We are continually monitoring the situation regarding COVID-19. Please continue to check this page for regular updates. Visit our COVID information page for guidelines for accessing our building.


August 18, 2022 – Update

While there are still a few weeks left until the start of term, we are eagerly anticipating the beginning of another academic year—and an academic year to be excited about! While our multi-modal delivery will continue to give students the flexibility they need to study, our in-person courses are back, and we are excited to be together as a community once again. The number and severity of COVID cases continues to decline, and we look forward to bringing a sense of normalcy back to our halls once again.

For us this means welcoming new students (and some returning students!) to our building for the first time. We thank God for His guiding hand as we have navigated the last few years and look forward to what He has in store for our community this upcoming year.

Our Fall term will launch on September 8 with our New Student Orientation, while classes will begin on September 12th. As traffic in our building increases, our building guidelines will remain the same. Masks will not be required; however, they are strongly encouraged in busy indoor settings and high-risk areas where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Masks and hand sanitizer are available throughout our building for use.

We are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy space for everyone to teach, work, and learn during this period of transition. We ask that you show mutual respect to those around you, and if you are feeling unwell, we ask that you stay home. Please use the Ontario COVID Self-Assessment Tool as your guide for knowing if your symptoms prevent you from entering our building, and when it is permissible to re-enter after a confirmed or suspected positive case.

June 2, 2022 – Update

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all those who attended our Convocation Ceremony last week, and for your consideration in following our COVID safety protocols. We enjoyed a safe and celebratory evening with our graduates and their friends and family as they crossed the stage—in person or virtually! We wish each of them God’s blessing for their future.

We have also been delighted to see the progress made over the last few months as COVID cases and hospitalization rates continue their downward trajectory. As such, MDC will no longer require masking throughout our building, effective June 3, 2022. While masking is no longer a requirement, we advise you to continue to exercise caution and strongly encourage masks, especially in indoor settings and high-risk areas where distancing cannot be maintained. Everyone entering the building should continue to use the Ontario Self-Assessment tool and follow the directions provided.

Masks and hand sanitizer are available throughout our building, including at our main entrance. If you are feeling unwell, please remain at home.

We will continue to monitor public health advisories throughout the summer months in anticipation of the start of our new academic year in September and will update you accordingly.

Have a blessed Summer!

 

May 5, 2022 – Update

Our online spring term is now underway and we wish a warm welcome all of our new students who are joining us for the first time this term.

In our building, we are continuing our current COVID policies, with masks required in all public spaces.

On May 24, 2022, we will return to our in-person Convocation ceremony, followed by a reception. We are excited to celebrate alongside 37 graduates, representing each of our degree programs. To protect the safety of those attending, masks will be required at Convocation and the reception. We ask those planning to attend to complete the Self-Assessment tool prior to your arrival. If you are showing symptoms, required to self-isolate, or don’t feel comfortable attending in-person, a livestream of the ceremony will be available. Sign up for updates here. We are committed to making this event as safe as possible to reduce COVID transmission. As such, capacity will be limited and additional measures like physical distancing and regular sanitizing will be required.

We look forward to celebrating and hope you will join us in congratulating our graduates.

 

April 7, 2022 – Update

It is hard to believe we have now reached the end of our Winter term. While this academic year didn’t end as we imagined it would when we started out, we are encouraged by the determination and good work of our faculty, staff, and students to successfully make it to this point. We are excited to be graduating approximately 35 students at our Convocation ceremony this May, and look forward to celebrating our graduates’ great accomplishments.

As we now look ahead to our Spring term and the following summer months, we want to ensure our building is a safe space for those who enter. Our current building policies will remain in place until further notice. With COVID cases still widespread, we want to ensure we are doing as much as we can to keep our community safe and healthy. Masking in all public areas of the building will still be required. Prior to entering our building, please remember to complete the provincial Self-Assessment tool to indicate whether you are cleared to enter or not.  We will continue to monitor the latest updates regarding COVID-19 and adjust our policies accordingly.

We are currently planning for a full return to campus this Fall. Our advanced degree students can expect to return to in-person courses, while all other students will have the option of in-person and livestream delivery. Updates, including course schedule and registration, will be available soon.

Thank you to everyone for your patience over the last year. We hope to see you face-to-face this Fall with fresh anticipation for what the year will hold!

March 16, 2022 – Update

As we enter the last few weeks of our Winter term, it has been great to see some of our students, staff, and faculty returning to our building again. We continue to monitor provincial guidelines and advisories regarding COVID-19 as we plan for the future.

Our current building safety protocols will remain in place until at least the end of our Winter term. Everyone entering our building should complete the provincial Ontario Self-Assessment to indicate whether they are cleared to enter the building or not. In line with the larger campus, masking will remain in place for all public spaces of our building until at least the end of this term (April 8, 2022).

With the building now reopened and fewer on-site staff present, we want to remind everyone to be alert and keep items secure. Have the McMaster SafetyApp accessible on your phone to report any suspicious activity and do not leave items like phones or laptops unattended.

More updates will be released as we continue to evaluate our return to campus in the best interests of our community’s continued health and safety.

March 3, 2022 – Update

MDC is pleased to announce starting Monday, March 7, 2022, our building will reopen for students, staff, and faculty use. At that time our regular building hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm will resume.

Proof of vaccination and sign-in at the front entrance will no longer be required, but we ask that you complete the Ontario Self-Assessment prior to coming to campus to gauge your access to the building. If you are feeling unwell or experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19, do not enter the building.

The health and safety of our community remains our priority. Masks are still required when accessing all public areas of the building and we strongly encourage you to use sanitization stations or wash your hands when entering the building and throughout your visit.

Classes will remain online for the duration of the term as previously announced, but students are welcome to access the building for study space, meetings, or other events. Please note, many of our staff and faculty will continue to work from home so if you require an in-person meeting, please schedule a time with them in advance.

We are so grateful to have reached this point in the pandemic. Thank you to our students, staff, and faculty for your resilience and perseverance to reach this point. We thank the Lord for his guidance and we look ahead to our Fall term with renewed hope.

February 17, 2022 – Update

We are encouraged by the recent advancements and further loosening of restrictions announced by Ontario’s Premier earlier this week. While our classes will continue online for the remainder of the semester, our building will remain closed but with increased availability for study and supervised community gatherings.

These on-campus gatherings can be held up to a maximum of 40 people and should be approved by a faculty or staff member in advance. Those supervising these events are responsible to provide access to the building and ensure adherence to the building safety protocols, including proof of vaccination. To request access to study in the building or for more information on holding an event, contact John Steadman.

Our building safety protocols require everyone entering the building to wear a mask, maintain physical distancing, sign in at the front entrance after completing the Ontario self-assessment, and show proof of vaccination.

As the province continues to reopen in March, we will continue to assess policies regarding our building.

 

January 20, 2022 – Update

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our community for their patience as we have gathered information and deliberated upon a variety of options for the remainder of our Winter term. With the safety of our students, staff, and faculty as our utmost concern, and to minimize disruptions to our classes for the duration of the semester, we have made the difficult decision to keep our classes online for the remainder of the Winter 2022 Term.

We share your disappointment in this decision as we too wished to be in a different place by this point in the term. Due to the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant, the best way to ensure a consistent form of delivery this term is to continue classes in an online format. This includes all courses in all programs.

Our building will continue to be closed, with access for faculty and staff as necessary. We encourage everyone who can to continue to work from home. Our procedure for accessing the building has changed slightly: those entering the building should complete the provincial COVID-19 Self-Assessment prior to entering the building, in addition to showing proof of vaccination and signing in at the main entrance. Those in the building must continue to socially distance, wear masks when outside of their offices or when with others, and sanitize as appropriate. Students or GAs may request special access to the building for limited periods of time by contacting John Steadman. We will regularly reassess our building closure policy and update you accordingly as the term progresses.

Please remember to uplift your fellow students and colleagues during this time. If you are experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, or being overwhelmed, our Student Support Program offers immediate 24/7 support through web chat and phone to counsellors from a variety of linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

January 5, 2022 – Update

Welcome everyone to a new term at MDC! We are pleased to have a number of new students joining us this term and we look forward to getting acquainted at our Winter Orientation, happening virtually tomorrow.

As announced on December 16, our Winter term will begin online on January 10. Our COVID-19 Response Team is closely monitoring government announcements and health information. We will be reassessing the situation as we get more information and our plans for the remainder of the term will be announced in coming weeks. Our building remains closed until at least January 31. If you require immediate access to the building, contact John Steadman. Everyone entering our building is required to provide proof of vaccination, wear a mask, sign-in, sanitize regularly, and maintain a physical distance at all times.

Please be reminded that McMaster Divinity College is a separate entity from McMaster University. All updates regarding COVID-19, including changes to our Winter term, access to the building, proof of vaccination, etc. will be sent to you by email in this format and posted on our website here.

We wish you a blessed start to your term. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

December 16, 2021 – Update

With the advance of the omicron COVID variant and while we await further vaccinations, MDC will start our Winter academic term online.

Our Winter term will begin as scheduled on January 10, 2022, but all scheduled classes will be held online. Students should expect to hear further information on their specific courses from their course instructors. We are monitoring the pandemic developments closely and will announce updates as they become available. Currently, we expect to resume in-person classes on January 31, 2022, but we will make this decision closer to the date.

