Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

Effective Monday, March 23, DC will have transitioned to online and remote course delivery. Students should regularly check DC Connect and DC Mail to access course outline addendums, class material and messages to support continuity of learning.

Please review the Tips for Online Learners guide, available under our Resources tab.

This is a difficult and stressful time for students as they move to an online learning format for their courses. To assist students during this time, most of DC’s support services remain operational virtually. Please refer to the Student Services tab for more details.

Other supports that exist for students during the transition to online learning, include:

• Mental health support
  • Students who are looking for health care or mental health support are encouraged to contact the Campus Health Centre, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 905.721.2000 ext. 3037 for help. Support outside of those times if offered through the Good2Talk Helpline (24/7) at 1.866.925.5454 or I.M. Well Student Assistance Program at 1.877.554.6935.
  • We encourage students to stay connected and support one another, and to continue to follow the recommendations our government is sharing to stay well and keep our province safe.
• IT support
  • Increasing the online components of classes may present new technical challenges. Please contact the IT Service Desk at 905.721.3333 or servicedesk@dc-uoit.ca with any technology-related questions.

As of March 24, all campuses are closed. Access to labs, studios and shops is not permitted.

• In order to support the safety and well-being of our students and our community, effective immediately, DC has suspended all clinical and field placements, as well as internships, until further notice, with the exception of those placements and internships where arrangements have been agreed upon for alternative or remote completion.
• Students who are currently working in a placement or internship, where such arrangements have not been arrived at, are asked to connect with their employer to ensure they are aware of this direction prior to their next work day.
• Students impacted by this decision will receive an update from their faculty as soon as semester completion plans have been finalized.

At this time, we anticipate that most programs will finish on time. Students in programs that may not complete as scheduled will receive an update from their faculty member or academic school.

In response to the recent disruptions to the current semester, at this time, DC has decided to delay the start of the May semester to Tuesday, May 19. Please note that this date is subject to change based on public health advice and direction. 

• The May term will run on a condensed 12-week semester, from May 19 to August 7.
• The semester will not include a Reading Week.
• Where possible, the first two weeks of the semester will begin with online-only course delivery with a transition to in-class instruction.
• Decisions will be based on public health guidelines in place at the time and will be shared once available.

Please contact dccares@durhamcollege.ca with more information on the challenges you are experiencing in accessing online courses. These messages will be assessed and forwarded to the appropriate person within the college who can assist you.

As the COVID-19 situation evolves, the college will continue to provide answers on a daily basis to many of the frequently asked questions we are receiving. Questions about classes and academics can be directed to your academic school below. If your question is not addressed in the FAQ on this page, all other questions can be sent to dccares@durhamcollege.ca.

Department	Telephone	Email
School of Business, IT & Management	905.721.3064	BITM@durhamcollege.ca
Centre for Professional and Part-time Learning	905.721.3052	ppl@durhamcollege.ca
School of Health & Community Services	905.721.3080	HCS@durhamcollege.ca
School of Hospitality & Horticultural Science	905.721.4144	gayle.anderson@durhamcollege.ca (student advisor)
School of Interdisciplinary Studies	905.721.3161	janice.haslett@durhamcollege.ca
School of Justice & Emergency Services	905.721.3070	tracey.duncan@durhamcollege.ca
School of Media, Art & Design	905.721.2000 ext. 3067	stacy.leaming@durhamcollege.ca
School of Science & Engineering Technology	905.721.3060	SET@durhamcollege.ca
School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology	905.721.2000 ext. 3344	amapola.serrano@durhamcollege.ca (general questions) jennifer.means@durhamcollege.ca (student advisor)

DC is making every effort to ensure students complete their semesters. Currently there are three scenarios that apply to individual courses.

• Scenario one = All these programs have been moved entirely online and will finish on or before Friday, April 17. More details have been provided via email from your school.
• Scenario two = All these programs have been moved entirely online but will finish one week later than originally planned, on Friday, April 24. More details have been provided via email from your school.
• Scenario three = These programs have requirements for a return to campus for face-to-face delivery (lab/studio/placement time). Some programs will see students return for two weeks face-to-face time while others will see students return for three weeks.  The return date is still to be determined however, it will be after Monday, April 6, as was previously communicated. Once the return date has been set, students will receive an email from their school communicating the return plans.

The deadline to submit post-secondary grades has been extended. As such, the date students receive them, has also been moved back. Please see the timeline below.

• Courses concluding on Friday, April 17: grades submitted by Friday, April 24, noon. Grades released to students: Tuesday, April 28, 4 p.m.
• Courses concluding on Friday, April 24: grades submitted by Friday, May 1, noon. Grades released to students: Tuesday, May 5, 4 p.m.
• Courses with lab/shop/studio or placement requirements, to be completed upon a return to campus: incomplete grade (INC) submitted by April 24, noon. Once students are back in class and have achieved the required course learning outcomes, their final grades will replace the “INC”.

Grade submission timelines for Centre for Professional and Part-time Learning courses remain unchanged.

