COVID-19 Update for Aug. 18: What you need to know about safety on campus this fall
Posted: Aug 18, 2021 2:38 PM
| Updated: Sep 3, 2021 5:32 PM
As we get ready to welcome more staff and students on our campuses this fall, your health and safety is our priority. NAIT’s response to COVID-19 continues to be informed by public health guidance, the trajectory of the pandemic and the needs of the community.
To protect the NAIT community and minimize disruptions to learning, we have updated our campus requirements for the start of the fall term. The risk of transmission of COVID-19 has remained low on NAIT’s campuses throughout the pandemic, and we continue to take steps to minimize this risk and to support a safe and healthy fall term.
What's changing on campus
As of August 23
- Masks will be required in all indoor public spaces. NAIT eased masking requirements on July 1 and will reinstate the previous requirements. Please refer to our Wearing a Mask page for details.
- Staff, students and visitors will no longer be required to check in daily when coming to campus.
Our commitment to your safety
We will have the following measures and practices in place for fall to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19 on our campuses.
Masks will be required in all indoor spaces. Please refer to our Wearing a Mask page for details.- Staff and students continue to be supported if they are sick and need to isolate. (Albertans are legally required to isolate if they have core symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.)
- Staff and students are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated before coming to campus, and NAIT will host vaccination clinics on campus September 22 and 23.
- We are working to determine how we could introduce rapid testing at NAIT and will provide the NAIT community with advance notice before we introduce this program.
- Safety training is required each term for students and annually at the start of the fall term for staff. (Please watch for more information on how to access the RCT 100 online course.)
- NAIT staff and students, as well as those visiting and working on our campuses, are required to complete a COVID-19 declaration acknowledging their responsibility to follow NAIT and provincial requirements.
- Hazard assessments for biological hazards, which now includes respiratory viruses, are now required by each business unit and appropriate controls will be implemented.
- We have improved building ventilation and upgraded filtration wherever possible and practical.
- We have enhanced cleaning schedules for high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces.
- Hand sanitizer is available across our campuses.
- Signage regarding hygiene, cleaning and current safety measures is posted across our campuses. Use the QR code on campus signs to access the latest safety information.
- Current safety information can be found on the Your Safety on Campus page.
We will continue to monitor and adjust the safety measures in place on our campuses as required.
Keeping our campuses safe together
Safety on campus is a shared responsibility and we must continue the good practices we have developed during the pandemic. You can contribute by
Vaccinations strongly encouraged
We strongly encourage all members of the NAIT community to be fully vaccinated before the start of the fall term. This is the best way to help protect yourself and others and to support a healthy and safe term. Please visit the Government of Alberta’s vaccine page to book your shot and for more information about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
NAIT is working with Alberta Health Services to offer on-campus vaccination clinics on September 22 and 23 for those who have not yet been vaccinated or require a second dose. We will share more information on these clinics as soon as possible.
Supporting each other
Please continue to be kind and understanding with one another as we transition to the fall term together. Each of us will feel differently as we return to gathering this fall. Some will embrace this stage, while others will feel anxious. This is understandable, and we encourage members of the NAIT community to reach out to one another for support and to access the many resources available to you.
You can find the latest information on NAIT’s response to COVID-19 at nait.ca/covid19. We will continue to communicate to the NAIT community as we have new information to share.
Thank you for continuing to do your part to keep our community healthy, safe and kind.
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