Post-secondary institutions have been warned they will be expected to “align” with the Alberta government’s COVID-19 policies and practices as they begin to relax..Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides took to Twitter on Wednesday saying he had sent a letter — included in the tweet — to post-secondary institutions outlining his expectation that they will align their COVID-policies with the provinces and do away with vaccine requirements..Nicolaides referenced Premier Jason Kenney’s press conference in the letter and noted the Alberta Government’s plan to phase out of COVID-19 measures in the coming weeks..Stage 1 of the government’s plan began Wednesday with the vaccine passport program coming to an end, allowing operators such as post-secondary institutions to return to normal capacity limits..Stage 2 is expected to begin March 1 and will see the end of mask mandates, work from home orders and the removal of remaining restrictions on businesses..“Essentially, post-secondary institutions will have the full ability to return to pre-pandemic delivery without the need to enforce physical distancing, implement proof of vaccination programs and masking effective March 1,” said Nicolaides..“It is my expectation that all of Alberta’s universities, colleges and polytechnics will align their COVID-19 policies and practices with that of Alberta’s government..“Like you, I am eager to see students returning to in-person learning without masking and proof of vaccination requirements this March.”.Nicolaides said institutions should continue to promote vaccinations and current health orders as students begin to return to school campuses..The University of Calgary released a response Wednesday morning to the province’s decision to end vaccine passports and ease off on other public health restrictions over the coming weeks..U of C said it would not make any “immediate changes to the University of Calgary’s Vaccination Directive or its masking mandate..“The University is currently assessing the changes to public health requirements and will provide a further update on health and safety protocols in the coming days,” said the statement..SAIT’s plan to return to campus will see “classes that had moved online in January for the Winter term” return to in-person learning as of Feb. 28. SAIT said it will update students and employees once it evaluates how the Alberta government’s phased lifting of COVID-19 restrictions will impact post-secondary institutions..Mount Royal University said it will continue to follow its current directive which includes proof of vaccination for all staff and students on campus unless an approved accommodation can be provided..“As has been the case throughout the pandemic, we are doing our best to appropriately respond to changing protocols in the interests of the health and well-being of our campus community,” said Peter Glenn, MRU senior media relations officer..Following Kenney’s announcement Tuesday evening, students and teachers at the University of Lethbridge were informed U of L will not be making any immediate changes to its health and safety protocols including masking restrictions and vaccination protocols..The University of Alberta also plans to stay the course for now and said, “There will be no immediate changes to current U of A campus safety measures,” adding a further update will be provided to the U of A community on February 11..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
