual webpage (www.cambriancollege.ca/programs), under the heading “View Complete Program Details”. International students can also contact internationaladvising@cambriancollege.ca. Students living on campus can also contact Residence Management
• Employees: contact your immediate supervisor

5. If you test positive for COVID-19, you will need medical clearance to return to campus.  If you do not have COVID-19, we recommend you only return to campus after 24 hours of being symptom free.

6. Continue to follow best practices to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19, including staying home if you are sick, avoiding other sick people as much as possible, maintaining physical distancing and your social circle (learn more at www.ontario.ca/coronavirus), wearing a face covering, and coughing/sneezing into your arm or using a tissue.

I also encourage you to read our Re-open Guide at www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen.  You will learn more about what we are doing to reduce the risk of COVID-19 on campus, and what additional measures you can take.

Thank you. Stay well and stay safe.

Alison

Hi everyone. I hope you had a good weekend and enjoyed the start of our autumn weather.   

We have a full roster of wellness activities planned this week. 

Before I get to them, I want to remind you of the various student support services that are available online. I encourage you to visit www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen  and under the section called Campus and On-campus Services, you will find a list of the services we offer for our students. 

If you are a student, I especially want to draw your attention to the Glenn Crombie Centre for Accessibility and Wellness if you require academic accommodations, counselling, or other mental health and wellness support. The website is https://cambriancollege.ca/glenn-crombie-centre/.  If you are interested in becoming a Wellness Ninja, this website will also give you information on how to proceed.  Being a Wellness Ninja provides a great opportunity for our students to stay connected outside of the classroom. 

Cambrian also continues to provide our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).  You can visit the myCambrian staff portal and click on the green EFAP icon for services offered through Morneau Shepell. 

This week I will also be sharing important messaging as part of our annual Sexual Violence-Sexual Assault education campaign. It is part of our ongoing efforts to provide a safe place to learn by ensuring our staff, faculty and students understand the definition of consent. Look for further information on this campaign this week. 

This week’s list of activities can be in our Wellness This Week section.  

Alison 

Dear Students,   

As we approach the end of the first week of classes, I wanted to send you a note to officially welcome to you Cambrian College.   On behalf of the entire Cambrian community, let me tell you how very excited we are to have you join us at Cambrian this fall.  Whether you are beginning your studies with us or returning for another semester, know that we have been very busy preparing  our programs, campus and services to ensure that you have the best possible experience with your health and safety being our top priority.     

As you have progressed through this first week, my hope is that you have had the opportunity to connect with your professors either virtually or in person if you have on-campus labs, and that you have come to realize that they are fully committed to helping you to be successful in your studies.      

I wanted to share with you a list of useful Quick Links as you begin the semester, that will help you to become more familiar with the educational technology tools that we use at Cambrian to support our courses.     

• myCambrian Tour – 5 Minutes 
• YouTube Playlist of Moodle Orientation Videos – varied length 
• How to Join a Zoom Meeting – 1 minute 
• 7 SuperPowers for Digital Learning at Cambrian – 8 minutes   

I also wanted to share with you that if you need to access any of our student supports and student services as you progress through the semester, they can be accessed virtually.  If you aren’t sure what supports and services are available to you or how to connect with them, please consider bookmarking the following website that explains our many supports and services that are available to you as a Cambrian students:      

teaching.cambriancollege.ca/getting-started/student-support-and-services/   

Thank you again for choosing Cambrian College. Even though this semester will be different from what you may have imagined when you first began considering college, I want to assure you that we have all been working very hard to ensure that your experience at Cambrian is a meaningful one, and that we can support you to achieve your academic goals.    

Whether you are on-site, online, in Sudbury or studying from elsewhere in the world, please know that we are here to help you.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to your professor, your program coordinator, or any member of the Cambrian team if you have any questions.    

Sincerely,   

Paula F. Gouveia, PhD. 

