On campus during COVID-19

The safety of our SAIT community is important and it takes all of us to protect it. Use your head, stop the spread.

Do not come to campus if you:

have tested positive for COVID-19
are being tested for COVID-19
are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19
have tested negative — you are still required to isolate
have one or more COVID-19 symptoms
don’t intend to wear a mask.

What to do before coming to campus

Following these guidelines protects you, your class and your family. Your actions have impact — know what to do.

SAIT is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for the entire campus community. Employees, students and visitors must complete a general COVID-19 orientation upon returning to SAIT campus. The orientation aligns with public health directives, raising awareness about COVID-19 safety and informing all individuals of their responsibilities and requirements upon returning to SAIT. Return to campus safety orientation Student instructions If you’re coming to campus, before you arrive you must complete the Return to Campus Safety Orientation. You only need to complete the orientation once. Students and apprentices will be automatically registered in this four-module course in Brightspace (D2L). You’ll find the modules in ORNT 118: Orientation. Watch for ORNT 118 in your course list. Completion of the Return to Campus Safety Orientation is a priority for students attending some or all of their studies in-person on campus. If you’re coming to campus and can’t access the course in advance of your first day, please contact your Academic Chair. The course takes about 20 minutes to complete. Make sure you select "exit" on the bottom right once you finish each module to ensure your completion registers to your transcript. 👉 Need help logging in to Brightspace (D2L)? Employee instructions Sign in to PeopleNOW with your SAIT login credentials. In the top right search bar, type in “Return to Campus” and the training will appear. Click on the training and register for the curriculum. Open the curriculum and scroll to the bottom. You’ll see a list of all four modules. Click Activate to launch the first one. Complete the four course modules (total time: 24 minutes). IMPORTANT: Once you’ve completed each course, make sure you select Exit on the bottom right. It will take half a minute to close the course, but it ensures your completion of the course is recorded to your transcript. New for employees: Starting Winter 2021, all SAIT employees who will be working on campus must attend a Campus Readiness training session. Details for this training are available on SAITNOW. Contractor instructions Visit this link. Register your name, email and phone number. Select the “Return to Campus Safety Orientation” title on the homepage or go to MyLearning > Learner Home and select the orientation. Click on the training and register for the curriculum. Open the curriculum and scroll to the bottom. You’ll see a list of all four modules. Click Activate to launch the first one. Complete the four course modules (total time: 24 minutes). IMPORTANT: Once you’ve completed each course, make sure you select Exit on the bottom right. It will take half a minute to close the course, but it ensures your completion of the course is recorded to your transcript.

2. Request accommodations

Everyone is different and has unique needs coming to campus during a pandemic. As a student, you might have a pre-existing condition or perhaps if you get sick it will be difficult to complete your coursework. Talk to your school or contact Accessibility Services for more information on what accommodations might be available to you. SAIT staff members should talk to their supervisor about accommodations they might require coming back to campus.

3. Complete the daily campus access form

All SAIT staff, students and visitors must complete the daily campus access form every day before accessing campus. The daily campus access form is intended to protect the SAIT community from the transmission of COVID-19 and create a record of individuals who are accessing campus in the event contact tracing is required. Anyone intending to access the SAIT campus must first complete the online COVID-19 Alberta Health Services daily checklist. This helps prevent both the symptomatic and asymptomatic spread of COVID-19. If you answer ‘Yes’ to any of the questions on the checklist, you cannot enter campus and are expected to visit Alberta Health Services’ website to complete the formal online assessment tool and follow their recommendations to get tested and/or self-isolate. Please also notify your supervisor or instructor that you will not be accessing campus. Anyone who must self-isolate based on assessment results must remain at home or in his or her room in residence. The daily campus access form asks the following: complete and confirm you have completed the online COVID-19 Alberta Health Services daily checklist confirm all responses on the online assessment are ‘No’ identify if you are a student, employee or contractor enter your name, identification number identify buildings you intend to access that day Information gathered in this form is kept confidential and only shared for purposes of building access and contact tracing if requested from Alberta Health Services. Individuals who have not completed this form before entering campus will be denied entry to campus buildings.

