Updates from Medix College on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

September 7th 2021, 12:00pm

Dear Medix & NATS Community,

From the onset of the pandemic, Medix & NATS has made the health and safety of our students, staff, and community our top priority. From active screening and strict safety protocols to limiting our campus populations, we have done our best to keep students and employees safe while delivering on our mission to provide a great education.

In accordance with the recent requirement made by the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health (OCMOH) and Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), Medix and NATS is required to implement a mandatory vaccination policy effective September 7, 2021.

With the steady supply of vaccines in Canada, and increased on-campus activity this fall, we are announcing that Medix & NATS will make vaccinations a condition for students, contractors, and employees who come to the Campus, effective Tuesday, September 7, 2021. Over the coming days we will work & support each one of you, as everyone situation is unique. It is important to note that as of October 30, 2021, only individuals who have proof of full vaccination, and those with approved medical or religion/creed exemptions will be able to enter campuses and other College-owned or controlled facilities.

To be clear, we are not mandating anyone to get a vaccine. We will continue to respect medical exemptions upon presentation of appropriate documentation. Those students, faculty, or staff members who have been granted an accommodation, who are waiting for accommodation approval, or who are waiting to be considered fully vaccinated*, will be required to undergo rapid antigen testing weekly.

We are proud of the work that has been done so far and the commitment from this community to continue to go above and beyond to protect one another, and we are confident that this is one more thing we can all do reduce the risks of COVID-19 and to get back to the things we love.

It is important to note that for the time being, all current public health guidelines and campus protocols will remain in place. We will continue to limit the number of staff and students on campus to just essential work, practical labs and experiential learning.

Although I understand this news may not be warmly received by all, as mentioned above it is a requirement and we must adhere to it. Therefore, I ask for your continued patience and understanding, trusting in good intentions, and to appreciate that these steady steps will help bring us toward a sense of normal once again.

Thank you for continuing to do your part to keep each other safe.

Peter Dykstra, Vice-President

January 12th 2021, 12:00pm

Dear Medix & NATS Community,

Based on today’s announcement by the Ontario government, I wanted to provide an update on where we at Medix College & NATS currently stand:

Post-secondary institutions can remain open for virtual instruction, with limited exceptions where in-person instruction is required (e.g.,clinical training, trades), subject to physical distancing with limited exceptions. In-person teaching (each instructional space at the institution at one time) and in-person examinations cannot exceed 10 persons, with limited exemptions for programs that have been deemed essential to the fight against COVID-19.

As an organization, we encourage and will continue to accommodate all employees working remotely. For those employees who are required to be onsite at the campus, all existing COVID-19 protocols must continue to be strictly adhered to. I also want to sincerely commend and thank all of our essential front line staff whose daily efforts ensure that our campuses continue operating smoothly – we couldn’t do this without you.

I understand that there is some concern around attending in-person instruction at the campus in light of the government extending elementary schools’ remote learning. As a fellow parent, I understand firsthand how our schedules and patience will be challenged in the coming weeks but we must continue to persevere and move forward. Remember, we are essential in this fight against COVID-19 and must continue to train the healthcare and trades workers of tomorrow. I am confident that we will prevail as we have repeatedly demonstrated over the past 10 months just how adaptable and flexible we can be in the face of adversity.

I wish you all continued strength in your work and studies, and good health to you and your loved ones, as we move forward in confidence together.

Peter Dykstra, Vice-President

December 9th 2020, 12:00pm

Dear Medix & NATS Community,

I wanted to send a year-end update regarding our schools.  By now, I was hoping to send a note stating that the pandemic was behind us. However, as I am sure we can all appreciate, that may never be possible. Therefore, I am writing today to answer the question that is on everyone’s mind: “Is school ever going to be “open” the way it was prior to March?

The answer is: of course. In fact, we are and have been “open” this whole time, and we will be “open” in the future. I believe what most people mean when they ask if school will be “open” is whether or not we will be resuming face-to-face, in-class instruction. That may have been our definition of “open” pre-pandemic, however it will likely never be defined that way again, at least not anytime soon. I don’t believe any schools will be the same post-pandemic. They, like us, will continue to make adaptations. This pandemic has forced us to think more clearly about what we want our learners to do on campus vs at home as it relates to their learning.

