Thank you for your continued patience while we navigate through complexities of alternative curriculum delivery and remote services for students and employees. NVIT continues all efforts to support the health, wellness and safety of our NVIT Community. To support social distancing efforts and remote learning and working initiatives, NVIT has implemented the following:
Campus Hours: NVIT Merritt and NVIT Burnaby: Monday to Thursday from 10am - 2pm
Financial services are available on campus on Thursdays from 10am - 2pm
To support learners, NVIT's computer labs and Library are available during campus hours. The computer labs and Library are set up to support social distancing. NVIT's facilities and equipment are for the use of registered NVIT students and NVIT employees. Public use of facilities and equipment is restricted at this time.
All face-to-face teaching is paused while course deliveries transition to alternative delivery methods to support students to continue and complete courses and programs. NVIT remains open and committed to student completion this term.
To Students and Employees at NVIT,
Thank you for your patience and understanding during a very challenging and complex time. Nicola Valley Institute of Technology continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and has the health of the NVIT Community at heart.
NVIT is focused on identifying ways to maintain social distancing on campus to minimize close contact with each other. These developments follow the guidance of BC’s Provincial Health Officer. Where reasonable, NVIT is transitioning to alternative methods for teaching and learning. These methods may include online delivery for the rest of this term. Given the diverse needs of our diverse programs and learners, it will take some time to implement a plan for all programs, courses and learners requiring accommodation support. Regardless of delivery method, classes will continue on the days and times as scheduled.
Until further notice, our campuses will remain open and services will continue to be provided. The institute will continue to review as necessary while the situation continues to evolve.
Our Academic team will be working with faculty to best determine how to address learning and assessment for courses with practicums, labs and practical applications such as field trips and trades shops. For students enrolled in dual credit courses with their high school, our Deans will connect with your local school district authority. Students will learn of the changes affecting them through their instructors as the changes are implemented.
It is important to note that NVIT is not aware of any coronavirus COVID-19 among employees or students at any NVIT campus at this time. At this point there is no direction from the Provincial Health Officer to close campuses and the risk of infection remains low. Friday’s announcement is the latest in a series of steps we have already taken as we have followed the guidance of the Provincial Health Officer and health authorities. In response, other recommendations from government that we have put into place include:
All events over 250 people are cancelled
Many NVIT events have been cancelled and new events will not be scheduled until further notice
All NVIT graduation ceremonies are currently postponed
Facilities bookings on campus by external parties is suspended until further notice
All NVIT work-related travel outside of Canada is cancelled until further notice.
Staff and students returning to NVIT from travel outside of Canada (this includes the US) are asked to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to work. NVIT is working with government and other agencies to determine best approach and implications for those who self-isolate.
Increased cleaning at all campuses, additional hand-sanitizers, and information to prevent the spread is shared.
Sincere appreciation to all students, and employees for your hard work and understanding during this challenging time. It is our desire to ensure students complete their studies this term.
Please visit nvit.ca for updates.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during a very challenging and complex time. NVIT continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and is taking measures to keep students and employees safe.
NVIT’s Leadership Team will be Meeting on Monday morning to further discuss additional measures on how we can maintain social distancing on campus to minimize close contact with each other. We continue to align with the guidance from the Provincial Health Officer and are working with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. At the same time, we want to ensure students can continue their education and complete the winter semester.
Based on the recommendations from the Ministry and Provincial Health Officer, NVIT will remain open and classes will remain as scheduled in a face to face manner. Faculty and students are asked to practice social distancing to maintain a 6 feet radius from each other.
NVIT has and will continue to postpone or cancel events that bring large crowds together. Daily classroom gatherings do not bring 250 people together in any given space. Cancelled events include the Spring Bazaar, facility bookings, field trips, Elders Goody days etc. A decision on graduation will be made soon.
Instructors are asked to continue to hold classes as scheduled. Some students may be requesting an alternative delivery method and I would encourage employees to work with these students to assist them in completing their course work. As per the faculty meeting last week, instructors are presently preparing to move to alternative delivery methods in the event such a decision is made in the coming days.
NVIT services and supports
Both the Merritt and Vancouver campuses, services and supports will remain open and available to students and employees, while taking measures to support social distancing. We realize that this is a very stressful time for many students and employees. Regular supports are still up and running such as the Success Center, Enrolment Services, and Human Resources. All the services that students and employees rely upon remain available.
I want to personally thank everyone in our NVIT community for your ongoing cooperation, flexibility and understanding. We can get through this by working together.
Our focus remains on the health and safety of our community while ensuring our students have opportunities to succeed.