What to expect

Masks are required

For the safety and protection of our community, face masks are required at all times while indoors on all SAIT campuses. SAIT does not allow the use of gaiters, bandanas, snoods or neck warmers as a substitute to a properly fitted face mask. Students must provide their own masks and put them on when entering buildings. Some programs require specific masks in labs where individually supplied masks from home will not be allowed. Programs that require special masks will coordinate distribution to students. SAIT will provide appropriate PPE to faculty and on-campus employees as per collective agreements and Alberta Health Services guidelines, along with training for proper use and disposal. Given the expected continuation of the pandemic, however, we encourage all employees to augment this supply with their own washable, reusable cloth masks to ensure a clean mask is always available for use. Additional information on mask usage and where to obtain them is available from the Government of Alberta. SAIT established COVID-19 face mask protocol Students Guiding Procedures: AC.3.4.4 Student Non-Academic Conduct and HR.4.10.1 Respectful Workplace and Learning Environment Face masks are required indoors on all SAIT campuses until further notice, as per COVID-19 safety protocols. See: “How to select, wear and clean your mask” for guidance. Following COVID-19 safety protocols on campus is similar to any other SAIT health and safety requirement. Students unable to wear a mask must register with Accessibility Services by email to accessibility.services@sait.ca. NEW: Effective Jan. 11, 2021, requests must be made two weeks in advance of course start date and documentation of a medical or other condition will be required. Aligned with SAIT’s existing accessibility accommodation process, Accessibility Services will produce an accommodation memo and inform by email, on a student-by-student basis, the following individuals/departments: Instructor(s) for the classes the student is registered Academic Chair of the program Students will receive a PDF copy of their accommodation memo from Accessibility Services and will be required to keep this memo (print copy preferred) on their person at all times, and produce it if asked by a campus representative. Following a duty of care and for safety reasons, if this memo is not presented, the student will be asked to leave campus and come back when they have their memo. The daily campus access form includes a declaration about mandatory mask wearing. Students with a SAIT-approved accommodation to not wear a mask, can self-declare that they have spoken with Accessibility Services and have a memo with their accommodation. Safety Ambassadors monitoring building entrances/exits will be able to see this self-declaration on their daily campus access data. False statements on this campus access form is considered academic misconduct. Physical distancing (two metres) is required in all classroom spaces and is a critical control in an environment where a student(s) can’t wear a mask due to medical accommodations. Where distancing can’t be maintained based on classroom activities (i.e. within paired cohorts or in cases of significant movement and interaction), alternative control measures must be established. The Academic Chair can request a risk assessment to assist in establishing additional control measures. Participants in the risk assessment will be Accessibility Services, Safety and Community Services, Employee Services, and the school. Students who do not wear a mask and who do not have an accommodation memo will be asked to leave SAIT campus immediately and not return unless wearing a mask as required. This absence from the SAIT campus will be treated as a non-excused absence under procedures AC.3.8.1 Attendance Requirements and AC.3.8.2 Attendance Requirements – Apprentices, which means students cannot make up any gradeable course assessments they have missed while away from SAIT. It is every SAIT community member’s responsibility to report and address non-compliance. Students are expected to let their instructor or Academic Chair know when a student in their cohort is not complying with these mask requirements. Employees are expected to address a student’s non-compliance in the same manner as they address any act of non-academic misconduct: through discussion with the student, referral to their manager, referral to SAIT’s Office of Community Conduct, etc. A student’s repeated breach of these provisions will be considered to be student non-academic misconduct under procedure AC.3.4.4 Student Non-Academic Conduct. As well, a student’s disruptive or offensive behaviour towards a member of the SAIT community who is carrying out responsibilities under this protocol will be considered to be student non-academic misconduct. Employees Guiding Procedures: HR.4.10.1 Respectful Workplace and Learning Environment and HR.4.4.1 Corrective Action Face masks are required indoors on all SAIT campuses until further notice, as per COVID-19 safety protocols. See: “How to select, wear and clean your mask” for guidance. For instructors required to regularly interact with students at a distance of less than two metres, a face shield, in addition to a face mask, is recommended. Following COVID-19 safety protocols on campus is similar to any other SAIT health and safety requirement. If an employee is unable to wear a mask, the employee must inform their leader in advance of their scheduled work on campus beginning. NEW: Effective Jan. 11, 2021, documentation of a medical or other condition will be required. The leader will provide the employee with an electronic copy of their accommodation memo acknowledging they are able to attend campus with no mask, and will copy Ability Management by email to ability.management@sait.ca on this memo. To produce the accommodation memo, the leader can work with their HR advisor and a representative from Safety and Community Services to complete a risk assessment and determine an accommodation that works best for the employee and the nature of the activities on campus. Employees will be required to keep this memo on their person at all times, and will be required to produce it if asked by a campus representative. Following a duty of care and for safety reasons, if this memo is not presented, the employee will be asked to leave campus and come back when they have their memo. The daily campus access form includes a declaration about mandatory mask wearing. Should an employee receive accommodation to not wear a mask, they can self-declare that they have spoken with their supervisor and have a memo with their accommodation. Safety Ambassadors monitoring building entrances/exits will be able to see this self-declaration on their daily campus access data. Employees who do not wear a mask and who do not have an accommodation memo will be asked to leave the classroom or indoor area immediately and return only when wearing a mask. It is every SAIT community member’s responsibility to report non-compliance. Employees will be subject to progressive discipline as per appropriate work group. The Ability Management group keeps a master list of accommodations should anyone have questions about compliance. Repeat offenders will be subject to the HR.4.4.1 Corrective Action Procedure. Contractors Guiding Procedure: HR.4.10.1 Respectful Workplace and Learning Environment Face masks are required indoors on all SAIT campuses until further notice, as per COVID-19 safety protocols. Following COVID-19 safety protocols on campus is similar to any other SAIT health and safety requirement. Contractors in breach of safety protocols will be exited from campus immediately and the SAIT employee overseeing the contractor will be informed to take the necessary next steps.

