Update from President Eric, March 15th 8:00pm

Good evening Vanguard Students, and Vanguard Community 

In compliance with the provincial announcement that all schools, including post-secondary institutions, are closed until further notice, on-campus classes at Vanguard are suspended until further notice. Vanguard will move delivery of classes to an alternative form including online and directed study formats for the remainder of the semester or until further notice. The staff and faculty will need March 16-17 to arrange these alternative formats. 

If at any point in the next days/weeks/months, you feel symptomatic, please immediately self-isolate, follow the protocols for self isolation.  There is a link on the Alberta Health service COVID-19 site. 

Use this website to complete a Self Assessment 

Please inform Pastor Aunge on the results of your assessment.  (aunge.goobie@vanguardcollege.com )

Student ministry teams will be cancelled until further notice. No overnight guests will be permitted in housing until further notice.

We will make a plan to ensure you finish your academic year successfully. This plan will take us some time to put together and ask you to be patient for a few days. Please do not worry.  In the meantime, plan to be diligent to work at the assignments and papers that you know you have to do since you have time to work on it now.

Keep checking this link for any and all updates. 

The offices of the College will remain open during this time unless otherwise instructed. You can come for a visit, make an appointment with Academics, your Program Director, Campus Life, Student Finance, or any other person.

The Library will remain open for now, under certain conditions, and we will notify you about the hours it will keep.

We appreciate your patience as we work to serve you. You are constantly in our hearts and we pray for you daily. 

President Eric

Update from President Eric, March 16th 2:30pm

Hi students and community! Please make sure you are limiting your social contacts as much as possible. Try to avoid public places (except groceries, doctor, pharmacy, etc) and enjoy the outdoors!

CLASSES WILL RESUME IN AN ALTERNATIVE FORMAT

UPDATES:

1. Classes have been suspended but NOT CANCELLED. Classes will resume later this week in an alternative format. What this means is that some classes will meet electronically in their current timetable slot as currently scheduled. Some classes will have modified requirements if meeting electronically at the same time is not possible.
2. Many of your course requirements will remain the same, and some will be modified. Your professors will make this clear and communicate with you this week.
3. You are responsible to stay committed to the current timetable. Some professors will be available for chat on Populi or another platform during your normal timetable schedule.
4. If you go home (wherever that is), and it is in another timezone, you are committed to be available for your classes in Mountain Standard Time.
5. This webpage will provide general updates, the time and date when classes will resume in an alternative format, and other information.

CLASSES ARE RESUMING  AT A DISTANCE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18th

Dear students,

Presidential Update Wednesday, March 18, 2020

1. The faculty has been working hard and are very excited to re-engage with you through alternative course deliveries.   All students are required to attend classes that are running virtually (Google Meet, Skype, etc.).  Professors are taking attendance. For classes not running virtually, your professor will clearly communicate requirements
2. The college will be open from 9:00am to 3:00pm.  
3. We will postpone Commencement. We are working on alternative arrangements for Commencement at this point. We have several options and need to wait to see what is permitted, and how we can offer Commencement for our graduates. We want all our grads to experience this.
4. For the same reasons the Grad Banquet has been cancelled. Alternatives exist for some form of Grad celebration aligned with Commencement.
5. We strongly encourage you to talk to your families, and consider going home at your earliest convenience. We remind you that you remain committed to the timetable when your class may meet virtually. This means you have to connect during Mountain Standard Time.
6. Please be reminded that your Vanguard academic commitments, including online class participation, is a priority over your voluntary or ministry commitments.

Update Friday, March 20, 2020

Dear students:

We are committed to supporting you through the next few weeks of classes.

1. In light of ongoing developments in the COVID-19 pandemic and our desire to do all we can to keep our students, faculty and staff safe, and in compliance with Alberta Health Services recommendations, as of Monday March 23rd our facility will be closed except in the following circumstances:
   1. Library: Available by appointment only (appoint.ly/t/library)
   2. Faculty/Staff appointment: You have a scheduled appointment with a faculty or staff member.
   3. Personal belongings: You need to collect personal belongings or enter the facility for any other reason, please contact Pastor Mikel Cowie at mikel.cowie@vanguardcollege.com

2. A word to our grads this year. We can’t begin to understand your disappointment about the postponement of your commencement ceremonies and the cancellation of your grad banquet. Please rest assured that over the next few weeks we will keep alternative graduation ceremonies in our mind and planning. In time, we will be asking you, our grads of 2020, to send us your ideas of how we can best celebrate your achievements. 

Update Friday, March 27, 2020

Student Update Regarding Academic Work

The College leadership team recognizes that students feel new and different pressures during this season. We understand students can feel anxiety and even fear because of the uncertainty of the future, the loneliness of isolation, and the lack of routine.  Not being able to physically come on campus and participate in the regular rhythm of the Vanguard community can have a significant impact. Life is just not normal for any of us right now. The Vanguard team is experiencing challenges as well. 

