SSC and COVID-19

COVID-19 updates for St. Stephen's Faculty, Staff, and Students

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen’s College
May 2, 2022, 12:00pm

As anticipated, starting May 2, 2022, the St. Stephen’s College campus is again open five days a week to the College’s community and to the broader public.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta 

Previous Update: Update 20

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen’s College
March 15, 2022, 12:00pm

As many of you know, on March 8 the City of Edmonton voted to end the masking bylaw within the city limits. A couple of days later, the University announced that masks will no longer be required on the University’s campus starting Wednesday, March 16.

After reviewing these announcements, and reflecting on our context at St. Stephen’s, the College has decided that, effective March 16, masks will be “encouraged and strongly recommended” but no longer required on the SSC campus. The use of masks is strongly recommended in all spaces on the SSC campus, especially those that are high-capacity and high-traffic areas, and in areas where individuals are in close proximity to one another.

As we continue to transition away from campus mandates toward campus guidelines/recommendations, it is paramount that all SSC students, staff, faculty, and visitors respect the choices of others in our community regarding masking, distancing, and the like. As we make this transition together, each of us will have differing levels of comfort and ease, and our collective commitment to being in respectful care of one another is as vital now as it was early in the pandemic.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 19

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen’s College
February 22, 2022, 12:00pm

As many of you know, earlier this month the Government of Alberta announced its plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions across the province. I am writing today (a) to confirm that over the next few months, the College will return to in-person course delivery (with the majority of courses returning in-person in May 2022), and (b) to let you know of upcoming changes to our campus COVID policies (effective Monday, February 28, 2022). The full list of upcoming changes are summarized in our community memo issued on February 22, 2022, and they are summarized as follows:

  • Course Delivery: As previously announced, St. Stephen’s College courses will return to in-person delivery starting May 1, 2022. In the more immediate future, the College’s UAlberta and CPE courses will return to in-person instruction starting February 28, 2022.
  • Campus Hours: Starting February 28, the College building will be open to the St. Stephen’s community and broader public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (Mondays and Fridays will continue as remote workdays). We anticipate and expect that the College will return to a 5-day on-campus working schedule on May 1, 2022.
  • Stay Home if Unwell: Before every visit to campus, individuals are asked to complete the AHS Personal Health Check and to comply with any relevant public health requirements. If an individual is feeling unwell, they are asked to please stay home to take care of themselves and others. 
  • Improved Ventilation: In anticipation of welcoming our community back to campus, the College has installed in each of our classrooms and common spaces air purification units that utilize medical grade HEPA filters. These units are custom-sized to our spaces to ensure hourly air exchanges that comply with COVID-19 health recommendations.
  • Masking, Distancing, Vaccination, and Sign-In Policies: In a letter sent last week to post-secondary institutions, the Minister of Advanced Education outlined his expectation that Alberta’s post-secondary institutions will lift several restrictions in order to align with the government’s re-opening plans. In response to this letter, St. Stephen’s will take the following steps:
    • In compliance with City of Edmonton bylaws and in alignment with the University of Alberta, the requirement to wear masks while on campus will continue until further notice. It is expected that this will be in place until April 30, at which time we will re-assess this requirement.
    • In alignment with the University of Alberta, physical distancing will no longer be required on the St. Stephen’s College campus beginning February 28. Moving forward, physical distancing is strongly recommended for all who come to campus.
    • The St. Stephen’s College vaccination requirement will remain in place, though effective February 28 the College will indefinitely suspend enforcement of this policy. This means that students, staff, faculty, and visitors to campus will not be required to provide proof of vaccination before coming to campus. Rather than suspending this policy outright, by keeping this policy in place the College is better able to respond as needed to future pandemic developments (including re-enforcing this policy if needed). Over the coming months we will continue to review and evaluate the need for our vaccination policy relative to the everchanging realities of the pandemic.
    • Visitors to campus will no longer be required to sign-in when they come to campus.

We find ourselves in a transition period. Navigating these new waters presents a new set of challenges. As we transition into this next phase, I know there will be a mix of experiences and emotions, including concern, uncertainty, expressions of relief, while also elements of fear. My inbox, my virtual Zoom room, and soon my office door will be open to all who wish to connect, and I am happy to extend an open invitation to meet with you as needed.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta

PREVIOUS UPDATE: UPDATE 18

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen’s College
January 24, 2022, 12:00pm

In conjunction with the broader University of Alberta campus, the St. Stephen’s College building will remain closed until February 27, 2022, with the expectation of re-opening on February 28 (barring any further alterations). All St. Stephen’s staff and faculty will continue to work remotely. Students who wish to come to campus for research purposes are able to do so by appointment.

Given this prolonged period of remote work, the University of Alberta Library has again granted off-campus access for St. Stephen’s faculty and students to use the e-collections of the library. This access is on a temporary basis and will stay in effect until the UAlberta libraries are again opened to the public (currently planned for February 28, 2022). St. Stephen’s faculty and students are able to access the e-resources of the library using their CCID.

Finally, after several months of consultation and review, upgrades are now complete to the College’s ventilation/air exchange system. Classrooms and common spaces now have air exchange and purification that meets the recommendations for COVID-19 safety. More information can be found at our Campus Health and Safety Measures page. These upgrades together with the many other measures we have in place on campus will help to ensure greater health and safety when we again can gather in person.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 17

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen's College
December 22, 2021, 12:00pm

We again find ourselves navigating familiar though still uncertain waters. As we are all aware, the advent of the COVID-19 Omicron variant brings much uncertainty and caution across many sectors of our world. Again, COVID case-numbers are escalating across both the globe and here in Canada. Though Alberta has not yet felt the full impact of the Omicron variant, our learnings over the past 20+ months suggest that we are wise to proceed with caution as we navigate this new phase of the pandemic.

