COVID-19 Relaunch and Response Information

As expected by Alberta Health Services, COVID cases have ticked up somewhat in the past week. The province is using wastewater monitoring to provide a broad picture of infection levels in a community. Edmonton’s trend line can be accessed here by clicking on the Edmonton drop down. The trendline is higher for April than March but lower than January and February.

The numbers for King’s in the past week:

• There were 15 reported student COVID cases, 3 in residence.
• There were 3 reported employee COVID cases.

Vaccines are our best protection against COVID-19. Some additional precautions you might consider:

• Check whether you are eligible for a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine
• Practice good hand and respiratory hygiene
• Minimize close contact with anyone showing cold-like symptoms
• Continue to wear a face mask

The provincial and municipal mask mandates have been lifted (with few exceptions). We continue to recommend that you wear masks indoors in high-traffic areas. Masks are still required in classrooms and labs. Please respect mask protocols for university offices. Please stay home if you have symptoms or have been exposed by close contact with someone COVID positive (even if you test negative). Help us track our COVID numbers by reporting here.

As of April 1 the Government of Canada will be lifting the pre-arrival COVID-19 testing requirement at the border for fully vaccinated travellers. Passengers may still be subjected to random PCR testing at the airport, and travellers will still be required to use the ArriveCan App to enter their proof of vaccination.

Alberta Health Services expects transmission of the virus to trend upwards in the coming weeks. Let’s finish the term strong! We continue to recommend that you wear masks indoors in high-traffic areas. Masks, at this time, are still required in classrooms and labs. Please respect the mask protocols for university offices. If you haven’t received all the vaccine doses you are eligible for yet, please do so today.

Please stay home if you have symptoms. Isolation helps prevent the spread by reducing the number of people you could infect. Following isolation, wear a mask at all times when around others outside the home for up to 5 more days (10 total) If you are an employee and have someone at home who has tested positive, please stay home until that person no longer has symptoms.

The numbers this past week:

• There were 6 reported student COVID cases last week.
• There were 4 reported employee COVID cases last week.

Edmonton’s mask by-law was repealed yesterday. We strongly recommend that you continue to wear masks indoors in high-traffic areas or in areas where you are in close proximity to others. Masks, at this time, will still be required in the classroom and labs. This requirement will be reviewed following a General Faculty Council meeting on March 15.

We have people in our community who are (or care for individuals who are) immune compromised. Please respect the mask protocols for university offices. A mask sticker will be displayed at the office entrance. There are mask stickers available for employees at the mailroom.

The numbers this past week:

• There were 8 reported student COVID cases since the last update on February 24; 1 of which was in residence.
• There were 2 reported employee COVID cases since the last update.

Please be patient and kind to each other as we adjust to these new changes.

The numbers this past week:

• There were 8 reported student COVID cases this past week; none of which were in residence.
• There were 2 reported employee COVID cases this past week.

In preparation for the next phase of the province’s plan to ease public health restrictions, some important updates for our community:

• Proof of vaccination status will no longer be required to be on campus as of Tuesday March 1. Students should plan to return to class in-person unless you have an accommodation through Accessibility Services. If you have questions about a particular class, please contact your professor.
• Check-in procedures at King’s entrances will be discontinued as of Tuesday, March 1. All entrances will be open.
• Masks will continue to be required in our indoor spaces until further notice. We really don’t want a setback as a community. We also have people in our community who are in proximity with or care for immune compromised individuals. Let’s help everyone transition back to community well!
• All employees are expected to return to work in-person as of March 1. Exceptions should be cleared with your supervisor.
• Stay home if you are sick. Please continue to report positive COVID tests. In addition to emailing either CoraLee Conway, Dean of Students (students) or Paula Mitchell, Director of Human Resources (employees), you can now report a positive COVID test online.

On Tuesday, Alberta’s Premier announced the province’s plan to ease public health restrictions. Further clarification from Advanced Education yesterday confirmed that the post-secondary sector is required to retain our vaccination policy protocols until March 1. This policy specifically relates to our check-in procedures at King’s entrances.

There are no immediate changes to our campus procedures.

The numbers this week:

• There were 5 reported student COVID cases this week; 1 of which is in residence and is isolating.
• There was 1 reported employee COVID case this week.

The core symptoms for COVID include cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat and a loss of taste or smell. If you have any of these symptoms, stay home and isolate until the symptoms resolve. It is important that you notify CoraLee Conway, Dean of Students (students) or Paula Mitchell, Director of Human Resources (employees) if you are sick. Due to the highly infectious nature of the Omicron variant, anyone who is experiencing symptoms currently is likely infected with COVID-19.

We will continue to assess the province’s plan to ease health restrictions and how best to chart our way forward in the coming days. We will also continue to watch for any adjustments made to public health measures by the city of Edmonton.

The numbers this week:

• There were 8 reported student COVID cases this week; 1 of which is in residence and is isolating.
• There were 2 reported employee COVID cases this week.

A reminder regarding available supports:

• Counseling Services
• Students – if you need to speak with a counsellor, appointments are free for students and are fully confidential. Book an appointment online. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please use the Distress Line 780-482-4357 or Addictions and Mental Health Access 24/7 780-424-2424 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
• Employees – if you need to speak with a counselor, immediate and confidential assistance is available through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Please call 1-800-667-0993. In the case of a mental health emergency, either contact EAP or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
• Academic Supports
• If you are overwhelmed with your academic work, please connect with the academic supports through the Academic Enrichment Centre (AEC). There are a variety of supports available from study techniques to writing support, study space to group tutoring.
• Wellness Room (N112)
• If you need a place to relax, and recuperate, check out the Wellness Room. It is not only a good space but has many good mental health resources as well.
• Prayer Room (L117)
• The prayer room is designated space for prayer and Bible study. It is open any time the building is open. If you have something you would like prayer for, you can email your prayer request to [julianne.gilchrist@kingsu.ca]Rev. Julianne Gilchrist, Campus Minister. Please specify if your prayer request is confidential.

There are tentative signs that the Omicron variant has peaked in Alberta in terms of overall cases. Hopefully, this will translate into fewer cases within the campus population in the coming weeks. King's case numbers have been steady with no indication of an outbreak. The government expects that many of the COVID restrictions will be lifted by spring.

The numbers this week

• There were 28 reported student COVID cases this week; 4 of which are in residence and are isolating.
• There were 4 reported employee COVID cases this week.

The core symptoms for COVID include cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat and a loss of taste or smell. If you have any of these symptoms, stay home and isolate until the symptoms resolve. It is important that you notify CoraLee Conway, Dean of Students (students) or Paula Mitchell, Director of Human Resources (employees) if you are sick. Due to the highly infectious nature of the Omicron variant, anyone who is experiencing symptoms currently is likely infected with COVID-19.

There was some good news yesterday. There are tentative signs that the Omicron variant has peaked in Alberta. The government expects cases to decline but hospitalizations to continue to increase as we are (hopefully) on a downward trend for overall cases in the province.

The numbers this week

• There were 26 reported student COVID cases this week, one of which is in residence and is self-isolating.
• There are 7 employees who either are at home, as they have been exposed through direct contact, or who have tested positive for COVID.

Some community notes

• Global Awareness Week is next week! Can you identify all the flags hung outside Registry? Stay tuned for an email with more information about how to participate in the week.
• Check out contributions to the Winter-themed photo exhibition in the same hallway as the flags. Do you have a favourite? There are some great photos! Thanks to all who contributed!

As of Tuesday, January 3, there were 15 cases of COVID that had been reported within our student population. Today our confirmed number of student cases is 24, three of which are in residence. Most of these students have not been to campus this term. All of these students are self-isolating. Current numbers of confirmed cases for employees is 5; all of whom are self-isolating.

We need your assistance tracking COVID numbers within our community. We are keeping a close eye on classes and campus spaces for any signs of possible spread.

• Students – Please email Megan Viens, Dean of Students, if you have tested positive or if you are sick with COVID symptoms and cannot get tested.
• Employees - Please email Trina Wilson-Orieux, Director of Human Resources, if you have tested positive or if you are sick with COVID symptoms and cannot get tested.

Campus Protocols Reminder

• Masks are required on campus. Please be aware than bandanas, neck warmers, face shields, and mouth shields are not acceptable masks when on campus. Please also ensure that you are keeping your mask on as much as possible even when in the cafeteria, Level, or workout centre.
• Regardless of access to testing, any person who is experiencing any illness should remain home and not come to campus.
• Employees – If your job does not require you to be present on campus, please consult with your supervisor if you wish to work from home.

Updates from AHS

• Across jurisdictions, the province has not seen classroom-related outbreaks in post-secondary. All outbreaks tend to happen in social, unstructured environments.
• Vaccinations and masks mitigate much of the risk of in-person spaces.
• Alberta is unable to supply the post-secondary sector with personal rapid test kits as they have done for the K-12, due to high demand and supply constraints.
• It is prudent to plan for a 10-30% absenteeism rate. Alberta Health is working on providing some additional guidance regarding outbreaks.

Thank you for your patience as we have been monitoring the COVID-19 situation. King's has decided to continue with in-person instruction, lectures, labs, and other course-related activities on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. This decision has been made for three reasons:

1. In-person learning has been good for our mental health and academic success.
2. King's has demonstrated, as a community, that it has developed good habits for dealing with COVID-19. There has been no transmission of COVID-19 on campus and very few total cases.
3. There are currently no new public health guidelines for the post-secondary sector and post-secondary institutions, in general, have not been places of high transmission.

The Omicron variant is once again changing the situation but the measures we have in place including our vaccination and testing policy, cleaning, and controlled campus access points minimize this risk.

We do ask that you consider the following:

1. Make sure you are up-to-date on the current testing protocols in the province.
2. If you are feeling ill, stay home and take a rapid test. Currently free rapid tests are available at certain pharmacies.
3. We recommend that you use a 3-layer mask as recommended by Dr. Hinshaw and that the mask fully covers your mouth and nose.
4. If you have a question about your class, please contact your instructor.

Requirements for entering campus

To enter campus everyone must have provided proof of full vaccination (two doses) or provide a negative result on a rapid test obtained from a local pharmacy. The rapid tests administered at home cannot be used to enter campus if you are not vaccinated.

If you are sick, you must isolate and take a rapid test. Contact your instructors to ensure you have access to the live stream of your classes and any other resources or plans you may need to keep up with your studies. Consult AHS guidelines on testing.

Positive result

Isolate immediately for 5 days (10 days if unvaccinated) or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer. 

