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This year, we find ourselves in unique circumstances. Rest assured, Trent has put careful thought and planning into how we move forward in a safe and engaging way. The health and safety of Trent community are foremost in our considerations as we gradually open our campuses for multi-access education and research.
In these different times, I believe that your Trent education is more valuable than ever. We remain deeply committed to providing all our students – wherever you may be –with the high quality, engaging student experience you have come to expect at Trent.
This resource is your guide to Trent for the 2020-21 academic year and includes details of our multi-access approach to learning, return to campus planning and activities as well as information on supports and services.
Whether you are joining us in person on campus or pursuing your studies remotely, know that Trent's vibrant community of students, faculty and staff are here to help you excel - personally as well as academically.
Together we will be part of the solution as our communities confront the realities of COVID today and reimagine a better tomorrow.
Leo Groarke, Ph.D.
President & Vice-Chancellor
The realities of 2020 challenge us to innovate the ways we engage and support our students. This academic year, we remain committed to providing you safe and supportive opportunities to get engaged and succeed academically.
Multi-access learning is our commitment to delivering a flexible, safe educational experience for our students in this very different year. This means that most courses will be offered through online or remote delivery – using all of the latest and best technology that allows us to keep connected, no matter where we are. We are also planning for small classes, specialized hands-on learning workshops and some labs to be held in-person.
Multi-Access Learning
Whether you’re living on campus, attending an in-person class or lab, or making use of academic facilities, our campus buildings will be open as we follow and are guided by the latest provincial directives. When you do happen to be on campus, you’ll see new signage that will help you understand how to use our spaces safely as you navigate the new normal of physical distancing and face coverings.
Building Hours
All of our student supports and services are available online, so you can access them no matter where you are. If you are visiting our Durham campus, you’ll encounter our new Student Support Hub in the original building (DRA), where specially trained students and staff will be ready to answer just about any question you can think of around student support. You cans top in to learn more about an array of services and supports, like Academic Skills and Advising, Student Wellness services, Athletics, course registration, and more.
Supports & Services
This year, your favourite annual and traditional events are back…most with a virtual twist. Join us from the Durham campus, in person or online for movie nights, legendary trivia challenges, wellness activities, and a variety of club and group events, we’ll take you with us, using a variety of web-based platforms. No matter where you are as a Trent student you will be able to stay connected, get involved and build memories to last a lifetime. This year, community is just a click away.
Durham GTA CommunityTrent’s multi-access approach was developed to ensure uninterrupted learning for our students during this time of fluidity and change. Multi-access learning is our commitment to delivering a flexible, safe and high-quality educational experience for our students in this very different year. Courses will be available through a combination of online and remote delivery and in some cases in-person instruction (labs, specialized hands-on or small cohort courses, workshops, seminars).
The main thing about courses at Trent in this academic year is that almost all courses are being offered in a way that allows you to access content remotely or online. Even where in-person components exist, many courses provide students with options to access content and learning material if they cannot be present.
A limited number of courses are available “ON-CAMPUS” for the 2020-21 academic year. These courses are primarily courses within professional programs with accredited placement requirements, labs in the natural sciences, and smaller classes/workshops/seminars.
Any Time Remote Courses mean just that – they can be completed anytime and don’t require you to be online, in the virtual classroom at a certain day or time, and course work can be completed even while students are offline.
These courses offer the best of both worlds. In an Any Time Remote Course with Optional Real-Time Classes, otherwise known as “asynchronous with optional synchronous”, students can access the core content and clear instructions via Blackboard at any time. There are also some optional real-time classes such as lectures, seminars, or workshops, which are more active in nature.
A real-time remote course which students must attend, either regularly or at certain points (such as for testing/labs/seminars), according to their timetabled scheduled classes, using Zoom or other real-time meeting software that is fully accessible to students.
We are committed to helping ensure you are successful academically this year, no matter where or how you choose to study with us, as we continue to provide an array of support services and resources, in-person and remotely.
Our collection of how-to guides will help you to be successful in your online courses. Find advice on getting started with online learning, goal setting and time management, and preparing for and writing online exams.
How to Learn Online
Using effective remote tools is an important part of learning. Our Information Technology department has pulled together a comprehensive catalogue of recommended tools and remote learning resources. Learn more about platforms like Zoom, Blackboard and YuJa, what tools are best for collaborating with classmates and get access to online training.
Going Remote
Our teams are standing by to help. Connect with Academic Skills to chat in person or online about resources, time management and ways to be academically successful this year.