Face shields — guidance on additional PPE

A face shield is used to protect the eyes of the person wearing it. Using a face shield without a mask won’t protect: you from potentially inhaling infectious respiratory droplets exhaled by others; or others from your infectious respiratory droplets, as they can escape around the face shield. Face shields do not replace masks. Face shields have large gaps below and alongside the face, where your respiratory droplets may escape and reach others around you. A face shield is not a substitute for physical distancing. Face shields are not required for students unless specifically identified as a requirement and approved control as detailed in a course’s instructional workplan. Face shields cannot be specified and used as a means of allowing students to work in close proximity unless reviewed and approved by Safety and Community Services. It is not required or recommended that entire classes of students use face shields unless specifically required under that program of study (e.g. for some School of Health and Public Safety courses). It is permitted for students to purchase and use a face shield even if not a course requirement. A hazard assessment may be required to ensure no unintended hazards arise.

Entrance and exit building controls

While all building exits are available for emergency situations, entry and exit will be at designated locations. Students, staff and visitors should not hold or prop open exterior doors for any other person. Schools and departments will coordinate arrival and departure times to reduce congestion to and from buildings. Building occupants will follow traffic-flow signage through building entrances (main corridors) and exits. These areas will have arrows to help direct traffic in a safe and orderly manner. As individuals enter a building, they will enter in single file order with two metres between the person in front of them. We are asking everyone on campus to enter buildings through the designated entrances only. Buildings holding classes and labs open at 6:45 am daily, Monday through Friday.

Safety Ambassadors

Have you spotted students wearing yellow T-shirts and SAIT lanyards on campus? SAIT’s Student Safety Ambassadors are supporting the safe reopening of campus in accordance with Alberta Health Services guidelines. Our combined 34 student ambassadors come from various backgrounds, speak many languages and represent all SAIT schools. Ambassadors can be found at designated entrances across campus validating daily campus access form completion, monitoring social distancing and mask use, and supporting other tasks as part of our COVID-19 safety efforts.