• Do not continue rapid testing. 
• Book a PCR test only if you meet the conditions for being a high-risk person. 
• Notify all close contacts from the previous 48 hours that they should monitor for symptoms and be cautious about going to any high risk settings.
• Inform CoraLee Conway, Dean of Students that you have tested positive for COVID on a rapid test.  

Negative result

Isolate and take second rapid test in 24 hours: 

• If negative, continue isolating until symptoms resolve before cautiously resuming normal activities. 
• If positive, isolate for 5 days (10 days if unvaccinated) or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer

If you do not have access to a rapid test you must isolate for 5 days (10 days if unvaccinated). Contact AHS to see if you can get a PCR test.

Thank you for all the ways you have contributed to keeping King's community healthy this semester. We made it through the entire semester without an outbreak of COVID-19 on campus! Well done!

King's is watching the Omicron variant of COVID-19 very carefully and will keep the community apprised of any additional health measures required by the province. Students, staff, faculty, and visitors to campus are encouraged to get their booster shot when qualified to do so. If you are student coming back to residence after Christmas, please take a rapid test before arriving on campus and send the result to Kiel Jaravata, Residence Life Coordinator.

If you are a new student to King’s, or have been recently vaccinated, please ensure that your proof of vaccination documentation has been added to your student records. Log into your CrossRoad Online Services and select Vaccination Declaration from the checklist of the Personal Information menu.

Merry Christmas!

There have been 6 COVID cases within our King’s community since the start of classes, and no transmission on campus. COVID-19 cases are falling across the province, but a general reminder to please continue to practice good health hygiene and continue to wear masks.

A couple important updates:

• Final Exams – The form your exams will take has been determined by your instructors. For classes that have in-person exams scheduled, all students will be required to write the exam in-person (unless you have a medical exemption to be solely online).  If you have not submitted confirmation that you are fully vaccinated, you will need to submit negative rapid test results to come to campus for the exam. The normal rules for missing exams will be in place. If you are sick, please contact Registry to reschedule an exam. Instructors will not make arrangements to reschedule an exam without direction from the Registry.
• Prep for Winter semester – King’s vaccination and COVID testing policy will remain in place for the winter semester or until we are informed by public health authorities that it is safe to discontinue COVID-19 health restrictions. To access campus, all students must show proof of full vaccination or a negative rapid test. Medical exemptions will be considered and should be submitted to the Registrar. Live streamed lectures will be available however, be aware for budgeting purposes that there will be courses that require some in-person participation such as labs, drama classes, choir, etc.
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) – I expect that we will be able to release a report from the EDI Taskforce in December. We have one last meeting, and the report will be ready to distribute more broadly. Thank you for your patience on this item.

Available supports:

• Counselling Services - If you would need to speak with a counsellor, appointments are free for students and are fully confidential. Book an appointment online.
• Academic Supports – If you are overwhelmed with your academic work, please connect with the academic supports through the Academic Enrichment Centre (AEC). There are a variety of supports available from study techniques to writing support, study space to group tutoring.
• Wellness Room (N112) – If you need a place to relax, and recuperate, check out the Wellness Room. It is not only a good space, but has many good mental health resources as well.
• Prayer Room (L117) – The prayer room is a designated space for prayer and Bible study. It is open any time the building is open. If you have something you would like prayer for, you can email your prayer request to Rev. Julianne Gilchrist, Campus Minister. Please specify if your prayer request is confidential.

Thank you for your diligence and commitment to keeping King's safe and COVID-free. King's is aware of one new COVID case this week, which brings the university's total to three cases since the start of classes. 

It is critical that anyone who is sick or displays symptoms of COVID-19 refrain from coming to campus. Visit Alberta Health Services to determine if you require a COVID-19 test and inform King’s as soon as possible if your test comes back positive. Employees should report the positive test results to the Director of Human Resources and students should report to the Dean of Students. 

• When sick, students should contact their instructors as soon as possible, in order to make arrangements to keep up with classes. Instructors will work with you to make sure you can keep up with your coursework while in isolation. 
• If you live in the same household as a person who has tested positive for COVID, get tested and contact 811 for further advice (if you are not fully vaccinated you must isolate for 14 days).

For those who are partially vaccinated, please get your second dose as soon as possible. As of November 1, those who have not submitted proof of a second dose will not be allowed on campus. This does not apply to those who have a medical exemption or are providing regular negative rapid test results to access campus. 

On Wednesday, October 20 the Students’ Association is organizing a COVID and Flu Vaccination Clinic held on campus from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM in the Oak Room. The COVID vaccine is currently only available to individuals who participated in the first clinic on campus. The flu vaccination is available for free to anyone with an Alberta health card or for a small fee. Questions regarding the clinic should be forwarded to TKUSA VP Student Services.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) provided additional guidance to the post-secondary sector on Monday, September 27. As a sector, we have continued to seek additional clarification for the exemptions from Order 44-2021. King's overall approach to implementing a COVID-19 vaccination policy is consistent with these documents and the advice the university has received.

Order 44-2021 grants post-secondary institution exemptions for physical distancing for learning environments and cafeterias if a proof of vaccination policy is being enforced. For King’s, our entire campus is considered a learning environment and as such is within the scope of the exemptions provided by the CMOH. This includes spaces such as the library, the gymnasium, residences, and the Level.

With the implementation of our vaccination policy:

• Students do not need to maintain physical distancing in learning environments
• Cafeterias are able to be open for indoor dining for students and employees, and are permitted to allow diners with more than six individuals without having to be physically distanced, with individuals who are not their household/close contact. The cafeteria and the Level are not “mask free zones” but rather spaces that while consuming food or beverage individuals can have their masks off.
• Masking is still in place for all indoor places except within private offices and while eating and drinking
• Mandatory isolating is still in place for those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
• Learning activities (e.g. choir) are in-scope as part of the curriculum
• Access to indoor activities must be limited to those who have demonstrated compliance with our vaccination policy

To be in-scope with the CMOH exemption, we must ensure that no one has access to our campus buildings without demonstrating compliance with our vaccination policy. Anyone entering a campus building must pass through a security checkpoint for verification.

• Students and employees will need to scan their King’s ID upon entry. The scan simply provides a “green screen” for admittance to campus if verification is on record. No information is provided to security indicating an individual’s vaccination status.
• Guests must provide proof of vaccination, exemption, or a negative test result at reception.
• As designated learning spaces, all students living in residence must provide proof of vaccination, medical exemption, or a valid negative rapid test result twice per week to remain in residence. We are exploring the possibility of providing rapid testing on campus.

The CMOH also indicates in the exemption that work from home measures are still in place unless the employee is needed on campus for operational effectiveness. That leaves a lot of room for interpretation. If there are questions regarding a particular role and whether to work from home or not, please talk with your supervisor.

Health-related guidance from the province continues to be refined, however the substance of the guidance received is unchanged. As communicated previously, King's will be implementing the Alberta government's Restrictions Exemption Program.

The expectation is that all students who can, will attend class in-person next week. King's is now ready to begin collecting vaccination and test information. Please log into CrossRoad Online Services as soon as possible and select Vaccination Declaration from the Checklist or from the “Personal Information” menu where you will be asked to upload documentation followed by submitting a formal declaration. The different categories of documents are:

1. Documentation of full vaccination.
2. Documentation of a single vaccination. You will need a second dose by Nov. 1, 2021.
3. A valid medical exemption. Contact the Registry if you need help.
4. A valid rapid test result from the previous 72 hours.

If you are unable to submit the appropriate documentation, you will be accessing your classes through a live stream.  The only exceptions will be very specific in-person, socially distanced activities as indicated by your instructor (e.g. a lab, choir, sport class etc.).

King's commitment – whether in person or online – is that students will be able to flourish and be supported in their program of study.

Based on the recent public health emergency declared by the Alberta government, The King's University has taken the following actions:

All classes will be in an online format Mon–Tues September 20–21, and Fri., September 24. Some labs and outdoor activities will still be in-person. Instructor will reach out to students.

The Interdisciplinary Studies Conference (I.S.) Wed, September 22–Thurs, September 23 will be online except for some outdoor sessions. Additional announcements about I.S. will follow shortly.

All classes, labs, and private instruction will be in-person starting Mon, September 27 according to the Restrictions Exemption Program requirements.

King's has been informed by the Ministry of Advanced Education that for the purposes of the recent health measures, post-secondary institutions are considered businesses and, as of September 20, the university can access the newly announced Restrictions Exemption Program. Implementing the Restrictions Exemption Program means the university can operate as usual if those coming to campus have one of the following:

• Proof of vaccination
• Single doses are adequate for proof of vaccination if received 2 weeks before coming on campus
• Double doses will be required after October 25

• Documentation of a medical exemption

• Proof of a negative rapid test result within 72 hours of arriving on campus
  • Rapid tests are available at many local Shoppers Drug Mart stores. The cost is usually $40

The decision to adopt the Restrictions Exemption Program was not made lightly, however it is the very best way for King’s to get back to business as usual and in-person on campus. The strong advice to all students and employees is to get vaccinated as soon as possible if you are not already. This decision will be disappointing to some however the program does allow for individuals with a medical exemption or proof of a negative rapid test result to engage on campus.

The expectation is that student will participate in-person if they can. Those who are unable to participate in the Restrictions Exemption Program as described above will not be allowed on campus but will have access to live-streamed classes. Course instructors will reach out to you about field trips and labs.

It is not King's intent to exclude anyone from the community but the university must also respond to the current situation. Students—if you need to talk with someone, please book an appointment through King’s Counseling services. Employees—if you have questions or need support, please talk with your supervisor or Human Resources.

Finally, there are so many reminders in scripture to not fear but bring everything to God in prayer. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

In response to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Alberta, King's is implementing a campus-wide mask mandate to protect the health and safety of all students, employees, and visitors to the university.

Until further notice:

• Masks will be required in all classrooms (faculty may use face shields as an alternative to masking while teaching)
• Masks will be required in all public spaces, except while eating and drinking or exercising/playing sports
• Masks will not be required outdoors, though social distancing should be observed

It is critical that anyone who is sick or displays symptoms of COVID-19 refrain from coming to campus. Visit the Alberta Health Services website to determine if you require a COVID-19 test and inform King’s as soon as possible if your test comes back positive. Employees should report positive test results to the Director of Human Resources and students should report to the Dean of Students.

This fall, our goal as King’s community will be to responsibly return to high quality, in-person learning. We know that COVID-19 will be with us for a while, but we now have very effective vaccines and better understand how to moderate the risk of transmission. The following safety measures will be in place on campus when classes start in September. 

Based on our faith commitment as a Christian university, our guiding principle is twofold: we all have responsibility for our own heath and how we assess personal tolerance for risks, and we all have a responsibility to show love and respect for each other by being considerate and accommodating. If we all work together, we can have another zero-transmission year on campus.