Contact your designated Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) Employment Training Consultant (ETC). They will advise you what is possible. If a withdrawal is necessary, complete an Official Withdrawal Form at Durham College’s Withdrawals and Refunds website and send it to Whitby Enrolment Services.

Effective Monday, March 23, DC will have transitioned to online and remote course delivery. Students should regularly check DC Connect and DC Mail to access course outline addendums, class material and messages to support continuity of learning.

Training for the Electrical Level 2 and Automotive Level 1 apprenticeships will not begin in April as originally scheduled.

At this time, a start date in June has been scheduled. The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development has reviewed and approved this deferral and because you are already enrolled, you do not need to take any further action. Should you wish to withdraw from the block, please contact Julie Hauber for next steps.

Given the continued uncertainty of when the campus will reopen and the heavy emphasis on lab-based learning, the online learning portion of the apprenticeship will end on, Friday, April 3.

Students will then have two options to choose from:

• Defer the remainder of their studies until campus is reopened, or
• Withdraw from their program.

The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development has approved this deferral. As you are currently enrolled and if you plan to return, there is nothing further for you to do. However, we do not know at this point when classes and labs will resume on campus.

Should you wish to withdraw from the block, please contact Julie Hauber for next steps.

Students who hold a parking pass for the winter semester or the 2019-2020 academic year will receive a parking refund for a six-week period (March 23 to April 30). Refunds will be issued by Friday, April 10 through direct deposit (if banking information is on file) or by cheque. 

Post-secondary and School of Professional and Part-time Learning students can access their verification of program and semester enrolment letters through MyCampus under Helpful Links - Student Records.

Please note: a verification of semester enrolment letter is only available once you have registered for the chosen semester.

If you require a customized letter you can email oshawaenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca and request the letter using the Official Documentation form. Please note there is a $6 service charge.

If you require a government verification form please email oshawaenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca.

Credit Card

New students can make a credit card payment through the online student tuition credit card payment link.

If you are a returning student, you can make a credit card payment through your MyCampus account. Once logged in, you refer to Helpful Links > Paying Your Fees > Credit Card Payment.

Bank payments

Students can make a payment through their banking institution. To make this payment, your payee would be either ‘Durham College’ or ‘Durham College-Tuition’, and the account number would be your nine-digit student number.

Please note: electronic banking takes 3 to 5 business days to be received by the college.

If you have any questions, please contact us directly at oshawaenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca or whitbyenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca.

Course registration can be done online by visiting www.durhamcollege.ca/ppl. If you have any questions, please contact ppl@durhamcollege.ca or oshawaenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca.

At this time, we are unable to produce duplicate credentials.

Students can easily access their T2202 on their MyCampus account under Helpful Links > Student Records > Canadian Tax Forms If you have any inquiries, please contact us directly at oshawaenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca or whitbyenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca. If you need to reset your MyCampus password, go to the MyCampus login page and follow the reset password link under the MyCampus Login.  If you require assistance, please call IT Support at 905.721.3333 or click here to go to the Service Desk portal.

The graduation application for spring convocation is currently available through your MyCampus account and will remain open until April 26, 2020. School of Professional and Part-time Learning students who have completed their program can apply to graduate; however, credentials will not be produced until we return to full services. If you have any questions, please contact us directly at oshawaenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca or whitbyenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca.

During this rapidly evolving public health event, we are working to make decisions and institute measures to protect the health and safety of our students. We understand that questions have been raised regarding refunds for courses/services, etc. Updates regarding refunds will be forthcoming, as we determine the overall impact and receive guidance from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented situation.

Yes, fee appeals will still be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Decisions will be communicated via email. If you have any questions, please contact us directly at oshawaenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca.

Students may withdraw on MyCampus and receive ‘W’’s until April 6, 2020. After this date, all courses will be graded and recorded on the academic student record. If you have any questions, please contact us directly at oshawaenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca or whitbyenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca.

Domestic program and School of Professional and Part-time Learning course withdrawals will continue to be processed. The international office must process international withdrawals.

If you have any questions, please contact us directly at oshawaenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca or whitbyenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca.

Contact your designated Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) Employment Training Consultant (ETC). They will advise you what is possible at this time. If a withdrawal is necessary, complete an Official Withdrawal form and send it to whitbyenrolmentservices@durhamcollege.ca.

No, in-person payments are not available at this time. You can make a payment for your credit transfer application online via the Credit Transfer portal on MyCampus.

After logging in to MyCampus, you can find the Credit Transfer portal on the right-hand side of the page under Helpful Links > Registration > Application for Credit Transfer.

If you have any questions about your application, please contact transfers@durhamcollege.ca

We advise that you request to have an electronic transcript sent to Durham College directly, or mailed to your home address where you can then forward a scanned copy to transfers@durhamcollege.ca.

Yes, if you have submitted a credit transfer application, there may be a delay with the subject matter expert (SME) assessing your request. If you have any questions about your application, please contact transfers@durhamcollege.ca

Yes, if your PLAR challenge was due after Wednesday, March 11, 2020, you will receive an additional two weeks to submit your challenge. For example, if your challenge is due on Monday, March 16, 2020, your challenge is now due on Monday, March 30, 2020.

