With faculty at all of Ontario's colleges out due to a labour dispute, St. Clair College says they are still open for business.
With 12,000 college faculty members on the picket line Monday after a last-minute offer was rejected, classes at all of Ontario's 24 colleges are suspended for the duration. However, St. Clair will still be available for students, according to John Fairley, the college's vice-president of communications and community relations.
"The college stays open," says Fairley. "We have cancelled all classes, so there will be no teaching in any of the buildings or any of our campuses. We have our support staff coming in as usual, we have our administration team coming in."
The strike will also suspend Continuing Education courses, all online courses, and all day and evening apprenticeships.
Fairley says the college understands the need for students to continue tasks that are part of their program, so they will still have access to the college's computers and materials. This should benefit those students who live on campus.
"Having students who live on campus, in residences, as well as students who want to use our labs and computer rooms and things like this, we are open for that kind of business for the student experience," says Fairley.
Students are also encouraged to read their course syllabi, and keep up on any reading during the strike, as well as use the extra time to get a jump on projects due later in the semester.
According to a page on the college's official website, hours of operation will be 8am to 6pm every day at the main campuses in south Windsor and Chatham, along with the St. Clair Centre for the Arts, TD Student Centre, and MediaPlex in downtown Windsor.
The college's HealthPlex will be open regular hours. Varsity athletics at the south Windsor SportsPlex will proceed as scheduled. Public swimming will be available from 8am to 6pm for recreational purposes only.
Fairley says informational pickets will at least be placed at the main entrances of the south Windsor and Chatham campuses.
For a complete rundown of the college's contingency plans, click here.