Continuity of Education: Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM)
Introduction
As a long standing post-secondary institution in the province of Ontario, CCNM has provided its program in an uninterrupted fashion for almost 45 years. Recent events related to the COVID- 19 pandemic have generated an interest in public codification for all post-secondary educational institutions’ ability to continuously provide program delivery in the event of disruption to in-person learning. Below are CCNM’s ongoing safeguards/practices in this area.
As a long standing post-secondary institution in the province of Ontario, CCNM has provided its program in an uninterrupted fashion for almost 45 years. Recent events related to the COVID- 19 pandemic have generated an interest in public codification for all post-secondary educational institutions’ ability to continuously provide program delivery in the event of disruption to in-person learning. Below are CCNM’s ongoing safeguards/practices in this area.
Risk Registry and Organizational Risk Management
CCNM maintains a risk registry that details all areas where the College is susceptible to risks of all kinds, including anything that could impact continuity of education. The risk registry is reviewed and updated regularly by the Senior Leadership Team, (the most senior operational decision-making body in the institution) as well as on a regular basis by the Audit Committee of the Board, the College’s governance body.
CCNM maintains a risk registry that details all areas where the College is susceptible to risks of all kinds, including anything that could impact continuity of education. The risk registry is reviewed and updated regularly by the Senior Leadership Team, (the most senior operational decision-making body in the institution) as well as on a regular basis by the Audit Committee of the Board, the College’s governance body.
Continuity of Education at CCNM
As a result of the pivot to online learning required at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, CCNM was able to build and implement an online education capability. This was done by leveraging a team approach across the IS department and the Academic department. Now more than a year and a half into this mode of operation, the College continues to provide continuity of education both in person and online as per government guidelines.
As a result of the pivot to online learning required at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, CCNM was able to build and implement an online education capability. This was done by leveraging a team approach across the IS department and the Academic department. Now more than a year and a half into this mode of operation, the College continues to provide continuity of education both in person and online as per government guidelines.
CCNM has been operating in a flex work model for staff since March of 2020 and recently codified this model of working in a flex work policy. Where the nature of the work allows, CCNM staff (including faculty) are able to work from home to provide service to all stakeholders that supports continuity of education.
Emergency Contact Information
In the event of an emergency, the Facilities Department is the initial point of contact (416-358-3588). They can also be reached via the Contact section on the CCNM website here: https://www.ccnm.edu/connect/connect-us
In the event of an emergency, the Facilities Department is the initial point of contact (416-358-3588). They can also be reached via the Contact section on the CCNM website here: https://www.ccnm.edu/connect/connect-us
Upon receiving emergency information, facilities then determines if the Emergency Notification System needs to be activated. Once activated, a rapid communication protocol to key leaders in the College, beginning with the President and Senior Leadership Team, is deployed.
Critical Stakeholder Communications Channels
A critical component of providing continuity of education is an ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders. CCNM communicates with all its stakeholders in a variety of ways including:
The College has had a Health and Safety committee in place for many years. The committee routinely monitors and reports on any issues that can impact the health and safety of the College community at large.
A critical component of providing continuity of education is an ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders. CCNM communicates with all its stakeholders in a variety of ways including:
- postings via a student portal
- emails to students via a dedicated, internal "Studenthelpdesk"
- emails to faculty via a dedicated “academics” email
- postings via Moodle (the open source learning platform used by students and faculty)
- members of the public can communicate with CCNM at any time via info@ccnm.edu
- weekly communications from the President to all staff and students via internal email system
The College has had a Health and Safety committee in place for many years. The committee routinely monitors and reports on any issues that can impact the health and safety of the College community at large.
Protocols are routinely reviewed and revised, depending on the circumstances at both the College and Clinic levels through the relevant College committees, the Senior Leadership team and/or the Board’s Audit committee and as per government guidelines.
Protocols are enacted in the event of a College-wide emergency by the President and the Senior Leadership Team, acting on the advice of the relevant operational partners (Facilities, Chief Naturopathic Medical Officer, Emergency Response Team etc.).
Last Updated 08-31-2021