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DISCUSSION CONCERNING STUDENT SOCIAL ISOLATION DURING COVID-19.
J. Morozuk provided an overview student social isolation at Georgian College during the COVID-19 pandemic. She discussed concerns that new and returning students are missing out on opportunities to make new friends and interact with their peers and community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
B. Muscat, Georgian College advised that during the winter semester that a majority of the college students will continue to learn remotely with a small portion of students learning on-campus dependent of the type of program. He highlighted that the winter semester at Georgian College will commence on January 18, 2021.
Mr. Muscat advised that Georgian College has now been added as a Designated Learning Facility by the Government of Canada which now allows the college to begin accepting International students who are enrolled into their programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. He provided an overview of Georgian College’s COVID-19 protocols and procedures that are in place for when those International students arrive in Barrie.
The Committee discussed ideas related to communicating with students at Georgian College so that they can feel welcome in the community and get to know and understand the City.
C. Harris, Manager of Marketing and Communications provided suggestions such as including promotional material in the student’s orientation package as well as creating a story map on Discover Barrie, the City’s GIS Portal for students to access so that they can get to know Barrie. B. Muscat. Georgian College will provide information to Ms. Harris for inclusion in the story map and promotional material.