I want to thank each and every member of our extended Medix & NATS family: you continue to go above and beyond to ensure that our schools continue to fulfill its mission to service with excellence the needs of our communities and the needs of our graduates by matching skills, whether it is done in person or via distance learning.

To that end, I want to share with you all some amazing statistics:

As a team, we have conducted more than 15,000 Zoom meetings, resolved 600+ support calls, delivered 1275 laptops, started 1005 new students, welcomed 17 new team members and, most fulfilling, we have placed 335 students in frontline positions with 297 of them getting hired in their field of study.

The past 8+ months have helped us recognize our potential: together through our resilience and grit, we can overcome any challenge. I would like to take this opportunity to offer a word of encouragement to our students: you deserve to be very proud of your accomplishments in this uniquely challenging year. We appreciate how difficult it has been. Our staff have been working very hard to provide the best possible learning environment and experience under the current circumstances. I commend each and every one of you for without you we would not exist. The character and competence that faculty, staff and students have brought to this period of distance instruction has revealed that we are wonderfully adaptable and resilient. Now is the time for us to take the next step and incorporate the “pros” and remove the “cons” from this experience.  I ask you to please continue to persevere.

As a society, we have all come together with a common goal of protecting each other and by doing so, we in turn protect ourselves. Let us carry that spirit of dedication and collaboration that has brought us this far to move us forward into 2021. Let’s embrace this opportunity, not focusing on the “cons” of this pandemic but rather a turning point where we found our strength and allowed that to make us a better institution for all.

I wish you all a healthy and safe holiday season.

Peter Dykstra, Vice President

June 15th 2020, 12:00pm

I trust by now you have all heard the good news and share in our excitement of the announcement from the Minster of Colleges and Universities regarding a “Phased Approach to Reopening Post Secondary Education in Ontario that Prioritizes the Health and Safety of Students and Staff”.

We’ve been preparing for this eventuality and are ready to proceed with our own detailed plan to reopen that will involve a blended approach to online and in-class learning. This first phase will prioritize lab recovery and graduation requirements. In the interim, only a minimal number of students and employees will be physically present on our campuses at any one time.

Students, faculty and staff who will be asked to report to campus next month will be contacted directly in the coming days. For everyone else, our work-at-home and online programming will continue for the majority of our operations.

I want to emphasize the following: staffing on campus, at this stage, will be restricted to key-related functions for student lab completion and essential services. For further clarity, ONLY those students currently unable to complete their programs because they need physical time in our labs will be considered for this phase.

Due to the tremendous efforts and dedication of faculty and staff, the transition to remote learning over the last 3 months was very successful. We found an array of innovative ways to ensure students continued to receive high-quality programming during the pandemic. That being said, some programs require lab work and other in-person activities to fulfil the programs’ requirements.

Medix & NATS has developed a plan that includes guidelines for physical distancing, protocols for cleaning and rules for using personal protective equipment (PPE).

We will be sharing more details about our plans for limited July lab instruction in the coming days.

Peter Dykstra, Vice-President

April 7th 2020, 4:00pm

In these unprecedented times, I want to take a moment to celebrate the amazing things that have happened over the past few weeks. Our Staff, Faculty, Students and Alumni have demonstrated their ability to adapt to and evolve with these unexpected challenges which has brought to light their strength, ingenuity and resilience. They are our TRUE HEROES. I must say it has been remarkable to watch you all rise up despite the challenges the world has thrust upon you.  To that end, we have created a campaign to highlight the heroic actions you have all been displaying amidst this crisis.  For more details, please visit: medixcollege.ca/heroes

Please note the following updates:

  • Medix Classes will continue to be taught at a distance for the foreseeable future and Campuses will remain closed until we receive the appropriate direction from Pubic Health.
  • Externships/ Placements: All clinical and field placements will remain suspended for students on externship until we receive notification that we are able to resume.  Some of our essential employers are looking at resuming externships with the appropriate protocol – if this applies to your program, Career services will be in touch with you directly.
  • Alumni – If you are a Graduate worried about making student loan payments, please note that your student loan payment obligations will also be put on hold with no interest or principal due until September. https://www.ontario.ca/page/pay-back-osap
  • Employment – We continue to receive requests from our employers in essential services with employment opportunities. If you are in good health and interested, please contact your Career Services Representative for further details on the positions available.
  • Donations – Recognizing the shortage of critical supplies for front line healthcare workers, we’ve scoured our Medix labs across our 3 campuses for lab testing equipment, gloves, masks and other critical PPE, which we have donated to healthcare workers on the front lines to help them get through the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Support for Students – If you are feeling anxious or depressed during this unprecedented time, I would encourage you to reach out to the free, confidential hotline that has been set up by the Ministry:  www.Good2Talk.ca   1-866-925-5454
  • Support for Families – While schools and child care centres are closed, parents can apply for direct funding to offset the cost of buying materials to support their children’s learning: https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-families
  • With students and families across the country looking for online education resources in the wake of COVID-19 forcing school closures, Enriched Academy is providing its online financial literacy course free of charge for students in the month of April. For more details, and to sign up, please visit enrichedacademy.com

We recognize that these are trying times and we encourage you to make use of the supports that are available, remain positive and continue to focus on your future. This is such a crucial time for education and the healthcare industry in particular is in desperate need of talent and will be even more so following this crisis.

In closing, I want to thank each and every member of our Medix College community for your magnificent response to this challenge. I am confident that together, we will emerge a stronger, more resilient organization thanks to all of you. United, we can service with excellence the needs of our communities and the needs of you, our future graduates, by matching skills.

I wish you all continued strength in your work and studies, and good health to you and your loved ones, as we move forward in confidence together.

Peter Dykstra, Vice-President

March 24th 2020, 11:00am

Further to my March 20/20 notice, I first and foremost want to acknowledge the amazing work and dedication of our staff and faculty, particularly those whose roles have required them to be on site to support our students throughout the past week.  To our students, I want to also commend you for rising to the challenge and continuing your programs online despite the circumstances of not being able to be on campus.

Please note the following updates:

  • Premier Ford has ordered all non essential workplaces to close their doors effective tonight at midnight and Colleges & Universities have not been classified as essential therefore all our Ontario campuses will close March 25th until further notice. Essential Workplaces List
  • At this time, only individuals in identified critical positions are permitted on site.
  • All Medix Classes will continue to be taught at a distance for the foreseeable future and more information regarding starting your program, continuing or completing your program will be provided to you in the coming days.
  • IT support has been classified as an essential service and will therefore continue to be available for students. If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please email: [email protected] – please note that due to the reduced staffing protocols in place, we will do our best to get back to you within 24 hours but may take longer. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
  • All clinical and field placements will remain suspended for students on externship until we receive notification that we are able to resume.
  • We have received a large number of requests from our Employers in the community of front-line healthcare workers for immediate positions. If you are in good health and interested, please contact your Career Services Representative for further details on the positions available.

We recognize that these are trying times and we encourage you to make use of the supports that are available, remain positive and focus on your future. This is such a crucial time for education, the healthcare industry is in desperate need of talent and will be even more so following this crisis.

In closing, I am confident we will all recover from this if we work together.  United, we can service with excellence the needs of our communities and the needs of you, our future graduates, by matching skills.

With care and concern for your well-being and in support of your academic studies,

Peter Dykstra, Vice-President

March 20th 2020, 11:00am

Further to my March 16/20 notice, our CCG Team has been working tirelessly to support you all during these challenging times.  First and foremost, our focus continues to be on ensuring the health and safety of our staff, students and our community by adhering to social distancing protocols. I also believe we have a responsibility to our community to continue to support our healthcare system in the province by continuing to train healthcare workers for the days ahead.

Please know that as a Team we recognize the many challenges that you are experiencing. Together we have agreed to be flexible whenever possible and to act with understanding and compassion. We will continue to work with students as we understand this situation is stressful for you. When proposing modifications to the course, instructors are carefully considering potential impacts on you, their students, in mind.