Vaccination Survey

All students should complete the vaccination survey. This survey will help leadership determine how vulnerable the institution is to COVID-19 and assess the demand for offering a vaccination clinic on-campus. Individual data will only be available to the Vice President Academic and Research, the office of Institutional Research, the Associate Vice President Academic Services & Registrar, the Dean of Students, and the Coordinator of Residence Life. 

Vaccination Paperwork

While we are not requiring proof of vaccination, all students should have access to their vaccination paperwork, especially if you are coming from outside Alberta.

Illness and Classes

All members of King’s community who are ill or display COVID symptoms are required to stay away from campus. Students who become ill should complete the Alberta Health Services self-assessment and get a COVID-19 if required. If a student tests positive, they should inform the Dean of Students immediately. Each professor will work to ensure that students have access to the course material needed so that students can keep up with the materials. Please be aware that professors have limited capacity to support students who are absent from class so if a student is unable to do the work at home to keep up with the material it will impact their success in the course. Long-term illness may result in professors suggesting students withdraw from courses.

Field trip Participation

There will be some field trips this year and some may require proof of vaccination to participate. Those who cannot participate will be provided with alternate assignments.

Masks

Until further notice, masking is require in all public space on campus, except for while eating and drinking, or exercising or playing sports. When entering an office or other confined space, masks should be worn as the default, unless everyone agrees that masking is not necessary.

Air Handling

Most of the classes at King’s are held in the North Academic Building which was built in 2006 and has adequate air handling. All HVAC systems on campus have been inspected in the past year to ensure they are working properly.

Cafeteria

Food services on campus, delivered by Compass Group Canada, is committed to the health and safety of our community. They have increased their hygiene standards and implemented the following policies for their employees:

• Mandatory educational COVID-19 course for all associates
• Pre-shift health assessment policy for all associates 
• Mandatory mask use
• Installation of physical barriers
• Posting signage to assist with managing foot traffic and maintaining physical distance
• Enhancing cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch points

Residence

There will be no floor restrictions or mandatory masking in the residence. Students and staff will work as a community to ensure that people are comfortable and safe in residence. Students who are ill should stay in their rooms and take the online COVID Self Assessment to determine if they need to be tested. If a case of COVID-19 is identified, there are designated rooms for isolation.  Social spaces within the residence are limited to residence students only for the Fall term.

Library and Student Services

The library will be set up for social distancing and therefore masks will only be required when interacting closely with library staff. Masks may also be required when interacting closely with other student services such as the Registry, Centre for Career and Calling, the Academic Enrichment Centre, Student Life, Counseling Services, etc.

Outbreaks

If an outbreak occurs on campus, we are prepared to shift to online learning for a period of up to three weeks. This shift may be for specific courses or for the whole institution. The campus will remain open but added on-campus restrictions may be implemented.

Today Alberta entered Stage 1 for reopening and has already met targets to enter Stage 2 on June 10 provided hospitalizations continue to decline. There is good reason to believe that they will with sustained uptake in vaccinations. More than 60% of Albertans 12+ have now received a first dose of the vaccine.

We are planning for a return to community this fall. What does this mean for your experience at King’s?

1. All instructors and students should expect to have in-person classes and labs according to the academic schedule available on CrossRoad. King's will continue to use technology in ways that support and enrich learning.
2. There will be access to in-person services. King's will maintain parts of its online experience which make service delivery better for students.
3. There will be on-campus activities this fall. We will likely start slowly and increase activities as the community becomes more comfortable with being back in-person. King's is committed to restoring a strong campus community.
4. King's intends to open its residence and cafeteria as well as safe spaces where the university can once again gather in community.
5. Return to play schedules have been proposed for basketball, volleyball, soccer and badminton by the ACAC in consultation with Alberta Health Services.

We are incredibly grateful for the ways our community took care of each other this past year. Likely there will be some adjustments in the fall but we expect that the community will face these challenges with equanimity, courage, and perseverance.

Here are some ways you help King’s thrive in the fall:

• Get vaccinated - Vaccines are key to ensuring a safe return to campus.
• Stay informed – Please continue to check your e-mails often and visit King’s website for updated information. We will continue to keep students and the community informed regarding guidance from Alberta Health Services. 

We are incredibly grateful for the timing of our Convocation celebrations last weekend. The newly announced health restrictions would have made our curbside event even more constrained, if not impossible. The impact to King’s is not large as the university, for the most part, is already in line with the new guidelines.

• All classes must be held in an online format for the next three weeks.
• Practicums, hands-on activity (including the fine arts), labs and field research are permitted within published health guidelines.
• Everyone who can work from home should do so.
• Students are still permitted to live in residence. Individuals living alone can have up to two additional close contacts (however, those close contacts must remain the same until the restrictions are loosened).
• External rentals are subject to the same AHS health guidelines. Questions regarding external rental groups should be posed to Karen Ansink, Manager of Conference Services.

The government envisions this next three week period as a reset. The plan is still to be largely back to in-person classes in the fall based on the roll out of vaccines. As of May 6, every Albertan 30+ can get vaccinated. As of May 10^th, every Albertan 12+ can get vaccinated. Learn more about Alberta's vaccination program. High levels of vaccinations in King's community will allow for a return to the meaningful in-person education.

Congratulations to all students on completing another term and finishing exams. King's will be celebrating its graduating class on Friday, April 30 at 8:00 PM with a live-streamed convocation ceremony and will be hosting a drive-through grad on Saturday, May 1 from 12:00–4:00 PM. Learn more about Spring Graduation Convocation.

A couple community updates:

• Campus hours: Effective Wednesday, April 28, campus hours and building access will be Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Campus access will be through the main front doors during building hours.
• Spring Term 1: Spring Term 1 courses begin on Monday, May 3 and will be held entirely online.

This past week the number of new and active COVID-19 cases rose across the province. There were two individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 in King's community this week. One additional person has self-isolated due to close contact and has tested negative. There has been no transmission of COVID-19 on campus this year.

It is the last day of classes for what has been a pretty irregular year. Well done! King's is so proud of the work we have done together to navigate learning in times of a pandemic.

A few community updates:

• Convocation – The 2021 Spring Convocation ceremony  (Part A) will be live-streamed on Friday, April 30 at 8:00pm. Our Convocation speaker this year is an alumna from 1992, Angela Santiago (nee Vanderschaaf) who is the Founder and CEO of The Little Potato Company. Our Valedictorian speaker this year is Daniel Clark. Congratulations to all the students finishing up the requirements for their degrees this term!
• Curbside – The 2021 Spring Convocation ceremony (Part B) will be a curbside pick up event on Saturday, May 1 from 12:00pm – 4:00pm. Following on the grand success of last year’s curbside pick-up event, this is an opportunity to dress up, take pictures, pick up alumni swag, and be cheered on. The event will be live-streamed and broadcast by FM radio so that families and friends can participate. To get a feel for this event, check out some pictures from last year at curbside grad and headshots! Extra care will be taken to ensure we are within health guidelines.

Coming to campus?

• Give yourself a little extra time – you will need to complete an AHS COVID-19 screening and show your mobile green screen to an attendant at one of the entrances before being granted entrance to King’s. It is super simple and easy to navigate. You can access it by the QR code at an entrance or in the link above.
• Observe health and safety guidelines – You will be required to wear a mask at all times and to follow the arrows and signs directing traffic flows within hallways.
• Accommodations – if you require an alternative to an in-person exam, please notify your professor as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate any reasonable requests.

There were two reported cases of COVID-19 this week, but in both cases the individuals have not been to campus. There has been no transmission of the COVID-19 virus at King’s.

The province has retrenched temporarily as COVID-19 cases are on the rise. You can access information regarding the stronger health measures on the Alberta government website. In a press conference, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hinshaw, described the increased health measures as the last hill.

In compliance with provincial public health measures, here are some important updates for our community:

• Library – will close immediately. Library services will continue virtually or contact free for King’s students, faculty, and staff. To request a book in our library or a book on hold, please email library@kingsu.ca or 780-465-8304 to arrange delivery of your books to the main reception desk. Library staff are available 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. Please call or email with any questions or concerns.
• Indoor fitness – all indoor fitness must be scheduled or by appointment, no drop-ins allowed. Low intensity individual and group exercise are no longer permitted.
• The Level – effective Friday, April 9, all restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges, and cafes are limited to outdoor patio dining, takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery only. The Level will be open for pick-up only. Indoor seating will be closed.

We are so close to the end of the semester! Similar to last semester – classes, labs, and finals will proceed as planned with all safety measures observed. As we head into the last two weeks of classes and exams, a few things to keep in mind if you are coming to campus:

• Give yourself a little extra time – you will need to complete an AHS COVID-19 screening and show your mobile green screen to an attendant at one of the entrances before being granted entrance to King’s.
• Observe health and safety guidelines – You will be required to wear a mask at all times and to follow the arrows and signs directing traffic flows within hallways.
• Accommodations – if you require an alternative to an in-person exam, please notify your professor as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate any reasonable requests.
• Free study pack – starting Monday, April 12, pick up your free study pack from the front and atrium entrances from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Study packs have snacks, post-it notes, highlighters, etc. Study groups should opt to meet virtually or outdoors. Indoor gatherings are not permitted.

There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in our King’s community this semester.

Student-professor connections, robust supports, high quality teaching, and community activity are hallmarks of a student experience at King’s. These opportunities are best experienced in-person and on-campus. As such, The King’s University is pleased to confirm its intent to return to regular operations for the start of Fall Term this September.

“Based on recently updated government vaccination timelines and directive received from the Ministry of Advanced Education, it is looking increasingly probable that students will be able to enjoy a safe return to community this September,” states King’s President, Dr. Melanie Humphreys. “Our goal as an institution will be to strive for near-normal experiences wherever possible. I can’t wait to see more students and colleagues on campus! Learning happens best through relationship and community.”

While some enhanced health and safety measures are likely to remain in place at the start of term, in-person delivery of courses and extra-curricular opportunities will resume in most cases. The university is planning to open all campus residences and food services and will reserve many residence units especially for 2^nd year students who missed out on a classic first-year experience this past year.

A hybrid course delivery model is being prepared should it be needed, however students should plan to attend each of their classes, labs, and exams in person next year. “We don’t know for sure what the future holds, but there is good reason to be optimistic for a better year ahead. We will be prepared for online instruction, if it is required, but are hoping and expecting that 2021-22 will provide far more opportunities for normal activity. On-campus experiences will always respect public health guidelines.” Course registrations for new students will open at the beginning of May.

