Return to Campus

In alignment with the guidance from BC’s Provincial Health Officer, Sterling College is planning for a full return to on campus classes in Fall 2021. Planning is underway and being developed based on the guidance of the COVID-19 Return-to-Campus-Primer produced by B.C. Post-Secondary Institutions with the support of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training. Our plans for our return to full on campus studies will continue to evolve as we progress through the B.C. Restart Plan and after the B.C. COVID-19 Go-Forward Guidelines for the post-secondary sector are updated this summer. Sterling College will be releasing more details as soon as these plans are ready.

On March 8, 2021, B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, advised post-secondary institutions to begin planning for a full return to on-campus teaching, learning and research in September 2021. Dr. Henry expressed deep confidence that the combination of mass immunization contributing to community immunity, the application of revised health and safety protocols in the COVID-19 Go-Forward Guidelines for B.C.’s Post-Secondary Sector, and the regular review and updating of multi-layered institutional safety plans will support the safe resumption of on-campus activities.

Drawing on our experience over the last year and a half, in particular with the extensive use of online learning and introduction of the professional learning management platform Canvas and Zoom, Sterling College will move towards a new approach to vocational training. Student surveys have made it clear that while there is a great desire to have the in-person learning experience, there are also benefits of learning new skills online.

Starting this Fall, Sterling College will deliver training through a combination of on-site and online learning. Students will attend one session a day for three hours, Mondays to Fridays. Students will then utilize our learning management system to complete five additional self-directed hours during any time of the school week.

We are also updating our class schedule as a result of this new delivery model with classes taking place mornings (8:15am – 11:15am), mid-day (11:45am – 2:45pm), afternoons (3:00pm – 6:00pm) or evenings (6:15pm – 9:15pm).

To help students prepare for the upcoming return to on campus studies, program specific communications will be sent to all enrolled students in early July 2021. For more information, please contact your Sterling College admissions representative or your Campus Director.

Fall 2021 Q&A’s

When will classes return on campus?
The College has identified September 13^th as the first day onsite classes will resume for all new and current programs.

Will classes still be available online?
All Sterling College programs are designed to include in-person learning. The new delivery model to begin in September will have 75% of instructional time in-person, and only 25% of lessons through LMS name. In order to successfully progress through their program, students are required to maintain a minimum of 80% attendance of the courses in which they are enrolled (Sterling College Attendance policy).

What will be the size of our classes?
The guidance from the Provincial Health Officer expressed confidence that classes may return to normal delivery in the Fall and therefore the College anticipates to return to its normal classroom capacities. This may range from 25 to 40 students depending on the size of the classroom.

I am planning to move to British Columbia to attend Sterling College. What should I be doing for the upcoming Fall? Do I have to quarantine?
If you are travelling to B.C. from another province or territory for essential reasons you do not need to self-quarantine, however, you must follow all the province-wide restrictions.

I am moving to British Columbia from outside of Canada. What should I be doing for the upcoming Fall? Do I have to quarantine?

Visit Sterling College’s Student Health & Safety Portal and the COVID-19 Student Safety Guide for planning your trip to BC. International students arriving from outside of Canada will need to quarantine for 14 days and the COVID-19 Student Safety Guide provides a comprehensive overview of how you can plan a safe trip and arrival in Vancouver. Active students should contact their Campus Director ([email protected]) for additional guidance. Students starting their studies in the Fall should speak directly to their International Admissions representative.

Additional Resources:

If you would like to know more about the Go Forward Guidelines, COVID-19 Return to Campus Primer and the guidance from the Provincial Health Officer, please refer to these additional resources:

COVID-19 Go-Forward Guidelines for B.C.’s Post-Secondary Sector

COVID-19 Return-to-Campus Primer

Post-Secondary Virtual Town Hall Meeting with Dr. Bonnie Henry

On May 10, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training hosted a Town Hall to discuss the preliminary public health guidance for September 2021 provided in the COVID-19 Return-to-Campus Primer. Participants at the town hall, hosted by Thompson Rivers University, included representatives from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO).

Virtual Town Hall with Dr. Bonnie Henry for post-secondary student leaders

On May 28, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training hosted a second Town Hall to discuss the preliminary public health guidance for September 2021 provided in the COVID-19 Return-to-Campus Primer. Participants at the town hall, hosted by Thompson Rivers University, included representatives from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) and post-secondary student leaders from across the province.