Calgary post-secondaries prepare return to campus after classes cancelled

Article content

Students at three Calgary post-secondaries will return to campus Monday with some new rules in place.

The University of Calgary, Mount Royal University and SAIT each cancelled in-person classes Thursday and Friday after Alberta announced it was entering a new state of public health emergency amid a fourth wave of COVID-19 spread that threatens to overwhelm the province’s health system.

MRU announced it will participate in the provincial government’s new vaccine passport system, called the restrictions exemption program (REP). Organizations that participate in the REP may operate without some restrictions as long as they verify those accessing their physical spaces are immunized against COVID-19 or have received a negative test result in the previous 72 hours.

All members of the campus community will be asked to provide proof of vaccination by Oct. 4, MRU said. Previously, students only had to self-declare their vaccine status. Those who have not declared their vaccine status and are not enrolled in the rapid-testing program are banned from campus.

The U of C is taking a similar approach. Students there who attested to being immunized against COVID-19 will now be required to upload proof to a university website. The school is allowing fully and partially immunized students on campus as well as those who complete rapid testing, but starting in 2022, only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to attend campus.

SAIT also opted to participate in the REP, and is requiring those who don’t submit vaccine verification to complete regular rapid testing. The polytechnic extended its deadline for changing courses to allow for students who do not want to get vaccinated or who do not want to provide proof to withdraw from their classes to switch to online learning.

jherring@postmedia.com

Twitter: @jasonfherring