Update: March 16, 2022
Earlier this month, the Governments of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick announced the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. With the continued improvement, or stability, in key public health indicators, and with public health and workplace safety measures being lifted or eased, Eastern College will be following Public Health directives, as we have over the past 2 years.
That means:
- As of March 16, 2022 in New Brunswick, and March 21, 2022 in Nova Scotia, employees/students/visitors will no longer be required to wear masks in public spaces or limit gathering numbers. Furthermore, temperature taking & documentation requirements are no longer required. And finally, they will no longer need to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test.
It is important to note the following:
- Should the directives of Public Health change again in the future, we will continue to follow the advice and directives of Public Health and change our approach.
- A student who has a placement at a Long-Term Care facility, a Congregate Care setting, a Residential or Rehabilitation centre, may be subject to those facilities’ own policies on vaccination requirements, masking, or physical distancing. To complete their program, they will need to comply with the mandates in place for the specific institution.
- Any guests or visitors to the campus, will need to sign-in, as was always the case.
Federal Travel Requirements
Upon return from international travel, individuals must wear a mask at all times in public spaces (including schools and child care settings) for the first 14 days returning to Canada. Please continue to monitor closely for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. This information is outlined under current federal travel requirements.
While these changes do not signal that COVID-19 has disappeared or that the pandemic is over, it does mean that we have come to a place where we know what we need to do to manage this virus and to keep each other safe. We need to remain vigilant. We need to stay home when sick. And, Public Health Guidelines suggest we continue to get vaccinated and boosted.
Update: September 21, 2021
Eastern College remains committed to the health, safety and wellness of all staff, students and visitors. We continue to delivery high-quality education to our students in the safest way possible as we all navigate the pandemic. Our current schedule, delivery model and on-Campus policies are aligned with Provincial Heath & Safety Guidelines, as well as recommendations and mandates from the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour.
Based on student feedback and current information from Public Health, we understand the concerns around returning to school during a “fourth wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time, we have made the decision to extend our remote delivery model of learning. Eastern College New Brunswick Campuses will continue to deliver your education remotely until Friday, March 25, 2022.
On-campus, in-class instruction will be reserved for courses with academic outcomes that cannot be measured or achieved remotely.
The programs that will have limited, on-campus, in-class instruction include the following:
- Students who are scheduled for CPR/ First Aid Training
- Massage Therapy
- Personal Support Worker
- Occupational Therapy & Physiotherapy Assistant
Your Campus Director will reach out to both you and your instructor directly to inform you if your class is required to return for on-campus, in-class instruction. Your program will continue to be delivered remotely if you have not been asked to return to in-class learning. Eastern College is monitoring advice from Provincial and Municipal authorities, Public Health Units, the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour and other educational partners.
We want to thank all staff and students for their dedication to education during this time. In the past 18 months, the pandemic has brought changes to New Brunswick’s educational landscape that you have preserved and excelled through. We are all incredibly proud of student accomplishments during this time!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any staff member with questions or concerns. We are happy to help!
Simone Maillet, Regional Director of Operations
Update: Nov 24, 2020
As we enter into the Holiday Season, the health and safety of our students and employees remains our highest priority.
We are committed to delivering your education safely with the high-quality experience our students expect. It is important that we provide updates so that students can make appropriate plans surrounding their education.
The increase in Covid-19 cases, through wave 2, is gaining momentum. We will therefore continue to deliver the majority of our students’ education remotely until April 30, 2021.
Eastern College is closely monitoring advice from Provincial authorities, Public Health Units, the Departments of Education & Labour, other accrediting bodies and educational partners (such as the Barbering Associations of New Brunswick /Nova Scotia and the College of Massage Therapists of New Brunswick). If, at any time in 2021, authorities and partners provide alternative guidance on returning to in-class education, we will communicate a revision of the plan.
We will continue to safely enroll new students for upcoming starts by phone and all new programs have started with remote learning delivery. Feedback and additional information about remote learning delivery can be found here.
We will continue to update our communications regularly in regards to the format of delivery for all of our programs. Please reach out to campus teams with any questions; we are always here to help.
Wishing you a safe and healthy holiday season.
Stuart Bentley, President Eastern College
Update: May 27, 2020
We continue to work very closely with the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia provinces as they begin to ease some of the Public Health requirements related to COVID-19 and begin a phased approached to re-opening institutions and establishments in the provinces.
At this point, we are pleased to announce that in accordance with the province’s phased re-opening approach, we will begin the process of re-opening our campuses in New Brunswick with Phase 1 starting on June 1st, 2020. Similar to the province’s plan, the planned approach to re-open Eastern College’s New Brunswick campuses will occur in four phases. Initial phases will be limited to students who are in programs that need to complete hands-on learning to receive their diploma. Full details of the phased approach can be found here. Where program deliverables can continue to be met through remote delivery, students will continue with the current remote learning environment.
We have chosen a phased return approach with all of our staff and students, bearing health and safety in mind and ensuring that the measures in place are in-line with Public Health guidelines. These measures include:
• Limiting the number of staff, students and clients on campus at any given time
• Restructuring our classrooms to allow for physical distancing and where the program requires staff and students to come within 2 meters/6 feet of each other
• Providing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment
• Requiring all staff, students and clients that come to the campus to complete active screening
In Nova Scotia, the provincial government has extended the provincial state of emergency until May 31, 2020 and we anticipate this date will be extended. In a recent update, the government also shared that Nova Scotia’s public schools will not open for the remainder of the school year. In accordance with the government’s expected approach, we will continue in remote learning until Tuesday, September 8th, 2020. This means that our campuses remain closed and learning will continue via remote learning delivery.