So, If you feel overwhelmed, and are concerned about your academic success this semester, please contact Dr. Rob Lindemann (Academic Dean) at rob.lindemann@vanguardcollege.com or Aunge Goobie (Campus Pastor) at aunge.goobie@vanguardcollege.com . We want to know if you are struggling to keep up with your workload, fearful of not completing course requirements. This is particularly important for those who plan on graduating this spring.

As we navigate this new reality together let's keep taking steps forward and placing our hope in the Lord. This is a season, not a new normal, but it is going to take some adjustments. Campus Life did a “10 tips for motivation” video for Thursday Gathering (posted on Facebook), take a look and take note of tips you can put in place today. We want to assure you that the college leadership is committed to your success so keep pressing on, you can do this, and reach out if you need help.

Update Friday, April 3, 2020

Message from Dr. Rob Lindemann

In response to the difficulties many students are facing due to the COVID-19 situation, the college is following suit with other post-secondary institutions in providing a grade option that alleviates the pressure of the extenuating circumstances. Providing this choice allows those who need final grades for their future plans, while also ensuring those whose performance has been affected by difficult circumstances are not penalized. 

The Academic Council has approved the following policy:

Students must still complete the majority of their coursework, maintain the attendance policy, and achieve a passing grade (D- or above). Once their course is closed, they will be given the following two options:

1. Take the letter grade earned which will count toward their GPA as per normal.
2. Opt for Credit Received (CR) if they passed the course but performed poorly due to extenuating circumstances. This will not affect their term or cumulative GPA and will not require the student to retake the course.

If a student does not pass the course, they will receive a No Credit Received (NCR) grade. This will not affect their GPA, but they must retake the course. Students who choose option #2 must notify the Registrar before May 31 after their course is closed on May 15. At the end of the semester students may submit a request for an extension to the Registrar for incomplete work. The deadline for submitting extended assignments will be June 15.

Vanguard College 2020 Graduation Update

 Good afternoon all, 

 We have some good news to share with you! As you know, due to the COVID-19 pandemic we had to postpone the 2020 Graduation Ceremony and Banquet which was scheduled for April 25, 2020. We are pleased to announce, presuming conditions permit, that we will hold our 73rd Graduation Ceremony and Banquet on Saturday, September 26, 2020.  

 We are excited to celebrate with all of our Certificate, Diploma, Degree and Post-Degree grads. We know you all have put in a lot of work to complete your program, particularly in these last several weeks. As Romans 8:28 says, “God truly does make all things work together for good and for His glory.” We also trust that God has a plan for your lives and ministry, and we are excited to see how He will continue to use you in the years to come. 

 We want to remind you of a few key dates that are upcoming:

• Last day of regular classes = April 23
• Last day of submitting assignments = May 8*
• Final grades completed on Populi = May 15

 *Extensions are available until June 15, 2020 in cases of special circumstances. Contact the Registrar for more information. 

More details will be released about the Graduation Ceremony and banquet in the months to come so you can plan accordingly. Once again congratulations and, presuming conditions permit, we look forward to celebrating with you on September 26, 2020. 

Your partners in ministry, 

The Vanguard Team

We want to clearly communicate our plan for the fall semester in as much detail as is available at this time to our students and to the greater Vanguard College community. We are planning for on campus classes this fall. We are working closely with Alberta Advanced Education and we are following the Alberta Health guidelines for post-secondary schools, and the General Workplace Guidance for Business Owners. We are committed to providing a safe environment for our students, staff, faculty and visitors. As a post-secondary institution with smaller classes and a larger facility, we are able to offer the majority of our classes in person with appropriate physical distancing. Here is our current plan:

Timetable/Classes

We will offer the majority of our fall classes on campus with an adjusted timetable. The majority of the first and fourth year classes will run on Tuesday and Thursdays, and the majority of the second and third year classes will run on Monday and Wednesdays. Practicum classes will continue to run on Fridays. We will make adjustments to our classroom spaces to ensure all rooms are set up to allow two metres of separation between students. We will include the use of our chapel and gym as learning spaces for some classes. A timetable for the fall will be released in the coming days. By adjusting our schedule to an alternate day strategy, we will effectively operate on any given day at only 50% of normal capacity. Alongside directional signage throughout the facility, this reduced capacity will ensure safe distancing in the hallways, the library and in student areas. Please note, some on campus courses may be capped in order to uphold safety guidelines with respect of room size limitations.

Vanguard Online

Our program and course availability through Vanguard Online continues to grow. For students who do not feel comfortable coming to the campus this fall, Vanguard Online is an excellent option for you to consider. For incoming students, please contact the Enrolment department, and returning students, please contact the Academic department.

Chapel/Spiritual Life

We are committed to your overall spiritual development and recognize that Chapels, Gatherings, and prayer meetings have a significant and essential role in our tradition. Therefore, we want you to know that Chapels, Gatherings, and Prayer meetings will continue to happen this fall. We are hopeful that we will be able to meet together in some format, but it may look different in terms of when and how. Stayed tuned for more information.

Campus Life

We are looking forward to having you back on campus, rest assured, we are taking steps to prepare for your arrival. How we facilitate community may vary and look different, but we will continue to be socially connected, while maintaining physical distance. It is important that we cooperate and work together to ensure health and safety for all (students, faculty and staff). More information and specific guidelines will be sent to you prior to returning to school, and it is essential that you read and abide by them, as an on campus student.

