The CAMROSE BOOSTER, August 24, 2021 – Page 12
Augustana halls alive with the sound of students Meal cards will also be available On August 19, 20 and 21, the for purchase to students living off University of Alberta Augustana campus. Campus welcomed students back Other infrastructure changes during Move-In Day and a return include upgrading air handling requireto the on-site learning experience. ments in the west wing of the old classA few international students were room building and in the Ravine Resiwelcomed back prior to these dates, dences, and the installation of lectureand returning students will be back capture equipment to offer a hybrid of on campus on August 26. delivery of courses. “Professors can have “We are excited to be having students in the classroom and students students, faculty and staff back, online at the same time,” explained and looking forward to mainly inSmith. “Our goal is to get close to 30 the-classroom teaching,” said Uniclassrooms equipped with that technolversity of Alberta Augustana Camogy. Not all will be ready for this term, pus general manager James Smith. Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster but we will have some of those class“We have been preparing the cam- Augustana staff and faculty are happy to welcome students back rooms ready for the beginning of classes pus as best we can to accommodate to campus. this term.” a safe return environment.” versity of Alberta made the decision, based on Smith said that operational changes, due to In accordance to a directive outlining the consultation with public health experts, to offer the University undergoing significant adminisnew measures for fall return to campus estab- single occupancy (one person per bedroom) in tration cuts in an effort to work towards a more lished by Alberta’s three research-intensive dormitories.” centralized administration model, unfortunateuniversities including the University of Alberta He explained that this will reduce the (including Augustana), University of Calgary, number of students in on-campus housing to ly resulted in the closing of the on-campus and University of Lethbridge, rapid testing or 300, which equates to more students seeking bookstore. “Bookstore needs will be served by our vaccination, and masks will be mandated as housing off campus in Camrose. U of A online bookstore, as well as by our new part of back-to-school plans. “We know that is a challenge and there is As per the directive, the University of Alber- a time crunch, and so we have provided any service desk located at Founders Hall.” Athletics ta (Augustana), the University of Calgary, and students who are on the wait list for on-campus According to Nickel, athletics programs the University of Lethbridge will require all housing with various information about our those coming to campus to undergo rental opportunities will be beginning a little later in the year. “We participate in the ACAC (Alberta Colregular rapid testing. Those who are within the City.” e have been preparing fully vaccinated against COVID-19 leges Athletic Conference) and they have a plan As well, Augusare exempt from this requirement. the campus as best we tana Student Asso- in place. The seasons will be a little bit shorter, Smith said that according to can to accommodate a safe return ciation is providing will start a little later in the year, and there the directive, students, faculty, and support if there is may be some games without fans.” staff who are not fully vaccinated, environment,” said Smith Women’s soccer will be the first sport to someone looking and those who would prefer not for a roommate off resume with practices taking place the end of to disclose their vaccine status, will need to campus, which would assist in financing and August, and games tentatively scheduled to regularly complete a rapid screening test and increase the chances of finding housing. begin in September receive a negative result before they participate Both Nickel and Smith said that Augustana Smith indicated that one of the main focusin in-person activities. is reaching out to the community to provide infor- es around sport is to reduce the amount of The campuses will also require non-medical mation on possible rental opportunities. travel in an effort to reduce the risk of COVID. face masks to be worn in all public indoor areas Other changes External users where physical distancing is not possible, and Aside from the protocols surrounding COVExternal users are anxious to get back to will require those with COVID-19 symptoms or ID-19 safety, the campus has also implemented events and initiatives hosted by the campus a positive test to self-isolate, under provincial some changes that coincide with keeping students and continue what has come to be known as an guidelines, for 10 days from the onset of symp- safe, while adding to the already unique and extraordinary partnership. toms or until a negative COVID-19 test result. enjoyable student experience. “External groups are an important part of For full details visit www.ualberta.ca/ “We are amping up our facilities, food ser- the Augustana community, and we are anxious covid-19/campus-safety/safety-measures- vices, and recreation,” said Nickel. to return to having outside events happening general-directives/vaccination.html. “We looked at all those things that get on campus,” said Smith. “At this point, how“We are happy with our enrollment, around students connected with each other and doing the 1,000 student mark, which is normal for us, things they like and finding new things that ever, we are waiting to deal with the return of and our goal at Augustana is to enhance our they like to do, which is at the core of Student students and faculty to see how that works and then looking more closely at external groups. curriculum so we can increase our enrolment, Life Services.” but with that we will require some added infraChanges were made in dining hall to not Currently, we have to go through an internal structure,” said Smith, further explaining that only keep students safe, but to enhance the process in order for external events to happen.” On August 31, Augustana will be hosting the current classroom situation is sufficient, overall experience. a COVID-19 vaccine clinic but there is a need to enhance residency and on campus for first dose, and other student services. another clinic in October for University of Alberta Augustana Campus second dose for all AugusStudent Life executive director Randal Nickel tana students, staff and facexplained the unique situation Augustana is ulty. facing with students this year. “We will have Students, faculty and two cohorts of students who have never seen the campus,” which he said includes this year’s staff are encouraged, if they first-year students and last year’s first-year have not already been vacstudents, who are now second-year students. cinated, to take this oppor“That has been a significant part of our tunity to do so or to arrange strategizing and planning as part of that we with Alberta Health Servicneed to and hope to develop–that on-campus es (AHS) for vaccinations or experience, that energy that people love about attend the Camrose Health starting at university.” Clinic. Nickel said that it was reflected in the According to Smith, orientation which began with a Welcome Day AHS has ensured that outon August 23. “The goal of that day was to get of-province or country stutheir sea legs–get their feet planted a little dents won’t have any barribit on the campus. They could move around ers to receiving the vaccine Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster the campus, meet various people and interact in an effort to ensure all University of Alberta Augustana Campus Student Life executive with each other as students, which is such a director Randal Nickel, left, and Food Services supervisor students are vaccinated. critical thing. Hopefully without high pres- Tracy Barusen are excited to welcome students back. While some changes are sure, and hopefully without a big firehose of inevitable in order to insure the safest and best “It is now set up more as a restaurant-style information.” learning experience, the staff and faculty at UniHousing needs experience instead of the old cafeteria style,” versity of Alberta, including Augustana Campus, In an effort to ensure the utmost of safety explained Nickel. for students, Augustana has reduced the numDifferent stations have been set up featur- are excited to see the return of students. “We are just hoping for as normal an operaber of students being housed in on-campus ing a variety of healthy, locally-sourced food residences, including the Hoyme and Ravine choices. Extended hours afford students more tion as possible and to really give our students Complexes. opportunities to dine without overcrowding, that experience that they have come to expect “Our on-campus housing two years ago the seating arrangements are spaced further from Augustana,” concluded Smith. As for Camrose and surrounding areas, had approximately 425 students,” noted Nickel. apart, and the overall colour scheme is brighter “This year and last, obviously things are and trendier. “That is what they expect and having Augustana students out and about in the community will be a welcome sight. changing. It is a dynamic situation. The Uni- that is what they deserve.” By Lori Larsen
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