COVID-19 Update for May 19: Fall courses will be primarily delivered virtually
Posted: May 19, 2020 2:11 PM
We have made the decision that fall courses will be delivered virtually wherever possible. As the provincial government phases in each stage of its relaunch plan, we will assess our ability to transition NAIT’s operations and will do so as we are ready. We anticipate we will be able to deliver limited in-person learning in labs and shops in the fall, as provincial guidelines permit.
Our priority is keeping our students and staff healthy and safe. Our plan for the fall was made after careful consideration of the provincial health restrictions along with considering how we can safely deliver our unique brand of polytechnic education to the highest standard.
It was important for us to share our fall decision with staff and students now so they can make plans as soon as possible. While we expect most courses will continue this fall, we recognize that it may not be possible to deliver some courses because of current health restrictions.
Over the next few weeks, program staff will make decisions about which courses they are able to offer. They will communicate with students this week to let them know when they can expect to hear these decisions. We are working to minimize the disruption to our students and we will support them to catch up and complete their studies.
We are working closely with Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) as we make plans for how we will resume our apprenticeship programs. Apprentices will hear more from NAIT and AIT once these decisions have been made.
Student supports will continue to be delivered virtually and we will begin to introduce more in-person services on campus as health restrictions allow. We will keep our NAIT community informed as these decisions are made.
We want to assure our students that their instructors are committed to providing learning that meets industry needs and prepares them for successful careers — no matter how the education is delivered. As we plan how we will provide education for the fall and beyond, we are unwavering in our commitment to provide students with an exceptional experience and the high-quality polytechnic education they expect from NAIT.
Staying true to our polytechnic roots, students will continue to benefit from NAIT’s deep connections to industry, gain applied industry experience, enjoy close connections to classmates and learn from instructors who are experts in their fields.
We recently heard from over 4,000 students about their experience learning at NAIT in a virtual setting because of the emergence of COVID-19. Students told us about the ways their instructors supported them and adapted their teaching in incredibly innovative ways. And, we also heard from students what we could do better. We are deeply committed to continuous improvement and we are working hard to build on what we learned so we can deliver the best possible learning experience this fall, and beyond.
Stay safe and take care of yourself and those around you. For the latest information on NAIT’s response to the pandemic, visit nait.ca/coronavirus.
To our students, thank you for choosing NAIT. Our future is bright and so is yours.
Sue Fitzsimmons, Ph.D.
Vice-President Academic and Provost
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