Student Supports

The Library will be available as a study space in a limited capacity. Seating is reduced and physical distancing will be required by all studiers, regardless of relationship outside the college. Watch this space for a final decision about fall library hours later this summer. We are currently available by appointment, Mon - Fri 9am-3pm. 

Students will have full access to borrow from Vanguard College Library’s collection, but the NEOS Connect (delivery service) remains closed. There is the possibility of making appointments at our partner Libraries to borrow directly from them. 

We have increased our digital collections and database subscriptions. Explore https://www.vanguardcollege.com/library-4/ and note that a search for journal articles will also now yield eBook results! 

Tutoring and proofreading will still be available online and through one-on-one appointments, but the Academic Success Center will not be available for drop-in services. Don’t forget to connect with us in the Library Support Group on Populi! 

The BookNook will have textbooks available in a limited capacity for online purchase and in-library pickup through the Populi Bookstore. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase their books ahead of time through other means. We will ensure that the required books are listed in your courses once you’ve registered. 

Student Housing/Roommates

Once you move into student housing, or place of residency, for the semester it is important to know a single unit (housing, apartment…) is considered a household/cohort, meaning you’re required to physically distance from everyone outside of your roommates. In saying this, while on campus, we are asking everyone to maintain physical distancing. Visitation with friends/family will need to happen outside of the student housing with physical distancing measures. In response to the current restrictions, regarding cohorts, we would ask that during this semester you refrain from travelling to and from home until Christmas break. This will limit possible transmission to your roommates and college. More information and specifics will be provided in the coming weeks. 

Kick-off / Retreats/ Orientation

We are hopeful that health guidelines in September will allow us to run our all school kick off, Fusion. It is most likely this will be hosted off site at a larger facility in the Edmonton area. More information on this will follow. For our incoming students, we plan to adjust our regular orientation day (normally held on the Friday before classes start) to either a different day, or spread over numerous days in small ‘pods’ of no more than 15 students. Again, please check  this site for updates on this. It is with regret we will not be running our normal fall program retreats this year. However, we are in discussions about ways we can build healthy and safe program connection points that reflect current health guidelines in the first few days of the semester. We will have more updates on this in the coming weeks.

Travel

We are hopeful there will be opportunities for local travel during the fall; however, we will monitor health guidelines closely and make a final decision later in the summer. We do not expect any out of province travel during the fall semester, and we do not expect any out of country travel for the entire school year. We are hopeful that there will be opportunities for some out of province travel, within Canada, in the winter semester.

Cleaning

We are carefully building a cleaning schedule to ensure our facility is kept clean and safe for all users. In addition to a full facility cleaning each evening, all high-touch areas such as (desks, door handles, washrooms, handrails, etc.) will be cleaned and disinfected at various intervals throughout the day. Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance and exits, as well as in every classroom space.  

Pursue Program

We are excited for the second year of our Pursue Discipleship program. This year, we are exploring some engaging ministry, discipleship and community experience in a local setting, that will be in compliance with current health guidelines. 

Tuition and Fees

There will be no tuition credit hour increase this coming fall. Student fees may be adjusted based on services that are not offered. Course fees will be adjusted if trips originally planned do not run. 

Screening

We will track attendance in the facility each day, and ask students, staff and faculty to screen for symptoms each day prior to arrival. 

Field Ed (Practicums/Internships)

Practicum classes and placements will resume in the fall. How placements function may vary depending on restrictions and the placement site (church/organization). 

Be advised this document is subject to change, as we adhere to restrictions and guidelines from Alberta Health Services. For questions, concerns or further information related to our plans for the fall, please email:

fall2020@vanguardcollege.com

Greeting students and Vanguard community:

We have made a couple of significant scheduling changes to our fall operating plan since our most recent update. We received some really good feedback on our initial plan that scheduled 1st and 4th year classes all day Tuesday and Thursday and 2nd and 3rd year classes all day on Monday and Wednesday. After further consideration, we developed a better way to schedule fall classes that will give students a greater sense of connection and a better rhythm in their class times.

We also deeply felt a need to find room for a day-time chapel in the timetable; a chapel that would be streamed live to three or four different rooms in the building; a central time to pause, gather together, and meet with the Lord. 

As such, our timetable for the fall divides each day into morning sessions and afternoon sessions:. First and fourth year classes will alternate days between mornings and afternoons; second and third year classes will alternate days between mornings and afternoons. There will be a break in the middle of the day where morning students leave and afternoon students arrive. During this break, all hi-touch surfaces in the building will be cleaned. The new schedule means most students are in class each day, either morning or afternoon.

Chapel times have also been added to allow second and third years to participate in a Monday chapel, and first and fourth years in a Tuesday chapel. We feel this schedule change will be much more beneficial to the student body. We will continue to update you as we finalize planning for the fall.

For questions, concerns or further information related to our plans for the fall, please email: fall2020@vanguardcollege.com