The following message was distributed to all Conestoga employees on behalf of President John Tibbits on November 19.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate all employees for your efforts over the last eight months to support our college community and provide students with the best possible learning experience through a global pandemic.
There’s no question that this has been the greatest challenge our college has faced in its 50+ year history. Your resilience and cooperation have been instrumental in our success as we’ve been forced to adapt in an uncertain and ever-changing environment. I know this has been difficult at times, and I am grateful for your continued support.
Despite rising COVID rates across our community, I am proud to confirm that there has been no evidence of virus transmission on our campuses to date, in large part because of the protocols we’ve adopted for infection prevention and control, such as minimizing the number of people on-campus, screening and monitoring, physical distancing, mask-wearing and enhanced environmental cleaning.
Still, the future remains uncertain, and I urge you to remain cautious and vigilant to protect yourself, your family and our community as the pandemic continues.
With the holidays approaching, I hope that you will all take some time to relax and recharge as we prepare for what will no doubt be a very busy year ahead. We have made the decision to close Conestoga campuses for the holidays at the end of day on December 23. December 24 will be a full-day closure and a vacation day for employees: this additional day will not impact your regular annual vacation allotment.
Employees who are required to work on December 24 or during the traditional holiday period to meet institutional requirements will be contacted by their supervisors in the near future with more detailed information.
We look forward to the new year and the many opportunities it will bring. Most classes will commence on January 18, with some apprenticeship programs beginning earlier.
Thanks once again for your continued efforts to support our students and our college community.
John Tibbits, President