All SSC Winter 2022 Courses will be Online:
After meeting earlier this week with the faculty, St. Stephen’s College has decided to pause our return to in-person learning and instead to continue to offer our courses via online, remote delivery until the end of April 2022. This means that, with only a few exceptions (see below), all in-person courses between January–April 2022 will now be offered via online, remote delivery. All St. Stephen’s practicums can continue in accordance with our Practicum Placements During COVID-19 guidelines.

The decision to pause our return to in-person learning was made for several reasons:

  • There still is much that is not yet known about the Omicron variant, but what is known is that it is highly contagious and spreads rampantly (for example, after only a few short weeks since the variant’s discovery on November 24, 2021, Omicron has now spread around the world and has become the dominant strain of coronavirus in many places).
  • Given that just under half of our student body resides outside of the Greater Edmonton Area, it seems neither wise nor reasonable to require students to travel to and from St. Stephen’s College at this time.
  • At the moment of writing this, the Omicron variant has now become the dominant variant in Alberta (representing more than half of all new cases), and it is anticipated that our provincial numbers will increase over the coming days and weeks.

Exceptions:
Following the direction of the University of Alberta, all UAlberta courses offered by St. Stephen’s College (that is, SPRIT and CATS courses) will be delivered via online, remote delivery for the first three weeks of term (until January 23, 2021). Further instructions for faculty who teach SPRIT and CATS courses will be sent separately.

The St. Stephen’s College Clinical Pastoral Education course, which is offered in conjunction with the Alberta Consortium for Supervised Pastoral Education, will be delivered via online, remote delivery for the first three weeks of term (until January 23, 2021). Further adjustments to this course’s delivery method will be reviewed in consultation with the AC-SPE Provincial Coordinator.

Campus Closed to the Public while Faculty and Staff Work Remotely:
Effective January 4, 2022 and remaining in effect until at least January 23, 2022, campus will be closed to the public. The faculty and staff of St. Stephen’s will work remotely, and only those who perform essential tasks will be required to come to campus. All College meetings and student advising will continue via video conference, though students will be able to access campus by appointment to conduct research.

Further Reflections:
Taking these steps today represents the best approach to protecting the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. Delaying our return to in-person learning buys us the time we need not only to assess the new variant’s potential impact, but also to weather any further COVID waves. These steps also support our healthcare systems and they reduce the transmissibility of COVID-19 due to travel, thus contributing to the overall wellbeing of our society.

Since the announcement on October 29, 2021 that the College would return to in-person course delivery in January 2022, our team has been working with great care and intention to prepare for our transition back to campus. This includes implementing an enhanced vaccination policy, revising our on-campus health and safety guidelines, and improving air purification at the College. Having done the work of implementing these precautions, the College is positioned well for our eventual return to campus. We expect and hope that this return will take place in May 2022.

For now, however, given how much is unknown regarding the Omicron variant, it is best that we proceed with care and with caution.

I am sure reaction to this announcement will come with mixed emotions. Perhaps a measure of disappointment. Perhaps a measure of relief. Perhaps a strange mixture of both disappointment and relief. The pandemic continues to pummel us with challenge after challenge, and together we need again to find the courage and the strength to face this new phase together. The decision to delay our return to in-person learning is made out of a profound sense of being in care of one another, of standing side-by-side with one another, and with a renewed and resolute sense of navigating these ever-changing waters with one another.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen’s College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 16

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen’s College
November 12, 2021, 4:30pm

As announced two weeks ago, though the College plans to return to in-person courses in January 2022, we will continue to offer some courses via online, remote delivery during both the Winter 2022 (January–April) and Spring/Summer 2022 (May–August) semesters. The Course Schedule has now been fully reviewed and updated as to which courses will be kept online. In total across both the Winter and Spring/Summer semesters, approx. 32% of courses that would otherwise be “In Class” or “Blended" will be kept online (broken down by semester: 50% of our Winter courses, and 17% of our Spring/Summer courses, will remain online).

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen’s College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 15

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen’s College
October 29, 2021, 3:30pm

I am writing today with updates regarding the College’s ongoing return to campus. As previously indicated, most St. Stephen’s courses will return to in-person delivery beginning January 1, 2022. As COVID-19 cases continue to decline in Alberta, as vaccination rates continue to increase, and as vaccination passports are now in effect not just provincially but also nationally and internationally, the College is excited to return to in-person learning in the new year.

This announcement summarizes the COVID-19 Memo issued to our community on October 29, 2021, in which I outlined the measures we are taking not only to promote safe work and educational spaces on our campus, but also the ways that we continue to adapt our offerings in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Changes to the Campus Vaccine Policy:
As announced last week, beginning December 13, 2021, all staff, faculty, students, volunteers, and visitors to the St. Stephen’s College campus are required to present proof that they are fully vaccinated prior to, or immediately upon, coming to the College campus. This means that, as of December 13, 2021, presentation of a negative COVID-19 test result will no longer be accepted for accessing the St. Stephen’s College campus.

For students and faculty who will be participating in in-person courses beginning January 2022, you are required to present proof of vaccination before coming to the College campus.

All faculty, staff, students, and any other member of the St. Stephen’s College community who access the University of Alberta campus (including libraries) are required to comply with the university’s COVID-19 Vaccination Directive, including registering for the university’s Campus Ready Pass.