Vice President, Academic 

Welcome to our fall semester.   Although we are starting this semester in such a different manner it is still great to be back, whether in person or virtually to do what we do best – educate and provide supports for our students.    I want to give a special welcome to our new students, faculty and staff.  We hope you take the time to become involved in all that Cambrian has to offer.  During these times, it is more important than ever to stay connected.   

At Cambrian College, we take a holistic approach to education and that means promoting the health and wellness of our whole community.  “Being Well” at Cambrian represents the wellness programs and initiatives for our entire Cambrian Community.  Our well-being foundation sits on eight pillars of wellness that guide us to show up for ourselves and others as the best version of ourselves to flourish.   

Our Pillars of Wellness include:   

• Social
• Physical
• Vocational
• Intellectual
• Financial
• Environmental
• Emotional
• Spiritual   

Each month, our Wellness Team made up on staff, faculty, and students organize great events around a specific wellness pillar on your behalf and are available for support.  

Wellness This Week is also back for this semester. Every Monday, I will provide you with a list of wellness activities and resources to help you stay centred, grounded, and connected to each other. These are events and activities you can take part in virtually, through Zoom. Learn more about our wellness team and initiatives at www.cambriancollege.ca/wellness    

I also want to let you know that our various support services are still available to you online. Click here to see a list of the support services available to students, faculty and staff during this semester.   

This week’s Wellness activities are listed below.    

Have a great week.   

Alison De Luisa
Associate Vice-President, Human Resources and Student Services  
See myCambrian for Zoom links  

• Sept. 14 Muggy Monday 3:00-4:00
• Sept. 15 Student Wellness Ninja Information Party 4:00-5:00
• Sept. 16 Speed Friending 3:00-4:00
• Sept. 16 Running Club for Students:  Couch to 5 KM  1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
• Sept. 17 Moment of Meditation 11:00-11:30 

It was great to see you once again and to welcome some of you to the Cambrian family. 

If you are like me, a returning veteran to Cambrian, it must feel a little strange to see the campus the way it is.  In place of the usual hustle and bustle of start-up, we have controlled entrances, directional signage, closed common areas, reduced places to sit and more empty space in classrooms to allow for physical distancing.  

For those of you who are new to Cambrian, I can assure you, it didn’t always look like this! We’re all looking forward to the day when our halls are again buzzing with students, faculty, and staff and there’s a line-up at the coffee counter. 

That said, we will still have a buzz on campus – we just won’t be the full hive. Even though we now have more than 4000 full time students registered  – we’ll have only about 1500 on campus, for hands-on labs, and not at the same time.  We also expect about 500 students in Residence, with each student having their own single room. Unlike previous years, there isn’t a Move-in Weekend but rather it began this week and will continue until September 11^th to reduce the number of people on Residence at a time. 

  

As I have indicated previously our plans will continue to change and evolve as we garner a greater understanding of how best to handle the pandemic, and in keeping with that commitment we’ve updated our approach to face coverings.  Moving forward, I would like to be clear that staff, students and guests are to wear a face covering at all times when inside a building, except when you are alone in your own defined space (single-person office space, open office area like Finance or Payroll, storage room, or in the case of students, in their Residence bedroom).  As previously noted, face coverings are mandatory during all of our scheduled classes and labs.  If an individual is working alone in either a defined space,  classroom or lab, the face covering can be removed.  When another person comes into your defined space, classroom, or lab, you are required to wear a face covering.   

The practice of wearing face coverings also applies when outside of the building but on college property, whenever physical distancing is not possible.  A face covering includes a medical mask or non-medical mask or other covering including a bandana, scarf or cloth (including hijab and niqab) that covers the mouth and nose to ensure a barrier to limit community transmission.  You will note that face shields are no longer included, and will only be acceptable as an accommodation for those requiring it. 

  

For employees and students alike, it may take a little time to get used to the measures we’ve put into place. Remember to check out our Re-open Guide for other information to help you prepare for this semester. 