In addition, our Winter Orientation event will take place fully online, rather than in a hybrid format. All in-person meetings and gatherings will be done virtually, including our weekly Chapel services, which will begin the week of January 17, 2022 (time to be announced).

For this period, our building will remain closed. All faculty and staff are encouraged to work from home where possible, starting Monday, December 20, 2021. Graduate Assistants and students should not expect to use the building during this time. Those who require access to the building should contact John Steadman.

It is especially important that those entering the building remember to continue to follow all health and safety protocols, including regular handwashing and use of sanitization stations. Everyone in the building is required to be vaccinated (using the McMaster SafetyApp), sign in, and wear a mask. Physical distancing at all times is required.

We thank everyone for their patience during this time. Although this is not where we expected to be, the health and safety of our staff, faculty, and students is our priority and we must all do our part to ensure the safety of our community.

We wish you all a blessed Christmas as we hold hope for the future in the birth of our one true Saviour.

 

November 25, 2021 – Update

It is hard to believe we are entering our final weeks of the Fall term. What a blessing it has been to have our students back on campus, and although our term has not come without challenges, we are grateful to see our community come together again.

Our COVID Response Team continues to monitor case numbers and provincial announcements and we are cautiously optimistic about what our next semester holds. As we enter our final month before the Christmas holidays, we are winding down this semester before we enter a new one. In order to continue our vaccination requirement with fewer personnel, we will be restricting building access to only faculty and staff starting Monday, December 13. Students who wish to study in the building during the final weeks before our Christmas closure can schedule special access by contacting John Steadman.

Our health and safety protocols remain the same. Everyone entering our building is required to show proof of vaccination, sign-in at our main entrance, wear a mask while in the building, and socially distance. Visitors and service personnel are required to schedule access and adhere to these guidelines.

MDC will close for the Christmas holidays at noon on December 24, 2021. More details on our Winter term will be released in coming weeks and we wish our students well as they finish up their courses.

If you are finding it difficult to manage stress or having feelings of anxiety or depression, our Student Support Service is available to all students 24/7. Get free, confidential emotional health and well-being support by app, telephone, or web.

 

October 28, 2021 – Update

As we close out our intensive hybrid week, we thank those who joined us on campus this week, some for the first time, while many of our other students took a well-deserved break in their course schedule.

Looking ahead to our Winter term, we are excited to increase our in-person gatherings on campus. As the government restrictions continue to loosen, we will host more on-campus events and meetings, with less restrictions in the classrooms, and bring our Chapel service back to the building. There will be greater opportunity for classroom engagement and more freedom for social gathering on campus as we build our community back.

Our commitment to the health and safety of our students, staff, and faculty continues and we are closely monitoring government regulations to plan accordingly. In the meantime, our current safety procedures remain in place. All those entering our building are required to show proof of double-vaccination, sign-in, and wear a mask. Students who will be joining us on campus for the first time this Winter are reminded to download the Mac SafetyApp and register as a visitor to upload their vaccination documents in preparation for their arrival to campus.

We thank each of you for your commitment to keeping our spaces safe. Next week we resume our regular course schedule for the conclusion of our Fall term.

 

September 30, 2021 – Update

With our term well underway, I trust that you are settling into routines and patterns of study while inside and outside of our building. As we approach October, we look forward to our intensive hybrid week and the students who will join us on campus throughout that week.
Students who are planning to enter our building for the first time should remember to download the McMaster Safety App and upload their vaccination proof prior to coming to campus. When you enter the building each day, you will be required to present your QR code and sign in at our main entrance, as per provincial guidelines. Do not enter the building if you, or someone you have been in close contact with, has:
  • travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days
  • been referred for testing, advised to self-isolate, or is awaiting test results
  • tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days, or is experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose)
Physical distancing and masks are required in all public spaces. There is an eating area available in Cullen Hall. For information on how to download and register for the McMaster Safety App and full COVID-19 guidelines for MDC’s building, visit mcmasterdivinity.ca/covid19. If you require special accommodations for your course, please contact our Registrar’s Office. If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team immediately by emailing John Steadman.
We thank everyone for your continued efforts to keep our community safe.

 

September 16, 2021 – Update

As we close out our first week of classes, we would like to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation as, together, we have navigated the return to campus. Our courses took multiple modes of delivery throughout the week, and we thank the many students who joined us both in the classroom and via livestream for their first courses of the term.

We are grateful to our faculty for their adaptability in planning for this term and to our fantastic IT Team for their support both inside and outside the classroom.

While our week began with the first virtual Chapel of the term, we now welcome you to end the week at our Student Retreat, a planned time of worship, reflection, prayer, and reconnecting. Visit the event page for more information and to register.

As our term continues, everyone who accesses our building will be required to show proof of vaccination at our main entrance. If you are planning to visit campus, you will need to register on the MacCheck app. For detailed instructions on registering for MacCheck and our building guidelines, visit our COVID-19 Information page. A reminder to those who are not vaccinated, all medical or non-medical exemptions must be applied for by this Sunday, September 19. After October 17, those who are not vaccinated and do not hold an exemption will not be allowed access to our building. If you wish to take your course by livestream, you can request an accommodation from the Registrar’s Office.

If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team immediately by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

August 31, 2021 – Update

After 41 weeks of our building being closed, we are now less than two weeks away from the start of a new term! We look forward with eager anticipation to seeing students in our classrooms, study spaces, and hallways once again. On September 9, MDC will reopen to welcome new students for Orientation Day. This will be an opportunity for new students to get acquainted with faculty and staff and to get all the information they need for the start of classes on September 13.

We are committed to ensuring our campus is a safe space. The design of our Fall course schedule limits the number of students in the building at one time and all classrooms are set up to maintain physical distancing of 2 metres and require the use of masks. Everyone entering our building as of September 9 will be required to show proof of full vaccination or a negative test semi-weekly, while also maintaining regular health and safety practices. Everyone planning to enter our building this Fall should review our COVID-19 Information page for more details on what to do when entering the building and how to protect the health of our students, faculty, and staff while in the building. If you have questions about returning to campus, including health and safety procedures, contact John Steadman.

We will continue to keep you informed of new updates regarding the vaccination policy on campus. Details for submitting proof of vaccination and the location of testing centres on campus will be posted as soon as they are available.

If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team immediately by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

August 17, 2021 – Update

With Ontario entering a fourth wave, the continuing rise of the Delta variant, and plateauing of vaccination rates in Hamilton, we are determined to maintain a healthy and safe campus this Fall. To do so, we will be requiring vaccination for everyone who wishes to attend campus, including staff, faculty, students, and visitors.

This new requirement will take effect on September 7th, 2021, and will necessitate that anyone entering the campus, including our building, will need to upload proof of full vaccination. Those who have an exemption for a validated human rights ground, including a medical condition that prevents you from receiving a COVID vaccination, will be provided an accommodation plan to use appropriate alternative health and safety measures.

Those who have not received a vaccination by September 7th, or are awaiting an exemption, will be required to submit proof of a negative COVID test twice a week up until October 18, 2021. Testing will be available on campus, through McMaster University. More information on the validation system and testing centres will be made available in the coming weeks. Vaccines will be available on campus this Fall but are also available immediately through local walk-in clinics or through the Ontario vaccination website.

As an individual entity on a larger campus, McMaster Divinity College knows that many of our students rely on the services of McMaster University. Adopting a similar policy at McMaster Divinity College will allow both our new and returning students an easier transition back to campus this Fall. For more information on McMaster University’s policy, click here.

Vaccinations, along with our existing protocols of wearing a mask, physical distancing, and regular handwashing/sanitizing, will help ensure our community can enjoy a safe return to campus together. We know COVID-19 has affected everyone in different ways. As we anticipate your return to campus, we want to hear from you. Tomorrow, we will be launching a very short, confidential, voluntary survey to hear from you regarding vaccination and your plans for this Fall. This information will give us valuable information to prepare for the coming term.

Our building will remain closed until September 9, 2021, when we will reopen to welcome our new students to campus for Orientation. Find details on what our return to campus will look like this Fall, including information on study spaces, bookstore reopening, and building guidelines on our website.

To request access to our building prior to September 9, contact John Steadman. If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team immediately by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

August 3, 2021 – Update

As we enter August, our excitement is growing for the return of our on-campus activities this Fall. We have been busy preparing for a safe return-to-campus by completing upgrades to our ventilation systems, installing new plexiglass barriers in eating areas, and more.

This Fall, MDC will continue to require everyone entering our building to wear a face mask and do a health self-assessment when they sign in at our front entrance. Physical distancing of 2 metres or 6 feet will remain a requirement throughout the Fall regardless of new government announcements so we can continue to guarantee safety in our hallways, classrooms, and other spaces.

We look forward to bringing a sense of community back to our halls wherever possible. On-campus events and activities can resume within the posted space capacities with the possibility for hybrid or livestream options available.

We look forward to the return of our students, but we understand this is a time of change and uncertainty for many. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and are prepared to make special accommodations for students who cannot attend classes in person due to extenuating circumstances. Please contact our Registrar’s Office if you have concerns in this regard. All students also have 24/7 access to our Student Support Plan for mental health self-assessments, 24/7 chat support with a counsellor, and health and well-being content.

