Update on the Fall 2021 semester - July 29, 2021
The following update was sent to all employees and students on Thursday, July 29, 2021
Mohawk College is looking forward to welcoming more students and employees back to campus this Fall. As conditions improve and pandemic-related restrictions are eased, we are increasingly excited about what the months ahead will bring, but remain cautious in our approach to planning for the Fall semester.
We recognize that many students and employees are experiencing mixed emotions about the changes that are taking place right now. Some are excited that life is beginning to return to normal and want the transition to be quick, while others are more cautious and need time to adjust. No matter where you stand on this spectrum, Mohawk is committed to supporting you through this transition.
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 July 2020. We have the experience, and we are prepared to adjust our plans should our situation change.
Our approach for the Fall semester is for it to be a gradual transition back to normal. In consultation with Public Health, we will be easing pandemic restrictions in some areas while maintaining them in others. Our approach, at times, may differ from what is happening in the community, but it will always be consistent with our commitment to providing an exceptional experience for our students and a safe and healthy environment for everyone.
As has been the case throughout this pandemic, there may be times where we need to adjust as we adapt to changing conditions. We ask for your continued patience and understanding as we work through the transition period together.
With this in mind, as we near the start of the Fall semester there are a few important updates we want to share with you.
All Mohawk College campuses will be open in September
Beginning in September all Mohawk College campuses will be open to students and employees. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will continue to be required, and efforts should be made to maintain physical distancing where it is possible to do so. Access to campus buildings will be limited to specific entrances at each campus, and students and employees will be required to complete a health screening questionnaire, each day they are coming to campus.
The fastest way to complete the daily screening questionnaire is to download the Mohawk Safety App. The questionnaire is available on the app under the COVID-19 section. Completing the questionnaire through the app will allow you to use your ONE card to access the campus by simply tapping your ONE card as you enter the building. Please note that you must correctly enter your student and/or employee number in the personal information section of the questionnaire for the tap function to work. More details on PPE requirements and instructions on how to access campus can be found on the Campus Access section of college’s COVID-19 webpage.
The loosening of access restrictions means every student will have the ability to come to campus to access on-campus services, including libraries and athletic facilities, and supports, including counselling and wellness. In addition to on-campus services, student supports will continue to be available remotely for the Fall semester. Food services will be available for students and employees who are on campus. More details on service availability and hours of operation will be communicated closer to the start of the Fall semester.
We also look forward to welcoming more employees back to campus. Discussions between managers and their team members have begun to take place. There are some employees who will be returning to campus full time. Some employees will be using a hybrid model that includes a mix of remote and on-campus working arrangements, and others will continue to work remotely throughout the Fall semester. While the campus will be open for anyone who needs access and employees will no longer be required to formally request access to the campus, it is important to note that the college will be continuing to manage the number of people who are on campus each day throughout the Fall semester. For this reason, unless it has been confirmed that you are returning to campus, it is important for you to speak to your manager before making any plans to come to campus this Fall.
Fall 2021 Program Delivery
For the majority of programs, delivery for Fall 2021 will remain the same as what was communicated in the college’s update on June 10, with the majority of programs continuing with a mix of virtual, remote and in-person learning for the Fall semester. More than 70% of Mohawk students will have some component(s) of their learning delivered in-person during the Fall semester. There may be adjustments made throughout the semester to the delivery of some programs with in-person learning as conditions change. Any in-semester changes will be communicated to students directly through their program area.
If you are a student enrolled in a program or course that is being delivered online-only, there is no change to the status of these courses for the Fall semester.
Students are reminded that the status for each Fall 2021 program, including which programs will have in-person requirements, has been posted to the Program Delivery Information page (https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/fall-2021-program-delivery) on the college’s website and will continue to be updated if any changes are made.
Full return to normal operations planned for January 2022
At this time, Mohawk College is planning for a full return to normal operations for January 2022. This means that with the exception of students whose programs are designed to be delivered fully online, the majority of students will be back on campus for all or part of their learning beginning in January.
As with the preparations for the Fall semester, we understand that employees will need time to adjust to any changes that may impact them. Detailed planning for January 2022 will begin early in the Fall with more information to follow as the semester progresses.
Non-academic activities and events
The college is extending the cancellation of all external event rentals until the end of December 2021. Mohawk is considering bringing back a select number of non-academic events to take place in-person during the Fall semester. More details about these events will be shared in the coming weeks.
If conditions continue to improve, the college may begin to allow additional pre-approved non-academic activities and events to return to campus during the Fall semester. Each activity will be assessed and approved on a case-by-case basis. More information, including details on how to request approval for events, will be provided in the coming weeks.
Vaccinations required for students living in Residence
In order to welcome more students back to the Mohawk College Residence, in consultation with Hamilton Public Health, the college is adopting a mandatory vaccination requirement for all students wishing to stay in the Residence starting in the Fall 2021 semester. International students are reminded that to be considered fully vaccinated, you must have received a vaccine that has been approved by Health Canada. Details on this new requirement have been shared with Residence students and applicants directly.
All students and employees are encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccine
High vaccination rates are the quickest way to bring an end to the pandemic in our communities and around the world. Students and employees are not required to be vaccinated prior to coming to campus; however, Mohawk strongly encourages everyone to get a COVID-19 vaccine if they are able to do so. 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. International students are also eligible to receive vaccinations and are encouraged to connect with the Student Wellness team if they any questions.
For international students arriving in Canada, it is important to note that only Health Canada approved vaccinations are accepted by the Government of Canada. Students who have received any of the following vaccines a minimum of 14 days prior to their arrival in Canada will be considered to be fully vaccinated:
- Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
- AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD COVID-19 vaccine
- Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine
International students arriving from outside Canada can find more information at https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/international-students/get-ready-to-start.
Paid parking returns to all Mohawk campuses beginning in September
Beginning September 1, 2021, all employees and students who will be coming to the Fennell and Stoney Creek campuses, and the Centre for Aviation Technology at the Hamilton Airport, will be required to purchase parking. Flexible permit options are available for students and employees who will not be on campus full time. Employees are reminded that they must re-enrol in payroll deduction or purchase permits through the parking website as this will not be done automatically. All transactions can be completed through the Parking Office website.
Parking at the IAHS campus is managed by McMaster University. For information about parking at the McMaster University campus visit McMaster Parking.
Employees who work at the IAHS campus should refer to the Parking information section of the college’s COVID-19 update webpage.
New information and updates will be shared as it becomes available
It is important to keep in mind that the situation with the pandemic is constantly evolving. Students and employees are strongly encouraged to monitor their email and the college’s website for any potential changes. Any new information will shared with students and employees as it becomes available.
Where to go for more information
Mohawk is committed to supporting students. 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-19 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.