Written exams can no longer be booked at the Test Centre. Please refer to the following link for live updates from the Test Centre: https://twitter.com/dctestcentre. Once the Test Centre re-opens, the PLAR coordinator will contact PLAR registrants.

If you have submitted your PLAR challenge, there will be a delay with the subject matter expert (SME) assessing your challenge. If you already have mailed your challenge and/or exam to the college, please email PLAR@durhamcollege.ca indicating the date it was mailed out. If applicable, please provide a tracking number. Challenges and exams will be held at the college until the SME is able to pick it up.

If your exam was written with a proctor, please have your proctor email PLAR@durhamcollege.ca with the date your exam was mailed out. If applicable, please provide a tracking number.

If you were scheduled to complete your exam via proctor and are now not able to do so, please email PLAR@durhamcollege.ca.

No, in-person payments are not available at this time. You can pay for your PLAR application online via the MyCampus portal. You can make payments on MyCampus by clicking the following on the right-hand side of the page: Helpful Links > Paying Your Fees > click Credit Card payment.  If you do not have access to MyCampus, please email PLAR@durhamcollege.ca

Yes, if you have submitted a PLAR application, there may be a delay with the subject matter expert (SME) assessing your request. If you have any questions about the status of your PLAR assessment, please email PLAR@durhamcollege.ca

Appointments can be booked through MyVisit for existing students. All Financial Aid appointments will be conducted via phone or Skype until further notice. Please do not come onto the campus for your appointment.

Financial Aid and Awards phone inquiries are currently suspended.  Please send your question via email to the corresponding email address below. To avoid delays, all emails should be sent from your DC Mail account and include your full name (first and last) as well as your student number.

Financial Aid inquiries: financialaid@durhamcollege.ca.

Student Awards inquiries: studentawards@durhamcollege.ca.

On-Campus Employment inquiries: dcstudentemployment@durhamcollege.ca.

General bursary applications will be processed as usual.  You will be notified of the results via your DC Mail Account. Bursary applications and deadline dates can be found in MyCampus on the Financial Aid tab.

All bursary cheques have been mailed to students as of March 16, 2020.  They will continue to be mailed out until further notice.

Documents required for Financial Aid or Awards purposes other than OSAP should be scanned in PDF format and forwarded to the appropriate email as listed below or to your Financial Aid Coach if you have been dealing with them directly.

Financial Aid inquiries: financialaid@durhamcollege.ca.

Student Awards inquiries: studentawards@durhamcollege.ca.

On-Campus Employment inquiries: dcstudentemployment@durhamcollege.ca.

Students currently approved for the DCWorks program should contact their direct supervisors regarding work assignments. DC has committed to pay continuity for work-study employees for regularly scheduled hours. Where work-study students did not have regularly scheduled hours, your supervisor will continue to approve the average amount of weekly hours worked.  Students will be required to continue to submit hours through Web Time Entry formanagers to approve.  Work-study students will not be approved for hours past April 17, 2020 nor can they exceed established work-study maximums (140 hours/semester).

SALS face-to-face services are currently closed. However, SALS employees will be working remotely Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Zoom (a free video conferencing tool), email or phone appointments can be arranged by emailing the appropriate employee.

A list of SALS service areas is provided below. Please send an email to the employee you would like to book an appointment with. They will then email you back to schedule the appointment. Emails will be answered in the order they are received.

Subject	Email
Basic math, business math	Aleksandra.Copija@durhamcollege.ca
Physics, statistics and technical math	Filza.Navaid@durhamcollege.ca
Biology, anatomy, physiology	Craig.Black@durhamcollege.ca
Writing skills/referencing/academic Integrity	Leslie.Linstrum@durhamcollege.ca
ESL/writing Skills	Eric.Gustavsen@durhamcollege.ca
Accounting and business	Rosemarie.Grivich@durhamcollege.ca
Chemistry, learning skills	Danelle.Driscoll@durhamcollege.ca
Director, questions/concerns	Nicky.Patel@durhamcollege.ca
Peer tutoring	Kelly.Helmer@durhamcollege.ca

For information on subject-specific tutorials, please refer to the corresponding subject units in SALS ONLINE on DC Connect. Tutorials will be delivered via Zoom.

Learning skills and writing skills workshops are available through SALS ONLINE. The Academic integrity workshop will be held weekly on Zoom. No face-to-face workshops are currently being offered.

Check SALS ONLINE Announcements for updates regarding tutorials. We will do our best to support you.

All face-to-face appointments are cancelled until further notice. Students should email the appropriate SALS employee to arrange for a Zoom, email or phone appointment. Students are also encouraged to use SALS ONLINE resources to support their learning and check Announcements on SALS ONLINE.

Peer tutoring is being offered virtually. If your tutor’s availability changes, you will be contacted by the peer tutoring coordinator. Do not meet face-to-face off campus.

Peer tutors are advised to check DC Mai land contact the peer tutoring coordinator for next steps for arranging sessions.