To help people make that adjustment, we’ll have a team of ambassadors on campus next week at our designated entrances to help new and retuning students navigate their way. We are still looking for some volunteers. If you can help out, please email Renee Scott, our Director of Recruitment and Student Success. 

Here are some other key points for you to remember as we prepare to get rolling: 

• Check myCambrian, your email or our special Campus Re-open landing pagedaily for important updates and information regarding re-opening procedures and best practices 
• Be sure to take part in our many Welcome Week online activities and orientation sessions as they relate to you. You’ll find details of those on our Orientation page
• If you have tobe on campus this semester, be sure to complete the mandatory COVID-19 training module and be ready to provide proof of completion (like a screenshot of your certificate) 
• Before you come to campus, gauge how you feel. If you are feeling sick, stay home
• Have your Cambrian ID card ready when you come to campus
• Know where the designated entrances are (main entrance, Student Centre Entrance, Trades Building entrances (by Tim Hortons kiosk and across from Student Residence)
• Be prepared to be screened before you are allowed on campus
• Maintain physical distancing (2m or 6 ft from the nearest person) as much as possible
• Follow proper hand hygiene

The start of a new school year is always exciting. But this year, it may also be a bit more unnerving given the extraordinary days we’re living in. I want to assure you that our outstanding team in Facilities Management has done a fantastic job of preparing our campus for our September intake. We will continue to work diligently to create an atmosphere for you that is safe for working and for learning, and that minimizes the number of people on campus, so that we can maximize our ability to keep our campus open during the pandemic. 

I want to thank all of your for digging in these past five months to get us to this point. Let’s have a great launch next week. 

Bill Best 

Hi Folks,

First of all, thanks to the over 400 staff who joined me for our annual virtual start-up breakfast – minus the breakfast.  As shared, we have been through an extraordinary five months, dating back to the closure of our campus in mid-March. It has been an unprecedented time of uncertainly, anxiety, and adaptation, as well as a time of innovation and achievement.  A lot of work has taken place to stickhandle the summer and prepare for the fall.   Thank you for your innovative ideas that have been put into action and the questions and engagement that drives us to continue to evolve as an organization.  You are making a difference! 

We have evolved from a campus closure to a partial re-opening with over 400 students on campus this past month to complete their program requirements for hands-on learning.  This pilot has been a great opportunity for us to test drive and adjust the measures in our COVID-19 Campus Re-Open Plan, which you can read on our special COVID-19 landing page, cambriancollege.ca/covid along with our protocol for a COVID-19 Case on Campus, and Handling Possible COVID-19 Cases on Campus.  These documents have already been updated multiple times, and will continue to evolve as we monitor and adapt to best practices and guidance from our Local Public Health Unit, so I encourage you to visit the site to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information.  I hope that you found the information conveyed during the breakfast (that wasn’t a breakfast) helpful in bringing you up–to–speed as to what has been put into place.  We will also be building a portlet in myCambrian for all of our relevant COVID-19 documents that are more internal in nature for your additional information in the coming weeks. 

As we turn our attention to the start of the fall semester, I’d like to welcome back all of our faculty and staff who are working hard to prepare us for the launch of the fall semester.  I’d also like to welcome new staff members to the Cambrian family.  You are starting at a unique time in our history, but I know you will be welcomed in true Cambrian fashion, and we are sure happy to have you with us. 

Given the circumstances, we’re starting the new academic year off on a strong foot, and we are trending towards having approximately 4000 students on campus. (we had 78 more registrations yesterday to bring us to 3647 FT registered students with 24 days left until day 10). This is fewer than last year, but not unexpected given the current pandemic. That said, our conversion results have taken the province by storm, and are the direct result of the tireless efforts of everyone involved.

And even though we have yet to begin classes in September, our sights are set on the future and, for the first time ever, we’ve added a November intake for seven of our graduate certificate programs and a general studies program.  We’re also preparing for a new recruitment cycle, and we know we’ll do what it takes to position ourselves for a strong January and May intake if the world continues to make progress.

