Fall 2021 program delivery information now available on the college’s website

The following update was sent to all students and employees from President Ron McKerlie on Thursday, June 10

With summer just around the corner, we know everyone is eager to learn more about Mohawk College’s plans for Fall 2021. At this time, Mohawk continues to plan for a significant increase to on-campus learning this Fall with a mix of virtual, remote and in-person learning planned for most programs.

Most lecture-based courses will continue to be delivered virtually, with plans to return more courses to campus for the Winter 2022 semester, if conditions allow. The college’s plan for Fall 2021 is contingent on the successful rollout of the vaccines, the number of cases, and the likelihood that current public health measures will become more relaxed as the year progresses.

The status for each Fall 2021 program, including which programs will have in-person requirements, is now available at the Program Delivery Information webpage.

As always, the health and safety of students and employees remain our top priority and will continue to be the key guiding factor in our decision-making. Mohawk College has successfully continued to have students on campus for required in-person learning since last summer. Any courses, training or activities that take place on campus will continue to fully comply with all government regulations and public health measures.

The transition back to normal operations will take time and may require frequent fine tuning as we adjust to changing conditions. We appreciate the patience and understanding that our students and employees have shown throughout the pandemic and ask for your continued support and patience as we work through the transition period together.

While we are making this information available to students now so that they can have time to plan accordingly, it is important to keep in mind that the situation with the pandemic is constantly evolving. Plans can change on short notice. Students are strongly encouraged to monitor their email and the college’s website for any potential changes to their program.

Students and employees are encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

Mohawk College encourages all students and employees to book an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. At this time, there is no requirement to be vaccinated prior to coming to campus, and Public Health recommended personal protection equipment will continue to be in place for anyone on campus

For more on vaccine eligibility or to book an appointment to receive a first or second dose of a vaccine, visit the province’s vaccine booking portal. Please note that you must have an Ontario Health Card to book an appointment through the portal.

International students and those without an Ontario Health Card can book an appointment to receive a vaccine by calling the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7.

Student Wellness is not currently booking vaccination appointments, but is available to support anyone who is having difficulty accessing the vaccines. If you have questions or need support to book your vaccine, please reach out to healthycampus@mohawkcollege.ca.

Planning underway to determine which employees will be returning in September

With the Fall academic planning now complete, we have begun to plan for what services and supports will be in place to support the increased activity. It is at this point that we will start looking more closely at which employees will be coming back to campus for September. These discussions are happening at the department level in consultation with Human Resources. As communicated back in March, the goal is to give employees who are coming back as much advance notice as possible to allow time to plan and adjust, and to make sure they are supported throughout the transition.

It is important to remember that even though some employees will be returning to campus, we will continue to manage the numbers of employees and students on campus as we begin to make the transition to normal operations. Employees who do not need to be on campus, will continue to work remotely.

Limited non-academic events and activities a possibility for September, if conditions allow.

All in-person events and facility rentals on and off campus remain cancelled until the end of August 2021. If conditions allow, the college will begin to allow some non-academic activities and events to return to campus beginning in in the Fall. The college is developing a framework to determine which activities will be prioritized for a return to campus. More details on this will be available closer to the start of the Fall semester.

Paid parking will resume on campus beginning in September.

Mohawk will resume paid on-campus parking this September with flexible options available to students and employees who will not be on campus full time. More details will be shared with students and employees through their college email accounts, and on the college’s parking webpage in the coming weeks.

Ontario College Athletics Association (OCAA) planning for a return to play this September.

The OCAA, which is the governing body for college athletics, including Mohawk’s Mountaineers Athletics teams, is making plans to resume sports competition this Fall. The OCAA remains optimistic that it will be able to return to activity, implementing measured sport formats, and prioritizing the health and safety of participants. More information is available on the OCAA’s website.

Spring Convocation ceremonies will be virtual.

Mohawk College will not be holding any in-person Convocation ceremonies during the summer. Any graduate who has missed an in-person convocation will be offered the opportunity to celebrate in-person when it is safe to do so. Until then, the college will continue to hold virtual Convocation ceremonies.

The Spring 2021 virtual Convocation ceremony, which will be available on the college’s website beginning June 23, will celebrate the achievements of nearly 4,000 graduates as we welcome them into our alumni family. Details will be shared on the college’s website and social media channels closer to the date.

Where to go for more information:

Mohawk is committed to supporting students through these challenging times. Counselling services are available, Monday to Friday.

Students can email: counselling@mohawkcollege.ca or call 905-575-2211.

Employees who require support can access the college’s Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP). For instructions on how to register for an EFAP account, please refer to the guide located on the Employee Resource – COVID-19 page on MyMohawk, under the heading Employee and Family Assistance Program.

For current information and updates on Mohawk’s response to COVID-19, visit the Covid Update webpage.

For general questions about admissions, financial aid or registration, please contact us by completing the Ask Mohawk form.

International students who have questions can contact the college by completing the Email International Student Services form.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.