Any other questions, please email SALS@durhamcollege.ca

Yes, applications are available at www.ontariocolleges.ca and applications are being processed.

Staff are available as usual, by leaving a voicemail by phone at 905.721.3000 and by email at admissions@durhamcollege.ca between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. In-person service on campus is not currently available.

Please contact admissions@durhamcollege.ca for next steps.

For available programs for September 2020, please click here. Once you have researched and found a program you are interested in, click on the program page to view admission requirements, program details, costs, transfer options and more. Should you have more questions about any program, please feel free to email our recruitment team at recruitment@durhamcollege.ca.

Once you have found a program you are interested in and wish to apply, applications for open programs can be made online at www.ontariocolleges.ca

As the equal consideration deadline for September 2020 has passed, applications are currently being accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please ensure that you are requesting electronic transcripts to be sent at this time.

If you have any questions about the application process, please connect with our recruitment team at recruitment@durhamcollege.ca.

If you have applied and have questions about your application, please contact Admissions at admissions@durhamcollege.ca.

At this time, all on-campus events, including campus tours, Open House and in-person appointments, are cancelled. However, the recruitment team is available remotely to answer your questions. Members of the recruitment team are also available to schedule virtual program information appointments.

To book an appointment, please email recruitment@durhamcollege.ca.

OSAP applications and disbursements will continue to be processed without any interruption. Until further notice, any supporting documents you are required to submit for your OSAP application should be uploaded directly to your OSAP account.  Instructions on how to upload can be found on the OSAP website.  www.ontario.ca/OSAP.

DC has implemented a pay continuity model to protect the wages of our employees, while we continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our operations. The model of pay continuity is in place until further notice.

The college campuses are currently closed. Employees who are considered essential services have been advised by their supervisor, all other employees are not to go to campus, per the Government of Ontario’s directive. 

• Ensure you have a suitable remote work space, taking into consideration safety, ergonomics, privacy and confidentiality.
• Ensure an internet connection is available.
• Managers should ensure they have a means of contacting all of their employees during the closure period, and have communicated how they should contact them.
• Guarantee regular check-in of work voicemail and/or have calls forwarded to a home, or cell phone device. Voicemail should also be updated to identify to callers the frequency with which voicemails will be checked.
  • Sample voicemail message: Due to COVID-19-19, Durham College’s campuses and Pickering Learning Site are closed. Academic programs and operations have transitioned online. This voicemail is being checked on a daily basis. I will return your call, or feel free to reach me via email. The most up-to-date information on the college's operations is available on the DC website. Thank you.
• Use teleconferencing, Skype for Business or Office 365 to hold and attend meetings as necessary.
• Log into email and calendar regularly.
• Ensure access to applications and files remotely and request VPN access, if necessary. Note: VPN access is not necessary to access email, DC Connect, ICE, Office 365 or MyCampus. Employees require VPN access to connect to Banner, Fast and the network drives.
• Fulfill the expectations agreed upon with their manager regarding the scope of their remote work assignment and honour agreed upon hours of availability to communicate.
• Avoid working on personal computers, and take all reasonable steps to ensure the protection of confidential information.
• Report any malfunctions to equipment as soon as possible to supervisor and IT Services.
• Continue to report absences due to injury, illness, or caring for a family member to their supervisors/attendance keeper as soon as possible.

In support of business continuity plans, most employees, with the exception of small teams of in-person essential services, are being asked to work from home. Below are some guidelines to assist managers and employees with establishing and maintaining work from home arrangements.

·     A work from home arrangement should maintain an employee’s regular hours of work, any shifts in hours of work or availability should be discussed with your manager in advance.

·     Working from home does not change the basic terms and conditions of employment under the applicable collective agreement, employment contract, policies and law. All employees are expected to continue to comply with college policies while working remotely.

·     In some cases, a manager may require an employee to report in a different way, or with different levels of frequency than when they are working onsite. This is generally to ensure the manager is up-to-date. For example, the manager may wish to schedule additional update meetings, have updates provided by email, or implement schedules and methods of reporting.

·     The length of time work from home arrangements are in place will be based on direction from government officials and business continuity decisions made by DC.

A remote workspace should provide a comparable level of health, safety and security to college office space. For more information about ensuring a safe work space at home, visit the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety website

Please direct the person to Public Health information and advise they follow the direction provided.  Please do not share health related information with others, without the express consent of the individual.

If you are in self isolation due to travel, or another reason as directed by Public Health, but are not symptomatic, you are able to work remotely.

 

If you are having difficulty keeping up with work while remote, please talk to your manager to review options, such as other accommodation measures, taking accrued vacation, borrowing on future vacation, change of schedule etc. 

Please continue to follow the direction provided by Durham Region Health.

Please continue to follow the direction provided by Durham Region Health.

Please continue to follow the direction provided by Durham Region Health.

Due to the current, extraordinary circumstances our community is experiencing with the COVID-19 virus, the college has relaxed its policy on medical note requirements, until further notice. Human Resources will communicate when regular requirements are reinstated.