We will communicate further updates as soon as information is available.
Stuart Bentley, President Eastern College
Update: April 29, 2020
On Friday, April 24 the Government of New Brunswick made an announcement regarding the immediate reduction of the COVID-19 safety restrictions. In the four-phase plan, post-secondary schools are one of the first institutions permitted to open, specifically, for practical portions of programs that need to be completed for students to be able to graduate. We have been in discussion with members of the government on the impact of this decision and are actively working on how this return would look like. However, until we finalize this return to school plan all of our campuses at Eastern College remain closed until June 5, 2020, unless otherwise announced.
We have a dedicated committee currently working on the Return to School Plan and will be aligned with the phased approach of return announced by the government that includes directives from Public Health. The health and safety of our students and staff remains our top priority and we will be preparing our campuses to make sure they meet all the health and safety standards as prescribed by the government to ensure our students and staff feel safe when coming into the campus to complete their education.
At this point, reduction of COVID-19 safety precautions have not been announced for the province of Nova Scotia. However, we are closely monitoring updates from the province and will communicate any updates as soon as they are known. As a result, our Halifax campus is also expected to remain closed until June 5, 2020 and existing students will continue with remote education delivery.
Stuart Bentley, President Eastern College
Update: April 1, 2020
As many of you know, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are in a state of emergency to contain the spread of COVID-19. Publics schools are remaining closed indefinitely in New Brunswick and at least until May 1st 2020 in Nova Scotia.
We have received agreement from the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour in New Brunswick and the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Education (DLAE) to continue remote education delivery until May 1, 2020.
This means our classes will continue to be taught remotely while our campuses remain closed for all students in accordance with public safety precautions. We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates.
We thank everyone for their continued patience and cooperation, and as always, urge everyone to continue to take precautions, practice social distancing, and stay healthy and safe.
Stuart Bentley, President Eastern College
Update: March 22, 2020
COVID-19 Update – Eastern College implements remote education delivery
Further to our March 13th announcement, I would like to share an update on our response to the COVID-19 situation. We took the unprecedented step of quickly closing our campuses to students and staff on March 13th in response to rapidly developing threats posed by COVID-19 and began preparing for remote education delivery. The Eastern College team has worked diligently to prepare our students and staff to continue their learning through remote education delivery.
Our priority is ensuring our students can continue their studies from home where they are safe from exposure to the virus by adhering to physical distancing protocols. We also understand that students want to continue with their education and prepare for their new careers.
All Eastern College classes will be delivered through remote education delivery. Specific program and course details will be communicated to students via our Student Web, Eastern Student Emails, and contact from Instructors.
Thank you to all of our students for their understanding, cooperation, and commitment to adjust as we go through this time together. I would also like to thank everyone on our Eastern College team for their dedication and readiness in dealing with these uncertain times and maintaining our students’ continued education at the forefront of their efforts.
On behalf of Eastern College, I wish our students continued success in their studies and look forward to seeing them graduate into new careers.
Stuart Bentley, President Eastern College
Update: March 13, 2020
Eastern College closing campuses and transitioning to remote learning delivery as a precaution against COVID-19
Halifax, NS – as the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak continues to spread and public health measures are being implemented throughout Eastern Canada, our team has been working to address the health and safety concerns of our community while ensuring the continuity of learning wherever feasible.
As a result, Eastern College is temporarily closing campuses in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick from March 16, 2020 to April 3, 2020, and classes will be facilitated through remote learning delivery for programs where possible. In order to prepare for remote learning delivery and to ensure the continuity of learning for our students, we will also be cancelling classes on March 16, 2020 so that instructors and administration can continue to prepare for remote learning delivery. Remote learning delivery classes will begin on Tuesday March 17, 2020.
Our Eastern College Online programs and students remain unaffected by this change as the students and instructors are already using remote learning as part of the day-to-day instruction and learning.
The health and well-being of students and faculty is paramount as we continue to navigate the developing situation relating to COVID-19. Eastern College is communicating these adjustments to all students and will be providing support to faculty to assist in the transition.
“Our priority at this time is the health and safety of our students, faculty, and our community. We are grateful for their patience and understanding during these rapidly changing times,” said Stuart Bentley, President, Eastern College. “We will continue our unwavering efforts to transition our programs to remote learning so our students can continue their education.”
Eastern College continues to urge students and faculty to take all necessary precautions during these uncertain times. If you or anyone you know starts having symptoms of COVID-19, isolate yourself from others as quickly as possible. Immediately call a health care professional or the public health authority in the province or territory where you are located. Describe your symptoms and travel history. The Canadian Public Health Agency will provide advice on what you should do.
About Eastern College
Established in 1983, Eastern College has delivered training in a modular approach to students to enable them to fast-track to job readiness. Eastern has four campuses in Atlantic Canada; Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton and Halifax. Eastern offers programs in Business, Technology, Healthcare, Law, Supply Chain and Art & Design.
For further information, please contact:
Tes Samuel
Social Media and Communications Specialist
905-814-7212 x1037
communications@easterncollege.ca