Individuals who are not vaccinated will not be able to come to the St. Stephen’s College campus. Students who are not vaccinated will be limited to courses that are offered online. Students are encouraged to consult with either myself or their Department Chair(s) to determine what, if any, arrangements can be made for the student to continue with classes or other aspects of their program online or through other means that do not require attendance on the College campus.

Expanded Online Offerings for January–August 2022:
Given that the pandemic continues to have lasting effects, the College will continue to offer some courses via online, remote delivery for both the Winter 2022 (January–April) and Spring/Summer 2022 (May–August) semesters. The St. Stephen’s Course Schedule will be updated as early as next week to indicate which of our current “In-Person” or “Blended” courses will be offered via online delivery. After careful discussion and reflection, the Faculty Council has decided not to offer courses via “hybrid” or “mixed-presence” delivery (that is, courses where some students are physically present in the classroom while other students are simultaneously present virtually via Zoom).

Enhanced Safety Measures on Campus:
As announced earlier this Fall, St. Stephen’s has implemented enhanced health and safety measures on our campus. These include the vaccination requirement noted above, as well as measures related to masking, distancing, sign-in for the purposes of contact tracing, and compliance with ongoing public health requirements.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen’s College, at the University of Alberta

previous Update: update 14

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen’s College
October 22, 2021, 4:35pm

I am writing with an update regarding vaccination policies and campus access, both for the St. Stephen’s College campus and for the University of Alberta campus.

Changes to the St. Stephen’s College Vaccination Policy
As of December 13, 2021, St. Stephen’s College will require all who access our campus to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This means that presentation of a negative test result will no longer be acceptable after December 13. All faculty and students who plan to return to in-person courses this January will need to be fully vaccinated before coming to campus.

The College has decided to take this additional step for a number of reasons, including (1) the recognition that vaccines have proven very effective at reducing the risk of infection while also minimizing the risk of severe outcomes due to COVID-19, (2) the recognition that requiring proof of vaccination on our campus is the best and most effective way of fostering safe work and educational spaces, and (3) alignment with the broader University campus (see below).

Details of this policy shift will be announced in the coming days. As always, questions can be directed to the Principal and Dean, Fred Tappenden.

Accessing the UAlberta Campus (Libraries, Bookstore, Common Areas)
As announced by the University a few weeks ago, effective November 1 only those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be permitted to access the University of Alberta campus (including services such as the library, bookstore, and other on campus venues). Details of the UAlberta policy can be found at their COVID-19 Vaccination Directive webpage. Before coming to the UAlberta campus, individuals are required to complete an online form to obtain a CampusReady Pass (proof of vaccination can be uploaded as part of this online form).

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen’s College, at the University of Alberta

previous Update: update 13

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen’s College
September 20, 2021, 9:00am

Last Wednesday (Sept 15), the Province of Alberta introduced new public health measures designed to curb the spread of COVID-19. These measures include a vaccine passport program, officially called the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP). I am writing to update you regarding the impact of these measures on St. Stephen’s College.

Testing and Vaccination Requirements on Campus:
As you know, on September 7, St. Stephen’s introduced a Testing and Vaccination Requirement for our campus. Though the St. Stephen’s Testing and Vaccination Requirements were very close to the REP program as outlined by the government, the College has nevertheless adapted its policy in order to comply with the provincial requirements. Details of these changes are outlined in the September 20, 2021 memo distributed to our community. These changes will take effect Monday, September 20, 2021.

Campus Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays:
On September 15, the Province also asked workplaces to reduce in-person work where possible. In compliance with this request, and until further notice, the St. Stephen’s campus will be open on Tuesdays and Thursday, with Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays as remote workdays. The College business hours continue as normal, Monday-Friday, 8.30am-4.30pm.

I thank you all for your flexibility to continue to adapt as we navigate our way through the pandemic. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments or feedback.

With thanks,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen’s College, at the University of Alberta

previous Update: update 12

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen’s College
September 14, 2021, 9:00am

After 18 months of remote work and program delivery, the doors of St. Stephen’s College are again open to our students, faculty, staff, and the broader community.

Beginning September 7, 2021, the St. Stephen’s College building will be open every week, Monday through Thursday, 8:30am–4:30pm. The College building will be closed on Fridays, with staff and faculty working remotely.

To support our campus reopening, St. Stephen’s is implementing enhanced COVID-19 safety measures that are designed to promote safer work and educational spaces for our students, staff, faculty, and volunteers. These include:

The College’s reopening coincides with that of the broader University of Alberta campus. On August 16, many university services again opened to the wider community, including access to the university libraries.

Like many organizations, our plan for returning to campus is unfolding in stages. Though the College building is now re-opened Mondays through Thursdays, the majority of St. Stephen’s courses continue to be delivered online until January 2022. Student advising can be conducted either in person or online. Many College meetings will continue online for the Fall.

We anticipate that campus life will slowly but steadily pick up over the Fall semester, and we are excited to again have live, in-person interactions among our community.

With thanks,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen’s College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 11

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen’s College
September 3, 2021, 4:19pm

I am writing today to outline enhanced health and safety measures that will take effect next week on the St. Stephen’s College campus. We are implementing these measures as part of our ongoing response to the pandemic. Our aim is to create work and educational spaces that are as safe as possible. The pandemic is not yet over, and the measures outlined below best help our community to navigate the path forward.