All members of Durham Region are advised to follow the COVID-19 reporting protocol identified by Durham Region Public Health.  The Public Health department will communicate with you directly if there is a need for you to be tested or isolated.  If DC is contacted by Public Health, we will fully cooperate with their investigation.

EFAP is available to full-time employees and their eligible dependents.  If you are a contract or part-time employee and are interested in EFAP supports, please contact Kelly.doyle@durhamcollege.ca. EFAP services can be accessed:

• 1.844.8809142
• TTY: 1.877.338.0275
• Workhealthlife.com
• download My EAP app

Absences due to illness should continue to be reported and recorded through the normal, established process within your department.  Attendance keepers will continue to report attendance to HR.

If an employee who is eligible for sick leave entitlements advises the College that they are ill or injured, the College will compensate that employee using the appropriate sick leave per the normal process.

Effective March 18, non-essential employees with previously scheduled vacation will have the opportunity to reschedule. If vacation time is taken, it will continue to be recorded as such. To ensure essential operations continue, supervisors may decide to re-schedule vacation for their staff.

Employees are reminded of vacation carry over restrictions.

Effective March 18, managers may need to speak with employees about rescheduling vacation.

All eligible employees (full-time academic, support and administrative staff as well as partial-load staff) currently on sick leave will continue to follow the normal process for managing their sick leave plans and ensure if needed, that the LTD application process is followed.  For clarity, if an eligible employee exhausts their 100% paid sick days, they would switch to 75% paid sick days until the 130 days elimination period for LTD is reached.

For employees who left Canada prior to Wednesday, March 18:

Sun Life is treating illness due to the Coronavirus as any other medical emergency. This means there is no exclusion to treating someone because this is an epidemic vs. another type of medical emergency.

The out-of-country coverage will cover the employee in the event of a medical emergency, even if it is related to the Coronavirus. This applies as long as the employee is within the trip duration limit. For more information please review the College Employer Council update.

For employees who are leaving Canada to travel on or after March 18, 2020:

The administrative exceptions included above will not apply. This is in-line with the Government of Canada’s efforts to prevent non-essential travel and repatriate Canadians traveling abroad.

The following will not be available under the out-of-country travel benefit for employees on or after March 18th:

Coverage of any expenses during and after a period of quarantine (directed by a doctor or public health official), unless the plan member shows symptoms of or has tested positive for COVID-19-19

Employees who are currently abroad, but not in quarantine and cannot return home will continue to have access to out-of-country coverage up to the 60-day limit under the Plan. After this time, they will not have out-of-country coverage.

If an employee or their dependent needs the immediate attention of a doctor for a medical emergency, they must contact Allianz for assistance:

• In the USA and Canada call: 1.800.511.4610
• From anywhere else: 1.519.514.0351
• Fax: 1.519.514.0374

Allianz is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more information please review changes to out-of-country coverage due to COVID-19-19.

The College will continue to administer Sun Life benefits according to the terms of our negotiated plan, which requires benefits coverage to conclude at the same time the partial load teaching contract ends.

Employees can find the enrolment form on the ICE.

Please complete the enrolment form and send an electronic scanned copy to your Human Resources Generalist via email. If you do not have access to a scanner please take a picture of each page of the enrolment form and email it to your HR Generalist.  Please note that all sections of the enrolment form must be completed and coverage selection must be clear. You must submit the original hard copy of the enrollment form to your HR Generalist within two weeks of the college re-opening.

A remote workspace should provide a comparable level of health, safety and security to college office space. For more information about ensuring a safe work space at home, visit the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety website.

Please ensure media inquires are forwarded to DC’s Communications and Marketing team at mediarelations@durhamcollege.ca.

Please speak with your supervisor.  HR related questions can be directed to your Human Resources Generalist.

Yes – DC is issuing partial parking pass refunds:

• Employees who have paid their 2019-2020 annual parking in full will receive a six-week refund via direct deposit.
• Employees who pay for parking through payroll deduction will have payments suspended as of Monday, March 23.
• Employees who have paid for winter semester only parking through payroll deduction, will also receive a refund.

There is no action required on the employees’ part. DC will communicate when the deduction of these fees is set to restart.

According to the World Health Organization, a pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world beyond expectations.

COVID-19 is an illness caused by a coronavirus, which is part of a large family of viruses that are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). They are found worldwide in humans and animals.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness and a dry cough. Some people may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but do not develop any symptoms or feel unwell. Most people (about 80 per cent) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Approximately one out of every six people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems and compromised immune systems, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, use the Government of Ontario’s online self-assessment to help determine if you need to seek further care.

Illness due to COVID-19 infection is generally mild, especially for children and young adults. However, in some cases it may cause serious illness: about 1 in every 5 people who catch it need hospital care. It is therefore quite normal for people to worry about how the COVID-19 outbreak will affect them and their loved ones.

