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COVID-19 FAQ

NSCAD Campus Update

If you feel unwell, please stay home.  Read this checklist to guide your decision-making when experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Knowing and following the notification process is important. If you receive a positive result on a rapid antigen test, please email OHS@nscad.ca after notifying public health. By emailing OHS@nscad.ca, NSCAD will take care of notifying instructors and classmates, while protecting confidentiality. 

Please visit the COVID-19 case tracker page here.

NSCAD will continue to offer rapid COVID-19 tests while they are available at the Service Centre.

For a quick tutorial on administering your rapid test,  refer to these printed instructions or watch the following video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwOYgdNrvhk&t=81s

As of May 1, 2022, students, faculty and staff are no longer required to provide proof of full vaccination to work and study on campus, although NSCAD emphatically supports vaccines and the importance of full vaccination. This requirement may change based on health and safety risks to our community and NSCAD will consider reinstating a vaccine requirement if necessary.

Regular testing is also highly encouraged for everyone.

To be considered fully vaccinated, you have received all required doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine (your second dose of a 2-dose vaccine, or a single dose of a 1-dose vaccine). You’re fully vaccinated when it has been at least 14 days since you received the last vaccine dose.

Partially vaccinated means you’ve received 1 dose of a vaccine authorized as a 2 dose vaccine series such as Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca plus 14 days.

Vaccine means a vaccine against COVID-19 that has been approved by either the Public Health Agency of Canada or the World Health Organization.

The easiest way to update your vaccine status is to resubmit a new form which will override the earlier form. Should you choose to update your status, please only do so once you are fully vaccinated (see definition of fully vaccinated above).

The Form Portal is password protected, and only those with the appropriate authorization can access the forms. Access to data collected is limited to only those employees that need it. The portal is housed on NSCAD’s internal server, and as it is not being stored in the Cloud, is highly secure.

NSCAD will continue to offer rapid COVID-19 tests at the Service Centre in Fountain Campus while supplies last. For more information on additional COVID-19 testing options click here.

As of July 1, 2022, masks will no longer be required on NSCAD campuses. There may be members of the university community who choose to wear masks, and we support everyone’s right to do so.

Masks continue to be required for the Extended Studies summer camps. 

Please visit the Government of Canada COVID-19 travellers’ awareness resource page for details on any requirements for your specific situation.

Everyone in Nova Scotia must follow Nova Scotia public health directives to help contain the spread of COVID-19. All students, faculty and staff who self-isolate must complete a daily digital check in with Nova Scotia Public Health to confirm their self-isolation status, and also the NSCAD self-isolation plan form.

The Student Union of NSCAD (SUNSCAD) can prepare care packages for those self-isolating. Please contact internal@nscad.ca

Other resources and contacts can be found in this video from Community Health Teams.

We are here to help. You can access information about the many services available to you.

We would like to encourage anyone who is need of extra support during this time to access the following resources for assistance:

  • The Department of Health and Wellness recently launched two provincial online programs called ICAN and MindwellU. 

Additional resources that may be available and helpful to you or your loved ones:

  • EFAP Employee Assistant Program (for Civil Servants & Health Care workers) 1-800-461-5558
  • Mental Health & Addictions Intake Services – Call toll-free 1-855-922-1122
  • Mental Health Crisis Line 1-888-429-8167 (toll-free, available 24 hours, seven days a week)
  • Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free, available 24 hours, seven days a week)
  • 211 Nova Scotia is a free helpline that connects you to community and social services in your area. It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in over 150 languages.
  • Every Woman’s Centre (Sydney) – (902) 567-1212
  • Transition House – (902) 429-7287

Here is a list of resources available in the Northern, Western and Central regions in the province: https://nsgeu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/merged-community-supports.pdf

NSCAD acknowledges the discrimination the Asian community has faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the way many marginalized communities, especially communities of colour, have been disproportionately affected. 

NSCAD does not tolerate discrimination of any kind, and we encourage you to read our Respectful Workplace and Learning Environment policy. We encourage anyone experiencing discrimination at NSCAD to please contact the Office of Opportunity and Belonging. Your concerns will be investigated immediately. You may also contact the Human Rights Commission.

We encourage anyone witnessing discrimination to act on your obligation to provide a duty of care. Do not be a bystander.

Classes, grades and workshops

Masks:

  • As of July 1, 2022, masks are no longer required on NSCAD campuses. There may be members of the university community who choose to wear masks, and we support everyone’s right to do so.
  • Masks continue to be required for the Extended Studies summer camps.

Vaccinations:

  • As of May 1, 2022, students, faculty and staff will not be required to provide proof of full vaccination to work and study on campus, although the university emphatically supports vaccines and the importance of full vaccination. This requirement may change based on health and safety risks to our community and NSCAD will consider reinstating a vaccine requirement if necessary.

Testing:

  • NSCAD will continue to offer rapid COVID-19 tests at the Service Centre in Fountain Campus while supplies last.

Campus Access:

  • By coming to campus, you attest that you are feeling well and are not aware of any potential exposures to COVID-19.

Physical Distancing:

  • The university will continue to promote physical distancing, however no formal requirement for physical distancing will be in place.

Accommodation and Support

  • Employees who have circumstances that may make it difficult to be on campus and who could require accommodation are expected to contact humanresources@nscad.ca.
  • Additional resources for staff and students can be found on our Mental Health and Wellbeing: Our Response and through the additional COVID-19 OHS Resources. We encourage all employees and students to utilize these resources as needed.