Testing and Vaccination Requirement on the St. Stephen’s Campus:
Beginning September 7, 2021, all St. Stephen’s College faculty, staff, students, and volunteer committee members are required to do the following before coming to campus:

  • Self-declare their vaccination status using a confidential Vaccination Declaration questionnaire, and
  • Present proof of either full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result (not older than 48 hours) by email or in person to the St. Stephen’s College Registrar’s Office.

Further details of our Testing and Vaccination Requirements are accessible on the St. Stephen’s website. If you have questions, comments, or need clarification about these measures, please reach out to either Fred Tappenden or Shelley Westermann.

Revised Health and Safety Measures for On-Campus Work:
St. Stephen’s is implementing revised Health and Safety Measures for those who come to campus. I encourage you to please review and familiarize yourselves with these measures before coming to campus.

With thanks,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen’s College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 10

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen's College
July 12, 2021, 9:00am

Warm greetings to you on these rather warm summer days. I hope you are staying well and staying cool in what has been an unseasonably warm June and July. With the warm weather comes renewed expectations and hopes regarding our pivot out of the pandemic and return to some semblance of normalcy. Across Canada, provincial re-opening plans are in full swing, with more and more public and social activity taking place. These are hopeful signs, and while we must continue to be vigilant and careful, the widespread distribution and uptake of the vaccine has renewed our expectations that the worst of the pandemic is hopefully—and likely—behind us.

Like many organizations, St. Stephen’s is taking a phased approach toward returning to on-campus work and learning. Moving forward in phases allows sufficient time for our community—which is spread across Canada and parts of the United States and Europe—to access the vaccine, to prepare mentally and socially for coming back to campus, and to have enough time to coordinate study and travel plans for the year ahead.

Over the next several months, key dates in our Return to Campus plan are as follows:

August 23, 2021: Campus reopens
The St. Stephen’s campus will again be open to all members of our community and the public as of August 23. At this time, students will no longer need to make appointments to come to campus. The University library also aims to start re-opening by mid-August. Regarding St. Stephen’s meetings (board, senate, program committees, etc.), a decision will be made in the Fall whether and when we might resume these gatherings in person. All who are on campus will be required to comply with all public health guidelines and any other recommendations outlined by the College and/or the University.

In the weeks leading up to August 23, students are still permitted to make appointments to access campus for the purposes of conducting research (e.g., use of the library e-databases). Students wishing to come to campus can make an appointment with Shelley Westermann.

September 1, 2021: Courses continue via online, remote delivery with a limited number of in-person offerings
Most Fall 2021 courses will continue to be delivered via online, remote delivery. This decision was made in light of a number of factors, including: (a) the March 10, 2021 announcement that our community should expect Fall courses to continue online, (b) careful and comparative review of re-opening plans and timelines from across Canada, recognizing that not all provincial jurisdictions are re-opening at the same rate, (c) consultation with students regarding matters of travel and Fall course enrolments, and (d) the recognition that not all in our community will be able/comfortable to return to campus as early as the Fall.

Only two Fall 2021 courses will be delivered in person: (1) CATS 382: Intro to Drama Therapy (offered by St. Stephen’s for the University of Alberta), and (2) CPE 5889: Supervised Pastoral Education. All other Fall 2021 courses will be delivered via online, remote delivery. Internships and practicums will continue in their current manner.

January 1, 2022: SSC courses return to in-person delivery
St. Stephen’s faculty and students should expect that, barring an unforeseen public health crisis, all St. Stephen’s courses will return to their intended delivery method beginning January 1, 2022. This means that courses that are intended to be in-person will return to be delivered as such, and courses that are intended to be online will continue as such. Making this transition on January 1, 2022 (a) allows our faculty sufficient time to pivot their courses back to an in-person delivery mode, (b) provides our students sufficient time to plan their study and travel schedules, and (c) provides flexibility for the College to respond—if necessary—to any additional public health requirements.

Later this summer we will decide about whether or not the Fall 2021 convocation can be held in person. Details will be decided and conveyed by mid-/late-August.

The above dates have been chosen (in part) to allow our community and those who visit campus sufficient time to access both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. I strongly encourage all in the St. Stephen’s community who are able to do so to book their appointment to be vaccinated. The vaccine has proven very effective at reducing the risk of infection, and its widespread distribution hastens our return to normalcy.

All of us at St. Stephen’s look forward with much excitement to being able to gather on campus again for courses, college events, meetings, and any other social gathering. We are close, and we will be there soon. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to the College if you have any questions or require clarity on any of the matters addressed above.

With thanks,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen’s College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 9

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen's College
June 7, 2021, 9:00am

Two weeks ago, the Alberta Government announced its plan to re-open the province over the coming weeks. The plan is ambitious and optimistic, and it relies heavily on Alberta’s vaccine rollout as well as our collective capacity to meet ongoing hospitalization targets. The first step of this plan began last week (June 1), with the possibility that public health restrictions will be significantly reduced as early as July 1.

Our leadership team at St. Stephen’s is currently reviewing the Province’s Reopening Plan and assessing its impact on the College. I will be in touch over the coming weeks with more details as we align our own “return to campus” with the provincial plan. For now, I can confirm that all remaining Spring and Summer courses (June–August) will continue via online, remote delivery. This allows for continuity and consistency among our students and faculty. In particular, students who live outside of Edmonton require sufficient time to plan their travel, and our faculty also require sufficient time to prepare their courses for different delivery methods. As outlined in our COVID-19 announcement on 10 March 2021, our intention is to give students and instructors at least two to three months of notice before pivoting courses back to in-person delivery.

