Post Secondary Update May 21, 2021
On May 4th, health measures went into effect and the majority of in-person learning for the post-secondary sector was asked to be delayed or moved to online/remote learning. We appreciate the massive pivot many of our institutions had to make and we thank you for your efforts to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Many have asked if post-secondary will be going back to in-person learning, especially since the majority of the K-12 education system is returning to in-person learning on May 25th. At this time, we are not aware if health measures will be changed or lifted for the post-secondary sector. We anticipate hearing from the Premier early next week for an update on our case numbers, hospitalization, vaccination uptake and any further changes to health measures. If changes do occur that impact the post-secondary sector, we will do our best to quickly communicate those impacts as soon as we fully understand details and scope of any changes. If no changes are announced then the closures and expectations for in-person learning being the exception, not the norm, will continue (see below for details).
May 4, 2021
The latest Health Orders 19-2021 and 20-2021 have been released. Order 19 applies to all regions that are above the threshold of 50 active cases per 100,000 people and 30 or more active cases. Order 20 applies to all regions that are below this threshold. Please note that the restrictions for post-secondary institutions are the same in regions that are above and below this threshold.
Order 19 prohibits students from attending post-secondary institutions except for under conditions found in Part 13.4. (In Order 20, see part 11.4) We still stress that we would like to see in-person activity being the exception not the norm, therefore we ask that you only continue in-person activities that are essential. All in-person activities happening on campuses MUST continue to follow all applicable health guidance including physical distancing, mask wearing, personal hygiene and cleaning protocols, etc.
Part 13 of Order 19-2021 (Part 11 in Order 20) outlines that that a student can attend a PSI if the student makes prior arrangements with the PSI officials in advance of attending the PSI for any purpose, and PSI officials support the attendance. In other words, if a PSI deems that a student needs to be on campus for any reason they can give the student permission to be on campus. The PSI does have obligations to ensure all safety precautions are taken (see 13.4 in Order 19 for the full wording – or 11.4 in Order 20), and the student is required to follow PSI instructions around COVID-19 precautions.