We will begin the September semester  in Phase III of our Re-open Plan, featuring a combination of faculty-led remote, digital learning for theory portions of courses, and on-campus delivery of hands-on components such as labs.  This is our reality, and we need to continue to deliver our programs and services with the same high standards that our students are used to.

For those who have been to campus, you will notice that it is functioning differently in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Highlights include mandatory completion of a COVID-19 training module (also found in myCambrian or at www.cambriancollege.ca/reopen), controlled entrances to campus, mandatory wearing of face coverings, and reconfigured classes and lab spaces to accommodate physical distancing.  You will also notice that common areas (like the Library) are closed and will remain closed and student services will continue to be offered online. Our Student Residence is open under strict infection control practices. Move-in will begin next week and continue through to the first week of classes.

We will continue with our practice of only having people on campus who absolutely need to be here to support learning. For this semester, our campus will be a place where you come to teach, work and learn, not to linger. Once students, faculty, and staff have completed their tasks, you are reminded to leave. It sounds blunt and is, but it is to ensure that we can continue to remain open and serving our students.  We should expect this to continue for the full semester, at least. 

I leave you with my gratitude and three short snappers that I conveyed at the end my remarks yesterday: 

• We must minimize the number of people on campus to increase our chances of remaining open 
• We must pandemic/future proof the organization 
• We must accept that the Winter Semester now looks like it will be much like the Fall Semester 

All of your actions make me proud to be entering my 7th year working with you at Cambrian.   I look forward to all that you will accomplish with your innovation, creativity and student-focused approaches. 

See you in Zoom or the hallways sometime soon! 

Bill Best 

As traditional summer holidays come to a close and students, prospective students, family and staff prepare to return from summer vacation, I wanted to share what is happening on campus.

You will recall that since July 13 Cambrian moved into Phase II of our re-opening plan, allowing those students who were unable to finish the hands-on requirements of their program due to the closure of colleges due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March.

The pilot re-opening also served to allow us to test protocols and procedures that were put into place for the health and safety of students and staff.  This has been important, especially given that we are seeing COVID-19 cases appearing on campuses across the province.  We have learned much, and will continue to learn more as the pandemic evolves.

Keep in mind that as we embark on our hybrid delivery model this fall, which includes a combination of virtual and face-to-face delivery, our aim is to continue to minimize traffic on campus.  If you are required to come on campus, keep in mind the measures in place for your health and safety and that of our community, including:

• Avoid campus if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who does
• Sign in with Security via one of our identified four (4) entrances to the campus
• Present your Certificate of Completion for your COVID-19 Staff Training
• Sanitize your hands before entering campus, and upon leaving
• Respect physical distancing (2 metres) and wear a face covering when inside the College, including in any common spaces like hallways, stairwells, and washrooms
• Leave campus immediately after you have finished teaching, working or studying

I would also like to remind you that as part of our phased re-opening plan, food services will not be available on campus before October 5.  This measure will help reduce the amount of traffic on campus, especially during the critical start-up period, so I thank you in advance for your support and cooperation.

Parking is always a hot topic, and I’m sure many of you are wondering where we are at.  I’m pleased to say that we were amongst the group of colleges that reimbursed parking fees last spring, and now are amongst a smaller group reducing parking rates (by half) for our fall semester.  More details will follow from our parking team later this week.

As well, we will be adjusting our HVAC systems to increase the amount of external air circulating within our buildings.  We were the first post-secondary institution to begin working with our partner, Honeywell, around a number of industry leading capital investment solutions to address air quality as we move into the fall and winter months.  This has been a lengthy process, as suppliers confirm both the capability and availability of products, so I am pleased that we have been early adopters and will keep you posted regarding our progress over the coming weeks and months.