We are very excited to announce @NSCAD-Online, a roster of engaging and innovative online learning opportunities.    

Adapting to online learning during the pandemic and improving the user experience has helped NSCAD demonstrate its community can extend beyond its physical campuses through the high quality, next-wave, digitally rich courses that the university offers.

A catalogue of 25 online classes will be offered as available throughout the academic calendar, including:

  • AHIS 2010 Survey of 19th Century Art (TBA) 
  • AHIS 2020 Survey of 20th Century Art (TBA) 
  • AHIS 2600-1 Medieval Art (Marylin McKay) 
  • AHIS 3610-01 Egyptian Art/Egyptomania (Marilyn McKay) 
  • AHIS 3117-1 Art of Failure (Julie Hollenbach) 
  • CERM 2003-1 Intro to Ceramics for Design (Rory MacDonald) 
  • CERM 2610-1 Ceramic Technology, (Rory MacDonald) 
  • DRAW 3319-1 Comics Studio, (Rebecca Roher) 
  • EDAR 5610-1 Secondary Art Methods (Isla MacEachern) 
  • EDAR 5630-1 Guided Methods (Louis-Charles Dion) 
  • FNDN 1010-4 Intro to Studio Practice (Sarah Maloney) 
  • FNDN 1100-1 Foundation Drawing(Marilyn McAvoy) 
  • FNDN 1200-1 Intro to Visual Culture (TBA) 
  • Writing for the Arts 3 (Marlene Ramos) 
  • JWLY 2300 -1x/DSGN 2300-1x, Digital Object Making (Greg Sims) 
  • PNTG 3402-1 Painting and the Body (Joy Wong) 
  • PRTM 2025-1 Print Off the Press (Charley Young) 
  • TEXL 2510 Hand Sewing (Aishe Ali) 
  • TEXL 3320-1 Fabrics Laboratory (Jennifer Green) 
  • TEXL 3415-0L1 Intermediate Fashion Collection, Development (Gary Markle) 
  • TEXL 4415-OL1  Advanced Fashion Collection, Development (Gary Markle) 
  • DSGN 1000-3 Digital Toolsfor Designing (Monika Kulesza) 
  • DSGN 3400-1 Digital Illustration (Frank Orlando) 
  • DSGN 4907-1 Intercultural Issues & Design (Becka Barker)

Supplies can be purchased at the NSCAD Art Supply Store. The Supply Store offers curbside pick-up on Fountain Campus, and mailing options are available.

Student Finances and Services

There are a number of assistance programs available to students during this time, both internally at NSCAD and externally through the provincial and federal governments.

The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to support Canadians and businesses facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. For more information about Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, including information on the Employment Insurance (EI) program, Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) click here.

Clink on any of the links below for more information on how these programs can be accessed.

NSCAD’s Emergency Bursary Program

NSCAD’s Interim Loan Application

Employment Insurance information

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program: Free Tax Clinics

The National Student Loan Service Centre has implemented Student Loan COVID–19 Relief Measures to help support students whose finances have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

All Canadian provincial and territorial loan providers are working to support students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. You can access the most recent information from your provincial or territorial office at the links provided:

International Students

As of January 15, 2022, international students can enter Canada to study provided they meet the following requirement:

  1. they must qualify as fully vaccinated travellers unless they are a minor student (under the age of 18 years). 
  2. they must have a valid study permit or a letter of introduction that shows they were approved for a study permit (unless they don’t need one)
  3. They must be attending a designated learning institution (DLI) (NSCAD University’s DLI# isO19021269652)

Keeping a valid study permit is necessary for international students to be able to legally stay in Canada.  

  • It also helps them with their PGWP eligibility because they do not need to restore status and pay restoration fees
  • They can work full-time as soon as they submit their PGWP application if their study permit allows them to work, and they meet the other PGWP requirements
  • All study permits become invalid 90 days after their study program is finished even if the permit is not yet expired

In this situation, international students can:

  • leave Canada and apply for their PGWP, or 
  • apply for a visitor record to stay in Canada longer, or
  • restore their student status within 90 days of expiry (C$350 + $255 PGWP fee) 

*Please note that international students CANNOT apply for visitor status OR to have their study permit restored WHILE waiting for their PGWP application to be processed. Please read how to apply for a post-graduation work permit for detailed information. 

As of November 26, 2021, the following Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) Program eligibility requirements are in effect: 

  • International students can complete up to 100% of their studies online from outside Canada
  • All of the time studying online from outside Canada between spring 2020 and August 31, 2022, counts toward the length of a PGWP, even if students are completing two study programs

Please refer to the Post Graduation Work Permit Program page for detailed information. 

Students can visit the Student VIP website to find information regarding health care coverage, health care services, opt-out information, and other forms.

You’ll also find information about new initiatives such as a student Virtual Health Hub and the Remote Study Health Program. An FAQ document is also available.

Students can reach out to Student VIP directly with questions about their health care plan, including a live chat a Student VIP rep in real time. Students can also email info@studentvip.ca with their questions.

Donating to NSCAD

Please visit our Give page to make a donation. You may choose to direct your gift to scholarships and bursaries, or another priority on the donation page. The COVID-19 epidemic is putting additional pressures on students returning to NSCAD or considering NSCAD. We want to make sure that economics are not a barrier for bright, talented and motivated people.