In the COVID-19 announcement sent on 10 March 2021, students and faculty were asked to expect and plan that Fall 2021 courses will continue online, with the possibility that a limited number of courses may pivot back to in person delivery. Over the coming weeks we will reevaluate this position in light of the Province’s Reopening Plan, with the purpose of determining when our pivot back to in-person learning will be possible. Key factors that we are considering include:

How quickly will the Provincial Reopening Plan unfold, and how quickly will second doses of the vaccine be available to the general public?
How quickly are other provinces opening up, recognizing that our student body is spread across nine of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories.
How quickly will international borders open up, recognizing that some in our student body reside outside of Canada.

As I have expressed before, St. Stephen’s is committed to returning to in-person course delivery as soon as it is safe to do so, and in a manner that minimizes risk to our community. We are at a point in the pandemic where it feels that our return to campus is closer than ever. While there certainly is more clarity today about what a return to campus might look like, there still are unknown factors that need to be considered with care. All of us at St. Stephen’s look forward with much excitement to the prospect of gathering together on campus for courses, college events, meetings, and any other social gathering. We are close, and we will be there soon.

In the meantime, for those who are able to do so, I encourage all in the St. Stephen’s community to book their appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. The vaccine has proven very effective at reducing the risk of infection, and its widespread distribution hastens our return to normalcy.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 8

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen's College
March 11, 2021, 1:30pm

This month marks one full year since the COVID-19 pandemic imposed itself upon our lives. This past year has been incredibly challenging for all of us, and every part of our living has been profoundly disrupted. As the vaccine rollout is now underway across the country, there is much hope that the darkest days of the pandemic will soon be behind us. Nevertheless, challenges persist. As we look ahead to the Spring/Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 semesters, there is much that is unknown regarding how quickly the vaccine will be distributed, when travel will again be reasonably accessible and safe, and how quickly public health guidelines will be eased.

The faculty at St. Stephen’s College have been thinking deeply and working persistently on the College’s ever-evolving response to the pandemic. One thing is clear: St. Stephen’s is committed to returning to in-person course delivery as soon as it is safe to do so. As an educational institution, our pivot back to in-person learning will be done in step with all relevant public health guidelines, but also in a way that meets the particular challenges of the St. Stephen’s student body. Our fundamental commitment remains the same; we are committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty, staff, and others within the St. Stephen’s community.

After much deliberation and discussion, the Faculty Council of St. Stephen’s College has decided on the following:

Regarding Spring/Summer 2021: All St. Stephen’s courses from May–August 2021 will continue via remote, online delivery.
Regarding Fall 2021: St. Stephen’s students and faculty should expect and plan that all courses from September–December 2021 will be delivered via remote, online delivery. Faculty Council will monitor the public health situation carefully and, if it is safe to do so, may approve a limited number of courses to return to in-person delivery. As this possibility comes into clearer focus, the College will work with instructors approximately three months prior to transitioning any course back to in-person delivery, and we will notify students not less than two months prior to the course start date.

As the College begins to look ahead to returning to in-person course delivery, there are a number of variables that we are monitoring and planning for, including:

Travel Restrictions: Given the geographical distribution of our students (nearly half of whom live outside of the Greater Edmonton Area), our capacity to pivot back to in-person learning is tied to provincial, inter-provincial, and international travel.
Indoor Social Gatherings: Currently, the Government of Alberta has banned all indoor gatherings. Because in-person learning is not only about time in the classroom but also about lunches, breaks, and other social interactions, our ability to return to in-person courses must comply with the provincial mandates regarding indoor gatherings.
Vaccine Distribution: The speed at which the vaccine is distributed within Alberta and across the country directly affects our capacity to pivot back to in-person learning. The issue of vaccine distribution is important for a number of reasons, two of which are: (a) many St. Stephen’s students live across Canada (esp. BC, and others in Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces), and thus the College must consider the pace of vaccine rollouts across the country; and (b) the age-diversity of St. Stephen’s students (spanning late-20s through mid-60s) is such that any return to in-person learning must promote the wellbeing of those who are at higher risk of contracting the virus.

Despite these challenges, again I want to reiterate that St. Stephen’s is committed to returning to in-person course delivery as soon as it is safe to do so.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 7

December 15, 2020, 1:00pm (updated January 27, 2021)

The following operational summary relates only to St. Stephen's College. For operational information for the broader University of Alberta campus, please see the University's COVID-19 Information page.

Until further notice, the following operations are in effect at St. Stephen's College:

For Students and Faculty in all St. Stephen's College Degree Programs:

The College campus remains closed to the general public. The operations of the College continue via remote delivery during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm). Some on-campus work and research is permitted in accordance with our Protocol for Safe On-Campus Work at St. Stephen's College.
Staff and faculty continue to work remotely. Access to campus is restricted by appointment only and solely for the purpose of conducting campus-specific work that is required for operational effectiveness. Campus access is limited in order to decrease employee time on campus and minimize social interactions.
All St. Stephen's courses continue as scheduled, though courses will be delivered remotely via online instruction. Our Department Chairs are working diligently to support our Students and Associate Faculty members as we transition to online delivery.
Students are permitted to access campus for the purposes of conducting research. All student visits are by appointment only and require at least one staff or faculty member to be present while the student is on campus.
Practicum placements for St. Stephen's students are permitted to happen in-person according to the guidelines set out in the St. Stephen's College Practicum Plan during COVID-19 document.
All academic supervision must happen remotely via video conference or telephone (this applies to both general program supervision and research supervision). If students or associate faculty members need assistance in setting-up remote student supervision, please be in touch with your department chair.
All College meetings, including board, senate, faculty council, program committees, and other meetings must happen remotely via video conference or telephone.
All contact information remains the same. Email communications are preferred.

