Dear colleagues,

Hope this finds you and your families very well.

I need to share some information with all employees of Dawson College about the Fall 2020 Semester.

The semester has already begun for some students and teachers but the official start date is Monday, August 31. Many of us will be on hand as members of the Welcome Team to greet our new and returning students with a reassuring and friendly welcome.

This Monday is also a return to campus for the first time for some of you. I am really looking forward to seeing you! It will feel good to resume operations that are a step closer to our full campus operations.

Our work situation and the protocols on campus may continue to evolve as directed by Public Health and in keeping with our duty to fulfill our core mission to educate, engage and enrich. Although things may change, I wish to share with you the current conditions and my expectations of our employees.

A hybrid semester

The word hybrid is key for this semester. It means that you will alternate between working at the College and working remotely. Your Director/Manager will determine what that means for you.

Each Director/Manager must:

• ensure that services are delivered
• determine each employee’s workload and priorities
• consider the ideal work situation for your job: on-campus presence and/or working from home
• organize the team’s workload
• inform employees about their expectations

Each Director/Manager has the right to ask their employee to work exclusively from the College if they deem a physical presence on site is necessary or preferred.

All employees can choose to work at the College. Under specific circumstances and with a
Director’s/Manager’s approval, an employee can be allowed to work from home.

Dawson College ID Card

• Your Dawson College ID card is now your passport to enter the College.
• If you do not have one, make sure you have your employee number handy to give upon entry.
• You can get your Dawson College ID Card at the Print Shop in 2E.1 (Open Monday-Friday: 8
  a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.).
• Dawson College ID Cards will be scanned upon the arrival of each employee and student for
  contact tracing purposes.

 

Health and hygiene protocols

Shortly before coming to the College (up to 24 hours before arrival), each employee must complete a self-evaluation questionnaire related to COVID-19. The questionnaire, entitled COVID-19 Symptom-based Screening Questionnaire, is located under Non-Academic Services in Omnivox (My Dawson Portal). If accessing Omnivox on a mobile device, tap Omnivox web version.

The self-evaluation must be completed every day you come to the College. If you arrive at an entrance and have not yet completed it, you will be directed to do so before being granted access.

You will either be cleared to come to the College or receive further instructions.

Every Dawson College employee must respect Public Health guidelines to protect our community and to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19:

• Upon entering and leaving the College and frequently throughout your time here, wash your
  hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If this is not possible, use a hand sanitizer.
• Wear a procedural mask (sometimes called a medical mask, it is disposable and often blue) or
  face covering (reusable cloth mask) as directed in Dawson’s health and hygiene protocols here:
  www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/healthprotocols
• Keep a minimum 2 metre distance from others.
• Clean your work area upon departure with products supplied by the College.
• Familiarize yourself with the information and protocols established to allow employees and
  students access to the College at this time: www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/campusaccess

 

A Safe Environment for all

Cleaning and disinfecting for everyone’s safety:

• Cleaning and disinfecting are key in the College’s plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• The cleaning and disinfecting schedule has been upgraded since the pandemic was declared.
• Busy washrooms are cleaned 3x/day and other bathrooms 2x/day.
• High-touch surfaces (e.g. door handles, faucets, handrails, etc) are disinfected regularly according to a schedule.
• Students and employees are expected to use cleaning supplies provided by the College to clean their study/work area when leaving.

Ensuring air quality for everyone:

• Dawson’s Facilities Management team is dedicated to ensuring air quality.
• Air quality is monitored on an on-going basis.
• Dawson College is following all the Public Health directives about maintaining air quality.
• Dawson is also following the standards of ASHRAE, the recognized authority on air quality.

 

College providing masks, products and equipment

• A reusable mask will be provided to each employee (a reusable mask must be washed every
  day).
• Personal protective equipment (procedure mask, visor and gloves) will be provided to all
  employees who must use it in their work at the College.
• As a back-up, the College will provide disposable masks to students or employees if they do not bring their own mask.
• Cleaning products will be provided in each office area and for classrooms and other facilities in
  use.

 

Commuting

• Biking:
  • Free one-month Bixi membership for any interested employee.
  • The College will guarantee your return home if you have an emergency at home or poor
    weather.
  • Route planning support available.
  • More info: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/news/dnews/a-great-time-to-start-bikingto-the-college/
• Public transit is still a great way to get to Dawson. The STM has a health and hygiene protocol in
  force. The Metro Tunnel entrance to Dawson will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Parking:
  • Paid parking as of Sept. 1
  • $10/day cash only
  • Pay at Security 2E
  • Available for employees only
  • First-come first-served basis
  • Only 35 spots available
  • Staff and faculty can opt out for one semester

 

Access to the College

As of August 31, entrances will be:

• Metro Tunnel: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Atrium Doors near Theatre (Atwater Avenue): 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• 3040 Sherbrooke Street West: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• 3rd Floor B Wing (Adapted Transport): – 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Please note that access to the College from 7 p.m. will be restricted to one entrance: the Atrium Doors near the Dawson Theatre (Atwater Avenue).

The 2E Security Entrance is available off hours and for those who use the parking lot.

On behalf of the management team, I wish you a great semester!

Warm regards,
Richard Filion
Director General