For our most up-to-date information on our re-opening, please visit our Re-open Guide that includes information related to the measures we will take should there be a confirmed case of COVID-19 on campus.  These are living documents that evolve, so check back regularly to ensure that you have the latest information.

Start-up is traditionally one of my favourite times of year, with the hustle, bustle and increased activity of faculty and students returning to campus.  Clearly, this year will be different out of necessity.  Though I will not have the opportunity to welcome you all back personally, I will be able to do so at our virtual President’s Breakfast – you’ll notice it in your calendar for next Thursday, August 27.  I look forward to seeing you then.

Enjoy the summer weather!

Bill Best
President, Cambrian College

We are halfway through July, which means we are halfway through summer. I hope you are enjoying the warm weather and are taking your vacation time, so you can rest and recharge because the September start-up is just around the corner. 

There have been a couple of noteworthy developments this week. 

First of all, some of our students returned to campus for the first time since March. Over the course of the summer, we will have several groups of students returning to campus, along with the faculty and staff necessary to support them. These students are on-site to complete any outstanding requirements from their 2020 winter semester or the hands-on learning requirements for the current 2020 spring semester.  This development has been very encouraging and has allowed us to pilot many of our campus re-opening policies and procedures with great feedback and refinements.   

To facilitate this, we have put in place a number of infection-control measures and best practices.  We are being extra cautious and are exceeding the standard requirements in order to ensure we are doing everything possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19.   We will continue to adapt and evolve our preventive measures and procedures based upon the advice of Public Health and our observations throughout our implementation.   Please be patient with those providing guidance as we are trying to tweak our methods on a regular basis.  

I would like to highlight a few items for you:

1.  Anyone returning to campus this summer must complete the mandatory COVID-19 training module, found on Moodle.   Log in and sign up. When you successfully complete the module, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. You can print it or make an electronic copy. You MUST produce it every time you come to campus.
2. You will also be required to wear a face covering on campus for those times when you are in common areas, and/or physical distancing (minimum 2 metres/6 feet from the nearest person) is not possible.  If you are working in a private space/office with no one else around, you do not need to wear a mask.  But you must put it on when you go into common areas or are in close proximity to others.  You can read our policy on face coverings on our COVID-19 landing page, under the section, Campus and On-campus Services.
3. You can read more about our campus safety measures in our Re-open Plan and Re-open Guide, both of which are found on our COVID landing page.  These are living documents so please check back regularly to ensure that you have the latest information and guidance.

The week’s other major development starts today. Most of the province, including Greater Sudbury and northeastern Ontario, are now in Stage 3 of the Government of Ontario Re-Opening Plan. As of today, you will be allowed to visit the local playground or splash pad, have dine-in service at restaurants, go to a movie, and take part in gatherings of up to 50 people (indoors) and 100 people (outdoors). If you do, please remember to follow all infection control and social distancing best practices. 

The move to Stage 3 provincially has little direct impact on where we are currently in our own Re-Open Plan (Phase II), however it is very encouraging in regards to our ability move forward with our intended academic delivery plans for the fall semester.   

I want to thank you again for your patience, resourcefulness and dedication during this season of COVID.  Enjoy the summer and take time for yourself over the next number of weeks. 

All the Best!

Bill Best

I want to update you regarding the summer semester for those students who are expecting to return to campus to resume labs.

The Government of Ontario has amended the Emergency Measures Act to allow colleges and universities to re-open their campuses this summer for students in the final semester of their program, who would be eligible to graduate if they complete hands-on / lab components of their program that can only be delivered through in-person instruction.

Beginning next week, several groups of students will resume labs:

• Pre-Trades – Semester 2
• Powerline Technician – Semester 4
• Pre-Service Fire Fighter – Semester 3
• And effective August 4, Dental Assisting – Semester 3

Unfortunately, the campus must remain closed to everyone else, until further notice, as the provincial government has extended its state of emergency until at least July 15.