For Students and Faculty in UAlberta Courses at St. Stephen's College:

UAlberta courses offered at St. Stephen's College abide by the directives of the University as outlined at the UAlberta COVID-19 information page (see esp. the COVID-19 Information for Students and COVID-19 Information for Instructors pages).

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen's College
December 15, 2020, 1:00pm (updated January 27, 2021)

Last week the Province of Alberta announced new public health restrictions aimed at addressing the global pandemic. Though the current St. Stephen's protocols were already in compliance with those measures, today we are instituting tighter practices at the College to better prevent the spread of COVID-19. Effective today, the following measures are in place at St. Stephen's College and will last until January 13, 2021 (pending public health guidelines).

The staff and faculty continue to work remotely, though access to campus is restricted to appointment only and solely for the purpose of conducting campus-specific work that is required for operational effectiveness. A schedule will be implemented that decreases employee time on campus and minimizes social interactions.
(**Re-Opened**) Students are permitted to access campus for the purposes of conducting research. All student visits are by appointment only and require at least one staff or faculty member to be present while the student is on campus.
All courses continue to be offered online via remote delivery, including the Winter 2021 courses (as announced on October 30, 2020).
Practicum placements continue in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Practicum Plan During COVID-19 memo. We are working with the practicum sites to ensure the safety and wellbeing of ours students.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 6

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen's College
November 26, 2020, 9:00am

Earlier this week, the Province of Alberta announced a new State of Public Health Emergency, which includes enhanced restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19. In response to the current public health moment, and with the intention of doing everything we can to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, St. Stephen's will take immediate steps to reduce the number and frequency of people on our campus. Effective today and until further notice, the following measures are in place on the St. Stephen's campus:

The staff and faculty continue to work remotely, though access to campus is now restricted by appointment only and solely for the purpose of conducting campus-specific work. A schedule will be implemented that decreases employee time on campus and minimizes social interactions.
Students are still permitted to access campus for the purposes of conducting research. All student visits are by appointment only and require at least one staff or faculty member to be present while the student is on campus.
All Fall 2020 courses continue to be offered online via remote delivery. As announced on October 30, 2020, all Winter 2021 courses will also be offered by remote, online delivery.
Practicum placements will continue in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Practicum Plan During COVID-19 memo. We are working with the practicum sites to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students.

We all know that, in so many ways, this year has been both unbelievable and unbearable. For many of us, the prospect of again enduring a period of enhanced public health restrictions will be difficult and taxing, especially as the holiday season is upon us. I feel this difficulty too. I take some encouragement in knowing that earlier this year we endured such a period, and there is much that we have learned from that experience. However, I take more encouragement in knowing that we all are working together, collectively, to be in care of one another. As we diligently work together in this, we ensure that we can again gather on campus when it is safe to do so.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 5

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen's College
August 20, 2020, 9:00am

The past five months have not only been challenging, but they have stretched many of us in ways we never imagined. Through this time, I have been so impressed by the capacity of our students and faculty to respond to this unprecedented situation with creativity, adaptability, compassion, and understanding. All of us at St. Steve's have been working hard not only to be in care of one another, but also to ensure as smooth a transition as possible to online course and program delivery. Over the past several months we have held online student forums, workshops for faculty regarding online teaching, we have made available resources for faculty and students to help ease this transition to remote delivery, and we have made policy and administrative decisions that are rooted in compassion and equity so as to adjust to the new realities imposed by COVID-19. Leading and implementing these activities have been the faculty and staff of the College, who have responded with incredible devotion, resolve, and intention. We have an incredible team here at St. Stephen's, and I am thankful for them every day.

Over the past several months, St. Stephen's has issued a number of memos for faculty, staff, and students related to college policies and procedures during COVID-19. These memos are now collected on the COVID-19 Memos for SSC Faculty, Staff, and Students page. Please consult these documents as you have need. As always, questions and/or comments are welcome and can be directed to the College.

The faculty and staff of St. Stephen's College continue to work remotely, though our Resumption of On-Campus Work Protocol is now in effect. This protocol permits limited and controlled conditions for faculty and staff to conduct some work on-campus. Protocol is also in place to allow limited and controlled conditions for students to conduct research on campus.

Updates will continue to be posted to the College website as they are available. As noted in a previous posting, what drives the College's response to this pandemic is our commitment to "the need to be in care of one another." We stand together in this time, and united we will find our way through these strange days.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 4

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen's College
March 31, 2020, 9:00am

Effective Tuesday, March 31 and until further notice, all operations of St. Stephen's College will be delivered remotely. All St. Stephen's College Faculty and Staff continue to conduct their work, though they will do so while working from home (the only exceptions will be a handful of essential on-campus activities that will be completed on an as-needed basis once every two weeks). The hours of operation for St. Stephen's College remain slightly reduced: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm, closed on statutory holidays. The College building will be locked and closed. If you need to contact the College, please email or call the main line (780-439-7311).

During this period of remote work, the College remains open with all courses and other College business being delivered remotely. All College meetings, gatherings, and other events are to be conducted online (eg., via Zoom, Skype, telephone, etc.).

The purpose of taking these steps is to ensure that our staff and faculty are able to stay home and stay safe for the duration of this public health crisis. By implementing these procedures, all of us at St. Stephen's are doing our part to participate fully in the Alberta-wide effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. These measures aim to pre-emptively diminish the spread of COVID-19. Our main message at this time is: stay safe and stay home; this is how we can best be in care of one another.

