COVID-19 Update as of September 1, 2020

For new students:

The Orientation for students starting in our September 28th intake will take place on September 25th on campus at 1PM PDT. You will need to confirm your attendance prior to September 25th by sending an email to studentadvisor@arbutuscollege.com. You will also need to complete a health declaration upon entering the campus. Those of you that prefer to participate in the Orientation via online; there will be a second Orientation also on September 25th at 10AM PDT. Information about how to access the orientation will be provided in due time. For those of you who are not in Canada yet, more information will follow on how to access this orientation.

For current and new students:

October term will start on September 28th by online delivery.

For Students in Canada:

To facilitate the delivery of courses we will be using ZOOM as the online platform. If you are a current student located in Vancouver, your classes will be in real time. This means that for example, if you are scheduled to attend a class on September 28th, you should follow the link to the class that your instructor will send you, the class will take place on the same days and time as per your schedule.

Here are the instructions to access your class:

1. Click on the link your instructor will send you
2. You are now in your class!
3. If you have difficulty accessing the recording, please get in touch with your instructor directly.
4. Happy online learning!

Minimum technical requirements:

We recommend that you use a laptop with a good internet connection. Your laptop should have a good microphone and a video camera. You can access your class through your smartphone; make sure you are using Wi-Fi.

For Students outside of Canada:

Your classes will not be in real time but pre-recorded. This means that you can access your classes and work on your courses at the time that best suits you. However, your instructor will require you to do assignments and presentations that you will need to submit within a deadline. You will need to follow the classes as per your class schedule.

Here are the instructions to access your online course:

1. Click on the link your instructor has sent you
2. You will be now looking at the recording of an actual class for your course.
3. If you have difficulty accessing the recording please get in touch with your instructor directly.
4. Your instructor will provide you with instructions on how to complete your assignments and deadlines to submit them.
5. Happy online learning!

Minimum technical requirements:

We recommend that you use a laptop with a good internet connection. Your laptop should have a good microphone and a video camera. You can access your class through your smartphone; make sure you are using Wi-Fi.

We will continue to provide further announcements to all of you as the situation evolves. Please make sure to check your emails regularly.

Please contact us at customerservice@arbutuscollege.comor cell phone number 778-319-7320 regarding programs, intake dates and admission.

For tuition fees payment and payment, plans please contact us at myinfo@arbutuscollege.com 

You can also contact us at studentadvisor@arbutuscollege.com or call us at 604-622-4446, 778-227-6496 or 778-227-6869 for any questions or concerns you may have about your courses. 

For all students:

All students currently registered in a B.C. post-secondary institution have access to free, confidential counselling and community referral service, conveniently available 24/7 via app, by phone (1-877-857-3397) and online at www.Here2Talk.ca

For students, faculty and staff:

We would like to emphasize that if you are feeling ill, please stay home, monitor your symptoms and call your family doctor for further instructions, and if you are in Vancouver, call 811 or visit the BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool website for further guidance (https://bc.thrive.health/). 

Please also contact Arbutus College via our dedicated email covid-19@arbutuscollege.com regarding your health situation.

We will continue to provide further announcements to all of you as the situation evolves. Please make sure to check your emails regularly.

Arbutus College re-opening plan:

Arbutus College will continue delivering its courses fully online until the end of September. We may be opening a class in hybrid format for the term starting on September 28; details of it will become available in the following days.

The school has begun the staged return of a very small number of employees to the workplace since Monday June 1.

The opening of Arbutus campus will follow the recommendations of the provincial government as outlined in the BC Restart Plan and the COVID-19 in BC Go Forward Management Strategy, and comply with WorkSafe BC Health and Safety Guidelines (www.WorkSafeBC.com).

Physical Distancing:

• Only staff who must be on campus to do all, or part of their jobs, effectively will be onsite <5
• Onsite staff must be able to easily maintain social distancing requirements
• Staff will be encouraged to wear their own cloth mask when moving around campus
• Any visitors that must come to campus will make an appointment for a specific time and wear a mask when onsite
• Hallways will be designated as “one-way” and marked with tape
• Stairways will be marked for use “one at a time”
• A plexi-glass barrier will be installed at reception and enrolment services

Administrative Controls:

• The fridge, coffee machine, water cooler, and microwave will remain out of service
• Dishes and cutlery belonging to Arbutus may not be used
• All classrooms will remained off limits
• Any individual intending to work from campus must complete new OHS training  with Patrick or Chanel prior to returning to campus
• Campus cleaning schedule will be adjust with increasing number of employees
• The staff washroom, and photocopier will be supplied with sanitizing wipes
• All onsite staff will be furnished with their own washroom key
• Any individual on campus should be aware that Arbutus will continue to maintain the WorkSafeBC reporting requirements for workplace injuries or illness including COVID-19

Monitoring:

• Anyone planning to enter campus must complete a health declaration prior to entering
• Employees, Visitors, and eventually students, will complete a health declaration daily or for each visit to campus

Finally, we urge you to continue practicing social distancing, continue to exercise good hygiene habits, wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer and avoid touching your face.