Campus News

COVID-19 Information

The health and safety of our campus community is our top priority.

Lethbridge College is open to all students, employees and invited guests.

We know there are many questions related to our academic programming. For information about classes, educational delivery and much more:

visit our FAQ page

We continue to take proactive steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19 during this time. More information on the provincial response to COVID-19 can be found on the Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Government of Alberta web pages.

We will update this page whenever new information arises.


 

Current conditions

How do enhanced provincial public health measures affect Lethbridge College?

Lethbridge College is aligned with public health measures introduced by the Government of Alberta.

The campus is open and Lethbridge College is delivering classes in-person as much as possible. Anyone visiting campus for a specific service is encouraged to first check ahead by accessing the services' hours and delivery methods through the Lethbridge College website.

Masks are recommended but not required in all indoor public spaces at Lethbridge College, unless otherwise noted.

What safety measures are in place on the Lethbridge College campus?

Lethbridge College has implemented the following on-campus safety measures:

  • Masks are recommended but not required in all indoor public spaces on the Lethbridge College campus, unless otherwise noted.
  • All members of the Lethbridge College community must not come to campus if they are feeling unwell.
  • Vaccinations and booster shots are strongly encouraged for all members of the Lethbridge College community.
  • Enhanced cleaning protocols remain in place.

Everyone attending the Lethbridge College campus is urged to use respect for those around them. Your comfort level may not be the same as those around you. Compassion for others is key, and each individual should find their own comfort level and be courteous to those whose comfort levels may not match their own.

Individuals should continue to take care of their own health and wellness – make healthy decisions that are best for them and those around them, continue to practice good hygiene and very importantly, stay home if they don’t feel well.

See the following questions for more information on specific safety initiatives at Lethbridge College.

How does Lethbridge College respond to on-campus COVID-19 cases?

When alerted to a positive COVID-19 case in its campus community, Lethbridge College will activate its COVID-19 Rapid Response Team and follow Alberta Health Services guidelines.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must follow all mandated isolation requirements.

The Rapid Response Team will work with affected academic and/or service areas to facilitate quick notification to any people who are identified as close contacts of the affected individual. Lethbridge College will not publicly disclose any information about individuals who test positive for COVID-19.

What is the current COVID-19 situation in Alberta?

You can learn more by visiting the Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Government of Alberta COVID-19 information pages.

How is Lethbridge College monitoring and responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

Two of the important lessons we have learned throughout the pandemic are that we can’t predict the future, and that we are adaptable and flexible to be able to successfully handle whatever happens. With the health and safety of the entire college community as a priority, Lethbridge College has a number of teams and protocols in place to take steps to enhance campus safety should circumstances change.

Pandemic Response Team: This team monitors and responds to all over-arching aspects of the pandemic, including government policy, public health measures and emerging health concerns.

Rapid Response Team: This team monitors and responds to cases of COVID-19 identified in the Lethbridge College community. The role of the team may include providing supports to affected individuals, helping with contact tracing, evaluating Lethbridge College’s safety protocols in the event of on-campus spread and coordinating with Alberta Health Services in the event of an outbreak.

Access Team: This team evaluates all operations at Lethbridge College and makes recommendations to enhance the safety of the campus community.

Executive Leadership Team and College Leadership Council: College leadership is constantly evaluating all aspects of campus life and safety, including keeping up to date on the latest COVID-19 information. As the COVID-19 situation evolves, ELT and CLC will make decisions that are in the best interest of the campus community.

 

Vaccination or testing requirements

What are Lethbridge College's COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirements?

Vaccinations and boosters are strongly encouraged for all members of the Lethbridge College community, as Alberta’s statistics continue to show that vaccinations and boosters are the best course to avoiding severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Book your COVID-19 vaccinations here

Proof of COVID-19 vaccinations and or negative testing are no longer required at Lethbridge College. The Pandemic Response Program, in place from September 2021 to February 2022, achieved its goal of getting the vast majority of our community vaccinated, with 94 per cent of the college's on-campus community self-declaring they are vaccinated. With this in mind and aligning with updated regulations announced by the province, Lethbridge College has ended its Pandemic Response Program.

How do I find proof of my vaccination status?

Albertans are able to find and print proof of their vaccination status by visiting albertavaccinerecord.ca.

What counts as “fully vaccinated”?

People are considered full vaccinated two weeks following their second dose of a two-dose Health Canada approved vaccine (or a single dose of the Janssen/Johnson and Johnson vaccine).

All Albertans 18+ are also eligible and encouraged to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.

 

Masks

Are masks required on the Lethbridge College campus?

Masks are recommended but not required in all indoor public spaces on the Lethbridge College campus, unless otherwise noted.