It is one year since Alberta reported its first presumptive case of COVID-19. What an incredibly hard and challenging year it has been! This week the Alberta government made two announcements that are hopeful. The first lifted some changes for indoor fitness and libraries. And second, a majorly expanded roll-out for the COVID-19 vaccine. By the end of June, if everything goes as planned, all adults over the age 18 will have had the opportunity to have their first dose of the vaccine. Hope springs eternal.

There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in our community this semester. Cases in Edmonton increased slightly this past week. Thank you for your good work in keeping our community safe. Please stay tuned for further announcements regarding next semester.

Important Updates:

• Library – starting Monday, March 8, the library will open again to faculty, staff and students. There is a occupancy restriction of 15% of fire code that is still in place however, no appointments need to be made to access the library.
• Indoor fitness – all indoor fitness must still be scheduled or by appointment – no drop-ins allowed. Low intensity individual and group exercises are now allowed without a trainer.
• Paint night with Bob Ross – back by popular demand! Paint night is on Thursday, March 25 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Supplies will be available for pick up. More information will be available on the Student Life Instagram account.
• Day at the Park – on Saturday, March 20 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., King’s faculty, staff, students and community are invited to spend time at Capilano Park as a part of a Get King’s Walking initiative. Information regarding trails, firewood and pre-packaged smore kits will be provided. More information to come on this initiative.

Faculty and students, welcome to Reading Week, and happy Lunar New Year to all those in our community celebrating this turn of seasons today.

The next break in our schedule will be a President’s Day on Monday, March 15. Additionally, there will be no classes Monday, March 15 and Tuesday, March 16. There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in our community this week. Hope is on the horizon, and information regarding COVID-19 vaccine distribution can be found here.

Important updates:

• Fitness Fee – As regular students have no access to the Workout Centre and this seems unlikely to change during this semester, a $50 fitness and recreation credit (for all non-athletes) will be given as a credit toward fall tuition and fees. Graduates will have the choice whether to have the fee come out of their legacy gift or gifted to benefit future students.
• Outdoor Recreation – next week temperatures will significantly improve and will feel almost balmy compared to the polar vortex we have just experienced. Get outdoors! If you are local, use our outdoor skating rink and firepits. Outdoor social gatherings are limited to 10 people maximum and must not have an indoor component.
• Connect with Rev. Tim Wood, Campus Minister – Tim is around over the break and would be happy to connect with you.

The Alberta government has released a roadmap for how restrictions will be eased over the coming months. Each step is benchmarked to declines in cases and hospitalizations. The Edmonton zone reported the largest decrease in total hospitalizations over the past week: 93 fewer patients, a 26.7 per cent decrease. You can read about the government’s plan here. Step 1 (Monday, February 8) involves changes for restaurants, indoor fitness, children’s sport and performance activities. As usual, the guidance does require some interpretation.

Gathering restrictions

• Indoor social gathering remain the top source of transmission of COVID-19. All indoor social gatherings are prohibited. This includes group study in common areas (e.g. NAB, cafeteria, and the Level). Please ensure that physical distancing is maintained in these areas and that masks are worn.
• Outdoor social gatherings are limited to 10 people maximum and must not have an indoor component. Our outdoor skating rink is open for individual and household use. Shinny, tag and pick-up hockey are not allowed at this time. You are welcome to use the firepits that are available outside the Level as long as health and safety guidelines are being followed. Free firewood is available.

Fitness room – Beginning Monday, February 8, King’s students, staff and faculty will be able to book the King’s fitness room for 1-on-1 fitness sessions. In order to book, you must have either a King’s Athletics Coach or a Certified Personal Trainer present for the entire 45 minute timeslot. Certified personal trainers must be approved by King's Athletics department prior to arriving at their first session. More information can be found on the King’s Athletics Website.

Calendar reminders:

• February is Black History Month! Stay tuned to the Student Life Instagram account (@kingsustudentlife) for features and events.
• Monday, February 8 – Friday, February 12 is Wellness Week.
• Monday, February 15 – Friday, February 19 is Reading Week (no classes).

Over the weekend, there was one case of COVID-19 reported by a student who has been entirely online for classes and has not come to campus. Our continued thoughts and prayers for all those who have been affected by the pandemic – for those who have been ill, lost jobs or have been feeling the strain of social isolation.

Welcome to the third week of classes. It is a different week with the Interdisciplinary Studies Conference (Wednesday January 20 – Thursday January 21) and the President’s Day on Friday. Campus will be open Friday, January 22 from 8:30am – 5:30pm with access through the main (front) doors only.

Alberta’s average number of daily new cases is down again this week. The Edmonton region saw a -16.4% change in active cases between January 6 and January 13, and there has been no new reported cases of COVID-19 within our university community.

We will be returning to our hybrid format for classes starting Monday, January 25. Please refer to your class schedule to determine which of your classes are meeting in-person and please only come to campus on these days to limit the number of people at King’s at any one time. While COVID cases have decreased, a reminder that we are still in the midst of a pandemic. All health and safety protocols are still in effect.

The library will not be available for physical access until the government indicates we can open, but you can access library resources through:

• Zoom for research help: Book an appointment
• Library email (for any library related questions): library@kingsu.ca
• Form to request print materials: Google form

Thank you for following the guidelines for safety:

• Daily screening - if you get a failed screen, please do not come to campus! If you think you received a failed screen in error, please speak with the attendant at the entrance.
• Continue to wear a mask in all public places. Remember to maintain social distancing and proper utilization of masks in common areas such as the Level, Cafeteria, and lounges. Masks can be removed to eat and drink but if you do, you must be at least 2 meters from anyone else.
• Continue to maintain good hand hygiene through proper hand washing and using available hand sanitizers across campus and in the classrooms.
• If you are feeling any symptoms, no matter how small, please stay home and take the Alberta Health Services (AHS) self-assessment or phone 811 if needed.
• Students - Contact and report to Megan Viens (megan.viens@kingsu.ca), Dean of Students, ASAP if you are feeling ill, going to be tested for COVID-19 or are isolating due to potential close contact.
• There is a 10-person limit to outdoor social gatherings, indoor social gatherings are still not permitted.

A reminder of the resources and supports available to you:

1. Check out the Campus Ministries Weekly Schedule – Connect via podcast and posts, lunch zooms or small group. If you have questions about this time or the Romans study the campus is engaged in, please contact Rev. Tim Wood (tim.wood@kingsu.ca),  Campus Minister. 
2. Need to talk with a counsellor? Appointments with psychologist for students are completely free and confidential. You can book an appointment here or through the Student Life office. Employees – contact information for our employee assistance program can be found here.
3. Need some academic support? Please check out the assistance available to you through the Academic Enrichment Centre and the library.

Welcome to 2021 and a new semester! A warm King’s welcome to the new students joining King’s this semester. A couple updates and reminders:

• Classes begin online Tuesday, January 5 (with the exception of the Education students who start January 4) – The beginning of the Winter term will be exclusively online for the first three weeks of January. Labs, choir, and private music instruction will be allowed to occur in-person on-campus during this time. In-person classes as part of the hybrid delivery model will begin on January 25.
• No-classes – In recognition of COVID-19 related stress, there will be three additional days with no classes this semester. The breaks in the academic schedule are as follows:
• Friday, January 22: no classes
• Monday, February 15 – Friday, February 19: Reading Week (no classes)
• Monday, March 15 – Tuesday, March 16: no classes
• Friday, April 2 (Good Friday): no classes
• Monday, April 5 (Easter Monday): no classes

• Deadline Reminders – The Registry staff are here to assist you! Please remember to confirm your registration for winter term courses by Monday, January 11. Last day to add or drop courses is Wednesday, January 13.
• Interdisciplinary Studies Conference (I.S.) – Regular classes will not be held Wednesday, January 20 & Thursday, January 21 in order to accommodate the IS conference. After an awful 2020 that was filled with fear and anxiety, how can we respond? The IS Conference – Strong Communities Strong Individuals – is focused on what resources are available to us to boost our resilience and buffer our identities in such a context. How can community be a response that is filled with courage?
• Justice & Global Relationships Virtual Learning Experience (Micah Centre) – In partnership with World Renew, the Micah Centre is offering a 9-session virtual learning experience open to all faculty, staff and students committed to learning about and promoting justice and advocacy. Although the official deadline has passed, you can still register by following this link. The first session will be this Friday, January 8 at noon, and will provide an orientation to the rest of the semester’s sessions. If you have further questions about this opportunity, please email Jonathan Nicolai-deKoning, Micah Centre Program Director.

A reminder to pace and be kind to yourself and others during this time. If you need assistance, please do access the supports available to students and employees. Students – if you are isolating for any reason, please do notify CoraLee Conway, Dean of Students as soon as possible.

Congratulations! We are so close to finishing what has been a very unusual and challenging semester. For those of you with exams left, strength and peace to you!

A few reminders about next semester:

Orientation for new incoming students

Online Orientation on Moodle is now open to new students. Welcome to King’s! We are glad you are here! There will be two Zoom sessions for new students on January 4 (Meet the Deans – 11:00-12:00 PM; Student Services – 2:00-3:00 PM)

Classes begin online Tuesday, January 5 (January 4 for Education students)

The beginning of the Winter term will be exclusively online for the first three weeks of January. In-person classes, as part of the hybrid delivery model, will begin on January 25. This will reduce the number of people on campus immediately following Christmas break and allow us an opportunity to assess the post-break situation. Labs, choir, and private music instruction will be allowed to occur on-campus during this time.

New! President's Days

In recognition of COVID-19 related stress, there will be three additional days with no classes next term. The breaks in the academic schedule are as follows:

• Friday, January 22: no classes
• Monday, February 15 – Friday, February 19: Reading Week (no classes)
• Monday, March 15 – Tuesday, March 16: no classes
• Friday, April 2 (Good Friday): no classes
• Monday, April 5 (Easter Monday): no classes

Buy your books for next semester

The pop-up bookstore is open from 11 AM - 4 PM throughout this week (Dec. 14-18). Be prepared for starting next semester online by picking up your textbooks now.

King's is happy to report that there have been no new cases of COVID-19 reported in our community. Each case was followed carefully, determining whether the individual had been on campus recently. All the health and safety guidelines were followed and there has been no transmission or outbreak on campus.

Yesterday the province announced additional public health measures effective Sunday, December 13. King’s heard directly from the Alberta government, under the guidance of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, that classes, labs, and finals are able to proceed as planned provided all safety measures are observed. The number of in-person exams next week are limited as a number of classes have been assigned take-home exams.

