Mutual commitments seek to protect all residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

SACKVILLE, NB — Mount Allison University, the Town of Sackville, and the Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) have joined forces to welcome students back to the community safely. The MtA Sackville Bubble initiative, announced on August 4, is part of the collaborative COVID-19 preparations for the upcoming academic year.

“Mount Allison is fortunate to be situated in a community that graciously welcomes our students each year and is focused on working together in a collaborative way,” says University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau. “This sense of the larger community is a focus as we welcome students back to campus and Sackville safely this fall.”

Mount Allison is offering a combination of online and in-person classes for the upcoming academic year. Planning has been underway for several months to ensure academic activities as well as student services are available both on campus and virtually.

Sackville Mayor John Higham says Mount Allison students are an integral part of Sackville and he’s pleased with the plans made by multiple partners to welcome many of them back to the community this fall.

“Mount Allison students play a key role in the Sackville and the larger Tantramar community,” says Higham. “While we all know our day-to-day interactions will be different this year, the Town is committed to helping ensure our community is as safe and as welcoming as possible for all residents.”

The Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) is also happy to collaborate on the initiative.

“Students at Mount Allison appreciate the interconnectedness between the University and Town — we're all in this together,” says MASU President Jonathan Ferguson. “The MASU is pleased to partner with the University and the Town to engage in plans to welcome our students back to the community safely to live and study in Sackville this fall.”

At the heart of the MtA Sackville Bubble initiative is a Community Commitment. This voluntary commitment — under the belief that we are all in this together — encourages students, faculty, staff, businesses, landlords, and all residents to do their part to protect everyone in the bubble by following Public Health directives such as respecting physical distancing, only gathering in small groups, frequent hand washing, and wearing non-medical masks as required. The commitment also calls for everyone to stay informed, remain vigilant on and off campus, and to uphold COVID-19 regulations.

The University recently released a comprehensive document to help guide students, faculty, and staff through the upcoming year in the face of a pandemic. The Back on Track Campus Plan includes a new Student Code of Conduct updated to reflect pandemic guidelines and can be found at: mta.ca/fall2020

The three groups will also be hosting a MtA Sackville Bubble Welcome Centre for new and returning students at the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre from August 14 to Sept. 7 — throughout Mount Allison’s three-week move-in period. Students will be able to obtain student IDs, orientation welcome packs, and information around health and safety measures and regulations from Public Health, Mount Allison, and the Town at the Centre.

Community members will notice students wearing green MtA Sackville Bubble bracelets in August and September. These bracelets signify they have registered at the Welcome Centre and will allow students to access services in the Welcome Centre and on campus.

While the bubble is intended to encourage safe and responsible behaviour in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is by no means a restriction on residents’ movement or travel within the region.

“The MtA Sackville Bubble really represents a collaboration, a state of mind, and a commitment that we are all doing our part to keep our community as safe and healthy as we can,” says Mayor Higham. “It is not a restriction in anyone’s movement in and out of the area.”

For more information please see: mta.ca/fall2020