Parking on campus

Parking is available for $6 per day per entry in lots P1, P2, P3 and P6 with credit card payment (gates at the exit will open automatically), and in lot P5, P7, P8 and P9 with the HONK mobile app. Signage will be placed at open and closed lots. Contact SAIT Parking Servicesfor on-campus parking information.

Physical distancing

To help stop the spread of COVID-19, all individuals must maintain a separation of two metres at all times while on campus, including while moving within and between locations on campus (see details below). Maintaining distance between individuals is one of the best ways to avoid COVID-19 exposure and to slow its spread. Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it's important to avoid close contact with others whenever possible. Physical distancing is important for everyone, especially to help protect individuals who are at higher risk of getting very sick from the disease. Physical distancing involves steps to limit the number of people with whom you come into close contact. Avoid handshakes and any other physical contact with others. Remain two metres apart from others whenever possible. Do not leave assigned workspaces for walks throughout buildings. When physical distancing is not possible, engineering controls such as physical barriers may be required in conjunction with required PPE (i.e., mask) as determined by the job hazard assessment. Control measures are identified by Facilities Management and Health, Safety and Environment Services.

Classrooms

The number of occupants in classrooms will be reduced to accommodate physical distancing. Activities within classrooms and labs may also be modified to reduce the interactions between students, instructors and support staff. The use of shared tools will be discouraged, and cleaning and disinfecting will be required of all commonly shared materials, tools, equipment and surfaces. Students can expect to participate in the cleaning and disinfecting of their tools and equipment. In addition to regularly worn PPE, special PPE to protect against viral transmissions, such as masks, may be required. Instructions and guidance will be provided by schools on these protective measures.

Take the stairs, follow elevator usage and etiquette

SAIT encourages all students, workers and visitors to take the stairs to classrooms, laboratories or other workspaces. If this is not possible due to health or mobility issues, or because one must move materials between floors, please comply with signage posted outside the elevator, wall and floor inside the elevator car (i.e., guides where to stand inside the car) and elevator etiquette. Each SAIT elevator capacity is reduced to two occupants. Within the cab, please: face away from the other rider wear your face mask cover your cough avoid touching your face after pushing the button wash hands with soap and water or sanitize your hands after elevator use.

Smoking on campus

In support of health and safety regulations due to COVID-19, and for the ongoing overall well-being of our community, SAIT is a smoke-free campus, effective Monday, Aug. 31. If you're coming to campus, please note you can no longer smoke anywhere, on any campus. If you do leave to smoke, you may not be allowed back into campus buildings due to health guidelines related to COVID-19.

Pathways and hallways

To avoid congestion and congregation, always take the most direct route that is open and permitted. Walk on the right side of the path, maintain a two-metre distance and yield to oncoming traffic. Signage and directional markings should be followed.

Food services

Limited food services will be available on campus. Eat on campus through the Boost app Select food services on campus are open for pick-up orders through the Boost app, effective Aug. 31. These campus eats will be available Monday – Friday, 8 am to 3 pm. Pick-up location hours may vary. Download the Boost app on your mobile phone through the App Store or Google Play. Order ahead through the provided menus. Customize your meals, snacks and drinks. Pay with your credit or debit card. Pick up your order at one of four campus locations: Senator Burns building — main floor, near the Tim Hortons Johnson-Cobbe Energy Centre — main floor, near the Starbucks Aldred Centre — main floor, at the Artisan Deli Stan Grad Centre — in the Irene Lewis Atrium

Washrooms, change rooms, lockers, workspaces and offices

Use only designated washrooms. Follow all signage indicating sink and stall closures to maintain proper distancing. Practise good hand hygiene while using any washroom — wash your hands thoroughly before exiting. Change rooms will be limited to students and staff who are required to change for their work or classroom activities. All non-essential changes will be discouraged and facilities such as locker rooms and showers will not be available. Students and workers will be provided break space to eat their lunch and take scheduled breaks. These spaces may differ from regular operations to accommodate reduced occupancy and physical distancing. Fridges, microwaves and food preparation spaces will not be available in most circumstances. Individuals are encouraged to bring bagged lunches that can be consumed without refrigeration or heating. Students will not have access to their regular lockers and are encouraged to bring only essential items to campus in a backpack. Each program will provide a designated “day storage” area for students to leave their belongings. Carry valuables with you or leave them at home, but don’t forget to bring your SAIT ID. SAIT staff may not have access to their regular office space while working on campus. Work and instructional prep spaces will be assigned by schools and departments in consultation with Facilities Management. While working in offices, staff will always be required to maintain a two-metre distance. Any shared equipment must be cleaned and disinfected between users.

