Mohawk not affected by new restrictions announced January 12

The following update was sent from Chief Operating Operating, Paul Armstrong on Wednesday, January 13

On Tuesday, January 12, the Ontario government declared a new State of Emergency to address the impact of COVID-19 on the province. In addition to the emergency declaration, the government has also issued a Stay-at-Home order that will take effect beginning Thursday, Jan. 14.

The college has confirmed that the current measures and restrictions announced yesterday will not impact the Winter 2021 semester for the vast majority of Mohawk students.

• Virtual and remote classes will continue as scheduled.
• Mohawk College will remain open for in-person instruction with the current limit on the number of people in instructional spaces remaining at 10, including faculty. Health Sciences programs at the IAHS campus and designated programs at the Fennell continue to be exempt from the 10-person requirement.
• Travel to and from campus for the purposes of attending in-person learning or supporting the delivery of in-person learning is deemed as essential and is not subject to the province’s Stay-at-Home order.
• Co-op and Placement activities will continue without interruption unless advised by the co-op specialist or field placement specialist assigned to the program.
• Students will receive more information from their program directly if there are any impacts to their in-person classes or labs.
• Access to campus remains restricted to students who are required to be on campus for in-person training and employees who are required for the delivery of academic programs or essential campus services.
• All services and supports will continue to be available to students remotely.

As always, regulations are subject to change on short notice. We will update you if the situation changes.

Health and Safety remains our top priority

If you are required to come to campus it is important to know that your health and safety is our top priority and has remained a key guiding factor in our decision-making since the pandemic began last March. The protocols and procedures the college has put in place have helped to limit the spread of the virus within the campus community. These measures were developed in consultation with local public health authorities and comply with all current regulations and guidelines mandated by provincial and federal public health authorities. All areas in use at the college continue to be reviewed, monitored and assessed to ensure that they are following protocol.

Support for parents with children at home

We understand that many employees will continue to face additional pressures as they support children who are learning remotely. The college has flexible work options that are available to employees in these situations. Please speak to your manager to discuss options that may be available to you. Additional supports for employees can be found on the Employee Resources – COVID-19 page on MyMohawk.

We must all continue to do our part

Everyone looks forward to the day when we can start to return to a more normal way of life. That day will come. Vaccinations have begun and though we still have a way to go, the end is in sight. Right now, the best we can all do is to keep doing our part to help reduce the spread of this virus. This means following the regulations and obeying the directives of our public health authorities. Stay home, if you are not required to be out for school or work, and when you do need to go out, practice physical distancing, wear a mask and wash or sanitize your hands often.

We’re here for you, but let’s all be there for each other.

We understand there is a lot of uncertainty right now and this can make people feel more anxious and stressed than usual. As a college, we remain committed to supporting our students and employees through these difficult times, but it is also important for us to support and look out for each other.

Remember that you are not alone. If you are feeling overwhelmed, ask for help. If you think someone is overwhelmed, please reach out and offer help.

Counselling services are available, Monday to FridayStudents can email: counselling@mohawkcollege.ca or call 905-575-2211.

Employees who require counselling services 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.