More details will be released in the coming weeks about Fall events and what you can expect when you arrive on campus in September.

In the meantime, you can make an appointment to request access to our building by contacting Francis Pang. If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior 2 weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team immediately by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

July 13, 2021 – Update

As we enter Step 3 of Ontario’s reopening framework this Friday, MDC is excited about the opportunities this will allow for on-campus activities this Fall. We encourage everyone who plans to be on campus to get vaccinated, as recommended by health professionals.

While we evaluate these new measures, registration for Fall remains unchanged. Information on courses and modes of delivery can be found by accessing our 2021-22 course schedule. If you haven’t already, send your enrolment requests to divreg@mcmaster.ca.

Parking Services at McMaster University has also announced new flexible plans for faculty, staff, and students who wish to park on campus this Fall. Starting July 15th, staff and faculty members who wish to switch to part-time parking can do so at the following link. Students who wish to apply for a new parking pass can do so starting August 1st and are encouraged to purchase early to avoid being waitlisted. Full details on parking options for this Fall can be found here.

Our building remains closed, with access for faculty, staff, and by appointment. To schedule an appointment, please contact Francis Pang. If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior 2 weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team immediately by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

June 29, 2021 – Update

Tomorrow, Ontario will move into Step 2 of the provincial reopening plan. With this news, we are excited to announce that MDC will begin to reopen by loosening our capacity limits and restoring access for staff and faculty members. While our building will remain closed to the public, staff and faculty no longer need to schedule access as of tomorrow, June 30th. It is important that everyone entering our building continues to follow the posted safety protocols, including signing in and out at the main entrance, wearing a mask in all public spaces, and social distancing.

This new change will give staff and faculty more flexibility to access their offices and resources within the building as needed as they prepare for the Fall term. We look forward to our students’ return to campus and resuming some on-campus activities. In the meantime, students or visitors are required to contact Francis Pang for access to the building.

If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior 2 weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team immediately by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

June 8, 2021 – Update

With Ontario moving into Step 1 of its reopening framework this Friday, we want to remind our community of the safety protocols we have in place.

Our building remains closed to the public, with authorized access only for essential personnel. If you require access to the building, please email Francis Pang. Those entering the building must always enter using the main entrance, wear a mask, and sanitize their hands upon entry. All those entering our building must sign in to provide us with contact tracing details and confirm they have not been exposed to a positive or potential COVID-19 case, are not experiencing symptoms, and haven’t travelled outside of Canada recently. Signs are posted throughout the building indicating capacity limits for various spaces and directional staircases. We ask you to maintain a distance of 2 metres from others at all times. If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior 2 weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team immediately by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

As the province continues to reopen, we are excited at the prospect of welcoming you back to campus and seeing you in our classrooms once again. We are pleased with the success of the vaccination efforts and encourage all those who plan to be on campus in the Fall to get vaccinated, as recommended by health professionals. As we approach our Fall term, we will update you further on what you can expect for a safe return to campus.

 

June 1, 2021 – Update

With Ontario’s stay-at-home order expiring tomorrow, we want to remind our community that our building remains closed, with access only for authorized personnel, while we continue to maintain strict health and safety procedures.

As the number of new cases decreases and vaccination rates increase in Hamilton and greater Ontario, we look forward to the upcoming academic year and what that will mean for our community. To find out more information on our multi-modal delivery planned for fall, click here. As new details are announced surrounding the provincial reopening, we will keep you informed of changes regarding access to our building and safety protocols throughout the summer.

In the meantime, please contact Francis Pang to request access to our building. If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior 2 weeks, contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

May 25, 2021 – Update

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our virtual Convocation ceremony last week. We hosted over 230 people during our live event as we celebrated our graduates and their accomplishments. We would also like to congratulate those returning students who received awards. The list of award winners can be found in our program from the evening.

It is encouraging to see the progress in vaccinations and the trend of lower case numbers in Ontario. We are continuing to develop our plans for multi-modal delivery for the Fall term, coordinating our efforts with the province’s newly released phased reopening plan and allowances by our local health authority. View the course schedule and details on each mode of delivery here.

Currently, our building remains closed with access only for authorized individuals. For access, please contact Francis Pang. If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior 2 weeks, contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

May 11, 2021 – Update

While our building remains closed except for essential access, our Spring activities are in full swing. At this time next week, we look forward to celebrating with our 2020 and 2021 graduates and their families and friends in a virtual Convocation Ceremony. We invite you to join us as we congratulate these students on their exceptional efforts to reach this milestone. The service will go live at 7:00pm on May 18th on our website, with a live chat to interact with others watching.

The course schedule for the 2021-22 academic year has now been posted, subject to allowances by the Hamilton Health Authority. Each course will fall under one of our four (4) methods of delivery: in person, modified hybrid, intensive hybrid, and online. Descriptions of each method can be found on our website and are reflected in the posted schedule. As we continue to develop our plans for the Fall term, we will update you further on guidelines for the reopening of our building.

If you require access to our building, please contact Francis Pang. If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior 2 weeks, contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

April 27, 2021 – Update

MDC continues to make safety our number one priority as we do our part to fight the COVID-19 crisis in Ontario. All of our faculty and staff continue to work from home whenever possible and access to our building remains only for essential purposes. We urge our community to stay safe by following all lockdown procedures and seeking out available vaccines when eligible, as recommended by health experts. We are pleased to see the increase in vaccinations across the province and continue to plan for a modified in-person course offering this Fall.

Our Spring term has been launched this past week. With all of our courses fully online and various formats available, we hope that you will take advantage of these courses to further your studies during this time.  There are new courses starting each week, many concluding by the end of June. To check out the full Spring term course offerings, visit our website.

For access to our building, please contact Francis Pang. If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior 2 weeks, contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

April 13, 2021 – Update

Due to the ongoing stay-at-home order across Ontario and concern over the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, McMaster Divinity College’s building remains closed with access only for essential purposes.

Our plan for our Fall 2021 term remains the same. We remain optimistic that we will reopen for some in-person classes, while following all municipal guidelines. In order to do this, we urge our community to be cautious and stay vigilant in staying home and protecting themselves until vaccines become more widely available.

While lockdown is necessary, it can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety. Make sure you regularly assess your mental health during this time. And if you are struggling with these feelings, please access our Student Support Program for telephone and live chat support and additional resources.

To request access to our building, please contact Francis Pang.

If you have tested positive, are displaying potential symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 after having visited our building in the prior 2 weeks, contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

March 30, 2021 – Update

Since the Hamilton region has entered the grey-lockdown zone once again, McMaster Divinity College remains closed and continues to restrict access to essential services only.

As we come to the end of this term, we are closely monitoring the vaccination efforts and local health guidelines while planning for the future.

As we look ahead to our Fall 2021 term, MDC is planning to phase in face-to-face learning, contingent upon local health restrictions. We are optimistic that the vaccine distribution implementation plan, provided by the Ontario government, will effectively reduce cases to allow us to host some in-person classes in our building this Fall.

Within this plan, our classes will operate at limited capacity with restricted building access to maintain a low threshold of traffic as we continue to keep our campus safe. These safety measures will allow our PhD students to study residentially with us again, while our DPT students can resume their hybrid model. Professional students should anticipate a modified hybrid model, with a balance of in-person and online course material.

The health and safety of our students, staff, and faculty is our utmost concern. We will continue to closely adhere to new health advisories as they become available and modify our plan appropriately. Our building will continue to be sanitized regularly, with adequate PPE provided to those entering, while we strictly enforce social distancing and contact tracing.

More details regarding Fall 2021 will be released as they are available. We are committed to working with all of our students to ensure their programs are uninterrupted. Inquiries regarding registration and student records can be directed to divreg@mcmaster.ca. For questions regarding Admissions, contact divadmit@mcmaster.ca.

As we anticipate a return to our classroom experience, we ask our community to continue to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by following their local public health guidelines. It is recommended by Ontario Public Health that all those eligible should be vaccinated as an important tool to help stop the spread of the virus and safely resume normal life.

 

March 16, 2021 – Update

As Hamilton remains in the red zone, MDC’s building continues to be closed except for authorized access. We continue to monitor announcements from our local health authority regarding trends in COVID-19 case numbers amid the ongoing vaccination efforts as we build plans for our Fall term.

Last week was the final week of our midterm livestreaming sessions, as our students finish out the last weeks of our semester and we move into our Spring term. We have 17 courses spanning a variety of topics being offered online for our Spring and Summer terms starting April 26th. We encourage all our students or interested individuals to sign up early if you haven’t already. For a full listing of our courses being offered this Spring and Summer, click here.

While studying remotely, all of our enrolled students have access to the Digital Theological Library, where they can access research and course materials to reduce the need to access library materials on campus.

Those requiring access to the building should contact Francis Pang with advance notice. While in the building, please remember to follow all posted safety measures, including screening and signing in at the main entrance.

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, or are displaying potential symptoms, after having visited our building in the prior 2 weeks, please contact our COVID Response Team by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

March 2, 2021 – Update

MDC continues to follow Hamilton public health recommendations and await new government announcements while our building remains closed to all except authorized personnel.

We have now entered the second of three weeks of our livestream class sessions, with 20 classes gathering virtually by the end of next week. Despite the challenges that the pandemic has presented, we are grateful for the ways we have been able to adapt over the last year. We have been able to continue our regular academic events and activities in new and modified ways and build new online communities together.

