After months of online learning, these Conestoga College students say they shouldn't be pushed back to campus

Students at Conestoga College are appealing to continue taking classes remotely, saying that after 18 months of mostly virtual courses some people no longer live near the Kitchener school — and they don't have enough notice to be on campus as of January.

Numerous students told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo they received emails on Nov. 8 and Nov. 17 announcing that most programs would be held on campus in the winter term.

The decision has left some people scrambling to find a place to live that's closer to school, to find work around set class time or to find other child-care options, said Alissa Gee, a second-year communications student.

"A lot of students in the program don't even live close by and some, like myself, have a small child at home," she said. "That's why I had initially signed up for this program — because it was going to be mostly remote."

Gee said the remote learning option gave her flexibility; she could access a lesson after the class time if she couldn't attend due to caring for her child. 

"When they sent that email [about the change] it sent a little bit of panic," she said. "I'm worried that there are going to be students that won't be able to graduate."

In a statement to CBC News, Conestoga College said it has been, "advising students since late this summer that we would be returning to on-campus learning in January 2022 and that all students, employees and visitors would be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19."

When asked for copies of the communication, the college said that there had been a notice on its website in August informing staff and students of the hope that vaccination rates and public health restrictions might allow for a wider return to campus in the winter. 

Some labs and services are offered there now. 

But the primary communication from the school appears to have been the academic delivery plan posted on Oct. 28, in which it says that "most students" will return to campus — but it notes that programs will be delivered in three formats: in person, hybrid or remotely. 

"Although the college has delivered many programs remotely since March 2020 in response to pandemic restrictions, our intention to return to more on-campus learning and services has been consistently and repeatedly shared with our students and the broader community," the college said in its statement to CBC.

But both Gee and her fellow student Tori Towriss said the language around the return to campus was unclear.

"We were still under the understanding that things were still up in the air," Gee said. "So when the email came out in November that kind of solidified it for everyone."

Towriss said that she received emails in November informing her the program will be offered in a hybrid model, meaning students would have to be in person for some classes and remotely for others.