Academic Skills
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This academic year, students can continue to fully access the services and support you have come to rely on and need for success. Everything from Academic Skills and Advising to Careers, Financial Aid and the library are continuing virtually, in person or through a combination of the two. We’ve also added a few new supports to help students navigate this new and different year.
Wondering where to start? Get in touch with Student Affairs.
After selecting a Support Category, scroll down to view the content.
Trent continues to prioritize the importance of supporting the health, safety and wellness of our students. Whether online or on-campus, the following services and supports will be available:
In Durham, students can purchase passes to access City of Oshawa recreation centres, including the Civic Recreation Centre right next door to campus, which features indoor soccer stadium, pool, aerobics studio, weight room, indoor track, tennis, squash and badminton courts.
Durham AthleticsTrent Counselling Services offer confidential teletherapy, crisis counselling, as well as virtual group drop-in sessions for students interested in accessing emotional and mental health support from professionally trained psychotherapists.
For immediate crisis support in Durham please contact OntarioShores Crisis Line: 1-800-263-2679, Crisis Services Canada (1-833-456-4566), or access the emergency department at your nearest hospital.
Student Accessibility Services are committed to supporting your academic success and are available to connect via email, phone and video conference for students with documented disabilities through the development of accommodations plans, ensuring equal access to education.
Support for students impacted by sexual violence, whether recent or historic, through online sessions and phone support is available from Sexual Violence Prevention and Response. Students may receive information regarding reporting options, referrals, and accommodations, based on their needs and wishes.
Spiritual Affairs offers online events and workshop programming for students from all faith traditions, as well as students who are considering questions of meaning, purpose and identity. Members of the Multi-Faith Network team are available to support students through 1:1 phone calls or video meetings.
The Trent Forward plan guides our gradual and safe return to physical campus operations. Our goal is to reduce the potential for transmission of COVID-19 while ensuring high-quality teaching, learning and research, and the long-term resilience and vitality of Trent and our local communities.
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Whether you come to campus for a class or a meeting with a professor you will see lots of signage to help you navigate your way around campus and keep you informed about everything from physical distancing guidelines and mandatory masks to equipment use – everything to keep our campus community safe.
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We all play a role in ensuring the health and safety of our campus and community. The COVID-19 Student Education Module is required to be completed by all students who will be on campus for any in-person components of classes or labs, access to student supports and services, use of facilities or living in residence.
COVID-19 Student Module
Each day before coming to campus students are required to use the provincial COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool, also available on the Trent Mobile app. This interactive tool can help determine if you need further care and should not be attending activities on campus.
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Following municipal directives in the Durham Region, and to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community, all persons who enter or remain in the indoor spaces of Trent University, or in outdoor spaces where physical distancing cannot be achieved, are required to wear a face covering or mask that covers the nose, mouth, and chin.
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Students coming to campus are encouraged to follow proper hand washing and hand hygiene practices. Throughout the University, extra hand sanitizing stations have been set up to ensure all members of our community have easy access to alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
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In the event of a case of COVID-19 related to one of our campuses, Trent’s Case Management Plan, developed in partnership with Public Health, outlines the response of the University and Public Health to COVID-19 case scenarios. COVID Case Reporting and Expectation resources have been developed to outline what employee or student should do in a number of scenarios related to COVID-19, such as experiencing symptoms, having received a positive test result, or having been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.
Case Management PoliciesWe look forward to welcoming students, staff and faculty back to Trent this academic year. Our buildings will be open so you can find a space to study and access the internet, as well as access Student Support Hubs in key buildings to help you navigate the changes and learn where to get the support you need. When you’re here, you’ll see new signage that will help you understand how to use our spaces safely as you navigate the new normal of physical distancing.
Trent will continue to provide important updates around the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure to watch your trentu.ca email for the latest news and check trentu.ca/coronavirus for regular updates.
Have a question? Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions or send your question to covid19info@trentu.ca.
The Trent Forward plan guides our gradual and safe return to physical campus operations. Our overarching goal is to reduce the potential for transmission of COVID-19 while ensuring high quality teaching, learning and research, and the long-term resilience and vitality of Trent and our local communities.
The plan has been developed, and will evolve as required, to conform to provincial regulations and local public health directives.
Trent Mobile is a new app launched by Trent University, in partnership with the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA), the Trent Durham Student Association (TDSA) and Trent Graduate Student Association (TGSA) that connects students with several valuable resources, services and opportunities to elevate their Trent experience.
Features of the Trent Mobile App include:
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Looking to connect further? Our official Trent University social media accounts are a great source for news, updates, student life and all things #TrentU.
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