We know this is a challenging time for our students, not just in the course of study, but as they work to meet ministry, workplace, and family requirements. Our Student Support Program provides all students who may be feeling overwhelmed with a place to be heard and get help.

Those who require access to the building should send their request, with advance notice, to Francis Pang. While in the building, remember to follow all posted safety measures, including screening and signing in at the main entrance.

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, or are displaying potential symptoms, after having visited our building in the prior 2 weeks, please contact our COVID Response Team by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

February 16, 2021 – Update

We are pleased that the Hamilton region has now been placed in the red ‘control’ zone of Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework and that our community is doing their part to ensure case numbers continue to decline as vaccine efforts ramp up.

MDC’s building will remain closed to all except authorized personnel as health officials continue to advise those who can work from home to do so. Our livestream sessions will begin on February 22nd with some necessary modifications as faculty continue to work remotely. We trust these live sessions will bring our students a welcome variation to their regular schedule this term.

Those who require access to our building for exceptional circumstances should contact Francis Pang with advance notice and follow all safety measures while in the building, including screening and signing in at the main entrance.

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

February 9, 2021 – Update

We are pleased to hear the case numbers in Hamilton and the greater Ontario province are improving and the hope it provides for our community to come together again soon.

While we continue to closely monitor updates from government and health officials, our building will remain closed with access only for those authorized. Those who require access for exceptional circumstances should contact Francis Pang with advance notice and follow all safety measures while in the building, including screening and signing in at the main entrance.

As we move into a busy season of the year, we look forward to the many events to come and hope you will participate with us where you are able. Starting February 22, our classes will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face during our online livestream sessions. Our Convocation Ceremony will take place on May 18 in an online format and we hope that many of you will join us as we congratulate our 2020 and 2021 graduates for their accomplishments. With a successful Spring term last year, we look forward to having our courses in an online format again this year. The course listing can be found here.

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman at steadmanj@mcmaster.ca and Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

 

January 26, 2021 – Update

Our COVID-19 Response Team continues to meet weekly to review new information regarding COVID cases in Ontario and the status of the safety protocols we have in place.

With the Ontario state of emergency and stay at home order still in effect, we continue to be closed to all access except authorized personnel until at least February 11, or until the provincial orders have been rescinded. Those who require emergency access for exceptional reasons should contact Francis Pang in advance for authorization and follow all posted safety measures while in the building. If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman at steadmanj@mcmaster.ca and Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

We sincerely pray that all of our students, faculty, and staff remain well during this time of difficulty and isolation. We encourage you to join us in participating in our community events like our weekly Chapel services and DSA lunch hangouts. You can find a full list of upcoming events with access details on our website.

 

January 13, 2021 – Update

Due to the provincial state of emergency and stay at home order, MDC will be closed for all access except authorized personnel beginning Thursday, January 14. While the majority of staff and faculty have been working from home already, access to the building will only be made for exceptional circumstances. Permission for access must be requested in advance by contacting Francis Pang at pangfg@mcmaster.ca. These measures will remain in place for at least 28 days, or until the state of emergency has been lifted.

We urge those in our community to protect themselves and stay home in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure our healthcare systems are not overloaded in coming weeks.

Our regular cleaning and sanitizing procedures will remain in place. All authorized personnel entering the building should be sure to follow all safety protocols including wearing a mask, sanitizing, signing in and out, and following appropriate signage. If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman at steadmanj@mcmaster.ca and Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

 

January 5, 2021 – Update

Happy New Year!

This week we welcome back our students for a fresh start of new courses in our Winter term. While many courses have already started online, we will be officially welcoming our new students at tomorrow’s New Student Orientation. Chapel will resume for our Winter term starting Monday, January 11th. Be sure to join us for this valuable time of fellowship!

With the provincial lockdown in place, our building remains closed except for essential services. Should you require access, please contact Francis Pang. When entering the building please ensure you wear a mask, sanitize, sign in and out at the main entrance, and follow all posted signage. Access is strictly prohibited for anyone experiencing, or in close physical contact with someone displaying, COVID-like symptoms. Please see the Ontario Self-Assessment Tool for a complete list of symptoms.

While our building is closed, we are still here to support you! You can find contact information for all of our administrative staff and faculty on our website. Contact by email is preferred as they continue to work from home. If you have questions about registration, student accounts, or any other course-related questions, email Rachel at divreg@mcmaster.ca. For questions about our different programs or the application process, contact William at divadmit@mcmaster.ca. For course-related technology questions (WebEx, Zoom, Avenue To Learn), email Francis at mdcit@mcmaster.ca. As you plan your semester, we encourage you to be mindful of your mental health and seek assistance if needed. Our Student Support Program offers 24/7 access to professional support and online resources to assist students with feelings of isolation, stress, anxiety, and depression.

We look forward to what this year may have in store for us as we work and study together.

 

December 22, 2020 – Update

The Christmas season brings many memories to each of us. It is a special time to celebrate and give thanks for God’s wonderful gift to us of his son, Jesus Christ. We hope and pray that your Christmas this year will continue to share in the great traditions of remembrance and thanksgiving that are essential to Christmas. While this year’s memories will include a pandemic, we are also reminded of all we have to be thankful for. We celebrate that the truth of Christmas—the reality of Jesus, the son of God born in human form—is as important and relevant today as ever.

On behalf of all of us at MDC, I wish you and your family a merry Christmas and God’s blessing for the new year.

This year, while full of challenges and unknowns, has shown us the dedication of our faculty and staff, the understanding of our students, and the generosity of our donors, and for that we are so grateful. I’m proud of all that we have managed to accomplish, and for all the ways that we have come together, while physically apart, to make the Fall term a success. The semester has come to an end, but our support for students continues, and online counselling remains available to students who may need additional support and care over the holidays.

Please note that McMaster Divinity College will close for the Christmas break from noon on Thursday, December 24th through to Monday, January 4th. During this time, the building will be fully shut down with no access permitted for any reason, while cleaning staff take a well-deserved break.

If you require access to the building prior to December 24th, please contact Francis Pang at pangfg@mcmaster.ca to ensure we do not exceed our building capacity of 10 people. When entering the building, please ensure you wear a mask, sanitize, sign in and out at the main entrance, and follow all posted signage.

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman at steadmanj@mcmaster.ca and Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

December 15, 2020 – Update

As we reach the end of our Fall term, we hope everyone has finished well and can experience a season of rest during the Christmas holidays, celebrating the birth of our Saviour. We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and God’s richest blessings for the New Year.

Our building will remain closed except for essential services until noon on Christmas Eve, upon which we will close for all access until January 4, 2021. During this time there will be no cleaning of the facility, so all students, staff, and faculty are asked not to access the building.

If you require access to the building prior to December 24th, please contact Francis Pang at pangfg@mcmaster.ca to ensure we do not exceed our building capacity of 10 people. When entering the building, please ensure you wear a mask, sanitize, sign in and out at the main entrance, and follow all posted signage.

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman at steadmanj@mcmaster.ca and Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

 

December 8, 2020 – Update

As we wrap up our Fall term classes and look toward Christmas, we recognize that this season may look different for many of us, bringing new challenges and difficulties. We take joy in the truth of Christmas and the hope that a New Year brings. We encourage our students who are struggling with feelings of isolation, depression, or anxiety to reach out—to a friend, a loved one, or an experienced professional through our student support program. This program is free, confidential, and accessible 24/7 at mystudentsupport.ca.

Our COVID Response Team continues to gather new information from provincial government and public health authorities regarding COVID-19 and we update our safety protocols accordingly. Our COVID sign-in assessment checklist has been updated to reflect a new set of symptoms released by the Ontario government in their self-assessment tool.

Our building is closed except for essential services with a limit of 10 individuals at any one time. Those visiting the building are required to give advance notice by emailing Francis Pang to ensure our capacity is not exceeded. Upon entering the building you should sanitize hands, sign in and out with contact information, wear a mask, and follow all posted signage within the building.

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman at steadmanj@mcmaster.ca and Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

 

December 1, 2020 – Update

Our building will continue to be closed except for essential services as we recognize the seriousness of the COVID-19 situation in Hamilton and beyond, and monitor public health and government advisories.

Those who need to access the building are asked to limit visits and length of stay only to what is necessary and should contact Phil Strickland or Francis Pang with advance notice to ensure our building capacity limit of 10 people is not exceeded. Proper health and safety protocols should be followed when entering and within the building at all times, including signing in and out with contact information.

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman at steadmanj@mcmaster.ca and Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca immediately.

 

November 24, 2020 – Update

Our COVID-19 Response Team continues to meet and assess the changes in government updates and regulations in the Hamilton area and beyond. Our building remains closed except for essential services. Those who require access should notify our on-campus personnel, Phil Strickland or Francis Pang, to ensure we stay within our limit of 10 people at any time. Graduate Assistants who need access for their work are limited to a maximum of three at any one time and should schedule their time in advance.

For those entering the building, please remember to:

  • Schedule access in advance
  • Wear a mask at all time in all public areas
  • Sign-in and use hand sanitizer at our main entrance
  • Follow all posted signage to ensure a distance of 6 feet at all times

If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

November 17, 2020 – Update

Due to the continuing increase in COVID-19 cases in the Hamilton region and tightened government restrictions, the MDC building will close as of Tuesday, November 17, for the safety of our students and employees. The building will be restricted to essential services only, to a maximum of 10 individuals at any one time, and all students are asked to study from home. All those who require access should contact Phil Strickland or Francis Pang to ensure we are below our limited capacity. Those entering the building should continue to follow all safety protocols, including signing in at the main entrance as a means of facilitating contact tracing in the event of a positive case.

The end of our Fall term will continue online as planned. All staff, faculty, and GA’s are encouraged to work from home where possible.

We advise all those in our community to stay safe and observe public health warnings to reduce all non-essential contact. If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman and Phil Strickland.

 

November 10, 2020 – Update

Our building is open once again following our livestreaming sessions. As our students work to finish the final weeks of their courses, we encourage them to use our space for quiet study and to take opportunities for support where they may need it during this busy time at the end of term. There are opportunities for fellowship at our online Chapel service every Monday and through the online student community created by the DSA on Avenue To Learn. Our student support service gives all students free access to online resources and to 24/7 support. This confidential service is available through web chat and phone to access counsellors from a variety of linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

To book study space, contact Melanie at mcglynnm@mcmaster.ca. Those visiting our building should review our COVID-19 Guidelines for Building Use and remember to use sanitizer and sign in at our main entrance. Masks must be worn at all times in public spaces of our building.

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman at steadmanj@mcmaster.ca and Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

November 3, 2020 – Update

As we reach the last week of our livestreaming sessions, we are grateful to our faculty for their work in planning and running their live classes smoothly, to our students for their participation, and to our IT team, for their dedicated work in continuing to ensure our online activities run without interruption.

On Monday, November 9th, our building will once again be open for student study. If you need a quiet place to study, please reserve a space by contacting Melanie McGlynn at mcglynnm@mcmaster.ca.

Our safety procedures adhere to strict public health guidelines. Those visiting campus should be prepared to sanitize and sign in at the main entrance and wear a mask while in the building, while following all posted signage. If any situation arises where you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman at steadmanj@mcmaster.ca and Francis Pang at pangfg@mcmaster.ca.

 

October 27, 2020 – Update

As we move into our second week of livestreaming our hybrid classes, we are encouraged by the positive response these sessions have received, as our students gather together virtually, some for the first time. With the success of these sessions, MDC will continue this format into our Winter term.

Our Winter term will look much the same as our Fall term, with classes starting online and meeting virtually, in real time, during our livestreaming weeks. We hope the continuity through the terms will allow students to plan well for their Winter terms as they progress in their programs. Of course, we look forward to the time when we can once again meet in-person. When the situation allows, we will have additional meeting options available.

As we move into the final weeks of the term, we want to commend our students for their understanding and flexibility as we learn and study together. With the end of term often being a busy and stressful time, we encourage everyone to be aware of their mental wellness and self-care. Our student support program is available to all students at any time and can help you through difficulties related to stress, anxiety, health, and student life. Online resources and 24/7 support are available through their portal here.

We would also like to thank those entering our building for respecting others and doing their part as we remain vigilant in following our safety policies and procedures. We encourage you to continue being careful and reporting potential cases where needed, following public health guidance, including vaccinating against the flu if recommended. If any situation arises where you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are displaying potential symptoms after having visited our building in the prior two weeks, please contact our COVID-19 Response Team by emailing John Steadman at steadmanj@mcmaster.ca and Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

October 20, 2020 – Update

As we enter our first week of livestreaming classes, it has been refreshing to see some returning familiar faces as our faculty come to our building to utilize the livestreaming technology to teach their classes in real time. We are grateful to our faculty, staff, and hardworking IT team for their work to ensure our livestreaming processes run smoothly.

A reminder that our building will remain closed this week and the next two, until November 7th, for these livestream sessions. If you require access for student study or otherwise, please contact Melanie McGlynn at mcglynnm@mcmaster.ca.

Our COVID-19 Response Team continues to meet weekly and monitor new updates as they become available. We are consistently working to improve our safety protocols and the efficiency of our cleaning procedure to protect those working within the building.

 

October 13, 2020 – Update

As we prepare for our livestream sessions in the coming weeks, we remind all those visiting our building to review our Guidelines for Building Use prior to coming to campus.

Starting next Monday, October 19 until Saturday, November 7, our building will be closed as our faculty members arrive on campus to livestream their courses. We look forward to our classes gathering synchronously using new technologies within the building. If you require access to the building during this time, please contact Melanie McGlynn at mcglynnm@mcmaster.ca to book an appointment. Please note that students who require access for student study space will be assigned a study room for use and are not permitted to attend live sessions.

During this time, our safety protocol will remain. All those entering the building are required to wear a mask unless in private spaces and must enter only at the main entrance in order to sign-in and out. Additional signage and protocols are outlined in the above guidelines and upon entry.

If you have questions, please refer to the ‘Contact Us’ section on our updates page. We encourage you to use email for contact as many of our staff continue to work from home.

 

October 6, 2020 – Update

Our COVID Response Team continues to monitor COVID-19 cases and new government advisories, as they affect MDC. With the safety of our community in mind, we remind you to stay mindful of your exposure to others and attentive to wearing a mask, social distancing, and sanitizing and hand washing practices.

Our building remains open from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Please be aware that we have made updates to our procedure for entering the building. Our sign-in sheet (see below) now includes specific amendments for those referred for testing or awaiting test results. These amendments apply to anyone wishing to enter the building, those in their household, or those they have been in close contact with.

A reminder that during our livestream weeks (October 19 – November 7), our building will be closed. Please contact Melanie McGlynn at mcglynnm@mcmaster.ca to arrange access. Students who require access for student study space will be assigned a study room for use and are not permitted to attend live sessions.

 

October 1, 2020 – Update

Due to the increase in campus wide cases, MDC would like to remind all members of its community that upon entering our building you are required to sign-in, assenting that you have not travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days, are not experiencing any COVID-19-like symptoms, and do not believe you have been exposed to someone with such symptoms. These protocols exclude entry for any individuals who have been referred for testing or advised to self-isolate, are awaiting test results, or have tested positive for COVID-19.

Those who have attended MDC and are experiencing symptoms or have tested positive should contact the Registrar’s Office at strickpd@mcmaster.ca immediately. All disclosed information will remain private and confidential. MDC will work in compliance with Public Health, who will use contact tracing to contact affected individuals. All affected areas and public spaces will be cleaned and disinfected promptly.

With our presence on the wider university campus, MDC students, staff, and faculty are reminded to exercise caution when visiting other areas of campus and being vigilant in sanitizing and safety practices when returning to the MDC building or their own homes. To monitor the cases on the MMU campus, visit the McMaster University website here.

 

September 29, 2020 – Update

With the swiftly changing situation with COVID-19, MDC is operating with the utmost care and concern for its staff, faculty, and students. Starting September 30, 2020, our building hours will be slightly modified, with MDC open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.

During our livestream weeks (October 19 – November 7), our building will be closed for public access with a maximum visitor capacity of 10 people to allow for our faculty and support staff to be on campus to utilize our livestream classrooms and technology. To book study space or request access to the building for these three weeks, please contact Melanie McGlynn at mcglynnm@mcmaster.ca. Students who wish to study on campus during the livestream sessions are advised to give adequate advance notice to ensure space is available. We will be monitoring the availability to ensure students’ needs are met so they can access their classes without interruption.

All members of our community are encouraged to stay connected with one another during this time. Our Chapel services, held virtually every Monday at noon, include a live chat as an opportunity for worship and fellowship together each week. All MDC students have access to the Divinity Students’ Association (DSA) “course” on Avenue To Learn, with various forums for prayer, research support, and community resources, and for host events like lunch hour hangouts and watch parties. More events like this are posted on our website, so be sure to take advantage of these chances to engage.

 

September 22, 2020 – Update

As concern grows in Ontario over the rise of cases of COVID-19 and its unpredictability, our Response Team has met to discuss at length the new government updates regarding restrictions on private gatherings and advisories to restrict spread wherever possible. In light of this, MDC will shift its hybrid in-class sessions to a livestream format. These previously scheduled in-class sessions will still meet October 19 to November 7 as originally scheduled but in their new livestream form.

As we highly value the classroom experience, we know this may come as a disappointment, but we are dedicated to maintaining the same high degree of teaching that MDC is known for while properly protecting the health of our students, staff, and faculty. Our faculty have prepared for this contingency and will be in touch with their classes to give more details on these livestreamed sessions.

We would like to reinforce that this decision does not affect accessibility to our building. We remain open for student study space from Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6:00pm. Those who need a space for quiet study and reliable internet access should plan to use this option. All those entering our building are required to sign in at our main entrance and follow the signage and safety protocols in place.

At this time our decision to shift to a livestream option applies only to our Fall term. As we continue forward, we will be regularly assessing the pandemic situation and will be responsive to public health and government advisories as they unfold.

 

September 15, 2020 – Update

We would like to welcome all of our new and returning students back to a new academic term! Last week we enjoyed a number of successful online events like our New Student Orientation and Student Retreat. We have even had some students back in the building, using our modified study spaces to access their coursework. We thank all those entering our building for following our safety protocol and respecting all those who choose to work at MDC.