Masks are mandatory when entering Wellness Services (CE1380) and in some lab spaces.

The Government of Alberta has an information page dedicated to masks, including what to look for in a mask, how to properly wear them and details about proper hygiene.

 

Vaccination information

Where can I get more information about COVID-19 vaccines?

If you need more information about vaccines and wish to talk to a medical professional, please contact Wellness Services by email, by calling 403-320-3289 or by stopping by their office in CE1380.

Learn more about Alberta's COVID-19 vaccination program here

 

Staying home when sick

What do I do if I feel unwell?

All members of the Lethbridge College campus must stay home if they do not feel well and go home if they get sick while on-campus.

Students should notify their instructors that they will be absent. Employees should notify their supervisors. All members of the Lethbridge College community will be supported during their absences.

If feeling unwell, complete a self-assessment from Alberta Health Services. Get tested for COVID-19 if recommended by the self-assessment. If you test positive for COVID-19, you must follow all mandated isolation requirements. If you are not eligible for testing, or test negative, you must still stay home until your symptoms have passed.

What symptoms should I monitor for?

We recognize many people have common coughs, allergies and other symptoms unique to them. It is important to monitor for symptoms not common to you and stay home if you feel unwell, even if your symptoms are mild.

Everyone should complete a daily screening for symptoms before coming to campus.

Will I be penalized if I stay home sick?

Students will not be penalized for being cautious and staying home from classes when not feeling well. Alert your instructor(s) that you will be absent, and accommodations will be made to ensure you get time to complete any missed assignments or tests. Flexibility is key to ensuring the safety of our community.

Support for employees: All employees must remain home when not feeling well. Additional flexibility will be available this year to ensure no one is penalized for remaining home when they are not feeling well. Alert your supervisor if you will be away and discuss potential accommodations.

 

Mental health supports

How do students access mental health supports?

All students have access to free, remote, 24/7 mental health and well-being supports through LifeWorks Counselling Services.

To access this support:

  • Call 1-855-649-8641 (or 001-416-380-6578 if outside Canada or the USA - call charges apply)
     
  • Download the free My SSP app from your device's App store
    • Real-time chat and telephonic consults are available 24/7 via the app.
    • After downloading the app, ensure your profile is up to date and that you have allowed push notifications as a way of staying in touch with relevant support.
       
  • Visit mystudentsupport.com

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis you can call the Distress Line of Southwestern Alberta at 403-327-7905 or 1-888-787-2880.

Please note that given this time of heightened concern, call and chat volume may be high and wait times may be longer than usual. LifeWorks Counselling Services appreciates your patience and understanding.

How do employees access mental health supports?

All employees have access to 24/7/365 mental health supports through LifeWorks from Morneau Shepell.

Free, remote mental health and well-being support is provided via LifeWorks. To access this support:

  • Call 1-844-880-9142
     
  • Visit login.lifeworks.com
     
  • Download the LifeWorks app from your device's App store
    • Real-time chat and telephonic consults are available 24/7 via the app.
    • After downloading the app, ensure your profile is up to date and that you have allowed push notifications as a way of staying in touch with relevant support.
    • The app helps employees to access and book counselling services including 24/7 counselling, financial advice and more.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis you can call the Distress Line of Southwestern Alberta at 403-327-7905 or 1-888-787-2880.

Please note that given this time of heightened concern, call and chat volume may be high and wait times may be longer than usual. LifeWorks appreciates your patience and understanding.

 

College operations

How are classes being delivered?

We know you have many questions about academic delivery. To learn more about the academic year, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Is the Fitness Centre open?

The Fitness Centre, Val Matteotti Gymnasium, squash and racquetball courts, dance studio and other amenities are currently available to all Lethbridge College students and employees, along with community members.

All workout blocks and facility rentals must be booked in advance through lcfitness.ca – there will be no drop-in times available. All users must also fill out a COVID-19 waiver on lcfitness.ca prior to every use of the Recreation Services facilities.

The top goal of Lethbridge College’s Recreation Services team is to keep all users healthy and safe, so enhanced cleaning of all areas will continue between workout blocks. The use of masks is recommended but not mandatory while moving around the facility.

To learn more or to book workout times or facility rentals, visit lcfitness.ca or call 403-382-6903.

 

Student supports

Support for students

We are committed to the success of our students. To learn more about program delivery, student services, financial aid and much more, visit the college's FAQ page.

What do international students need to know?

We know there are many questions for international students interested in beginning or continuing their studies at Lethbridge College. For more information, visit the Information for International Students section on our FAQ page.

 

About COVID-19

Where can I get more information about COVID-19?