Conestoga news

November 13, 2017 2:26 PM

Message to students from VP Student Affairs

November 13, 2017

This has not been an easy time for you. As the strike continues, you may be wondering what it will be like when you come back to class. 

We have been working on plans for you to complete your studies when you return. We will be able to provide you with the actual plans when you are back in class, which we all hope will be soon.

At this time, I can confirm the following:

Academic Dates

  • With the strike entering its fifth week, we can confirm that your fall semester classes will be extended until Friday, December 22, and will resume on Tuesday, January 2. The College will be closed from end of day Friday, December 22, 2017 to 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 2, 2018. During this time, no classes will be scheduled.
  • If the work stoppage continues into the week of November 20, it is possible that the mid-winter student success week will be affected (February 26 to March 2, 2018). We advise students to refrain from booking travel during this period until we know more.
  • For students who cannot postpone or cancel travel plans, and will be missing classes because of the extended semester, our School Chairs will work with you on an individual basis to help you maintain both your travel plans and your studies. Details will be posted to the college website with contact names in the next 24 hours.

We support Minister Matthews’s directive regarding a dedicated fund to support students who have experienced financial hardship as a result of the strike. We will advise when the parameters of the fund has been established.  

Class Schedule

  • Classes will resume on the second weekday after the work stoppage ends to give professors one day to review and finalize their course plans and prepare for their first class back. 
  • We can confirm that no assignments,  tests, projects or graded labs will be due or held in your first class of each of your courses. The first day of a course will include a review of course expectations, and discussion of revised due dates. Specific dates for assignments, tests, projects and graded labs will only be available after the work stoppage ends.
  • We will be extending the final day to withdraw from a course without academic penalty. The specific deadline for withdrawing from a course will be provided when the work stoppage is over, and will give you sufficient time to make a decision.
  • Your class meeting times and rooms will remain the same as prior to the strike.

Winter semester

  • Your winter semester fees will not be due until after the strike is over. If you are registered in the winter semester, you will receive further information about due dates.
  • The expected start date for the winter semester is January 15, 2018.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued patience during this difficult time. I look forward to welcoming both you and our faculty back to class in the near future.

Mike Dinning
Vice President, Student Affairs