Our COVID-19 Response Team is mindful of the increase in cases in certain regions of Ontario and we continue to closely watch the new information being released in order to make decisions that are best for our students, staff, and faculty. You can expect an announcement by October 6 on our hybrid in-person courses as we plan appropriately. During this time we want to reinforce the importance of proper and regular hand washing and sanitizing for those who visit our building. Please be sure to use the sanitizing station as you enter our building to limit exposure for those working inside. Our building hours are now 8:30am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. Those requiring access or using our spaces to study should be sure to follow these times. For more information on our safety protocol and how to reserve a study space, please review our Guidelines for Building Use.

 

September 1, 2020 – Update

Our COVID-19 Response Team was established as an emergency planning team when the coronavirus pandemic escalated back in March. Then, we were planning how to complete our academic year without interruption to our work or our students, as they progressed through—or even completed—their programs. Now, as we start a new academic term, this team will continue to meet appropriately as we monitor government updates and review the details of our upcoming term, alongside our faculty, administrative staff, and Joint Health and Safety Committee in their respective roles. It is the collective effort of all those in our community that keeps those who enter our building safe. Please continue to monitor our website, social channels, and direct communication to find new updates as the year progresses.

As an institution, we are looking forward to welcoming our new students. While our building will reopen September 8 for student study space, we know that MDC is more than a physical space. New students will meet the faces of MDC as they’re introduced to our staff and faculty at our online Orientation Day, and hear about the courses being taught this year. At the Student Retreat, our Divinity Students’ Association will lead our students in a time of fellowship before classes start on September 14.

If you are planning a visit to the building, please be sure to familiarize yourself with our Guidelines for Building Use and follow the appropriate signage around the building. If you have any questions, be sure to contact Tara in Student Records at divreg@mcmaster.ca. If you are looking for textbooks or MDC merchandise, be sure to contact Bernice at books@readon.ca to schedule a time to visit our Hurlburt Family Bookstore or have books shipped directly to you.

Please note, prior to September 8 our building will remain closed except by appointment. If you require access, please make an appointment with Phil Strickland at 905.525.9140 x24981 or strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

August 25, 2020 – Update

With just two weeks until our building reopens for the start of the academic year, all students, staff, and faculty have received our Guidelines for Building Use. In addition to standard protocols like regular handwashing/sanitizing and wearing a mask, this guide offers direction on where to enter, new building hours, class arrival and exit times, additional cleaning and availability of study space. It is the responsibility of all persons in the MDC community to be familiar with and follow these new guidelines when they enter the MDC building. During our three weeks of in-class hybrid sessions scheduled for October and November, a member of our administrative staff will be present to guide students and answer any questions that may arise. In the meantime, you can direct any questions to divreg@mcmaster.ca.

A reminder that prior to September 8, our building will remain closed. Students and visitors are required to make an appointment with the appropriate staff or faculty member or contact Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca for access to the building.

More details will be released soon regarding kickoff events like New Student Orientation and Student Retreat, this year taking place online. Our staff and faculty are excited for all of our students to join us this Fall, whether it is across our screen or across the hall.

 

August 18, 2020 – Update

With Fall term soon approaching, we are finalizing preparations for our building to reopen on September 8th. All students, staff, and faculty have now received our COVID-19 Guidelines for Building Use, outlining new changes to protocol and what students can expect when they return to the building for study. As we continue to look forward to our students joining us for our hybrid in-person classes in October and November, we ask everyone to familiarize themselves with these new guidelines as we seek to work and study safely. It is the responsibility of our community to help us reduce the risk of contamination by balancing the need to access the building with potential risk factors and by following our safety protocol to sign in, wear a mask, respect the physical distance of others, and routinely wash or sanitize their hands and working surfaces. Further communication will be provided in the upcoming weeks regarding New Student Orientation and other online events in anticipation of the new academic year.

Prior to September 8, our building will remain closed. If you require access, please schedule a time with the applicable Staff or Faculty member, or contact Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

 

August 11, 2020 – Update

In anticipation of the start of our Fall term, beginning August 17th, MDC will relax building restrictions for faculty, staff, and GA’s to work on-campus. Our safety protocols will be maintained as we enter a new stage of reopening. We ask that everyone continue to enter and sign in at the main entrance, wear a face mask in all public spaces, follow posted signage, maintain social distancing, and sanitize and/or wash hands frequently. Complimentary masks and hand sanitizer are available throughout the building.

On September 8, we are excited to open our doors once again. Guidelines on our reopening will be posted online and distributed to students, staff, and faculty in the next week outlining available study space, hours of operation, and cleaning and safety protocols as we reopen safely. Details can also be found in our updated Safety Plan.

Since many of our Fall events will take place in an online format, we are very excited to connect with our new students in this year’s online Student Orientation. The new Hurlburt Family Bookstore will be open by appointment only, starting September 8. To purchase textbooks, please contact Bernice at READ On. Our spaces have also been modified to respect restricted capacity guidelines as we plan for the in-person portion of classes in October and November.

As we reopen, we ask all those entering our building to respect each other by following the posted guidelines in place so that we can all return to work and study safely.

 

August 4, 2020 – Update

As our faculty and staff prepare for the coming academic year, we are excited to return to a new version of studying and learning together. On August 17th, we will begin easing building restrictions for staff and faculty, so they might return to work as needed to support their Fall term preparations.

New technologies and spaces have been made available to support our hybrid term semester and new signage and safety measures are being established in anticipation of the in-person portion of our classes in October. More details on this will be released as the academic year begins.

Our building will remain closed to the public until September 8, 2020. We ask that everyone entering the building remain consistent in our safety protocols of using the main entrance only, signing in, wearing a mask, and washing hands frequently.

 

July 28, 2020 – Update

As we continue in stage 3 of our provincial reopening, we want to ensure we stay consistent in our practice of hand-washing, social distancing, and wearing masks to protect those around us.

Our building will remain closed until August 17, 2020. To request access, contact our on-call administrators, this week being Francis Pang at pangfg@mcmaster.ca or Melissa West at westmel@mcmaster.ca. All entering our building must do so at our main entrance and are required to sign-in and wear a face mask in all public areas, in accordance with the Hamilton municipal bylaw.

In anticipation of the start of our academic year, we will be ramping up administrative functions to prepare for students to return to their studies. As such, we have increased our cleaning procedures and availability of sanitizing products within the building while we modify our spaces for effective social distancing. As we stay vigilant in our public health safety practices, we are optimistic that our hybrid term will be able to continue as planned.

 

July 21, 2020 – Update

We are very pleased to see that Hamilton is making good progress towards flattening the curve and managing the COVID-19 outbreak. This week, the Premier announced that our community will move to Phase 2, Stage 3 on Friday, July 24. This will relax some restrictions on indoor spaces such as restaurants and movie theatres, and will increase group meeting capacity to 50 persons, not including staff. The City of Hamilton enacted additional legislation yesterday to mandate the use of masks indoors in all public spaces, a policy that MDC has already implemented for our building.

The MDC building remains closed and those needing access must call ahead to make an appointment. Those entering are required to sign in and out for each visit to facilitate contact tracing, should the need arise, and a mask or face covering is to be worn at all times in the public areas of the building.

Only the main entrance of the MDC building is to be used in order to best facilitate sign in and to reduce the cleaning required for commonly touched surfaces.  All other entrances are closed until further notice. This applies to all those who wish to enter the MDC building.

While the gradual reopening of the province is very encouraging, we must all remain vigilant and take responsibility to protect the health and safety of those around us as well as ourselves.

 

 

July 14, 2020 – Update

Our COVID-19 Response Team is currently gathering information and building plans to reopen as we anticipate the Hamilton region moving to Stage 3 very soon, with many regions in Ontario already doing so this week. We are grateful for the progress being made as we do our part to fight the pandemic. Our building will remain closed to August 16, 2020, open only for essential services. If you need access to the building, contact Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca to schedule a time. All staff, faculty, students, and visitors who require access the building during this time are reminded to sign in at our main entrance, wear a face covering when in the building, and make use of our sanitization stations.

Our Registrar’s Office is busy registering students for our upcoming academic year, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming students back with our hybrid format as we continue to learn together. For questions about registering, contact Tara at divreg@mcmaster.ca or check out our Course Schedule online.

Despite our building remaining closed to mid-August, we are building plans for a phased reopening and will release further details very soon. Again, we want to express our thankfulness for your patience as we continue to navigate these unusual times.

 

July 7, 2020 – Update

Our COVID-19 Response Team continues to meet weekly and monitor updates regarding the coronavirus. We are very pleased to see the progress being made in the Hamilton region as the number of new positive cases declines. We continue to evaluate our upcoming hybrid academic year, with our Fall and Winter terms planned in a hybrid format—a combination of online and in-person sessions, the latter scheduled for late October and November.

Our building is closed except by appointment and we have a protocol in place should you need to enter. To gain access, contact Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca. Upon entry you will be required to record your visit on our sign-in form, all entering the building must wear a face covering, as recommended by government health officials. Sanitization stations are available around the building. We will be modifying our protocols in our Safety Plan and release updates as we plan the reopening of our building.

These physical protocols help us keep those providing essential services to our students safe. Your physical and emotional health is important to us. Many Ontarians find themselves facing new struggles like anxiety or depression during this time of uncertainty. If you are struggling with workload, stress, feelings of anxiety or depression, don’t hesitate to use one of these government resources, or talk to one of our certified counsellors at our Student Support program.

