If reports from education circles are any indication, it is expected the fall semester for post-secondary schools will be delivered on an online platform.
Even as retail businesses navigate what it will take to get back to "normal," Ontario colleges and universities face a unique set of challenges when it comes to their own "reopenings."
Administrations have repeated that the safety and health of the schools' students and staff are of the utmost importance. Unless health officials clear campuses and classrooms that cater to thousands of people soon, it is only natural for contingency plans to get underway, including preparations to move instruction and learning online for the fall semester — and beyond.
Canadore College President George Burton will be meeting virtually with Canadore employees next Monday to discuss the current COVID-19 situation and the challenges all institutions are facing.
There are bottom lines to worry about. Ontario's institutions have already received a $25 million relief package to continue operations and to help finish the school year amid the pandemic. Ontario also suspended student loan repayments and interest until the end of September.
A report from The Toronto Star says it could be the end of the calendar year before students will be permitted to return to campuses to learn in-person. This poses a financial issue for institutions across the province when it comes to enrolment uncertainty. Laurentian University in Sudbury is among schools the report says is looking at making cuts.
During a virtual meeting of northern ministers, Wednesday, Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano acknowledged every institution in Ontario has been impacted by COVID-19.
But financially, "We have concerns within our ministry, especially for smaller institutions," Romano said. "There's no way to predict the level of the impact. We're still in the process of gauging that across all our sectors...We recognize, in our communities that have colleges and universities, they are the largest employers within those communities."
Whether prospective students will commit to a program taught exclusively online is a big question mark. Certain fields of study with a predominant lab component might not translate well to virtual learning.
Canadore has been successful in drawing international students to North Bay. Travel restrictions worldwide and fears of a second wave of the COVID-19 virus might keep those students and their higher international tuition fee dollars at home this fall.
Even if post-secondary schools are given the green light for September, what would a learning environment under physical distancing measures look like? Class sizes would have to shrink to leave a safe distance between learners. Smaller class sizes mean enrolment will be down. What about the traditionally jam-packed transit system for Canadore and Nipissing University students? Transportation could be one of the larger logistical issues.
Time is of the essence for students, staff, and administrations. Decisions on education are pending, financial deadlines are looming, while the worldwide pandemic wreaks havoc on them both.
At Monday's meeting, Burton will address the provincial conditions and their implications for Canadore and enrolment projections, as well as provide a financial update. Canadore will then make a public statement regarding its direction.