If you have questions about any of these changes or are uncertain of how these impact your studies or work at St. Stephen's, please reach out to the College. We are happy to discuss these with you and to clarify any questions you have. Or, simply reach out to the College for a friendly hello. The past few weeks have impacted all of us in many unforeseen and at times unimaginable ways. As we continue to navigate the weeks ahead, out hope is that we can be here for one another and to help care for one another.

Info for Students and Faculty in all St. Stephen's College Degree Programs:

Until further notice, the following operations are in effect at St. Stephen's College:

All St. Stephen's courses will continue as scheduled, though courses will be delivered remotely via online instruction. Our Department Chairs are working diligently to support our Students and Associate Faculty members as we transition to online delivery.
All practicum placements have been suspended until further notice.
All student supervision must happen remotely via video conference or telephone (this applies to both general program supervision and research supervision). If students or associate faculty members need assistance in setting-up remote student supervision, please be in touch with your department chair.
All College meetings, including board, senate, faculty council, program committees, and other meetings must happen remotely via video conference or telephone.

Info for Students and Associate Faculty in UAlberta Courses at St. Stephen's College:

All UAlberta courses offered at St. Stephen's College abide by the directives of the University as outlined at the UAlberta COVID-19 information page (see esp. the COVID-19 Information for Students and COVID-19 Information for Instructors pages).

General COVID-19 Information for the St. Stephen's College Community:

It is vital that everyone maintain high levels of infection control. All persons in the St. Stephen's College community are asked to follow the preventative recommendations as currently outlined by Alberta Health.

If you suspect you have COVID-19: (1) self-isolate immediately, (2) do not go to a hospital, physician's office, lab, clinic, or healthcare facility, (3) complete the online AHS COVID-19 Self-Assessment tool, and (4) contact Health Link (811). If you need immediate medical attention, call 911 and advise them that you may have COVID-19.

As always, up to date and reliable information about COVID-19 can be found at the following websites:

University of Alberta COVID-19 Information Page
Alberta Health Services COVID-19 Information Page
Alberta Government's COVID-19 Information Page
Global Affairs Canada: Travel Advisories
Public Health Agency of Canada
World Health Organization

I will continue to be in touch with the St. Stephen's College community as this matter unfolds, and as further recommendations or requirements arise.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 3

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community of St. Stephen's College
March 23, 2020, 9:15am

According to our Vision, Mission, and Values, St. Stephen's College is committed to "honoring and understanding the need to be in care of one another." It is this impulse that drives-and will continue to drive-our College's response to this exceptional and strenuous situation. In coordination with the University of Alberta COVID-19 response, St. Stephen's is making every effort to proactively and responsibly do our part to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. We expect that all members of the St. Stephen's community will join in this effort.

St. Stephen's College remains open. Effective Monday, March 23, 2020, the majority of St. Stephen's faculty and staff will be working remotely, with only minimal staff on campus to complete on-campus work-related activities. During this time, our building will be locked and accessible only by key. Regular business hours are also shortened as follows: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm (closed on statutory holidays). Rather than visiting campus, anyone with questions for the College are encouraged to email or to call the main line (780 439 7311).

Info for Students and Faculty in all St. Stephen's College Degree Programs:

Until further notice, the following operations are in effect at St. Stephen's College:

All St. Stephen's courses will continue as scheduled, though courses will be delivered remotely via online instruction with no in-person learning taking place. Our Department Chairs are working diligently over the next days and weeks to support our Students and Associate Faculty members as we transition to online delivery.
All practicum placements have been suspended.
All student supervision must happen remotely via video conference or telephone (this applies to both general program supervision and research supervision). If students or associate faculty members need assistance in setting-up remote student supervision, please be in touch with your department chair.
All College meetings, including board, senate, faculty council, program committees, and other meetings must happen remotely via video conference or telephone.

Info for Students and Associate Faculty in UAlberta Courses at St. Stephen's College:

All UAlberta courses offered at St. Stephen's College must abide by the directives of the University as outlined at the UAlberta COVID-19 information page (see esp. the COVID-19 Information for Students and COVID-19 Information for Instructors pages).

General COVID-19 Information for the St. Stephen's College Community:

It is vital that everyone maintain high levels of infection control. All persons in the St. Stephen's College community, regardless of your status as staff, student, or volunteer, are asked to follow the preventative recommendations as currently outlined by Alberta Health. This includes (but is not limited to):

Practice social distancing (maintaining about 2m from others).
Wash your hands with soap and water often. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, if hands are not visibly dirty.
Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw it in a garbage bin lined with a plastic bag.
If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve.
Wash your hands immediately after coughing and/or sneezing.
Stay home if you're sick.
Clean and disinfect surfaces that are shared and used often.

Anyone in the St. Stephen's community who has recently traveled, or who otherwise meets the criteria for self-isolation as laid out by Alberta Health, must not come to the St. Stephen's College campus until they have completed the recommended period of self-isolation.

If you suspect you have COVID-19:

self-isolate immediately
do not go to a hospital, physician's office, lab, clinic, or healthcare facility
complete the online AHS COVID-19 Self-Assessment tool, and (4) contact Health Link (811). If you need immediate medical attention, call 911 and advise them that you may have COVID-19.