As we head into exam week, a few things to keep in mind if you have an in-person exam:

• Give yourself a little extra time – you will need to complete an AHS COVID-19 screening and show your mobile green screen to an attendant at one of the entrances before being granted entrance to King’s. It is super simple and easy to navigate. You can access it by the QR code at an entrance or in the link above.
• Observe health and safety guidelines – exam rooms have been set up to provide for the recommended physical distancing. The gym will be set up with individual tables so that each student has their own table for in-person exams. You will be required to wear a mask at all times and to follow the arrows and signs directing traffic flows within hallways.
• Accommodations – if you require an alternative to an in-person exam please notify your professor as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate any reasonable request.
• Free study pack – pick up your free study pack from the front and atrium entrances from 8:30-4:30 this week and next. Study packs have snacks, post-it notes, highlighters, etc. Study groups should opt to meet virtually. In-person group study is not permitted by the province at this time.

 In compliance with provincial public health measures, here are some important updates for our community:

• The fitness centre will be closed effective December 13.
• The Library will be closed effective December 13. If you need access to materials, please contact the library staff at library@kingsu.ca.  
• The Level Coffeehouse will be closed exam week. Friday, December 11, will be the last day for a Level coffee this semester.
• The outdoor skating surface will remain open but physical distancing between people from different households must be maintained at all times.
• Starting December 13, all employees who are able to work-from home and are not required to be on campus to perform their duties must work from home. Please contact IT services if you require additional equipment to facilitate working remotely (support@kingsu.ca). King’s will remain open for access to all essential student services.

With the additional provincial public health measures, much of our usual festivities have been curtailed. If you need assistance at this time, please do contact the counselling supports available to students and to employees.

In the past two days, we have had three new unrelated cases of COVID-19 reported in our community. All of these cases have involved students who are predominately learning online and we have yet to experience any community transmission on campus. There is one class which will move online until Monday, December 7.

These are the first new cases reported in a week! Truly something to celebrate with the uptick of cases in Edmonton. Thank you for all the ways you are keeping our community safe and for continuing to maintain physical distancing, mask wearing, and good hand hygiene.

We are in the final days of the fall semester. Remember the province has restricted all indoor social gatherings in any setting – residence, home, workplaces! Indoor socializing must be limited to people in your household. As per AHS guidelines, studying and group work at King’s is permitted but all public health measures must be followed.

Yesterday, Alberta declared a state of public health emergency and announced new measures to protect the health system and reduce the rising spread of COVID-19. Read about the latest public health measures.

King’s heard directly from the Alberta government, under guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health, that there are no further measures or restrictions the university at this time. At this point, Alberta’s post-secondary institutions are not causing transmission concerns and can continue to deliver education in their current form while adhering to health restrictions such as limited class size and cleaning protocols. Good news in this regard – the roommates of our one positive case in residence, to date, have tested negative for COVID. There has been no transmission.

There was one additional case reported yesterday. The student is a commuter and all protocols have been followed. Three in-person classes will move online until December 2 or 3, depending on the class.

Some important updates for our community:

1. Athletics: In compliance with guidance from the province, all team practice is suspended as of Friday, November 27.
2. Indoor social gatherings: No indoor social gatherings are permitted. Although it’s unfortunate, thanks to TKUSA and the King’s Commuters for taking the initiative and canceling the December 5^th Christmas party event. It was the right thing to do.
3. Outdoor social gatherings: Outdoor social gatherings are limited to 10 people and must not have an indoor component. The ice rink will be open at the beginning of December and the fire pits continue to be available with an ample supply of free wood for your use. Physical distancing must be maintained at all outdoor gatherings.

Thank you for your continued efforts to keep our community safe. The absence of transmission on campus indicates that King's is doing well at following the guidelines that are in place and these practices continue to make this a safe place to be.

King's has almost made it through the weekend without any additional reported cases. There has been one positive COVID case reported since the last update on Wednesday, November 18. All protocols are being followed. There will be one in-person class that will move online until Dec 1.

For each of the cases that involve individuals who had been on campus, our community has responded responsibly.

• Professors were able to quickly provide lists of students who were in class on the days of concern.
• Professors were able to confirm that physical distancing occurred in class and masks were being worn.
• Affected students responded positively to the notices and acted responsibly.
• For labs that were impacted and in which physical distancing was not possible, students and faculty had extra protective equipment to reduce risks.
• When music was impacted with a positive case, we were able to confirm the rules were being followed and safety measures were effective in preventing transmission.
• Our athletes suspended practice to ensure no spread amongst teammates or members of other athletic teams when an athlete tested positive.
• This past week we had our first positive case in residence. The individual is isolating away from roommates and the roommates are isolating and are being tested as well. We do not have any additional updates regarding test results at this time.
• In the case where the positive student had spent the most time on campus, we were even able to follow-up with students who interacted with the individual outside classes.

We are closing in on the end of this term. While there is much to be concerned about with numbers rising in our city, there is much to be grateful for at King’s. In an AHS townhall this past week with the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Johnson reinforced that the keys to safety are to maintain physical distancing, wear masks and wash hands. AHS does not have a threshold number of cases for which they would recommend moving to solely online and to date there has been no transmission on campus.

Here are some important updates for our community.

Decisions:

1. End of the Fall term and exams – We will continue to monitor cases and follow protocols very carefully. At this time we have no reason to alter the hybrid model we are currently using. You will be informed as soon as possible of any changes to in-person classes or exams.
2. Starting the Winter term – The beginning of the Winter term will be exclusively online for the first three weeks of January. In-person classes as part of the hybrid delivery model will begin on January 25. This will reduce the number of people on campus immediately following Christmas break and allow us an opportunity to assess the post-break situation. Labs, choir, and private music instruction will be allowed to occur on-campus during this time.
3. No-classes – In recognition of COVID-19 related stress, there will be three additional days with no classes next term. These days will are: Friday, January 22; Monday and Tuesday, March 15 and 16.
4. President’s days – Friday, January 22 and Monday, March 15 will be treated like statutory holidays for all King’s employees and will be days off with pay in addition to regular vacation-wellness-personal time. This will mean that every three weeks or so there will be a long weekend.

Thank you for all the ways you are keeping our King’s community safe. Remember to stay home even if you have the most minor of symptoms and get tested.

In the past two days King's has received notification of three additional positive cases of COVID within our student community. Each of the cases are unrelated to each other. One student has been entirely online this semester, one is a commuter student, and one is a resident student.

Important actions King's has taken:

• All precautions have been taken with regards to cleaning protocols and classes.
• The students’ professors and in-person classmates have been informed. There are eight in-person classes that have moved online for the duration of the quarantine.
• We have implemented our protocols for the residence. The COVID positive resident has been moved to a quarantine floor and the roommates are self-isolating and will be tested.

In dealing with COVID cases in classes and labs, the greatest determinant of how disruptive the case might be and the level of risk of community transmission is whether physical distancing was properly practiced in the room. Of the emails we have sent out, very few students have indicated that they were in close contact in the class even though some have still opted to isolate and get tested out of an abundance of caution.

Alberta Health Services defines close contacts as anyone who has had contact with a case for more than 15 minutes and within two meters or the length of one hockey stick. People are considered close contacts even if they were wearing a mask.

Strictly adhere to the 2 meter rule and the risk of transmission is significantly lowered and people will not have to isolate even when cases occur in the community.

We are thankful that all those who were in classes with our prior COVID positive cases tested negative for the virus! As cases in Edmonton rise, King's will likely be dealing with more positive cases in our community. We must remain vigilant to prevent the spread of the virus. In addition to distancing, remember to limit your social gatherings, practice good hand hygiene, and always wear a mask. If you are not feeling well, please stay home, get tested, and notify CoraLee Conway, Dean of Students.

Over this past weekend there was a 3^rd positive case of COVID-19 in the King's community. All the usual protocols regarding cleaning and classes were followed. The student’s professors and in-person classmates were notified and two in-person classes were moved online until Wednesday, November 18.  Our guidelines for safety, to date, have proven effective. There has been no subsequent outbreaks.

Thank you for following the guidelines for safety:

• Continue to wear a mask in all public places. Remember to maintain social distancing and proper utilization of masks in common areas such as the Level, Cafeteria, and lounges. Masks can be removed to eat and drink but if you do you must be at least two meters from anyone else.
• Continue to maintain good hand hygiene through proper handwashing and using available hand sanitizers across campus and in the classrooms.
• If you are feeling any symptoms, no matter how small, please stay home and take the Alberta Health Services (AHS) self-assessment or phone 811 if needed.
• Students - Contact and report to Megan Viens, Dean of Students, ASAP if you are feeling ill, going to be tested for COVID-19 or are isolating due to potential close contact.
• Keep your cohorts small. AHS is currently recommending limiting yourself to no more than 3 cohorts: your household, your school, and one other sport or social cohort.
• There is a mandatory limitation of 15 people at any social or family gatherings in the city of Edmonton and surrounding communities.
• Alberta Health Services has updated their voluntary measures as of Nov 6 to recommend that there are no social gatherings in private homes.

King's will continue to respond to cases and respond to changes as they occur. While we will notify you if there are major changes to our institutional guidelines, if there is an outbreak, or there are new regulations from the province, we will no longer be notifying the whole community every time there is a new case.

The province announced new public targeted health measures for the Edmonton area to protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19. These new restrictions do not affect in-person classes at King's. In order to continue to follow all the guidance and health restrictions of Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Chief Medical Officer of Health, King's is taking the following actions across the whole campus:

1. All employees who by job function can work from home are encouraged to do so. The goal is to reduce the number of employees in a workspace at a time.  Rotating personnel in offices that are two or more persons is also a viable option.
2. Masks need to be used at all times (except when alone in a workspace or with an appropriate barrier). This includes in-person meetings, hallways, the Work-Out Centre, and gatherings spaces such as the Level.
3. There is a new 15-person limit on family & social gatherings which includes lunches, award ceremonies, retirements, or anywhere where there is mixing and mingling.

King's has our second confirmed case of COVID-19 in our student body. Please remember – if you feel at all ill, please do not come to campus. You may feel confident that you are able to weather COVID but someone you interact with may be more vulnerable.

Important things to know:

• The student who has tested positive for COVID-19 is a commuter student. There are no additional concerns for students in the residence at this time.
• All precautions have been taken with regards to cleaning protocols and classes.
• The student’s professors and in-person classmates have been informed. There are three in-person classes that will move entirely online for the duration of the quarantine (until November 23^rd).

A reminder to students to contact and report to CoraLee Conway, Dean of Students, if you are feeling ill, going to be tested for COVID-19 or are isolating due to potential close contact.

Please remember to maintain social distancing and proper utilization of masks in common areas such as the Level, Cafeteria, and lounges. Masks can be removed to eat and drink but if you do you must be at least two meters from anyone else.