June 30, 2020 – Update

MDC’s COVID-19 Response Team continues to monitor our safety plan according to government announcements and recommendations. Our building remains closed through to July 31, 2020. To enter the building, please make an appointment with Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca or 905.525.9140 x24981 so we can maintain our reduced capacity. Please do not enter the building without having made an appointment. Everyone entering the building at any time MUST sign in at our main entrance so we have a record of your visit.

We would like to thank all those in our community—our current and incoming students, staff, faculty, Board, and donors—for your patience and understanding as we have navigated these last couple months. We will continue to assess and make adjustments for the summer and academic year ahead. The physical and emotional wellness of our community is our highest priority. We know these imposed changes can be tiresome and isolating and we welcome your feedback regarding the year ahead and how we can better support you. Feedback can be directed to our COVID-19 Response Team at divinity@mcmaster.ca or by reply email. If you find yourself struggling, our Student Support Program is available 24/7 to talk to an online counsellor confidentially, free-of-charge.

We wish everyone a happy and safe Canada Day weekend. In appreciation of the hard work of our staff and faculty, MDC will be taking an extended holiday from July 1st to July 3rd.

 

June 23, 2020 – Update

MDC’s building remains closed until July 31, 2020 with restricted access for essential services only.

Our COVID Response Team has created a COVID-19 Safety Plan in accordance with the government safety recommendations. This plan will be revised as we move into new phases of reopening, outlining the standards we require for entering and gathering within our spaces.

At this time the procedure for entering our building is by appointment only and requires you to sign in at our main entrance with verification that you have read and agree to our requirements as posted. These requirements include confirmation you have not travelled outside of Canada within 14 days, are not experiencing any COVID-like symptoms, and will wear a face covering in all public spaces of our building. Our team has developed these guidelines in accordance with government advisories to protect the well-being of our staff, faculty, and students as we continue to learn and work together. We are optimistic that these guidelines will allow for significant progress in the recovery of our province as we look forward to gathering in-person once again.

 

June 16, 2020 – Update

Earlier today we hosted, for the first time ever, a virtual Board and Senate meeting. We would like to thank all of the members of our Board, Senate, and various Committees for joining us and being flexible in adapting to a new method of gathering.

As announced a number of weeks ago, our Fall 2020 courses are being planned for a hybrid format, a combination of online and in-class teaching, with the in-class component scheduled for late October and November. This model of delivery takes into account the best interests of the safety for our faculty and students and allows flexibility for MDC to adjust quickly to new developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, should we need to switch to an online only format. This format also allows for our students to progress in their programs without interruption. With safety and student success as our goals, we have made the decision to extend our hybrid delivery format to our Winter 2021 term. With a consistent course format across the full academic year, our students can begin to anticipate and make plans for their upcoming year of study while our faculty and staff prepare to welcome our incoming and returning students.

With the success of our Spring term being held online this past term, we are making plans for our Spring 2021 courses to be held primarily online as well. This shift in delivery allows us to be accessible to any students who may wish to study with us.

We know our community will look different during this coming academic year, but we are excited about, and committed to, bringing new opportunities to engage with each other, no matter where our students may be studying. As social restrictions lift, our doors will eventually be open to welcome all of our students back for face-to-face gatherings once again.

 

June 9, 2020 – Update

As we await joining many parts of the province in moving to Stage 2 of the reopening phase, MDC continues to plan for our Fall semester in hybrid format. We are reviewing plans for our Winter semester and will announce final decisions in the coming weeks. Our building will remain closed to all except essential services until July 31, 2020. For emergency access, contact Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

Despite remaining in the first stage of reopening, we are encouraged by the increase in size of allowable social gatherings and consistent decline in cases while we readily anticipate the time when we can reopen our halls to our colleagues and students once again.

 

June 2, 2020 – Update

MDC’s COVID-19 Response Team continues to meet weekly to review new government updates. While we anticipate a provincial Phase II reopening, our building remains closed except for essential services until June 30, 2020.

While we plan for a hybrid Fall term and are hopeful for in-person classes to return in Winter 2021, we will only do so when we are confident there is little risk to our students, staff, and faculty. Announcements regarding our academic year will be given in the coming weeks. We are currently making preparations for our building to reopen with adequate signage for physical distancing and personal protective equipment necessary. In the meantime, if you require emergency access, contact Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca with adequate notice. We ask that if you enter for any reason, you wear a mask or face covering in our public spaces to protect our essential workers.

Please continue to remember MDC in your prayers as we make decisions regarding our academic term and activities as we seek to do His will.

 

May 26, 2020 – Update

We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we performed a thorough cleaning of our facility last week. Going forward, our building remains closed for all access except for essential services until June 30, 2020. To request access, please contact Phil Strickland, with advance notice, at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

Our COVID-19 Response Team is weekly reassessing our plan for phased re-opening and our Hybrid Fall term while examining the format of our Winter term, as new information becomes available. We will continue to make decisions based on the advice and protocols of government and health officials. As such, we are securing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect those who will re-enter our building. With the Premier’s announcement of a delayed Phase II opening, our staff and faculty continue to work from home as we continue our Spring term courses and develop new ways to welcome students in the Fall.

MDC seeks to ensure the safety of our community. As the province slowly reopens, please remember to maintain strict social distancing and handwashing protocols, using PPE where necessary, to ensure we can all return together again safely.

 

May 19, 2020 – Update

As we continue to monitor new government announcements regarding the re-opening of our province, MDC continues to make decisions and put plans into place for the safe return of our faculty, staff, and employees while planning for our hybrid Fall term. We will continue to keep you updated weekly with new developments regarding re-opening our building and events and activities for the Fall term.

As part of this planning, our building will be closed for all access until Tuesday, May 26, 2020 or until further notification, as we complete a deep clean of offices, ventilation, common areas, and touch point surfaces. If there is an urgent need for which you require emergency access to the building, contact Francis Pang at pangfg@mcmaster.ca.

We would like to recognize and thank our custodial staff, namely David McIsaac, for his diligent and dedicated work in keeping our work spaces and equipment clean and disinfected so we can maintain a safe work environment for all.

 

May 12, 2020 – Update

Our COVID-19 Response Team continues to meet weekly to review and discuss new developments on the health crisis and announcements of phased re-opening. Within our current plan, our building remains closed until June 30, 2020, with access only for essential services or emergencies.

We are happy to report that through the generosity of a community church, we were able to secure a limited number of masks for use now and in preparation for a phased re-opening of our building. Our team has made plans for securing additional PPE to be available for the return of staff, faculty, and students when the situation allows.

Our COVID-19 Tuition Relief Fund was launched mid-April. Having received over 40 applications to the fund, we are now working to distribute financial aid to these individuals in need. We are very grateful to be able to support our students in this way and we continue to encourage those who are able to give to increase the funds available for those facing financial crisis as a result of the coronavirus.

Our Response Team attempts to access accurate, reliable, and up-to-date information on the spread of COVID-19 and recommended protective practices from government and public health websites, and we encourage our community to do the same. You can find direct links to these sites in the Resources section above.

 

 

May 5, 2020 – Update

As we monitor government regulations and phases of re-opening, MDC continues to evaluate timing and procedures for returning to work. While our building remains closed to all except essential services for the forseeable future, we are pleased to report we are securing the protective equipment necessary to ensure the continual safety of our staff, faculty, and students when we are able to phase in regular working practices in our building. We will do everything we can to safeguard our community by reducing risks at all possible costs.

During this time we continue to accept applications for our COVID-19 Tuition Relief Fund. We encourage any students who have been affected financially by the COVID-19  crisis to apply for additional financial aid. More information can be found here. At the same time, we are reaching out to our supporters to partner with us in this effort to help our students in need. To donate to the tuition relief fund, click here.

If you require access to our building, contact Phil Strickland at 905.525.9140 x24981. For all other inquiries use the ‘Contact Us’ section above.

 

April 28, 2020 – Update

Our COVID-19 Response Team continues to meet weekly to review updates on the COVID-19 health situation and discuss new government announcements.

This week, the Ontario Premier announced phases of re-opening. While we are still some time away from these phases being put into process, MDC is contemplating what this looks like for us and is putting plans into place to safely re-open our building for those who require it. With our Spring term fully online and all May and June events happening virtually, we are well-positioned to enter the summer months with these restrictions. Currently, our building remains closed to all except essential services until June 30, 2020. As more guidelines are released by the government, we will keep you up-to-date as we make plans with the health of our students, staff, and faculty as our priority.

In the meantime, please remember we are always available to answer your questions. All of our staff can be reached by email, found on the Administration page of our website.

If you have questions with registration, student accounts, or course-related matters, email Tara at divreg@mcmaster.ca.

If you have questions about our different programs or the application process, contact Sara at divadmit@mcmaster.ca.

For course-related technology questions (WebEx, Zoom, Avenue To Learn), email Francis at mdcit@mcmaster.ca.

 

April 21, 2020 – Update

While our building remains closed to everyone except essential staff and we are continuing our work from home practices, MDC’s activity has all but slowed!

Our Spring Term began this week with our first courses starting yesterday. Our enrolment numbers are looking promising, and we look forward to hearing the outcomes of these online courses. If you are still considering taking a course, there’s still time to sign up!