As always, up to date and reliable information about COVID-19 can be found at the following websites:

University of Alberta COVID-19 Information Page
Alberta Health Services COVID-19 Information Page
Alberta Government's COVID-19 Information Page
Global Affairs Canada: Travel Advisories
Public Health Agency of Canada
World Health Organization

I will continue to be in touch with the St. Stephen's College community as this matter unfolds, and as further recommendations or requirements arise.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 2

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Broader Community of St. Stephen's College
March 16, 2020, 12:15pm

St. Stephen's College continues to work closely with the University of Alberta to coordinate the response of our two institutions to COVID-19. At present there are 56 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alberta. As the complexity and seriousness of this situation continues to increase, the top priority of St. Stephen's College is the safety and wellbeing of our staff, faculty, students, and the broader SSC family. By each doing our part we help to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Effective Monday, March 16, all St. Stephen's College courses (credited and non-credited) will be delivered online. All University of Alberta courses taught at St. Stephen's College (CHRTP courses) also will transition to online delivery as of Tuesday, March 17. The St. Stephen's College campus remains open, with the staff and faculty maintaining the operations of the College. Though the everyday business of the College continues, we are asking that College interactions be moved online as much as possible (e.g., meetings, student supervision, etc.). All persons on the St. Stephen's campus are required to follow preventative recommendations as currently outlined by Alberta Health, including things like adequate social distancing (= no less than 2m between individuals), regular hand washing, use of hand sanitizer, and the like. Anyone who meets the criteria for self-isolation as laid out by Alberta Health must not come to the St. Stephen's College campus until they have completed the recommended period of isolation.

To St. Stephen's faculty and students who have courses scheduled throughout the Spring and Summer, your Department Chair(s) will be in touch with you over the coming days and weeks with more information about this transition to online delivery.

If you are uncertain or have questions about any of these directives, please reach out to the College. We are happy to discuss these with you.

As always, up to date and reliable information about COVID-19 can be found at the following links:

University of Alberta COVID-19 Information Page
Alberta Health Services COVID-19 Information Page
Alberta Government's COVID-19 Information Page
Global Affairs Canada: Travel Advisories
Public Health Agency of Canada
World Health Organization

I will continue to be in touch with the St. Stephen's College community as this matter unfolds, and as further recommendations or requirements arise.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta

Previous Update: Update 1

To the Faculty, Staff, Students, and Broader Community of St. Stephen's College
March 12, 2020, 2:45pm

As you all know, the world is abuzz with the COVID-19 virus. The last 24 hours have seen things move quite rapidly. Yesterday, the World Health Organization officially categorized this as a pandemic. At present there are 19 confirmed cases in Alberta. Though the threat level in Alberta remains "low", the seriousness of this matter is increasing (at times by the hour, it seems). I am writing to express what St. Stephen's is doing in the midst of this.

St. Stephen's takes this matter seriously, recognizing that though our College is small our reach and impact is both national and global. Regularly we welcome to our campus students from across Canada and around the world to take courses. At the same time, we are in the process of admitting new students to our programs, some of whom come from international locations that have been affected by this pandemic. Given how tangible this situation is for St. Stephen's, our top priorities are to work for the safety and wellbeing of the St. Stephen's community and to do what we can to be responsible citizens in not contributing to the spread of COVID-19.

St. Stephen's will work closely with the University of Alberta, our closest neighbour and educational partner, to have a coordinated effort in addressing COVID-19. Today I opened conversation with Andrew Sharman, the UofA VP of Facilities and Operations, who is coordinating the University response to COVID-19. The University is maintaining a COVID-19 Information Page, where recommendations and directives are published. Earlier this week, the University issued a directive that (a) suspended all travel outside Alberta (while conducting University business) for all University students and employees, and (b) that all visitors to the University campus must take all reasonable precautions before stepping foot on campus (esp. if they come from high-risk COVID-19 areas). The precautions in some cases include self-isolating for 14 days.

Directives to St. Stephen's College Faculty, Staff, and Students:

Effective today, and until further notice, St. Stephen's is issuing a travel directive that all St. Stephen's Faculty, Staff, and Students suspend travel outside Alberta while conducting St. Stephen's College business. Students planning to travel from outside Alberta to visit campus (e.g., to take a course) are directed not to come to campus if they (a) have reason to believe they are at risk of having contracted COVID-19, and/or (b) have not been able to take the appropriate steps of self-isolation for 14 days after having travelled to locations designated by Global Affairs Canada as "Level 3" and "Level 4". If a student either cannot or wishes not to attend campus for courses, we will work with our instructors to open possibilities for online class participation. We are not at the point of moving all course instruction online, but that is a possibility that is being discussed.

For those who are local in Edmonton and plan to visit the St. Stephen's College campus, we ask that you take all reasonable precautions and common-sense steps to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This includes things like washing/sanitizing your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, and staying home if you are feeling sick. Anyone who believes themselves to be at risk of having contracted COVID-19, or who have not been able to take the appropriate steps of self-isolation for 14 days after having travelled to high-risk "Level 3" and "Level 4" areas (as defined by Global Affairs Canada), are directed not to come to campus.

Members of the St. Stephen's community-either faculty, staff, or students-are not expected to travel for St. Stephen's related matters if they are not comfortable doing so. If you are uncertain or require advice about any of these directives, please reach out to the College. We are happy to discuss these with you.

For up to date and reliable information about COVID-19, please monitor the following links:

University of Alberta COVID-19 Information Page
Alberta Health Services COVID-19 Information Page
Alberta Government's COVID-19 Information Page
Global Affairs Canada: Travel Advisories
Public Health Agency of Canada
World Health Organization

I will continue to be in touch with the St. Stephen's College community as this matter unfolds, and as further recommendations or requirements arise.

Warm regards,
Fred Tappenden, Principal and Dean
St. Stephen's College, at the University of Alberta