NVIT continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and is taking measures to keep students and employees safe.
NVIT's Summer 2020 Schedule will be open very soon for registration. Please note all Summer classes are scheduled to be delivered through an online format. Specifics as to how instructors plan to teach the courses will be posted at the time of registration.
NVIT remains open to learners Monday to Thursday 10am-2pm. All the services that students and employees rely upon remain available. Interaction among learners and employees is encouraged through email, phone or virtually using Microsoft Teams (requirements include: microphone, camera and internet).
For assistance in applying to or register for Summer or Fall 2020 semesters, connect through the many links on this website or to find a specific NVIT employee, please see https://www.nvit.ca/contact/staff.htm
Applications continue to be accepted for Fall 2020. As the COVID-19 situation is ever changing, NVIT is planning for face-to-face courses for Fall 2020, however prospective and current NVIT learners are encourage to prepare to learn through alternative learning experiences and environments.
Thank you all for your commitment to the health and safety of our communities. Please ensure you are practicing social distancing and stay safe.
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 Instititute 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 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 neccessary 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:
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.
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/
NVIT is monitoring the situation and reviewing the most up-to-date information and recommendations available through regional and provincial medical health officers. For the lastest information in British Columbia, please visit the BC Centre for Disease Control website.
Above all, we ask everyone to be involved in prevention by following the recommendations of health experts: wash your hands often, stay at home when sick, practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette and use social distancing.
We encourage you to seek information from reliable sources, namely health agencies.