Please note the following:

  • All Medix Classes will begin/resume Monday March 23rd. Classes will be taught at a distance using our Learning Management System (LMS) and/ or other tools. Therefore, during this time, students will not be permitted to come to the Campus.
  • Details for your specific program will be posted under Announcements in the LMS and/or will be communicated to you via email via your program instructor.
  • We recognize that with school and daycare centre closures, attending class during your regularly scheduled time may be challenging. Therefore, attendance will be taken within a 24-hour period to provide you with the time to continue your learning at a time most convenient to you. For greater clarity, all full-time students must complete the daily lesson plan which could include: required readings, attend/watch a live/recorded video lecture, take an online exam as applicable or other daily activities as assigned by your instructor in order to be considered present for that day. You will then have 24-hours to view/complete all required work to be marked “Attended” for that day.
  • Our Campuses will remain open under reduced hours for administrative support with increased protocol for screening all visitors.
  • IT support will be available for students. If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please email: [email protected] – please note that due to the reduced staffing protocols in place, we will do our best to get back to you within 24 hours but may take longer. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
  • All clinical and field placements will remain suspended for students on externship until April 4th. However, if you are onsite with a healthcare facility that requires you to stay and support the front lines and you are willing to do so, please send a note to your coordinator confirming your placement and please remember at all times to stay safe.  Your commitment to your community is appreciated during this difficult time.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone on our CCG Team and our students, for their commitment and resilience during this challenging time. It is so true that character and integrity rise above all else in the midst of a crisis and watching you all step up this week has been a humbling experience for me to witness. I am so honored and proud to lead this organization.

With care and concern for your well-being and in support of your academic studies,

Peter Dykstra, Vice-President

March 16th 2020, 3:00pm

Further to my March 15 notice, preparations are underway by the Career College Group to work through the COVID-19 situation while ensuring the health and safety of our staff, students and community. Please note the following:

  • All classes remain suspended from March 14 to March 22.
  • Beginning March 23 to April 3, many of our courses will be taught at a distance using our Learning Management System (LMS) and/ or other tools, therefore during this time students will not be required to come to campus.
  • Students will be notified on March 20th about their specific program’s plan for distance delivery and accordingly about their schedule for the coming weeks.
  • Effective Monday, March. 17 until at least April 4th, all clinical and field placements will be suspended for students on externship. However, if you are onsite with a healthcare facility that requires you to stay and support the front lines and you are willing to, please send a note to your coordinator confirming your placement and please remember at all times to stay safe.  Your commitment to your community is appreciated during this difficult time.
  • Our Campuses will remain open for small group and individual activities from 9am-7pm Monday-Thursday.

We understand that there is a lot of uncertainty during a situation like this and people have a lot of questions. We will continue to provide detailed updates as often as possible.

 

Stay safe,

 

Peter Dykstra, Vice-President

March 13th 2020, 11:30am

At this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19 in any of our campuses, but public health officials have suggested that we should be actively planning for its potential impact in our communities.

Classes and Other Academic Activities 

  • All classes & clinics will be suspended from Monday, March 16th to Sunday, March 22nd. This is being done so that College faculty and staff can appropriately plan for course delivery, labs, and services.
  • This shutdown will also allow deep cleaning of our labs and classrooms.
  • From Monday, March 23 to Friday, April 3 the decision to run courses will be communicated next week as we prepare and monitor the situation.
  • Campuses will remain open during this time with staff to support administrative duties.
  • Externship students– Students on externship should continue their activities without alteration while following public health protocols, unless otherwise notified by the host site. Any disruptions to scheduled externship should be communicated to the Placement Coordinator.

We are fully aware of the concern and wish to let you know that Career College Group is taking the situation very seriously. We believe it is our role and responsibility to prioritize the health and safety of our students and staff while prioritizing the role we play in supporting our local healthcare communities. Preparations are being undertaken should we be directly affected by the virus.

We hope we will be able to complete our classes without disruption, but we are making contingency plans should there be an interruption based on directives from the Ministry of Colleges & Universities and Public Health. Our primary concern will always be to ensure that our students, staff and community stay safe and healthy. We will follow the direction of Public Health and communicate to all if there are additional measures required. For more information on the latest information, please visit: Coronavirus Public Health Link

Please be aware of risks, take precautions and think about the potential impact your actions could have on others.  If you are sick, please stay home.  Seek advice from healthcare professionals and get the medical information you need to care for yourself and others.

Our Colleges have overcome some significant challenges over the years, and now we must all play our part in addressing a serious public health crisis. I am always amazed by the strength and resiliency of our staff & students in approaching such issues head on and working toward solutions in a cooperative and collaborative manner. I know we can count on you to demonstrate that spirit once again.

Sincerely,

 

Peter Dykstra, Vice President