COVID-19 | FAQs For Students
What is PLC doing to respond to COVID-19?
PLC is closely monitoring the situation surrounding COVID-19 and is following all recommendations by the Provincial Health Officer to limit potential risk on our campuses.
PLC’s Campus Manager and Program Head are actively monitoring the COVID-19 situation and liaises with local and provincial health authorities. These staff will continue to implement the government’s recommendations and offer guidance and instructions.
Please bookmark https://www.plvan.com/covid-19/ for updated information.
How can I help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
As B.C. progresses through its reopening phases, HealthLink BC recommends the following to stop the spread of COVID-19:
- Physical distancing. Keep a physical distance of about two metres between yourself and others when you are out.
- Avoid contact. Avoid handshaking and hugs outside of your family. Smile and wave instead.
- Wash your hands. Especially after returning home and before eating. Clean your phone and work surfaces frequently.
- Wear non-medical or cloth masks. A non-medical mask or face covering is recommended when you cannot keep a safe distance from others.
- Don’t touch your face. Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Practice respiratory etiquette. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of tissues immediately.
- Isolate if you feel sick. Even if you have only mild symptoms, self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days. 8. Do not go to work, school, or public places.
- Get tested. Anyone with symptoms, however mild, can get tested for COVID-19. Find a testing centre.
What is happening in Fall 2022 and onward?
British Columbians have done their part to “flatten the curve.” With each day, the rate of growth in COVID-19 cases has steadily declined.
As per provincial guidelines, PLC is began in-class learning in September 2021. As of Farr 2022, students are encouraged to attend in-person.
Are PLC campuses open?
PLC continues to remain open to support students regarding admissions, co-op or learning queries, as well as for classes.
How does online learning work?
- PLC courses are delivered 100% online (live sessions) to minimize exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic until further advice from the ministry
- Students must follow the same guidelines for attendance and behaviour as during in-person classes
- New students and instructors will receive orientation to PLC and online learning
Can I choose to learn online fully?
All students other than students in the CLA program can study using a blended model. CLA students studying in the Lower Mainland take classes in person. Students living outside the lower mainland may take classes fully online (except co-op).
What technology is needed for online learning?
While some learning tasks may be completed using a smartphone or tablet, a laptop or desktop computer is recommended to ensure students can complete course requirements.
How can I contact my instructor?
Your Moodle course will have instructor contact information. To contact the Campus Manager, please use the main telephone number in the Contact Us page.
I need financial assistance due to COVID-19. What is available to me?
Please check the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) and StudentAid BC for more information.
I am unable to continue my program due to COVID-19-related reasons. Can I withdraw?
For withdrawals, please contact info@plvan.com. You will receive a reply within 2 business days. Please note that withdrawing from a PLC course/program does not mean that tuition fees are refunded. Students who withdraw despite the college’s shift in learning modes must appeal for any refund in excess of the college’s normal refund policy and demonstrate why their discontinuation is exclusive to COVID-19 factors and not learning preference.
I am in co-op. How can I find a job during COVID-19?
Please contact the co-op coordinator via the main contact phone number or at co-op@plvan.com.
As an international student, will the shift to online classes affect my study permit?
No. For our international students concerned about their status in Canada, please note that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has stated that the transition of Canadian post-secondary programs to online studies will not impact study permits.
I am an international student who has been accepted to PLC but cannot travel to Canada right now. Can I start my program online?
Yes. Please speak with your advisor about how.
I am not feeling well. What should I do?
According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, do all you can to avoid contact with others. Even if your symptoms are mild, self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days. Do not go to work, school, or public places. Do not use public transit, taxis, or ride shares. Do not have visitors to your home.
Common symptoms for COVID-19 include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and loss of sense of smell or taste. Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure. If you are unsure about your symptoms, use the BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool or call HealthLink BC (8-1-1).
Anyone with symptoms, however mild, can get tested for COVID-19. Find a testing centre.
- Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 or having arrived to Canada in the past 14 days is prohibited from the campus
- Any outbreak will be reported by the nurse on staff or Campus Manager to Fraser Health
- For anyone having severe symptoms, staff will immediately call 911
I am unwell and unable to attend online classes. Do I need to send a doctor’s note to the instructor?
No. Following the government’s advice, PLC instructors have been asked to waive the medical documentation requirement (i.e. a health care practitioner’s note) for students who are ill for less than two weeks. This request was initiated to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19. It will also help to preserve clinic access for people requiring immediate medical attention. Please otherwise follow the normal protocols in your classes for reporting absences due to illness.
If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are mild, strictly self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days as described above.
I have tested positive for COVID-19. What should I do?
If you are attending online classes you do not need to report your test to PLC.
Following a positive COVID-19 test, your local the health authority will guide you on what to do. A case worker from your local health authority will call you every day to check on your health and symptoms.
If you do need to come to the campus for any reason after recovering from COVID-19, as with all students, please ensure you contact reception via the main line to set up an appointment and follow all COVID-19 procedures. You are not allowed to visit the campus within 14 days of testing positive for COVID-19, even if you do not show symptoms.
It is important to do contact tracing if you are COVID-19 positive – please check for information on the BC Centre for Disease Control website.
I am planning to travel in the near future. What should I do?
Please visit the Government of Canada Travel Advisories page for information. The current advisory is against all non-essential travel outside Canada.
What do I do if one of my family members becomes sick?
If anyone in your family develops COVID-19 symptoms, they should do all they can to avoid contact with others. Even if symptoms are mild, they should self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days. Do not go to public places. Do not have visitors to your home.
Common symptoms for COVID-19 include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and loss of sense of smell or taste. Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure. Anyone with symptoms, however mild, can get tested for COVID-19. Find a testing centre.
What should I do if I have experienced discrimination or harassment in relation to COVID-19?
PLC’s policies for Respectful and Fair Treatment and Safety govern these issues. Every member of the PLC community has the right to be treated with respect and dignity and to be welcomed and supported. No one should subjected to discrimination based on a perceived disease or disability, or their race, ancestry, etc.
If you feel you have been discriminated against based on these factors, please report this behaviour. If you need immediate assistance because you fear for your personal safety, contact 9-1-1. For a college-related safety concern, call our main line.
Will wearing a mask protect me?
According to Health Canada, wearing a non-medical mask in the community has not been proven to protect against COVID-19, however, it can be used as a measure to protect others around you. Canadians are currently advised to wear non-medical face masks in situations where proper physical distancing can’t be ensured.
For all non-specific inquiries, please contact info@plvan.com. For specific inquiries, please check the FAQs.