RED DEER POLYTECHNIC
Student and employee safety remains paramount as Red Deer Polytechnic prepares for fall term

Red Deer Polytechnic continues preparations for more students and employees to return to its campuses safely this fall. The post-secondary institution has identified several ongoing COVID-19 protocols that it will ask individuals who attend its campuses to adhere to, in an effort to help reduce the spread of the virus:

Required Protocols

• Face coverings are required in all learning spaces (classrooms, labs, studios and shops).
• Within learning spaces, it is often not possible to maintain a two-metre physical distance. In addition, people are in contact with each other in these spaces for longer than 15 minutes,which is the current Government of Alberta guidance on close contacts for contact tracing
• purposes. With these considerations in mind, Red Deer Polytechnic has mandated face coverings in all learning spaces
• Individuals should check in each day they will be on campus using the COVID-19 Contact Tracing and Alberta Daily Health Checklist available on the SAFE RDC App
• Individuals should stay home if they are ill, and complete an illness reporting form if they exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, have had a close contact or have received a positive COVID-19 result
• Individuals should wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer regularly. More than 300 hand sanitizer stations have been installed throughout the campuses

Strongly Encouraged Protocols

• Maintain a two-metre physical distance from one another whenever possible
• Wear a face covering in all other areas on campus, especially when a two-metre distance cannot be maintained
• Consider receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, as it suits an individual's health and wellness circumstances. Red Deer Polytechnic will host immunization clinics on September 8 and 9 on main campus, in collaboration with AHS and Alberta Health

Red Deer Polytechnic continues to do its part to help keep students, faculty, staff and visitors as healthy and safe as possible during the pandemic, through measures such as enhanced cleaning, contract tracing, signage to help direct traffic flow, and frequent communications to provide access to COVID-19 information and resources. The post-secondary institution will not implement rapid testing of individuals who are symptomatic or asymptomatic for COVID-19.

"We remain laser-focused on helping to create a healthy and safe teaching and learning environment on our campuses as we look forward to welcoming more people back to in-person activities this fall, while still managing the situation presented by the COVID-19 pandemic," says Dr. Peter Nunoda, Red Deer Polytechnic President. "During the past weeks, we have carefully reviewed government health measures and practices from other post-secondary institutions, as well as the rising COVID-19 case numbers and positivity rate province-wide. With these factors in mind, we are striving to land in a spot that is best for those on our campuses."

Red Deer Polytechnic will continue to adapt its protocols and operations during the coming months, as needed, monitoring the dynamic situation presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Decisions will continue to be made with the health and safety of employees, visitors and students at the forefront. "In order for us to keep moving forward, it is crucial that we all continue sharing responsibility to help keep each other safe. The Students' Association wants to thank all of our students and the institution for being vigilant as we open up our campus for Fall 2021,"" says Savannah Snow, President of Red Deer Polytechnic's Students' Association.

Red Deer Polytechnic's Fall 2021 Term begins next week. While more students and employees are anticipated to safely attend the institution's campuses in person, the post-secondary institution is also pleased to provide students with greater flexibility in their studies, as more courses than in past years are being offered online or hy-flex. Hy-flex delivery provides students with opportunities to select on- site or online learning, where possible. In some instances where valuable hands-on learning such as shops and labs are key components of the immersive educational experience, students will need to attend classes in person. In addition, services for students will continue to be provided both in-person and online, to allow greater choice for students.