Durham College will continually update this website and provide the college community with the most reliable and current information from official providers including local, provincial and federal health agencies and the World Health Organization. If you want to read more on your own, follow credible online resources only. We suggest:

• Durham Region Health
• Province of Ontario
• Public Health Ontario
• Government of Canada
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• World Health Organization

For health-related questions please contact Durham Region Health at 905.668.2020.

New updates:

• Effective Tuesday, March 24 at 11 p.m., access to all buildings is closed to students, employees, and visitors at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses and all locations, until further notice.
• DC’s learning continuity model will not beimpacted by these closures and delivery of online courses and services continues as planned. This means employees and students are to work and study from home as previously communicated, and managers and employees are to continue regular meetings and updates.

Previous updates:

• As of Wednesday, March 18, campus access is restricted to designated employees, students and contractors, until further notice. This access will be limited to specific areas of DC’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses.
• The Pickering Learning Site is closed.
• DC is suspending all large events and public gatherings.
• Most classrooms across campus are in the process of being cleaned, sanitized and locked to employees and students to take pressure off cleaning teams.
• DC is moving to further reduce the number of people on our campus by identifying essential services and making arrangements for staff to work virtually. Effective Monday, March 16, non-essential services and those who are able, as outlined by their supervisor, are now working from home.
• Classes have been cancelled at DC’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses and the Pickering Learning site until Sunday, March 22. This will allow our faculty the necessary time to review and consider what components of our courses can be delivered online, as well as prepare their curriculum for online delivery beginning on Monday, March 23.
• Athletics facilities at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre are closed until further notice.
• Increased disinfection and cleaning protocols in high touch areas.
• Daily monitoring of local, provincial, national and global developments to assess and identify risks to DC’s communities.
• Postponement of all student and employee college-related business travel.
• All non-essential college-related travel, for business or academic purposes, is cancelled until further notice.
• Posting World Health Organization communication materials in key locations and washrooms on campus.
• Communicating proper hygiene techniques through social media, digital signage and email.
• Ongoing review and updates to emergency preparedness plans, including campus operations and activities.

• Practice social distancing. Avoid close contact with people outside of your immediate family. Close contact includes being within 2 meters of another person.
• Avoid all travel outside of Canada.
• Self-isolate for 14 days upon your return from travel outside of Canada.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time or use hand sanitizer when hands are not visibly dirty.
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or elbow.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces, especially those that are high-touch areas.
• If you are ill, stay at home and stay away from others. Take the online COVID-19 self-assessment.
• If you are ill and must visit a health-care provider, call ahead or tell them right away when you arrive that you have a respiratory illness and wear a mask while waiting to be seen.

If you're feeling nervous about the coronavirus, you're not alone. Being concerned and anxious about this outbreak is normal.

What you can do to reduce anxiety:

• Stick to the facts as communicated by public-health agencies or medical professionals. Instead of reading every article and going to every website, staying offline for a period can be beneficial. If you're concerned, sites that include accurate information include the World Health Organizationand the Public Health Agency of Canada.
• Try and keep it in perspective. Social media and news outlets can amplify misinformation. Keep in mind that there's a concerted global effort to try and contain this virus.
• Follow prevention tips to stay healthy. Washing your hands often and properly is the single most effective way to stop the spread of disease.
• Practice stress and anxiety management. There are many proven ways to reduce stress and anxiety: getting enough sleep, balanced diet and hydration, exercise, talking about your fears with others, meditation, and more. Find the self-care practice that works for you.

Supports available for students:

• Good2Talk Helpline (24/7): 1.866.925.5454
• I.M. Well Student Assistance Program: 1.877.554.6935

Supports available for employees:

• Employee and Family Assistance Program: 1.844.880.9142 or 1.877.338.0275 (TTY service) or www.workhealthlife.com
• Tips for coping with COVID-19 [PDF]

Members of the Durham College community who are feeling ill are urged to avoid close contact with others and to stay home.

If you have cold or flu-like symptoms that escalate, please contact your health-care provider or Durham Region Public Health at 905.668.2020 (press 2).

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and have recently travelled or have had contact with someone who has, you are asked to self-screen, self-isolate and contact Telehealth, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1.866.797.0000. Follow these tips from Public Health Ontario on how to self-isolate.

If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, use the Government of Ontario’s online self-assessment to help determine if you need to seek further care.

Close contact is defined as caring for, living with, having face-to face contact, or having direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or bodily fluids of an infected individual.

Social distancing means maintaining a distance between you and other people — in this case, at least two meters (six feet). Durham Region Health Department is recommending that all residents practice social distancing to help stop any transmission of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community. Social distancing means limiting the number of people you come into close contact.

Social distancing includes, but is not limited to:

• Avoiding gatherings such as parties or other group events.
• Avoiding visits to long-term care homes, retirement homes, supportive housing, hospices and other shared care settings unless the visit is absolutely essential.
• Avoiding any non-essential trips in the community – e.g. consider take out or delivery options rather than restaurant meals
• Shopping for essential grocery or pharmacy items when stores might be less busy.
• Keeping windows open during essential ride-share or taxi trips
• Postponing, limiting, or cancelling group gatherings. All gatherings above 50 people should be cancelled at this time.
• Participating in fitness activities outdoors rather than indoors when possible or in a settings where it is possible to maintain a 2-metre distance from other people.
• Holding virtual meetings rather than hosting in-person meetings.