Sincerely
Ken Tourand, NVIT President
Maintain Cleaning and Disinfecting Practices
Academic Plan
AVP, Deans have meetings scheduled with faculty and IT on Thursday March 12 to plan for getting to the end of the term or exam period without students being physically on campus. Anecdotally, faculty are looking at Bluejeans, Moodle and Zoom as a means to achieve this.
Travel
NVIT is currently not implementing a travel restriction. Please self assess your NVIT related travel requirements with your direct supervisor and reschedule as needed. You are under no obligation to fulfill any travel plans in place.
3rd Party Contracts
NVIT will review plans used by our 3rd party contractors, Campus Living Centers and Helewu Daycare and BCIT to ensure continuity between organizations.
Reduce your risk
Please review the attached poster Stop the Spread of Germs
Good Communication
NVIT is participating in a weekly update on COVID 19 through its participation with the BC POST SECONDARY EMERGENCY PLANNERS' GROUP. We will continue to share updates from this meeting.
NVIT is sourcing information from:
BC Center for Disease Control - http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)
Interior Health - https://www.interiorhealth.ca/Pages/default.aspx
Ministry of Health - https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/
World Health Organization - https://www.who.int/
Starting in the 2019 tax year, the T2202 (Tuition and Enrolment Certificate) replaces the T2202A. The most notable change is that all Canadian Institutions must collect Social Insurance Numbers and file the T2202 with the Canada Revenue Agency. Beginning in November 2019, we are asking all eligible students enrolled in courses in 2019 or earlier to provide their SIN.
T2202
By the end of February each year, NVIT must file a T2202 electronically with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). You can access your T2202 no later than the last day of February for the prior tax year.The CRA requires you to provide your SIN to NVIT for the purpose of the T2202.
Submitting your Social Insurance Number
To submit your SIN, or verify that we have the correct one on file:
1. Log onto mynvit
2. There will be notification on the main page prompting you for more information
3. Visit Student Self Service
4. Add your SIN by clicking on the SIN chicklet
Any questions, please contact Enrolment Services or call 1.877.682.3300
Staff and students should be able to login to myNVIT, computers, Moodle and email using one password. The password previously reset for Moodle will likely not work, instead, you should use your myNVIT password.
myNVIT passwords can be reset by clicking here. Instructions to assist are available below in TECH TIPS.
Finally, if you can’t access or the password reset does not work, please contact Jen Heard at jheard@nvit.bc.ca or 250.378.7893
Please see attached for staff and students on how to access your email account and office.com account
At approximately 6:00 am on Thursday, December 5, 2019, NVIT was hit by a cyberattack known as RYUK. The RYUK malware involved in this attack has the capacity to perform data exfiltration. Given RYUK’s ability for data exfiltration, NVIT believes it necessary to advise current and past students, employees, contractors, and other NVIT stakeholders that personal information including (but not limited to): T4s, T4As and T2202As along with Student Financial Aid and Student Disabilities documentation, employment and service agreements/contracts may have been accessed and potentially shared.
Information normally found on the above-mentioned documentation may include (but is not limited to): names, birthdates, physical and virtual addresses, social insurance numbers, login and password information, and medical information (primarily for students with disability accommodation requests and student loans). Additionally, members of the general public who visit NVIT campuses to access their personal email and undertake other digital activity on NVIT’s computers and networks in the Learning Commons and Library may also have had their personal information breached by way of RYUK. NVIT’s integrated management system (Colleague) was not breached by the RYUK malware.
At this time, NVIT is continuing to restore networks servers and systems. While restoration is in process, NVIT is undertaking a forensic audit in an effort to determine what, if any, personal information was extracted. That said, once the forensic audit is complete, NVIT is cautious as to the ability to confirm or deny with any level of certainty if, and to what extent, personal data was accessed and/or shared.
While NVIT continues to restore its technologies and further assess the potential privacy breach, we strongly encourage all who have visited the Merritt and Burnaby campuses and used technologies while on site for educational, business and personal use to engage in proactive measures to mitigate individual risk. At a minimum, this includes protecting yourself by:
Changing all of your passwords. It is recommended that you change your passwords regularly. This includes your banking accounts, social media accounts, bill accounts, etc.
Creating strong passwords. There are several great tips for creating strong passwords. Click here for 8 helpful tips.
Be cautious when using public networks and public computers. Avoid accessing or storing personal information when using open WIFI or a public computer. Information shared over a public network may not be secure.
Make sure your operating system has the latest updates and security patches. This includes your smartphones and tablets.
Use an antivirus protection program on your personal devices. There are a variety of services available to safeguard your computers.
