On May 28th, Fanshawe College provided an update on both the Summer and Fall Semester. The College has been discussing plans for re-opening come July with the Provincial Government and the Middlesex London Health unit. However they weren’t the only ones to have a say in how the College would re-open come the fall.
“The academic team led an incredibly thorough process with the academic leaders across the College to determine what programs could be delivered online and those that could be delivered in what were calling a blended format.” Says Fanshawe College President Peter Devlin.
“The blended format is for programs that need access to specialized labs, classrooms or systems. That students wouldn’t have available at home or in a remote way.”
President Devlin says that the decision on which programs would be delivered entirely online wasn’t easy.
“It was difficult because of the passion involved from our faculty and staff on how they deliver their programs.”
The College plans on re-opening in July in order for students to complete any in face to face classes they were unable to complete during the Winter semester before the move to online learning. Plans for safety protocols come July haven’t been finalized but they are underway.
“Firstly, we’ve identified all the delivery sites. We’ve identified the labs, and classrooms that will be used, and we’ve ordered critical supplies.” Says President Devlin.
“Whether that be plexiglass, signage, visual ques or academic PPE to name just a few.”
These arent the only changes that will be made come July.
“Students should expect that there would likely be some type of screening before they came on to campus. That they would be given a designated entry point and recommended routes. They would head off to their lab and there would be physical distancing in place or where we couldn’t barriers.”
President Devlin says that the expectation would be for students to leave campus once they have finished their classes. On the topic of students socializing after classes the president had this to say.
“We anticipate that all cafeterias and social areas will be closed.” He adds that the College will continue to offer take out service from the Oasis.
With the possibility of the state of emergency being lifted June 31st. President Devlin says that it wont change plans for re-opening.
“I think that the only things that you will see will be additional food offerings, use of some of the collective learning resources, perhaps some access to social opportunity’s.”
The President says there is no set date for the finalizing of plans.
“While we haven’t identified an actual date, it is a couple weeks before we actually hope to deliver that we would be in a place to be able to finalize communications and finalize our plan.”
President Devlin has a message for students on the circumstances of re-opening.
“I’d like to thank all students for their understanding, for their patience. There is just a tremendous amount of planning that’s on going. All with a view to keeping students’ safe faculty and staff safe but at the same time provide a rich learning opportunity for all Fanshawe students. and one that will continue to evolve and strengthen with experience and with the learnings that take place and hopefully with the provinces ability to combat COVID-19.”
The College is expected to open for two weeks starting July 20th, with the Fall semester starting on Monday, September 21st.
