Civil Engineering Technology students work in a lab while wearing masks during the Winter 2021 semester. (Photo courtesy Lethbridge College)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge College set for fall semester, orientation on Tuesday

Sep 5, 2021 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – It’s time to go back to school for post-secondary students.

While some trades programming is already underway, Lethbridge College welcomes back its learners during the New Student Orientation on Tuesday, Sept. 7 ahead of the start of most classes on Wednesday, Sept. 8.

This year, the vast majority of classes return to in-person learning following a year of mainly online courses.

The priorities from the leadership at the college is keeping the entire community healthy and safe, and supporting all efforts to offer classes in-person for the entire semester.

Lethbridge College’s President and CEO, Dr. Paula Burns said, “we are excited to provide an in-person educational experience to our students and offer them with all the services and supports they need to be successful.”

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“The lessons learned over the past 18 months will allow us to be flexible and adaptable in new ways that will support their educational goals while keeping our entire campus community safe. We’ve put a lot of thought, care and research into planning this upcoming year, and it will be great to feel the buzz of students on-campus once again.”

The college will require the wearing of masks in all indoor settings this year and is “strongly encouraging vaccines for its entire community.”

A recent survey of employees and students at Lethbridge College showed that over 92 per cent of employee respondents and more than 80 per cent of student respondents are vaccinated or are planning to be vaccinated in the next month.

To kickstart the new year, the college will host two drop-in vaccination clinics on-campus on Sept. 7 and 13. Additionally, anyone who feels unwell is required to stay home and not attend campus. To support this, the college has created guidelines to make sure anyone who must stay home can do so without worries of how it will affect their classes or work.

Dr. Burns said, “last February, we averaged more than 400 students per day on campus, which proved we are able to provide education safely in a live environment.”

“By continuing the masking requirements, which contributed to our successes last year, and by taking the additional steps of providing vaccinations and support to our community, we have positioned ourselves to once again have a successful year ahead.”

The New Student Orientation will start the new semester Tuesday and this year’s event will stagger activities to provide a safe environment for all attendees. Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m., with live entertainment and activities from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The day will include program orientations, campus tours, a family orientation session at 9:30 a.m., a free BBQ hosted by the Lethbridge College Students’ Association and much more. There will also be virtual activities for online learners.

More details on the New Student Orientation can be found here. More information on Lethbridge College’s campus safety measures is available here.