Our President’s Dinner Online kicked off on Thursday. We’ve enjoyed hearing from Dr. David Guretzki in his web series on 1 Peter 2:17 and stories from some of our graduates about the places God has led them. If you haven’t checked it out yet, we encourage you to do so! The online auction is open until Thursday at noon and there are new stories and videos being released daily.

With all this, we are still fully engaged in our planning processes for our Fall Term. This September, we will run all scheduled courses across all programs using our hybrid format. This format will run online from the start of term on September 14th, meeting in-class for two days later in the term. These in-class dates will be scheduled in the last two weeks of October and first week of November, when we hope the health situation is more fully resolved. We are very much looking forward to meeting and getting to know our new students and welcoming back our returning students for our 2020-21 academic year!

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us:

  • For questions with registration, student accounts, or course-related questions, email Tara at divreg@mcmaster.ca.
  • For questions about our different programs or the application process, contact Sara at divadmit@mcmaster.ca.
  • For course-related technology questions (WebEx, Zoom, Avenue To Learn), email Francis at mdcit@mcmaster.ca.

 

April 14, 2020 – Update

McMaster Divinity College continues to monitor government reports and updates on COVID-19. With our Spring term and doctoral defences taking place through online means, MDC can confirm that our building will, for the time being, remain closed to June 30, 2020 as a precautionary measure to all staff and faculty.

This also means our Board Committee meetings and June Board and Senate meeting will take place using online means. Preparations are underway with the members of these various committees to ensure our meetings can run smoothly despite the new medium.

This Thursday, April 16th, was meant to be the evening of our President’s Dinner, our main fundraiser of the year. Of course, we announced weeks ago that this event would no longer be taking place, but save-the-date because we are bringing the President’s Dinner to you! Unfortunately we won’t be able to provide you with a meal and have fellowship with you in-person, but we would be delighted if you would join us this Thursday for our President’s Dinner Online. The event will run on our website and social media channels for one week, where we will be releasing all kinds of content and we want to hear from you! We hope you will take some time to engage with us as we would have in-person to hear what MDC has been doing over the last year. You will hear from our speaker, Dr. David Guretzki of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, and some of our students and alumni and how they have been serving our communities during this time. Our silent auction will be held online and you’ll have the chance to win some MDC swag! If you don’t already, like us on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected and we will see you Thursday morning!

 

April 7, 2020 – Update

As we evaluate new reports and projections about the spread of COVID-19 and the extended period of self-isolation, we continue to shape our responses and future plans to meet the best interests and needs of our students and community.

As such, it has become increasingly unlikely that the revised date for our Convocation Ceremony on June 18, 2020 is viable. Our Convocation Ceremony is important to us. We want to ensure we give our graduates the recognition they deserve and opportunity to celebrate with them and their loved ones the accomplishments they have made over their time of study with us. We think this is best done in an in-person format and want to make every effort possible to maintain this type of event for our graduates. With the current COVID-19 restrictions, we are further postponing plans for an in-person ceremony until sometime in Fall 2020. The exact date will be released in the coming months. This will not have an impact on students having their degrees conferred before that time. If anyone has any questions, they should contact the Registrar at strickpd@mcmaster.ca.

Our teams are busy building plans for the Fall term. We are evaluating all avenues to create flexible delivery models that minimize the impact upon our students and their programs. We will continue to work closely with our international students as they begin to make plans to study with us this Fall.

As our Winter term comes to a close this week, we would like to extend our sincere thanks for your understanding and grace. This period of adjustment has affected all of us in different ways, but one things we hold in common is a gracious God who holds all things under His care.

 

March 31, 2020 – Update

McMaster Divinity College is continuing its measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 with work at home policies and online learning. We are encouraged by the flexibility of our faculty in making mid-term adjustments to their courses, students for their understanding and adaptivity, and staff for their commitment and smooth transition to working in new environments.

There is no doubt that these drastic changes disrupt our normal routines and the way we must interact with each other and can often cause uneasiness or unrest. Our community is important to us and we want to make sure that you are receiving the help you need, when you need it. We want to remind you of our online counselling service. This free and anonymous service is available to anyone and is a great resource that provides helpful tips for managing stress and anxiety and provides someone to talk with via online chat or phone call 24/7. McMaster University has also offered the following health-focused blog posts with suggestions of how to stay active and connected while practicing social and physical distancing:

Of course, we are always here for you if you are having trouble managing course load, have uncertainty about future plans, or have suggestions on how we can better serve our community during this time. We want to encourage open lines of communication and feedback. Students may send any questions or comments to strickpd@mcmaster.ca and staff and faculty may contact their supervisor at any time with comments, questions, or concerns.

As a team, we are planning for the weeks and months ahead, from the upcoming Spring term to outcomes affecting our Fall term and the events and activities that will take place. We thank you for your trust in our decision-making and covet your prayers as we navigate new waters ahead. Please know our prayers are with you and your loved ones as well.

 

March 24, 2020 – Update

Following the announcement by Ontario’s Premier in response to growing concern over the COVID-19, McMaster Divinity College will remain closed to the public, open only to authorized employees for essential services. All student activities including written examinations and dissertation defences will move to an online format. Our Spring Term courses will now also be held in an online format.

We recognize these new changes are difficult and bring a certain degree of uncertainty when adjusting to new processes. Please be assured we are doing as much as we can to alleviate any concerns students may raise to ensure completion of their term without interruption.  We also recognize that these modifications also provide unique opportunities. Our Spring term courses are more accessible than ever to those outside our regular proximity or availability. We are encouraged by the students or individuals who choose to take advantage of these courses being offered.

The majority of our staff and faculty continue to work from home with limited access to voicemail. As such, we encourage communication by email, found at the Faculty and Administration page on our website. Cleaning services will be maintained as an essential service with mail services restricted to once per week. For emergency access to the building within regular office hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm), please contact Phil Strickland at strickpd@mcmaster.ca or 905.525.9140 x24981.

We plan to revisit these parameters by April 9th and will continue to post updates as the situation develops.

 

March 17, 2020 – Update

As of March 17, 2020, MDC will only remain open for essential services. The majority of our staff and faculty will be working from home. Only very limited staff will be present in the building, and as such, we are limiting access to only our main entrance during this time. Our focus will be on helping our students complete their term and the activities required to do so. All precautions will be taken to practice social distancing where in-person meetings are necessary. All students are asked to study from home and only visit campus for a required academic reason, as advised by a member of the staff.

We plan to implement these changes until March 31, 2020, making adjustments based on the outlook of the pandemic situation.

We want to ensure our lines of communication are open during this time. Staff and faculty are most easily reached by email, which can be found on our Faculty and Administration page.

It is certainly a challenge to adjust to these new ways of studying and working but we are encouraged by the ways we have already seen our community adapting and rising to help those in need in healthcare, in pastoral ministry, and here at MDC. We pray for safety for all and look forward to being all together in our building again soon.

 

March 16, 2020 – Update

As we continue to obtain new information regarding COVID-19 and the recommendations from public health officials, MDC is asking all students to work from home until further notice. This includes closing all study rooms and GA Offices. In an effort to limit in-person contact, students should only visit campus for a required academic reason, as advised by a member of the staff. Doctoral defences and oral comps will take place as scheduled in an online format to reduce group gatherings, while written exams will continue in individually assigned rooms. At this time, staff will continue to maintain essential services while adhering to preventative measures.

Please check back for new developments regarding upcoming events.

 

March 13, 2020 – Update

Important Announcement regarding COVID-19

In light of recent events surrounding the continuing spread of COVID-19 and as a precautionary measure, McMaster Divinity College will be cancelling all in-person (face-to-face) classes after the end of day Friday, March 13, 2020. Instead, classes will be moved to online delivery for the remainder of the Winter 2020 term.

Additionally, all co-curricular activities and events are cancelled. This includes Chapel, Theological Research Seminars, Guild meetings, Linguistics Circle, Preview Days, and student gatherings. MDC will still remain open for essential services.

Faculty members and course instructors, in consultation with the VP Academic, will be communicating with students soon regarding how courses will be administered for the remainder of the term so that courses may be completed within the scope of the current academic calendar.

We want to assure all students, but especially those in the final stages of their programs, that MDC is making it a priority to ensure students complete their courses within the normal Winter 2020 timeframe.

Students should take the following actions regarding their courses:

  • Log in to Avenue to Learn and make sure that you can access all course shells for all your current courses
  • Email your course instructor and cc Dr. Francis Pang (pangfg@mcmaster.ca) if you are not able to access a particular course shell

Any non-essential public events on campus are being cancelled as of Friday, March 13, 2020 as well.

Public Health Officials recommend taking appropriate precautions to help prevent infection including:

  • Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.
  • Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid normal forms of contact (handshaking, etc.).
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
  • Maintain at least 2 metres (6 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
  • Keep up to date on information regarding COVID-19, especially areas where the virus is spreading. If possible, avoid traveling and large crowds, especially if you are an older person, are immuno-compromised, or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
  • If you or a relative have recently traveled to a place where COVID-19 is spreading widely, please follow public health guidelines for self-isolation.

We will continue to monitor the situation regarding COVID-19 and update you accordingly. Please continue to check this page for regular updates on this rapidly developing situation.

 

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