Vehicle sharing for SAIT business

Due to escalating community transmission of COVID-19 and to safeguard the health of our employees, temporary measures are now in place regarding vehicle sharing while on SAIT business. Dec. 10, 2020: Effective immediately, SAIT is limiting vehicle occupancy to one (1) employee for those required to travel on behalf of SAIT for SAIT-sanctioned activities. This applies to operational, instructional and/or research activities, whether on- or off-campus. Those employees who utilize shared transportation (e.g. taxi or Calgary Transit) for such activities are required to adhere to masking requirements, personal hygiene and seek to maximize social distancing where possible.

Personal carpooling

Though not prohibited, carpooling to and from campus is not recommended due to increased risk of COVID-19 transmission. Quarantining may be required in certain situations and determined on a case-by-case basis.

Becoming ill: Students or colleagues showing symptoms of COVID-19 while on campus

If someone becomes ill on campus, SAIT will take several steps to ensure care for the ill individual.

COVID 19 Self-Assessment Tool

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, have recently travelled outside Canada or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19, stay home and use the Alberta Health Services online assessment tool to see if you should be tested.

Isolation spaces

If a student or worker becomes ill while on campus with COVID-19 symptoms, they must notify their instructor or supervisor immediately. The instructor, supervisor or designated first aider will escort the person to a designated isolation space for privacy and safety. The ill individual must wear a mask while in the space and must not be left alone. Once isolated, the person must complete the Alberta Health Services online COVID-19 self-assessment tool.

Safely going home

While in isolation, the ill individual must make transportation arrangements to go home — assistance will be provided for those requiring it. Public transit must be avoided. If the person is well enough, then they may drive their private vehicle home if the vehicle is located on campus. Otherwise, a member of their household should provide transportation. If neither option is available, then Campus Security can arrange for a taxi service. If the student or staff member lives in residence, they must return to their room to self-isolate. The ill individual must report their illness to SAIT Residence. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms must self-isolate at home as per Alberta Health Services Orders and instructions. All spaces occupied by an ill person on campus may require cleaning and disinfection before regular activities continue. The instructor or supervisor will contact the Helpline for assistance and report the event to Campus Security.

Medical emergency

In the event anyone presents respiratory or medical distress, call 911. If no first aider is present and assistance is required, call Campus Security at 403.284.8000 for first aid. Ill individuals with respiratory distress should not wear a mask during medical emergencies.

Contact tracing

SAIT works with Alberta Health Services to support contact tracing and notify individuals. Due to escalating community transmission of COVID-19, SAIT may notify close contacts of on-campus cases before the AHS contact tracing team. The Government of Alberta has introduced a voluntary app that can be downloaded for both Apple and Android phones. The ABTraceTogether app provides information if you have been exposed to COVID-19 or if you have exposed others. The Government of Canada also has a COVID Alert app.

Proper hygiene

Practice proper hand hygiene Wash hands regularly after removing PPE and before leaving the classroom, laboratory or office, as well as before eating or drinking and after using the washroom. Use soap and water and wash for a minimum of 20 seconds. Scrub all surfaces of hands, including backs of hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails. Use hand sanitizer when hand washing is not available. Only use hand sanitizer approved by Health Canada (Look for a DIN or NPN number on the bottle). Avoid touching your face — mouth, nose and eyes. Wash hands after touching communal surfaces, computers, doorknobs, pens, etc.. Use proper respiratory hygiene Cough and sneeze into your arm and then wash your hands with soap and water. Surface disinfection Cleaning and disinfection of surfaces are a collective responsibility for all staff and students during this pandemic. There has been an increase in cleaning and disinfection of washrooms, common areas and touchpoints (e.g., handrails elevator buttons, doorknobs) by custodial staff. Staff and students are required to clean and disinfect their work areas (e.g. benches, countertops) and tools and equipment they use before and after final use. Each school or department will be required to determine the extent of classroom and workspace cleaning based upon the number of students using a classroom or workspace and how often the classrooms are rotated during a 24-hour period. Schools and departments must communicate their cleaning requirements to BGIS/Bee Clean. Requests for custodial services must be made through Helpline at helpline@sait.ca.

