The University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College are currently deciding how curriculum delivery will take place in the Fall 2021 semester.
At the moment, the U of L has 11 per cent of its course offerings on campus, which is a slight increase from the fall semester. The Summer 2021 semester will mostly be held online as well.
Lab classes at the U of L are being held on campus this semester in small groups with COVID-19 protocols in place.
Kathleen Massey, associate vice president of students for the university says they’re hopeful counselling services and clubs can take place on campus in the fall.
“Perhaps we can start offering counselling services again in person in the fall for example. Group counselling, with small groups. We hope more club activities can happen on campus in the fall and so we’re working with our student union to plan for that as well.”
To keep staff, students and faculty safe, Massey says everyone on campus is expected to wear a mask, social distance, record their presence on campus by using the ulethbridge safe app and do a self-assessment to check for COVID-19 symptoms.
She adds the university has been diligent in sanitizing commonly used areas.
“Anderson Hall has been open throughout the pandemic for students who want to have a quiet place to study, use the Wi-Fi, use a computer, obtain resources from the library through Anderson Hall and we have staff here who are sanitizing the spaces after every student uses them.”
Due to the pandemic, many of the university’s buildings are locked. Students who have classes on campus have a special pass card to access the building their class is located in.
Lethbridge College has about 30 per cent of its classes on campus this semester. Its hoping by the fall that number will be up to 50 per cent.
Samantha Lenci, Provost and Vice President Academic at the college says how the next six months unfold will have a big impact on how many classes can be offered on campus.
“How we do over the next six months will help determine how we open in the fall. If vaccinations are on track for us and our cases stay nice and low in the meantime, then we’re hoping to be back on campus around 50 per cent of the time.”
At the moment it’s unclear when Lethbridge College will be able to have a full return to in-person classes.
A new change that has happened at the college during the pandemic, however, is HyFlex opportunities. Lenci explains how HyFlex learning takes place.
“Media is offered, but media is offered in two ways. So, you can either be on campus and take the courses or you could take them remotely at the same time. You’d be sitting in class if you chose to be in class and there would be a few cameras. People would actually be learning remotely while you’re sitting in class.”
She adds that students have a choice to make; they can choose to come to class or they can choose to stay home and learn remotely.
Right now, the college has 14 classrooms designed for HyFlex learning and its hoping to get more for the fall semester.
Lenci says it is likely COVID-19 safety protocols will be in effect on campus until the Fall of 2022.
One thing that can be confirmed is that tuition for Lethbridge College students will not be going down for the Fall 2021 semester. Lenci says this is because remote learning costs just as much as face-to-face learning.
Overall, both institutions say the number of services and classes they are able to offer on campus depends on public health guidelines and vaccinations.
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