Keep in mind the following the guidelines for safety:

• Continue to wear a mask in all public places. The King's community has been doing a great job at maintaining this practice.
• Continue to maintain good hand hygiene through proper handwashing and using available hand sanitizers across campus and in the classrooms.
• If you are feeling any symptoms, no matter how small, please stay home and take the Alberta Health Services (AHS) self-assessment or phone 811 if needed.
• Keep cohorts small. AHS is currently recommending limiting yourself to no more than 3 cohorts: your household, your school, and one other sport or social cohort.
• There is a mandatory limitation of 15 people at any social or family gatherings in the city of Edmonton and surrounding communities.
• Alberta Health Services has updated their voluntary measures as of Nov 6 to recommend that there are no social gatherings in private homes.

As of today, King's has one confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in our community.

Important things to know

• The student who has tested positive for COVID-19 is a commuter student. There are no additional concerns for students in residence at this time.
• The student and roommates will quarantine for a period of 14 days.
• All precautions have been taken with regards to cleaning protocols and classes.
• The student’s professors and in-person classmates have been informed. There are two in-person classes that will move entirely online for the duration of the quarantine.

Any person directly impacted through contact with a confirmed case will be contacted by AHS as a part of their contact tracing protocol.

Thank you for following the guidelines for safety

• Continue to wear a mask in all public places.
• Continue to keep proper hand hygiene through handwashing and using available hand sanitizers across campus and in the classrooms.
• If you feel any symptoms, no matter how small, please stay home and take the AHS self-assessment or phone 811 if needed.
• Keep your cohorts small. AHS is currently recommending to limit yourself to no more than 3 cohorts: your household, your school and one other sport or social cohort.
• There is a new mandatory limitation to 15 people at any social or family gatherings in the city of Edmonton.

Remember to reach out to Student Services if you need anything at all.

We are deep into the semester and into midterms and papers. Let me encourage you to stay connected with your peers and your faculty. It has been my experience that student success is often related to whether students attend and are engaged in their classes. In this disconnected time, it is so important to be present with each other. I would encourage you to turn on your camera on Zoom. It really helps foster a sense of connection to talk to people and not a blank screen.

A couple news items for you:

Center for Career and Calling - Whether you have fixed ideas about your future, have a vague sense of direction or have no clue what you want to do after graduating from King's, the Centre for Career and Calling is ready to help you each step of the way. Book an appointment with the Career and Vocational Counsellor. 

Help stop the spread – Edmonton is seeing a rapid rise in active COVID-19 cases. We want to stay open! Thank you for doing your part in helping us maintain the option of having in-person classes. Starting Oct 8, Alberta Health Services has recommended the following voluntary measures:

• Keep social gatherings small – no more than 15 people
• Wear a mask in all indoor settings except in a workspace like an office or cubicle where you are safely distanced from others, or an appropriate barrier is in place
• Limit your cohorts to no more than 3: your household, your school, and one other sport or social cohort

Welcome to the first week of October and thank you for your patience as we continue to work out some bugs with our new hybrid model. Please find updates for the winter semester and international students below:

1. Winter semester: Classes will continue to be held in a hybrid format next semester. The re-design work of course schedules in order to enable both in-person and online courses is well underway. Registration for Winter semester courses is open however, there will be changes. Watch for an email from Registry in early December announcing all changes are complete.
2. International students: King’s has been approved as a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) by provincial and federal authorities to receive international students based on our COVID-19 readiness plans starting October 20, 2020. COVID-19 readiness plans require a 14-day quarantine period upon arrival in Edmonton. Please direct any questions you may have to Courtney Radatz, our International Student Admissions Counsellor.

A reminder of resources and supports available to students:

1. Check out the Campus Ministries Weekly Schedule – Connect via podcast and posts, lunch zooms or small group. If you have questions about this time or the Romans study the campus is engaged in, please contact [content:52].
2. Need to talk with a counsellor? Appointments with psychologist for students are completely free and confidential. You can book an appointment online or through the Student Life office.
3. Need some academic support? As we head into the thick of the semester, please check out the assistance available to you through the Academic Enrichment Centre and the library.

Welcome to the second week of classes! It is so good to be back together again, in-person and online! Thank you for your patience as we worked out some minor glitches and bugs last week. A HUGE shout-out to faculty and staff who have worked incredibly hard to see this semester launch successfully!

Give yourself some grace this semester as there is a lot that is new. Adaptation can be both exhilarating and exhausting. Take it one step at a time. Lean in with your professors and your peers. The good thing, and perhaps the not so good thing, is that everyone is having to learn a new way of being and doing things. If you need some assistance, please do connect with your professor and check out supports available to you as students.

We want to stay open! Thank you for doing your part in helping us maintain the option of having in-person classes. A couple reminders:

• Masks – the use of masks is required in public spaces such as hallways, meeting rooms, washrooms, and classrooms. If you need accommodations for wearing a mask in the classroom, please talk with your professor. Face masks are not required in non-public spaces such as non-public offices or private student residences. Please do follow guidelines regarding mask wearing.
• Daily screening – if you get a failed screen, please do not come to campus! If you think you received a failed screen in error, please speak with the attendant at the entrance.
• Notification – If you are feeling ill, are isolating or being tested for COVID-19, please do email @Megan Viens, Dean of Students, so we can ensure that spaces you have been in get a deeper clean if necessary.
• Lockers – all of the lockers have been emptied. If you left contents in a locker (from last year), it needs to be requested and collected no later than October 5, 2020. Contact @Facilities. This is the final notice. Anything left beyond October 5 will be considered abandoned, will be donated or disposed of.
• Social-distancing – help us with maintaining social distancing or physical distancing this semester. If you go out with friends in your cohort or bubble, check out whether the place has good public health protocols in place for distancing and cleaning.

Way to get connected whether you are on-campus or online:

• Connect Rooms – Online Student Engagement Assistants are launching online connect rooms to meet together and have fun. MarioKart, JackBox games, and more! Check the YAPP app for dates, times and who to contact.
• Campus Ministry – Each week there new ways to explore your spirituality. Join the ministry team on Wednesdays for the King’s Romans Gathering
• When: Wednesday, September 16, 2020 12:00 PM-1:00 PM. (UTC-07:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada)
  Where: https://kingsu.zoom.us/j/96784244623?pwd=WUhTOXZnTlJyVHRLVy9nZExGUjhtUT09

• The Level – is now open and serving coffee! Yay! We are hoping for the new furniture to arrive by the end of the week. Feel free to eat your breakfast or lunch in either the cafeteria space or the Level.
• Firepits & Patio heaters – despite the evident cooling trend, the weather is actually supposed to be fairly reasonable this fall. Two firepits have been built on the grounds just outside the Level for student use. There is lots of firewood stacked near the firepits as well. In addition, two patio heaters have been added to the picnic benches outside the Level and two by the apartment benches. Please enjoy these additions to our outside spaces!

Message from Dr. Kris Ooms, VP Academic and Research

Soon we will commence our fall term at The King’s University. Kings’ motto, from Colossians 3:16, is “teaching each other in all wisdom.”  We will need “all wisdom” to support each other as we teach and learn during this pandemic.

I want to provide some information to help you envision what your term will be like. This is not an exhaustive list, but I hope it helps you know what to expect. If you have specific questions, please contact your professor, read your course outline (available from your professor soon), or visit the course Moodle site (active by the first week of September.) 

On behalf of the whole institution, I thank you for partnering with The King’s University this term. It has been challenging for us to prepare, and challenges will continue to arise as the term unfolds. But if we prioritize kindness, forgiveness, and love, we will have a fulfilling semester that will encourage flourishing even in this. 

Message from Prez Mel

Greetings from King’s! We are looking forward to welcoming you to classes and to campus in a few short weeks!

I enjoyed connecting with both new and returning students through the Townhall with the President Zoom event hosted by our Admissions department last week. You had a lot of good questions! We put together a document - COVID-19 Guidelines: Campus Life, Services and Safety - addressing your questions about campus safety and access, events and activities, residences, campus ministries, student services and health protocols.

The health and safety of our students and our community are a top priority. We are dedicated to meeting or exceeding Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines for post-secondary institutions. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer. See you soon.

This fall, King's plans to capitalize on the university's strengths as a small, close-knit campus and provide new ways to serve students with an unmatched university experience. More specifics will be decided upon in the coming weeks and will be released as soon possible. Here's what has been decided so far:

Courses

King's will offer courses online with the opportunity for in-person classes and lab experiences at least once per week. The health and safety of our entire university community is a top priority and we will adhere to all recommendations from the Government of Alberta and its Chief Medical Officer.

Many students are looking forward to on-campus experiences but some, by circumstance or preference, will want all components of courses online. Online alternatives are being developed for all in-person course components and you will have full choice with regard to what your education at King’s looks like this fall.

For those eager to set foot on campus this fall, King's is making some big changes to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone on campus.

In-person classes will be limited to a maximum of 30 students and held only in rooms that allow for at least 36 square feet of space per person so students won’t have any trouble ensuring they keep 6 feet away from others at all times. Where possible, the same classroom will not be used for consecutive classes to allow for cleaning between occupancies.

Course timetables are being modified and extended over more of the day to incorporate extensive health and safety measures. While the university is working hard to minimize the number of courses being rescheduled, in the event that your course schedule is modified, you will be notified of the change.

Making Sure Your Learning Experience is Awesome

King's will provide a top quality learning experience for each student. To achieve this, the university is investing in video conferencing technology for every learning space. Professors will also receive training and support to ensure online components of courses are interactive and engaging.

For some, adapting to learning online can be challenging. King's Student Life team is already busy planning Fall Orientation to assist all students in a smooth transition to university life. Fall Orientation will also be used to provide additional support to students in learning how to navigate various online platforms used for course instruction, student support appointments, and community building.  

Supporting Students

Last year we opened the brand new Academic Enrichment Centre (AEC) which is dedicated to helping every student excel in their studies. All AEC services, from supports for writing and studying, to disability accommodations and testing, will continue to be available.

This fall will also see the launch of a new Career and Calling office. There is a heightened level of uncertainty in our world and King's wants to support each of you through discerning God’s call for your life and providing guidance in your pursuit of a fulfilling career.

King’s has always been committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our students and that is not going to change. Free student counselling services will be available through in-person meetings and online sessions.

Residence

There will continue to be space for some of our students to live on-campus this fall. We’re consulting with provincial health authorities to determine how we can proceed with residence safely and will provide more details soon.

Athletics

It is with great regret that King's announces there will not be Eagles athletics programming in the fall semester. We are working with the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference and staff in our athletics department to sort out what this means for our student athletes and the possibilities for resuming team sports in January 2021.

