The new sign was unveiled in the fall of 2019, a year before the expected opening of the U of S central campus in Prince Albert.(Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

learning

U of S Prince Albert campus on course for fall opening

Apr 30, 2020 | 5:00 PM

The COVID-19 pandemic has not slowed plans to open the University of Saskatchewan single central campus in Prince Albert in the fall. And the university says they will be on top of the latest health and safety protocols, from both a student and teaching perspective.

After decades of offering courses at a variety of locations in the city, the all-in-one location has been undergoing renovations at the site of the previous Forestry Building.

“We’re past the halfway mark, we’re on schedule,” Patti McDougall, vice-provost of teaching, learning and student experience told paNOW.com. “Any of the really kind of scary renovation work of opening up walls and not knowing what’s going to be behind them is now behind us.”

Asked if the COVID-19 situation had led to any course reductions or changes McDougall said not as far as she knew, and her focus remained on things getting underway in the fall.

“It’s top of mind for our colleagues in nursing, for arts and science and others who offer first-year programming. Absolutely we’re thinking about [the fall],” she said.

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The dental school will be a key part of the campus and McDougall said the university was up to speed on the need for new heightened safety and health protocols in light of the pandemic.

“So, now is a good time for us to make any necessary changes to our dental clinic, and that’s a good thing, because we haven’t put the equipment in yet,” she explained.

She said the university would follow the province’s lead on any health orders but couldn’t speak to exactly what a return of students to class might look like given the unknown timeframes around social distancing. However, she was hopeful the local site would be in a good position to handle any COVID-19 related restrictions when the time comes.

“Our Prince Albert campus is a smaller environment [compared to Saskatoon] and so to the extent that we may be permitted to have some face-to-face contact, I think these things can be more easily regulated in a smaller environment.”

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow