Students will resume their studies next week; classes on campus are suspended until May
Red River College is moving forward with the transition to alternative delivery models for programs and services starting Monday, March 23.
This means education and training will continue for RRC students, who are currently on a study break. However, no classes will be held on campus until the end of the winter term (up to and including May 1). All practicums are being cancelled for this term as a result of widespread disruption in workplaces across the province.
This approach will help bring greater consistency and certainty to the operational planning that is underway and meet the directive for social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Developing alternative delivery models for our many diverse programs is a significant undertaking that can only be done on a program-by-program basis. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach that we can adopt in this unprecedented situation,” said Dr. Christine Watson, interim president and CEO of RRC.
“We are working very hard to find the balance. We want to protect our students, faculty and staff and meet public health guidelines for reducing the number of people on campus. We also want to support students so they can continue their studies.”
Watson said RRC faculty and staff have pulled together quickly to work on transition plans.
“I cannot say enough about the hard work, dedication and creativity of our workforce here at Red River. This is a very difficult and stressful time for everyone and it is incredible to see so many people rise to the challenge before us. We are very fortunate to have such a strong College community to rely upon during trying times.”
Watson stressed that the transition to alternative delivery methods will require patience and flexibility. Because each program is unique, no two transition plans will look exactly alike. All options are being explored including utilizing online learning, simulated training, overlapping terms, and adjusting curriculum to delay practicum and lab work.
While academic programs will resume next week, all RRC campuses remain closed for classes and closed to public events. Faculty and staff are either working remotely or in small numbers on campus in order to practice social distancing and help slow the transmission of COVID-19.