We are currently working on re-opening plans for those students who are progressing from one semester to the next and who need to complete hands-on components of their programs. We are hoping to have you back on campus, beginning in early August.  However, this is subject to the further lifting of restrictions for on-campus activities.

Please note, there is no impact on those completing co-ops, placements or capstone projects as this work occurs off-campus or virtually.  To be clear, this work will continue this summer as planned.

To those students impacted by these continued campus restrictions, we apologize for any inconvenience this is causing you. It is our intention to have you back on campus to resume hands-on learning as soon as possible. We will also make sure to share updated plans with you no less than 2 weeks before labs are scheduled to begin.

I would like to thank you personally for your patience and dedication to your education during this pandemic. Please know that we are doing our best to successfully deliver the high-quality education you signed up for and deserve from Cambrian College.

Sincerely,
Paula F. Gouveia, PhD.
Vice President, Academic
Cambrian College

Effective July 8, Public Health Sudbury and Districts has instructed owners and operators of all commercial enterprises to have a policy in place requiring the use of face coverings when inside the premises.  This is in keeping with practices across many provincial jurisdictions and will be implemented in our region later this week.

Cambrian College is not a commercial enterprise by definition, and the public health directive has not yet been applied to post-secondary institutions. However, out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of Cambrian students and staff, we are going to align with these recommendations by the Chief Medial Office of Health for our region, and require that a face covering be worn when inside a College building.

A face covering includes a medical mask or non-medical mask or other covering including a bandana, scarf or cloth (including hijab and niqab) that covers the mouth and nose to ensure a barrier to limit community transmission.  Other forms of face coverings, like face shields or specific medical masks, etc. may be required for specific activities on-campus, for which supervisors and faculty will advise of and provide accordingly if required.

Non-medical face coverings are not required to be worn in single-person offices, though they must be worn when it is NOT possible or predictable to maintain physical distancing (2 metres), such as in hallways, elevators, classrooms and restrooms.  As such, unless you are by yourself in a defined space, a face covering is required to be worn in a College building at all times.

There are some exceptions to the face covering requirement if:

• the person is a child under the age of two years, or a child under the age of 5 years either chronologically or developmentally and he or she refuses to wear a face covering and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver;
• the person is incapacitated and unable to remove their mask without assistance;
• wearing a face covering would inhibit the person’s ability to breathe in any way;
• for any other medical reason, the person cannot safely wear a face covering such as, but not limited to, respiratory disease, cognitive difficulties or difficulties in hearing or processing information;
• for any religious reason, the person cannot wear a face covering, or cannot cover the face in a manner that would properly control source.

While individuals are encouraged to provide their own face covering, Cambrian will provide you with one re-usable mask upon arrival at one of our two designated entrances during our re-open pilot.  We are currently working on a broader mask distribution plan that we will share with you as we progress through our re-open phases.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in ensuring that we all work together and do our part to keep ourselves and each other safe.

Our Wellness Team is comprised of employees, faculty, and students who have received special training to support their fellow employees, faculty, and students, through special initiatives and events throughout the year. Follow the activities of our Wellness Team on facebook.com/beingwellatcambrian.

Studying or working from home shouldn’t be a pain in the neck!

Set up for success!

• Pick an area where distractions can be minimized, clear any clutter.
• The couch is not an ergonomic option.
• Feet flat on the floor – if the chair is too tall, you can use a book or box to rest your feet on.
• Thighs parallel to the floor, or hips slightly elevated (use a pillow if needed).
• Back supported with a pillow or rolled up towel if necessary.
• With a laptop, use a separate keyboard and mouse, and raise the unit up on a stack of books or boxes, so the top of the screen is about eye height.
• Position your screen 40–75 cm away (about arm’s length), and make the top of the screen about eye height.
• Give 5–8 cm (2–3 fingers) clearance between edge of seat and back of knees.
• Keep your neck straight (not forward or backward).
• Elbows should be at a 90–110º angle.