These social distancing guidelines do not mean you must stay in your home. As long as you are not experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 and you have not been in close contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with the virus you can still go outside to exercise, walk, go to the park, walk your dog, and to grocery shop or get pharmacy supplies.

While outside, it is recommended you avoid crowds and stay at least 2 metres (6 feet) from those around you. Important: This information does not apply to people who have been advised to self isolate. If you have been advised to self-isolate, you must stay home and follow public health directions.

Social distancing can change our regular routine and distance us from our sense of community. However, there are many ways we can connect to each other and many ways we can stay healthy both mentally and physically during challenging times.

• Take advantage of social technology: Watch a movie with friends from the comfort of each of your own homes through Skype or a browser extension like Netflix Party.
• Continue to eat healthy: Have a video chat dinner date with friends or family where you cook the same meal. Cook big batches of healthy meals to save in your freezer so you don’t need to head to the grocery store as frequently.
• Dance and enjoy music: Watch a recorded concert of your favorite band and have a living room dance party.
• Disconnect: Avoid excessive exposure to media coverage and do not share misinformation.
• Get outside: enjoy some fresh air and go for a nature walk.
• Keep learning: read a new book, try a puzzle, or text riddles to your friends. YouTube also has many lectures on interesting topics.
• Stay active: search YouTube and Instagram for recorded or live fitness classes to take part in.
• Express gratitude: text or video chat with your family and friends.
• Get crafty: bust out some art supplies and create greeting cards for upcoming birthdays and holidays.

If you have been advised by your health-care provider to self-isolate due to COVID-19, follow these tips from Public Health Ontario.

The Durham College (DC) Campus Health Centre (CHC) is currently closed to students, employees and the general public as of noon on Tuesday, March 17 until further notice. Continuity of care and the mental health of our students and employees is very important to DC and its doctors, nurses and practitioners. While the CHC is closed, students and employees can make telephone appointments for general health-care questions, prescription renewals and mental health support between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

• To make a general health-care appointment, request a prescription renewal or to speak with someone regarding your mental health, please call 905.721.2000 ext. 3037.
  • Before you call, have your health card ready.
  • Leave a message with your name and contact information, including a valid phone number where you can be reached.
  • If you need a prescription refill, please have the information for the pharmacy closest to you, including address and phone number. Please note: not all prescriptions may be renewable.
• To speak with a nurse, please call 905.721.2000 ext.2854 and leave a message with your name and contact information between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. between Monday to Friday and a nurse will call you back as soon as possible.
• Outside of these hours, visit durhamcollege.ca/coronavirus for more information or contact Public Health at 905.668.2020 (press 2). 

Please note: if you need to make an in-person appointment for your health, call your family doctor or visit your nearest walk-in clinic.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS

• Good2Talk Helpline (24/7): 1.866.925.5454
• IM. Well Student Assistance Program: 1.877.554.6935
• In the case of emergency, please dial 911.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYEES

• Employee and Family Assistance Program: 1.844.880.9142 or 1.877.338.0275 (TTY service) or workhealthlife.com

We understand the anxiety you may be feeling given the current global situation. The Government of Canada is being proactive in its response to COVID-19 to ensure the health and safety of everyone currently living in Canada and Durham College will support international students during this time.

• Please do not make quick decisions. 
• Please reassure your family that international students are covered by Morcare health insurance. 

International students will have coverage for COVID-19 under the terms and conditions of the policy, just like any other medical condition.  If an international student is advised by a public health official to get the test for COVID-19, the cost will be covered by Morcare. Remember that you are not covered for Morcare health insurance or Student VIP Blue Cross health insurance in your own country.

On Monday, March 23, 2020 online delivery began and will continue until further notice.

If your Program of Study has co-op work-terms, practicums, field or clinical placements, labs or studio requirements they have been suspended and your program coordinator or placement coordinator has been in touch with you regarding how these requirements will be completed.

If you still wish to return to your home country, please notify the International Education office at international@durhamcollege.ca and contact your program coordinator to let them know you plan to leave Canada to complete your studies at home.  Be sure to ask if for their approval to do so, and if you have everything you need to complete your studies successfully online, outside of Canada.

Students returning to their home countries should keep in mind that they will still be expected to join online class at the times offered, despite being in a differing time zone.

If you choose to return to your home country, be sure to follow your country’s procedures as it relates to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).  Please also be aware of travel restrictions to Canada should you want to return by following the Government of Canada travel advice here. 

If you are not in your final term, be sure that you have all necessary documents in order to return to Canada, such as a valid passport, TRV or eTA, Study Permit, Biometrics, Program Enrolment verification letter, Semester Enrolment verification letter, and anything else that may be asked by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers when you return.
See more about leaving and returning to Canada as an international student at the following link. It is important to note that re-entry to Canada is not guaranteed. As of March 16, 2020, entry into Canada is limited to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada, only. This does not include study permit holders.