Stay Alert. Watch for suspicious emails or files. If in doubt, do not click or open.
Shop Safely. Ensure the online store URL has a https at the beginning and check for a padlock icon in the browser bar. This indicates a verified secure website.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication where available.
Keep personal information private. Be careful not to share too many personal details on social media. Keep your profile private so details like address, birthday, etc are not easily found.
Order a free credit report. You can access your credit report for free from Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada by mail, fax or over the phone. It is recommended to monitor your credit report every six months or so.
Equifax
Credit Report Request Form
1-800-465-7166
www.equifax.com
TransUnion
Consumer Disclosure Request Form (Credit Report Request)
1-800-663-9980
www.transunion.ca
Once NVIT’s systems are fully restored and the forensic audit is complete, likely early 2020, NVIT will send an update to current and past students, employees, contractors and NVIT stakeholders who may have had information exposed. Communications will be sent by way of the last physical address on file. For updates related to the RYUK cyberattack, please visit nvit.ca and/or connect to NVIT’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat).
The configuration damage caused by the RYUK malware currently prevents use of our phone lines and email. If you are a current or past student, employee, contractor, or NVIT stakeholder wishing to update your physical address information or ask questions please do so by direct messaging NVIT through its social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat).
Please be advised that, for this semester only, a temporary email has been set up for students to submit assignments and exams to Academic office. If you & your Instructor have NOT determined a means to submit your work, please email the address below with your work attached. In your email include your instructor's name, course number (ex: ENGL 110)
NOTE: The date and the time of the Gmail inbox will be the date and time of submission provided to your Instructor. Email assignments and final exams to nvit.academictemp@gmail.com
Please note that a temporary email has been set up to assist those that may wish to submit resumes or connect with our human resources. Email: nvithr.temp@gmail.com
Students and Faculty go to http://moodle.nvit.ca to sign in with your last used username and password. Computers for Student use are available in the Learning Commons at BOTH campuses. Tremendous efforts continue as technologies are restored and we encourage learners to check with IT staff on campus for direction as to which systems and networks are available. WIFI is available in the Merritt learning commons and service in Burnaby continues to be in progress.
At approximately 6am on Thursday, December 5, 2019, NVIT was hit by a cyberattack known as RYUK. This has resulted in a major interruption to NVIT's network, including phones, internet and email. NVIT’s IT team, as well as additional support from external partners, is working through the weekend to secure all on-campus work stations, restore the network and investigate the source of the attack.
As we learn details, we will update our staff, faculty and students via NVIT.CA and NVIT’s social media channels.
The RYUK virus appears to only impact computers with a Microsoft Windows Operating system.
NVIT's integrated information system (Student, HR, Finance) Colleague, has not been compromised. Although access to Moodle has been disabled, the Moodle system has not been compromised. Connectivity to Office.com continues to be enabled; however, we recommend you NOT access Office until our network is operational.
At this time, we recommend safeguarding your personal devices. Here are a few tips to do so:
1. When can I access myNVIT, including email?
We are working to restore access and will provide regular updates via NVIT.CA
2. Why was NVIT attacked?
The goal of the RYUK virus is to get businesses and governments to pay ransom to cyber criminals.
3. Has any of my information been compromised?
NVIT’s IT team is investigating the entry point of the virus and scanning our file servers. We will provide any important updates in this regard via NVIT.CA.
4. Will campus be open on Monday?
YES - Campuses and classes will be as usual.
5. How can I submit my final assignments?
If possible, we encourage you to connect directly with your instructor. If not possible, please contact NVIT via social media and we’ll assist.
6. I have an exam on Wednesday but all of my study material is on Moodle. How will I prepare for an exam?
BURNABY campus will have an all campus gathering for students and faculty to connect on Tuesday December 10 at noon in the common area.
MERRITT campus students and faculty are encouraged to connect in person at the Long Night of Procrastination on Tuesday Dec 10 starting at noon in the Learning Commons.
7. How will I know if I can use a computer on campus?
NVIT will be posting updates to NVIT.CA and NVIT social media platforms. Critical updates and information will be sent through the Emergency Notification System.
8. Were all of the workstations infected?
As a precautionary measure, all NVIT workstations will be scanned, wiped and restored as a precautionary measure.
9. Will the final exam schedule change as a result of the network outage?
No planned changes to the schedule.
Final Exam Schedule posted on Social Media
10. Will I have to register for my courses again?
No. NVIT’s student information system was not impacted.
11. Will payroll be delayed?
No. We do not expect any delays or interruptions to payroll.
12. Could my iPad be infected?
No. The virus only attacks Microsoft devices.