Don’t forget!

• Take a 5 minute break every hour, away from the computer, and a lunch break.
• Eye breaks every 20 minutes (look 20 feet away for 20 seconds).
• Build a little activity into your day!

For more tips on ergonomics, watch this video and download a copy of our checklist as a quick reference.

Click here to see tips on stretching from Canadian Injury Management Services

Employees have access to counselling and other supports through our EAP. You can find the link in your Employee Self-Serve portal, or visit our EAP provider website at www.workhealthlife.com.

The Glenn Crombie Centre for Wellness and Accessibility provides counselling, accessibility advisor services, and learning strategies to support our students who require special supports and accommodations.

 Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability and require academic accommodations, please e-mail accessibility services at accessibilityservices@cambriancollege.ca .  An accessibility advisor will contact you to arrange a meeting to begin the process.

Student counselling services at Cambrian College

Counselling services for all students are located at the Glenn Crombie Center for Wellness and Accessibility.  We provide short-term supports for students who may be encountering academic stressors, personal difficulties or mental health related difficulties.

Please contact counsellingservices@cambriancollege.ca for an appointment.  One of our staff will set up a virtual meeting with you.

To book an appointment with a counsellor, accessibility advisor or learning strategist, you can also use your Clockwork portlet in myCambrian. You can do this in 4 easy steps:

• At the Clockwork portlet, select the Student’s Home Page link
• Click on Schedule An Appointment
• Use the drop-down menu to select the appointment type.
• Once selected, click on calendar view to select a time and confirm your appointment.

The worker will then send you an invitation for that date and time with further instructions.

Offers support to students who self-identify as Indigenous.

You can reach Wabnode c/o Ron Sarazin, Wabnode, Director, at ron.sarazin@cambriancollege.ca or 705-561-4539.

• Big White Wall. Online service providing access to millions with anxiety, depression and other common mental health issues, bigwhitewall.ca.
• Bridging the Distance: A website designed for the northern Colleges that provides mental health support for postsecondary students. http://www.bridgingthedistance.ca
• Campus Mental Health, www.campusmentalhealth.ca
• Canadian Mental Health Association. The Canadian Mental Health Association promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness. http://www.cmha.ca
• Good2Talk: 1-866-925-5454
• Health Sciences North (HSN) EN | FR
• The Learning Portal – College Libraries Ontario: modules on Resilience, Stress Management, and Time Management all with great tips and tools https://tlp-lpa.ca/home/study-skills
• Supporting Students in Times of Uncertainty, http://collegetransitioncollaborative.org/covid-19-response-supporting-students-in-times-of-uncertainty/
• University of Toronto: Caring for your mental health, https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/news/caring-your-mental-health

• Big White Wall. Online service providing access to millions with anxiety, depression and other common mental health issues, bigwhitewall.ca
• Canadian Mental Health Association. http://www.cmha.ca
• Conference Board of Canada. Mental Health and COVID-19. Join the conversation with Dr. Bill Howatt, Chief of Research, Workplace Productivity, https://www.conferenceboard.ca/insights/covid-19#videos.
• Mental Health Commission of Canada -The Working Mind COVID-19 Self-care & Resilience Guide https://www.espritautravail.ca/sites/default/files/twm_self-care-resilience-guide.pdf
• Mental Health Commission of Canada – Mental Health First Aid COVID-19 Self-Care & Resilience Guide pdf – https://www.mhfa.ca/sites/default/files/mhfa_self-care-resilience-guide.pdf
• Mental Health Works. Webinar series to help employees and employers address the impact these circumstances may have on our work and well-being. Webinars fill up quickly! http://www.mentalhealthworks.ca/mental-health-works-provide-webinars-workplace-mental-health-amid-covid-19-concerns/
• Health Sciences North (HSN) EN | FR

• Art for Kids on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/user/ArtforKidsHub
• Health Sciences North (HSN) EN | FR