**NORTHERN COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE**

Northern College will be suspending its face-to-face classes until further notice and closing its doors to the public immediately.

The College currently is on reading week and class suspensions are effective March 20, 2020 when reading week ends. Commencing the week of March 23, students may resume studies through remote program delivery utilizing the college’ learning management system, Blackboard.

The College will be enacting an academic contingency plan to ensure the integrity of what may become a significantly shortened winter semester.

Students enrolled in programming that requires work placements or internships will be apprised of any changes to their learning pathways as soon as possible via blackboard and northerncollege.ca.

As a result of this closure, campus services will be suspended or held by appointment only until further notice, including services typically open to the public, including Athletic services.

All scheduled events and community gatherings are cancelled to ensure the continued safety of the Northern College community, including the Spring Craft Show, Holi, Open House, Annual Northern College Powwow and all classes and events hosted by Northern’s Training Division and Academic Upgrading and Continuing Education.

“Northern College is responding to updates and new information about the Novel Coronavirus situation,” stated Dr. Fred Gibbons, Northern College President and CEO. “The health, safety and well-being of our students, staff and campus communities is our utmost priority. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we adjust to this change in circumstance as this undertaking is one we are making to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Northern College is currently exploring the best delivery options to guarantee the quality of education being offered to our students.

“Our faculty, deans and staff members are actively working on academic contingency plans to ensure the success of our students in any eventuality,” stated Dr. Audrey Penner, Vice President of Academic and Student Success. “Ensuring our students and their studies remain on track is always a priority despite growing global concerns. Northern College is uniquely equipped to transfer to our well-established distance education model to suit the unique needs of this outbreak.”

Northern College will continue to work closely with all levels of government, local, provincial and
national health care bodies and local community stakeholders to keep students, staff and the
community at large up to date on any further changes to the academic year.

For those seeking treatment through the East End Family Health Team, please be advised that the clinic
will remain open, but patients are being advised to call the clinic before visiting to book an appointment
and to confirm what services continue to be provided. All patients will be screened while necessary
precautions are taken to ensure the safety of staff and other patients.

The clinic will be conducting triage services over the phone to determine whether patients should be
permitted to visit, all walk in programs and laboratory services have been suspended at this time along
with all non-essential services.

Filed under: Local News