A return to in-person learning continues to be a concern for some Ontario post-secondary students as the middle of the winter semester approaches.
Schools like Humber College are expected to resume in-person learning as of March 7, something that is receiving push-back from some students.
A petition for Humber to delay in-person learning, created by Humber student Gustavo Lopes, has already garnered over 3,300 signatures as of Monday.
The problem with forcing students to return is that colleges and universities, as a whole, are seen by some to be unprepared when it comes to keeping staff and students safe. As well, students have complained about the disruption to plans related to housing and commuting to campus.
And faculty also have concerns.
Miloš Vasić, president of the Humber Faculty Union said that the lack of physical distancing, ventilation and N95 masks are the primary concerns for a safe return.
“Up until now, Humber has insisted that they’re all for distancing. But as of March, they’re pretty much saying ‘No more distancing in classrooms.’ They’re trying to pack the classrooms, to pre-pandemic levels,” Vasić said.
“What frustrates me is just like it’s just a switch. The college is just like, ‘All off, all on’ and there is no middle ground to be found,” he said.
Other post-secondary institutions like the University of Toronto returned to in-person learning earlier in the semester.
U of T student Alissa Da Silva, 20, told Humber News that this semester was not the right time to bring students back.
“I do not feel completely safe on campus. I think that classes operating in-person at full capacity is quite alarming, especially when you are forced to sit in a lecture hall with over 100 people,” Da Silva said.
She said that students should not have to prioritize their learning over their health. Students who are — or live with — anyone immunocompromised are putting themselves at great risk.
“Hybrid classes should have been in-place since the beginning of the school year and would reduce class sizes for those who choose to go in-person, as many will opt out for remote learning,” she said.
Andrew Leopold, Humber College’s director of communications, spoke with Humber News on Monday about the return to in-person learning.
Heading to March 7, programs and classes that can be offered in person will be offered in person, Leopold said.
“There might be some classes that will be offered in a different format, and that will be communicated to students as needed,” he said.
Leopold also reaffirmed the college’s stance on safety.
“We’re going to make every scenario, every situation as safe as possible for our community, employees, staff and visitors.”
Derek Stockley, the associate vice president of academic at Humber College, told the CBC over the weekend that, “every step along the way we’ve been taking direction from public health, from the chief medical officer, and of course, from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities,”