While most students are back to in-person learning, there are still about 100 at St. Clair College that will start their post-secondary education online.
They're enrolled in classes where most of their classmates are from abroad.
Last month, when the Government of Canada issued new border rules, domestic students were caught in the middle. They are fully vaccinated, but since most of their classmates are from abroad, they too will have to start their college experience online.
The new rules require foreign students to have had both COVID-19 shots using a vaccine approved in Canada.
"Because of the continued fear of the COVID variant that came out of Africa, there's definitely a concern that the students starting in semester one in January will not be able to make it here," said Vice President of Academics Waseem Habash.
Habash said students in 24 programs will continue online learning for first-semester courses. Those in the second semester are already back on campus.
Throughout the pandemic, parents have raised concerns about online learning. Students have expressed frustration. Without the stimulation of in-person instruction, those with learning disabilities believe their success is compromised.
However, Habash said the college continues to offer student services for struggling students, whether online or in-person.
And, for those who do not want to learn online, there is another option.
"Then what they would do is just tell us they don't want to attend online, and they'll be able to attend next available session that's face-to-face," said Habash.
The college planned to offer all courses face-to-face in January. Now, it is looking ahead to the spring and the following fall semesters. However, "we can't guarantee that 100 per cent," Habash said.
