Loyalist College’s President says she was extremely impressed with how staff and students pivoted and adapted to pandemic-related challenges in 2020.
Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan tells Quinte News the pandemic “instantly reshaped the post secondary landscape” and says the work done by staff, in support of student success, has been “absolutely remarkable and inspiring”.
Dr. Vaughan also noted that the Loyalist community did a lot of work outside of teaching and learning, to make a difference in the fight against COVID-19, by donating 58,000 pieces of PPE to Quinte Health Care and having staff work on the front lines.
“Our carpentry and renovation technician students constructed a small, insulated shelter at the Belleville assessment centre for front line workers, so they could get out of the cold. It’s just absolutely amazing the entire effort, both within the college, but also on behalf of the college for the entire community.”
She says that pandemic response also led to students in various programs jumping into action, even before their graduation dates.
“Some nurses and paramedics, also social service worker students. The demand for these students is just phenomenal and the community has responded to that, and the college and our students have stepped up and responded to that. You know, these are the bright moments in such a drastic time in our lives and you can’t help but be inspired by the people on the front lines.”
Dr. Vaughan says she knows that the situation has been frustrating for everyone on campus, but is proud of how staff and students managed to stick through the year.
She added that even though a few positive COVID-19 cases that were found in some students, the college was able to support those individuals, while preventing any spread of the virus around campus.
