COVID-19 Update as of August 30, 2021

For new students landing on or after August 9, 2021:

The Government of Canada requires that all travellers entering Canada follow the rules set out by the Emergency Orders under the Quarantine Act to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

As of Monday, August 9, 2021, 12:01 A.M. EDT, border measures for travellers, including international students, entering Canada will be eased.

Fully vaccinated foreign nationals may be allowed to enter Canada for discretionary travel on specific dates:

• August 9, 2021: American citizens and permanent residents of the United States who currently reside and will be travelling from the U.S. and who qualify as fully vaccinated.
• September 7, 2021 (tentative): All other foreign nationals who qualify as fully vaccinated.

To be fully vaccinated, a traveller must have received the full series of vaccines — or combination of vaccines — accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days before entering Canada. Currently, those vaccines are manufactured by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). If you have received a different vaccine, you are currently not considered fully vaccinated in Canada.

Travellers can receive their vaccine in any country and must provide documentation supporting their vaccination in English, French, or certified translation.

Entry procedures differ depending on whether you are fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated, or unvaccinated. In summary, the rules for entry to Canada as of August 9, 2021, are as follows:

In preparation for your studies at Arbutus College, please read the ” Study in Canada: Pre-Departure Guide for International Students” at your earliest convenience. 

For new students:

The Orientation for students starting in our October 2021 intake will take place on September 27 on campus at 8:00 AM PDT. You will need to confirm your attendance to the on-campus orientation prior to September 27 by sending an email to studentadvisor@arbutuscollege.com. You will also need to complete a health declaration upon entering the campus. 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 27, 2021 on campus.

For students NOT in Canada:

For some of you, you may not be able to take your classes in real-time due to your home country time difference with Vancouver, in this case, your classes will be 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.

For students in Canada:

Please note that if you are in Canada, you will be required to attend your class on campus.

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.com or 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 has started delivering its courses in a hybrid format since September 28, 2020. We are opening selected classes each term in a hybrid format. Details of these courses will become available in due time.

The school has begun the staged return of a very small number of employees to the workplace since Monday, June 1, 2020.

The opening of the Arbutus campus follows 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:

• Staff will be encouraged to wear their 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 are designated as “one-way” and marked with tape
• A plexiglass barrier has been installed at reception and enrolment services

Administrative Controls:

• Dishes and cutlery belonging to Arbutus may not be used
• At the moment all classrooms not currently used to deliver classes remain off-limits
• Any individual intending to be on campus must complete new OHS training prior to returning to campus
• The campus cleaning schedule will be adjusted with an increasing number of employees
• The staff washroom and photocopier will be supplied with sanitizing wipes
• 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 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.