Post secondary institutions across Ontario continue to plan for a return to a more normal school experience this fall.
Unlike elementary and secondary schools, post-secondary institutions welcome people from across a region, province, country, and even the globe.
Loyalist College President Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan says during the pandemic, education was still provided, but it did look a little different.
“Throughout the last year, particularly in the fall we had about 65% of our programs had some form of on campus delivery. In the most recent shutdown around the province, we had our trades and health sciences on campus, but not other programs.”
She says they are looking at taking advantage of some of the things they have learned in the past year.
“Throughout the year we have from time to time restricted entry, only to people from this area or surrounding areas, where case numbers were low. Of course at that point we had a colour code system throughout the province. We’re now moving with a staged all provincial opening.”
She added that combining classroom learning with what can be done online could be beneficial.
“You know we’ve done a lot of remote learning in the last year. We’ve also learned that we could be combining on-line with on-campus into types of hybrid-based delivery. That’s what we’re busy planning right now.”
Dr. Vaughan says they are going to be educating students in lockstep with the province and the Hastings Prince Edward Health Unit. She says it is critical to keep students safe.
Vaughan also discussed the cost of cleaning during the pandemic, extra-curricular activities, and more.
The full interview can be heard below.