Student Co-curricular Opportunities

Our Student Life team is hard at work exploring safe and responsible ways to provide awesome experiences on-campus. However, the feasibility of some opportunities is dependent on health and safety guidelines defined by the Province. Announcements about these plans will be released as they are developed.

We are hard at work enhancing outdoor campus spaces and are in conversations with the Students’ Association regarding the Level Coffeehouse and student clubs. More details on how we will create a safe and enjoyable campus experience for students will be shared soon.

The province of Alberta has announced Stage 2 of its Relaunch Strategy effective this Friday, June 12. The King’s University continues to follow all the guidance and health restrictions of Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

The King’s University Employee Return Strategy is as follows:

Phase 1: Limited Return (June 12)

Some limited return of employees. Campus overall remains closed however some re-entry is permitted with respect to the workplace and visitors. 

July is traditionally a vacation month in which not much institutional business occurs on campus. I encourage this to be our same pattern this year both for the sake of our reduced facilities staff and for each of us who will need to be well-rested to take on an unusual fall semester. Please do take time to personally prepare for a return to on campus work. For some, a return to campus is exciting and long overdue. For others, there is a lot of fear and anxiety about a return to campus at this time.

Phase 2: Partial Return (August 4)

This phase will see the partial return of employees as required and some caution re-opening of the facilities and events. 

This phase sees a return to work on campus, phasing in employees whose work most requires them to be on campus and or accommodating those for whom working at home is a hardship. There are limits to shared office spaces, directional hallways, and no business travel. Each of the phases requires 2 meters distancing at all times.  Where 2 meters is not possible, face masks are encouraged. Face masks will be made available for employee use.

Phase 3: Full return with caution (August 24)

This phase is characterized with a full return with limitations for gatherings and social-distancing. 

Phase 3 is a generalized return to work though some may still choose to work from home for personal reasons. Online meetings are still preferred but resumption of face-to-face meetings is possible where social distancing is possible. Business travel will still be restricted. International personal travel will require a 14-day isolation period directly upon return.

For each of these phases, anyone who is experiencing symptoms will be required to stay home and report to HR. Please see the DRAFT Return to Work Guidelines posted with a full description of each phase. Each of the phases can be retracted should an outbreak occur. Information regarding outbreak procedures will be made available at a later date.

This fall, King's plans to capitalize on the university's strengths as a small, close-knit campus and provide new ways to serve students with an unmatched university experience. More specifics will be decided upon in the coming weeks and will be released as soon possible. Here's what has been decided so far:

The province of Alberta has announced Stage 1 of its Relaunch Strategy. Each stage of relaunch will depend on our ability to keep infection numbers low. Edmonton has done a fantastic job of crushing the curve! And we want to continue to do so!

In a meeting with the Council of Post-secondary Presidents of Alberta, Dr. Marcia Johnson (Chief Deputy Medical Officer of Health) suggested that the guidelines for businesses may be most relevant to small institutions. We do have a strategic advantage over larger institutions with large class sizes however, we will continue to proceed with an abundance of caution and follow all of Alberta Health Services guidelines. Here are some important updates for our community:

Decisions

Change to building access: Beginning Tuesday, May 19, exceptions will be made for those employees for whom it is a personal or work-related hardship to continue to work from home, to return to campus between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM under the following conditions:

1. Permission to be on campus will continue to be cleared through the Executive Leadership Team.
2. All employees must continue to check in and sign out at Reception.
3. Limited occupancy of offices (1 person at a time for shared office space)
4. No congregating – meetings should still occur via Zoom.
5. Appropriate social distancing is observed.
6. Support our essential services staff by following guidelines announced on SharePoint (e.g. Facilities regarding cleaning schedules).

Thanks to everyone for doing your part and staying home! Thanks also for your understanding and patience as we continue to adapt to our constantly changing context.

Class of 2020 Curbside Pick-Up

This is an announcement for our newly minted alumni! On Saturday, May 30^th we want to provide you with the opportunity to pick up your degree parchment, take pictures and receive other “graduation-in-a-box” goodies we have curated for you! Look for details coming to you via your King’s email and our alumni Facebook page. If you are unable to come to campus for curbside pick-up, your degree parchment, alumni socks, and other treats will be mailed to you.

Congratulations to our students who are finished, or very close to being done for the semester. And a big congratulations to all those graduating this year!

There have been some silver linings in the past couple weeks, with the stories from professors and students in the Community in Quarantine podcast. Kudos to Dr. Dudiak for his contributions to a highly successful Last Lecture event for graduating students. Thanks also to Drs. Patrick, Sandle, Peet, Kim, Segger and Prior for participating on the faculty panel. Last Lecture was recorded and can be found on the podcast link. Thanks to Community Relations for sponsoring this event!

If you have a story you think the community should hear during this time, please contact Tim.Wood@kingsu.ca. We would love to hear what you are learning or how you are serving the needs of your family and community. If you are struggling, know that you are not alone. Reach out. Call one of your peers, a faculty or staff member or a friend. If you need to speak to a counsellor, you can set up a phone session through the JaneApp.

Convocation & grad celebrations

King's continues to follow the advice of our public health officials regarding COVID-19. I had announced in an earlier communication that Convocation would be postponed until the fall semester. Regardless, we intend to celebrate, and are so proud of our graduates. We know that you will do amazingly well and contribute significantly to a better world. More information about how we want to celebrate with you will be coming soon!

Financial assistance for students

The new Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) will provide students with $1,250 per month from May until August. Students with dependents or with disabilities will be eligible for an additional $500 per month. Students can earn an additional $1,000/month and still be eligible for CESB. More information about CESB to come.

The federal government announced a new Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG) for students who choose to volunteer rather than work during the upcoming months. The grant will be for “students helping the fight against COVID-19” this summer and will eligible for $1000-$5000, depending on your hours. More information about CSSG to come.

Additionally, there have been changes made to the Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP) increasing low income grants to $6,000 per year, and weekly student loan levels from $210 to $350.

We are currently connecting with some members of our donor community in an effort to raise support for our Student Emergency Fund. Should you be confronted with significant financial challenges, I encourage you to connect with our Manager of Student Finance and Scholarships, Angela Schumuland, Student Accounts and Awards Coordinator to explore options for financial assistance, including possibly accessing Student Emergency Fund support.

Campus News

All spring term classes will be conducted in an online/alternate delivery format. The last day to apply for Spring Term 1 is April 28. Classes begin May 4, 2020. Check out spring term course offerings here.

King's is deep into planning for the fall semester. We are moving forward in faith that the coronavirus will be substantially under control in Canada and federal and provincial governments will give permission for in-person delivery of courses. All signals are that the government is anxious, as we are, to get the economy re-started and students back to school. In an abundance of caution, we are exploring options for limiting larger class sizes, extending the class schedule in order to avoid congestion in the hallways, offering some courses in alternate or online formats, and learning all we can about supporting students in hybrid, alternate, or online classrooms. We’ve got your back! If you have ideas as to technology platforms or ways we can improve the student experience, don’t hesitate to share them to covid-19@kingsu.ca.

Registration for fall term is underway and classes are filling up! Be sure to register prior to June 15 to ensure your place.

Finally, plans are underway for a refresh and renovation of The Level Coffeehouse. Stay tuned for information from TKUSA regarding the fresh new vibe including new layout, furniture and paint job.

Students - The last day of classes is April 17. Hang in there! King's is dedicated to finishing the semester with grades as the pass/fail system that some institutions are defaulting to could cause problems for students with respect to scholarships, transferability, and entry into graduate school. If you are struggling academically, please contact your professor. Your professors are adjusting their courses and will do what is best for students, all the while maintaining the integrity of your courses.

King's will hold final exams however they may be in the form of take-home exams. Your professors will be in contact with you regarding the specifics of your final exams.

If you are struggling with anxiety or are emotionally drained at this time, please contact King’s counselling services. You can set up a phone session through the JaneApp. Also, please check out the other available Student Services and Supports; listen to Campus Minister Tim Wood interviewing your professors on the new podcast, Community in Quarantine; or consider attending a virtual event.

We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Alberta very closely to make every effort to protect the safety of our community and continue to provide the best experience possible for our students through the remainder of this term.

Students – there will be a communication shortly about completing classes and final exams. We are dedicated to finishing this semester with grades. Some assignments and finals will be altered in order to accomplish this, but you can expect that you will have letter grades on your transcript from this semester.

Here are some important updates for our community.

Decisions

1. Change to building hours and access: Beginning Friday, March 27 at 4:30pm, King’s campus will be closed to all except essential service employees. Building hours for essential services employees will be 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday–Friday. The campus will be closed on weekends.
2. Students living in the tower residence will be able to continue to access residence 24/7 through the card-locked residence entrance. No other students will be permitted in the main campus building after Friday, March 27 unless they have made an appointment with a counsellor or the Academic Enrichment Centre.
3. Campus security: Starting Friday, March 27, security personnel will be stationed on campus 24/7.
4. Cafeteria: The last day of operation for the King’s cafeteria will be Tuesday, March 31.

Thanks everyone for doing your part and staying home! It doesn’t come naturally. All of the decisions being made are in the interest of the health and safety of our community. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we adapt to the current situation. Stay safe!

We are now three days into online classes and most of our faculty and staff have transitioned to working from home. King's appreciates everyone’s efforts and patience during the last number of days. It is encouraging to see how everyone has pulled together as a community to support one another. Here are some important updates for our community. 

Decisions:

1. Change to building hours: Beginning Monday, March 23, the King’s campus will close at 8pm.

2. Student Lockers: Personal belongings that remain in student lockers can be left there until the current threat of COVID-19 subsides. If you wish to remove your belongings now, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. When coming to campus, please bring your student ID and check-in with security at the front desk upon arrival. In addition, please remember to practice appropriate social distancing at all times.

3. Counseling: Is available by phone session. Please make an appointment through JaneApp.

From all reports, it appears that we have had a successful first day of transitioning our classes to an online format. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen in a short amount of time. Thank you, students, for your patience through this challenging time and know that we continue to do our best to provide you with a quality King’s education over the next few weeks.