If you are in your final term and plan to apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after this semester, you can do so from your home country or return and apply in Canada.  If you decide to return to Canada, please refer to the link above about leaving and returning to Canada.  You will have 180 days from the date you receive confirmation that you have graduated to apply for your PGWP.  You will receive your Course Completion letter from the International Education office several weeks after you complete all of your program requirements, see more about what to expect after you complete your studies here.

You will also require an original of your transcript when applying for your PGWP.  More detailed information about the PGWP can be found on this website.

Learn more about applying for the PGWP outside of Canada

Learn more about applying for the PGWP inside Canada

On Monday, March 23, 2020 online delivery will begin and will continue until further notice.   If you plan to return home, please notify the International Education office at international@durhamcollege.ca and contact your program coordinator to let them know you plan to leave Canada to complete your studies at home.

Be sure to ask if you have approval to do so and if ensure you have everything you need to complete your studies successfully online, outside of Canada.

As this one week of suspended classes, is not considered a scheduled break, but rather a situation out of your control regarding your studies, we recommend that you call Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at 1-888-242-2100 to find out if you are eligible to work more than 20 hours per week off-campus. You can reach a client service representative by dialing 3-4-1-0 after the introduction message. There might be a long wait, so be prepared for this if you decide to call.  You will also find more IRCC information on scheduled breaks by visiting this link.

Yes. Student residences are still open and students living on campus are permitted to stay until the end of the academic term.

Any student who is looking for summer accommodation must create a summer application to do so.

For additional questions, contact the residence via their website to live chat, call 905-728-8700 ext. 8100 (Oshawa) and 905-728-8700 (Whitby) or email info@dc-otresidence.ca

DC has committed to pay continuity for part-time student employees for regularly scheduled hours.

Where work study students do not have regularly scheduled hours, they will be paid an average, based on hours worked per week, for the last four weeks.

Work study students will still be responsible for updating their hours via Web Time Entry (WTE) and must continue to update their approved scheduled hours via WTE as per the payroll deadlines.

Work study students cannot be approved for hours after Friday, April 17, 2020, nor can they exceed established work study semester maximums (140 hours /semester).

For general inquiries, please contact international@durhamcollege.ca and we will ensure your message gets directed to the appropriate person.

Keep checking this page for up-to-date information on special measures put in place by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to help international students, temporary and permanent residents, and applicants affected by COVID-19.

DC is restricting college academic and business-related travel and is strongly encouraging employees or students to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada.

DC employees and students who are travelling for personal reasons outside of Canada in the coming weeks are advised to continue to monitor the Government of Canada guidelines and follow the protocols listed for travel.

Students and employees returning to Canada should:

• Self-isolate for 14 days after your return from travel outside of Canada.
• Monitor your health for fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
• Wash your hands often for 20 seconds and cover your mouth and nose with your arm when coughing or sneezing.

If you develop a fever, cough or difficulty breathing within 14 days:

• Continue to isolate yourself from others.
• Immediately call a health-care professional or public health authority In Ontario call 1-866-797-0000 or visit Public Health Ontario’s website more information.
  • Describe your symptoms and travel history.
  • Follow their instructions carefully.

In addition to the above, Shoppers Drug Mart has a virtual health consultation program called Maple.

As of March 16, 2020, Morcare coverage for inbound (international) students and medical coverage remains the same, as documented within the current policy, including testing and treatment for COVID-19 being fully covered.  If you are advised by a public health official to get the test for COVID-19, the cost will be covered by Morcare.

Remember that you are not covered for Morcare health insurance or Student VIP Blue Cross health insurance in your own country.

For more information on international student health care coverage, please go to the Morcare website and select Durham College.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that, for international students in Canada, courses of study being delivered online on an exceptional basis due to COVID-19 will not affect PGWP eligibility.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canada Revenue Agency has extended the tax deadline to June 1, 2020.

For information on filing your taxes as an international student, please see this page.

At this time, the May and September intakes for international students remain open for applications. Please visit our website for updated information and contact details. We will continue to post the most up-to-date information as it becomes available. We are exploring many options to ensure that we can safely deliver quality programs in May.

If you require English language proficiency testing but are unable to access IELTS or TOEFL, we will temporarily accept the Duolingo English test if completed between Monday, March 16 and Thursday, April 30, 2020.

For applicants completing Duolingo, upon arrival to campus, there may be a re-assessment to ensure any additional language needs or supports are available to ensure student success.

If you have additional questions about admissions, please contact the international admissions team at internationaladmisssions@durhamcollege.ca.

DC will be accepting results from the Duolingo English Test until Thursday, April 30, 2020.  This interim measure has been approved as an alternative for applicants who cannot access testing at English Language testing centres closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The college reserves the right to add additional testing once students arrive on campus, in order to ensure that students’ learning is supported appropriately.

Applicants with questions can contact us at internationaladmissions@durhamcollege.ca.

Keep checking this page for up-to-date information on special measures put in place by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to help international students, temporary and permanent residents, and applicants affected by COVID-19.