Update on January 2022 start of classes

Hello OC colleagues, 

Over the past week, the College has continued to carefully monitor evolving pandemic conditions and guidance from public health and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training (AEST). 

I wanted to provide an update on our plans for the start of the January term: 

• Based on conversations and guidance from public health, Okanagan College will delay in-person instruction for many classes until January 10. Please consult this page to find start dates. The Provost and Vice President Academic, Program Deans and the Registrar’s Office are working with department chairs to communicate with faculty, instructors and students promptly. 
• Campuses will re-open and in-person services will resume for students as planned on Tuesday, Jan. 4. 
• Public health officials continue to affirm the safety of our structured settings; this delay will provide us with the breathing room to reinforce and update our on-campus signage and preventative measures while public health continues to monitor the ever-evolving Omicron scenario. 
• On Dec. 29, the Public Health Officer announced a delayed start for K-12. We have been informed that the children of postsecondary institution employees are not among those who may attend K-12 next week as PSI employees were not included in the public health order.  
• We recognize individuals may face unique circumstances next week. College leadership has been asked to be as flexible and supportive as possible to assist employees in making alternative work arrangements (i.e., employees who face childcare issues or a delay in testing/results). If you are impacted directly, please reach out to your supervisor as soon as possible to let them know and to coordinate options for work. 
• As we return to in-person work next week, it will be important for us to redouble our attention toward our personal responsibilities in keeping everyone healthy. Please continue to complete your daily health checks (stay home if you are feeling sick). As Dr. Henry has indicated in recent days, wearing good quality masks, practicing good hand hygiene, observing physical distancing wherever possible and avoiding congregating is of increased importance with Omicron.  
• We encourage meetings to be scheduled virtually, whenever possible, at this time. 
• Events will proceed virtually under the current health orders. Any in-person components to student events (such as take away food or information tables) will stringently follow public health guidance. Students will also be encouraged to attend campus only for their classes or educational activities, such as Orientations, at this time, to limit unstructured congregating on campus. In-person Orientation and Winter Welcome events scheduled for the first week of January will be postponed.  
• As direction changes, we will continue to update OC’s COVID-19 page and inform team members and students as quickly as possible. 
• Public health officials continue to remind us that vaccines are the most effective way to reduce the risk of COVID-19 on campus. Please visit the Province’s vaccination page or Interior Health’s immunization page to learn about booking your vaccination or booster appointments at your earliest opportunity. 

I want to recognize that the arrival of Omicron and developments with the pandemic in the province over the past couple of weeks may cause anxiety for some members of our learning community. If you need support, please reach out to your supervisor or HR advisor, or explore the supports available to you on our website.  

We know the nature of the pandemic is changing every day and that guidance to us may change without much notice. We fully expect, due to developments with Omicron in B.C. and across Canada, that during the months ahead guidance and health orders will ebb and flow. To that end, I cannot thank you enough for your patience and flexibility as we continue to pull together as a College community to support one another and adapt as needed. The efforts the OC community is making to support students and colleagues as the new term commences is a true example of our values.  

I wish you all a safe and happy New Year, and a positive start to January 2022.  

Respectfully, 

Neil Fassina

Okanagan College President