Custodial

The following actions have been implemented and are actively in place at SAIT: All custodial staff have been trained and instructed to focus on high touch surfaces. These efforts are continually being monitored and verified by custodial supervisors. Additional custodial staff are in place for dedicated touch point cleaning during business hours, including: doorknobs elevator buttons faucet handles publicly used telephones common area computer keyboards handrails. Use of Sani-Stuff disinfectant has been implemented for all food court areas for increased sanitation and improved longevity of disinfectant properties. Custodial staff are available to complete individual workstation cleaning, as requested, at no cost to the department. Please submit a Helpline or SAITWorks request for this service. Additional actions and activities are being evaluated and preparations being made should the situation escalate. Please contact Helpline to advise of any locations requiring additional custodial attention.

Hygiene guidelines for computer, equipment and tools

Staying healthy and safe on campus includes awareness of biological hazards and using effective prevention protocols and programs. It's important to be vigilant regarding the objects we use every day in the course of study or our work duties. If you're ill, stay away from these facilities, as computers and equipment are often used by others within SAIT. They are subject to each user’s bacteria and viruses, and are a medium for passing them on to others. Please use the guidelines below to maintain a safe and healthy work space for you and others: Hand hygiene is the most important factor in preventing transmission of microorganisms. Access computer equipment with clean hands. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water is unavailable. Clean the equipment and the area around your work space before and after use with disinfectant wipes. It may be necessary to use more than one wipe to keep the surface wet for the length of contact time recommended by the product after use. Throw disposable items (such as disinfectant wipes) used to clean surfaces and items in the trash immediately after use. Its recommended to keep all food and drink away from computers, tools and equipment as crumbs may fall and initiate a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, especially if they get wet. Maintain social distance when others are in shared spaces and avoid touching your face (such as mouth, eyes, nose). Wash your hands with soap and water after leaving the shared space.

Public transportation

When using public transportation, appropriate precautions (i.e., wearing a mask, practicing good hand hygiene and maintaining physical distancing) are important. Check out Calgary Transit's rider resources page. Individuals travelling by CTrain and/or bus should sanitize or wash their hands as soon as possible upon arriving on campus and before entering shared spaces. You will be required to wear a mask inside campus buildings, so please bring a clean cloth mask or new disposable mask.

Additional resources

Terms and definitions

Physical (social) distancing: Physically interacting with as few people as possible and creating more space (at least two metres) between yourself and others to effectively limit the spread of infection.

Self-isolation: Self-isolation is an important way to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. It means staying at home or in your room and avoiding situations where there is a potential to spread the infection to others (i.e., work, school, sporting events, social, cultural and religious gatherings, as well as public places such as restaurants and malls). You should avoid public transportation. If you have an emergency and must leave home, then please wear a surgical or homemade face covering while you are out.

A close contact can be defined as:

family members with whom you reside, a roommate, a sports cohort member
a person who provides care, lives with or has close physical contact without appropriate use of personal protective equipment, or comes into direct contact with infectious body fluids
anyone who has been within two metres of a case for a cumulative total of more than 15 minutes in a day without adequate protection.

On campus during COVID-19

Do not come to campus if you:

What to do before coming to campus

Return to campus safety orientation

Student instructions

Employee instructions

Contractor instructions

What to expect

Students

Employees

Contractors

Practice proper hand hygiene

Use proper respiratory hygiene

Surface disinfection

Additional resources

Terms and definitions

Sait.ca Website Feedback