Decisions:

1. Campus is now closed to all visitors.
   
   • Our campus is closed to all visitors and is now only to be accessed by students and employees. No outside groups will be permitted to use our campus facilities including churches and other external clients.
   • For outside contractors coming to campus, the office receiving this contractor support must provide authorization to campus security.
   • Parents assisting students moving out of residence will be permitted but should limit their time on campus and assigned move-out schedules must be followed.
2. Our campus gymnasium and Workout centre are now closed to all users.
3. Students moving out of residence before March 31, 2020 are eligible for a credit.
   • A credit of $500 will be available for all residence students who officially check-out of residence on or before March 31, 2020.
   • The credit will be applied to student accounts and can be used for payment of tuition, fees, or residence for the 2020/2021 academic year.
   • Graduating students will receive a $500 refund by cheque.
   • At this time, there will not be any refunds on food plans.
   • More detailed information will be provided directly to residence students.
4. All employees who are not deemed to be providing an essential on-campus service should be working from home. 
   • Faculty who must use their office space to deliver their courses may continue to do so.

Please be reminded to continue to practice appropriate social distancing at all times.

This update is specifically directed to current students. All faculty met this morning to be instructed on how to deliver their courses online. King's plans to have classes resume in an online format beginning Wednesday, March 18. You will hear directly from your professors regarding your courses.

King's is continuing to meet or exceed all recommendations made by the Chief Medical Officer of Health and of the Ministry of Advanced Education. The University will remain open and student services will be accessible in order to assist you in finishing your semester.

All entry to King's campus during regular business hours will be through the main front entrance. All other entry doors will remain locked.

About student services on-campus:

• The Library will be accessible by appointment between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM To book an appointment, please call 780-465-8304 or email library@kingsu.ca.
• The Workout Centre will be accessible from 7 AM to 11 PM , with a strict limit of 5 users at any time. You are expected to practice adequate social distancing. It is also your responsibility to take extra measures to clean the equipment that you have used. This service is being provided on a trial basis.
• The Music Practice Rooms will be available from 7 AM to 11 PM. If you are using a piano, please wipe the keyboard down before and after use.
• The Computer Science lab and N203 computer lab will remain open. These labs will be cleaned four-times a day. Labs are restricted to coursework only. Computer terminals are spaced for appropriate social distancing.
• Counselling Services are available in person and by phone sessions. Please make an appointment through Jane App.
• The taking of Grad Photos will be discontinued on campus at this time. We will notify you if it is possible to have your grad photo taken at the photographer’s downtown studio or wait until fall semester.

For students living-in-residence:

• The Residences will remain open and adequate food services are available through the Cafeteria. If you choose to go home for the remainder of the semester, we need you to check out formally. Please follow the steps outlined in the Residence Life Coordinator’s COVID-19 Update and Residence email.

Regarding events:

• Graduation Convocation will be rescheduled to be held during the fall semester. We will notify you as soon as possible regarding the date.
• Spring term courses will be offered online. Stay tuned for registration details.

Check your institutional email and The King’s University website regularly for updates! 

Questions regarding this communication can be directed to covid-19@kingsu.ca.

In response to the news that K-12 schools, all licensed child care facilities, out-of-school care programs and preschools are now closed and in consultation with the Ministry of Advanced Education, we are taking the following actions:

Decisions:

1. The University will remain open as will access to all essential student services. However, all employees, not designated as essential on-campus services – see list below, who are able to work from home starting on Monday, March 16 are encouraged to do so. Please inform your supervisor that you will be working from home.
2. All employees who by job function can work at home but are not set up to do so, please come in Monday and we will make alternate arrangements for equipping you to work from home. If you are immune suppressed or in any way ill, please stay at home!
3. If you are a supervisor of a student employee you will be responsible for contacting the students to communicate expectations for their ongoing work.

Faculty – If you need to stay home either because of health reasons or childcare, please contact your Dean. Arrangements are being made to resource you from a distance and further information will be forthcoming.

Student employees – Please check your King’s email address for further instruction from your supervisor about your work expectations and schedule.

Ongoing Meetings

There are a number of campus meetings scheduled for Monday. If you are in one of these groups, expect to be on campus.

1. Pandemic Response Team – Meeting scheduled for Monday, March 16 at 8:00am (Oak Room)
2. VP Academic & Research & Deans – Meeting scheduled for Monday, March 16 at 8:00am (AEC conference room)
3. Faculty – Meeting scheduled for Monday, March 16 at 9:00am (Atrium). Faculty, if you are immune compromised or ill, please do not come in. We will work to assist you in your preparations for online delivery of your classes either asynchronously or connect you to meetings via Zoom.

Essential on-campus services

• IT Services
• Residence Life staff
• Food services
• Cleaning Staff
• Registry
• Security

Essential Functions (not required to be on-campus):

• Payroll
• One member of emergency management team
• Finance 
• HR 
• AEC – Accessibility
• Associate VP Institutional Research
• Website/communications function
• Admissions 
• Executive Associate to the VPAR
• Executive Assistant to the President and Board

As recommended by Alberta Health Services, if you have symptoms and recently travelled outside of Canada or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19, stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions. The three key signs of the virus are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. As Health Link is experiencing high call volumes, you may have difficulty getting through. Please be persistent and do not go to the ER unless the situation is an emergency. If you need immediate attention, call 911 and inform them that you may have COVID-19.

If you have more questions, please remember to review credible sources:

www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx
www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx
www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/covid-19-be-prepared.html
www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen

Questions regarding this communication can be directed to covid-19@kingsu.ca. 

The COVID-19 response team has made the following decisions based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Alberta and in consultation with the Ministry of Advanced Education. In a statement from the Council of Post-secondary Presidents of Alberta;

As Alberta post-secondary Institutions, we have an important role to play in helping prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will take a responsible and proactive approach that balances the goal of supporting our students in achieving their learning objectives with the safety and health of our learners and institutional team members. While the decisions made by each institution will be unique to the institution’s needs and context, we are collectively utilizing alternative delivery models and solutions as well as staffing models to ensure that our doors remain open. We recognize that the decisions we make today will need to be sustainable into the months ahead. Because the situation regarding COVID-19 is dynamic, we will continue to follow the advice of public health agencies as it is updated. 

Decisions

1. All classes and labs will be suspended for Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17 in order to provide faculty with the opportunity to prepare for the delivery of their courses online. Education after-degree should refer to forthcoming updates from the Dean of Education.
2. Starting Wednesday, March 18, classes will resume online. We will be using the Moodle platform. Detailed information will be provided in due time.
3. The University will remain open and student services will still be accessible.
4. Monday and Tuesday will be regular work days for all employees of the university. Accommodations may be arranged to work from home starting Wednesday, March 18 in consultation with their supervisor.

King's wants to provide maximum opportunities for safety and is taking all measures to safeguard our campus residence community. Should a student choose to leave residence at this time, please contact the Residence Life Coordinator to make arrangements.

We will endeavor to ensure that the quality of The King’s University education remains consistent during this challenging time.

Please check your institutional email and The King’s University website for updates.

As recommended by Alberta Health Services, if you have symptoms and recently travelled outside of Canada or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19, stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions. The three key signs of the virus are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. As Health Link is experiencing high call volumes, you may have difficulty getting through. Please be persistent and do not go to the ER unless the situation is an emergency. If you need immediate attention, call 911 and inform them that you may have COVID-19.

If you have more questions, please remember to review credible sources:

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx
https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/covid-19-be-prepared.html
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen

Questions regarding this communication can be directed to covid-19@kingsu.ca.

The King’s University's pandemic response team has since met regularly over the last few days. The team met this morning to discuss how the institution needs to prepare for the evolving COVID-19 situation. King's is currently in the process of creating plans for the possible delivery of classes online and will be prepared to respond to the recommendations from Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Government of Alberta as they are communicated. 

King's recognizes how quickly this situation is evolving and is being proactive in our preparedness to respond. While the worldwide risk of contracting COVID-19 is rising, AHS continues to state that the risk of contracting the virus is low in Alberta and as such, the university is continuing to run classes today. 

Please note that the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge have temporarily suspended classes today due to yesterday’s recommendation from AHS restricting gatherings of more than 250 people. At this point they are planning to resume classes on Monday in a format that aligns with AHS recommendations.

The pandemic response team will be meeting again later today (March 13) to further assess the situation and will communicate necessary updates regarding ongoing university operations at that time.

As recommended by Alberta Health Services, if you have symptoms and recently traveled outside of Canada or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19, stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions. The three key signs of the virus are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. As Health Link is experiencing high call volumes, you may have difficulty getting through. Please be persistent and do not go to the ER unless the situation is an emergency. If you need immediate attention, call 911 and inform them that you may have COVID-19.

If you have more questions, please remember to review credible sources:

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx
https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/covid-19-be-prepared.html
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen

Questions regarding this communication can be directed to covid-19@kingsu.ca. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 a pandemic with sustained risk of further global spread. While the risk in Alberta is still low, we are dedicated to safeguarding the health and well being of our community and our neighbours.

COVID-19 Response at King’s

The King’s University has been closely monitoring the evolving status of COVID-19 and has participated in information briefings at the provincial and federal level - planning accordingly. King's strategies align with best practices and reflect an abundance of caution. Currently the university has no reported cases of COVID-19.

Decisions

1. All out-of-province and out-of-country class and athletics trips are suspended until further notice.
2. All large events hosted on King’s campus—involving more than 50 persons, requiring space insufficient for social distancing (1-meter space between persons), and involving external guests—are suspended until further notice (see complete list of postponed events below). Convocation remains scheduled at this time but is under close review.
3. Classes will continue as scheduled at this time. However, we are suspending all guest speaker visits who either have engaged in international travel or have been sick over the past two weeks.

As recommended by Alberta Health Services, if you have symptoms and recently traveled outside of Canada or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19, stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions. The three key signs of the virus are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Do not go to the ER. If you need immediate attention, call 911 and inform them that you may have COVID-19.

Questions regarding this communication can be directed to covid-19@kingsu.ca.

Campus events - suspended until further notification:

• On-campus Athletics ID camps
• Donor Appreciation Night
• Academic Enrichment Centre Grand Opening
• King’s Encounter Weekend
• King’s View Friday
• ENVS field trip to UNBC
• Athletics Banquet
• 40^th Anniversary Choir Concert
• Honduras Water Project

Alberta health officials continue to note that the risk of contracting this virus remains low. King's is continuing to monitor Alberta Health Services guidelines and will follow or exceed all recommended precautions. 

Recently a small group of students returned from a class trip to South Korea. The students did not visit any affected areas but in an abundance of caution, they have been asked by King’s to voluntarily self-isolate. The request to self-isolate is taken as a precautionary measure to safeguard the health and safety of everyone on campus and exceeds the Alberta Government’s recommended actions. Should a student become ill, this will no longer be a voluntary measure.

The Alberta government continues to state that to protect against the spread of any virus you should:

• Wash your hands often and well,
• Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes or mouth with unwashed hands,
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched,
• Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill,
• When sick, cover your cough and sneezes and then wash your hands.

For more information please visit Alberta Health Services.