2020 Graduation Postponed to 2021

March 26, 2020

To all ABC Community,

Re: 2020 Graduation,

After much prayer and consideration of the options, ABC’s President’s Cabinet has decided to postpone the 2020 graduation ceremony and celebrations until April 2021. We believe this to be the most responsible option, in light of the uncertainties regarding timelines for the Covid-19 pandemic. We sincerely hope that you and your families will be able to attend graduation at that time. We are proud of your academic accomplishments, and regret that concern for one another’s safety must take priority over our desire to celebrate in person with you this April. If you are not able to be present in person in April 2021, we will make every effort to ensure that you will be able to attend virtually.

We understand that you will receive this news as one of a growing list of losses that we are all experiencing at this time. All of ABC’s staff are available via phone, email or virtual meeting to speak with you about this decision, if you want to process this with anyone on staff.

Our decision reflects our desire to provide you the opportunity the safe opportunity to hear your name called at a formal graduation ceremony and to walk across the stage to receive your certificate, diploma, or degree, in the presence of your family, friends, fellow students, and with the faculty and staff of ABC. We are proud of what each of you has accomplished.

We will be offering the opportunity to join together, via Zoom, for graduate chapel, awards announcements, and graduation reflection on the following dates:

• April 15, for College program students
• May 12, for PACE program students

Further information on these virtual celebrations will be forthcoming from Cory Pytlarz, Student Development Dean.

In the coming months, we will evaluate your progress toward completion of your certificates, diplomas, or degrees. Once our academic audits indicate that you have completed all your program requirements and obligations are fulfilled, we will send your parchments and release your official transcripts, which will indicate the date that your certificate, diploma, or degree was granted.

May God grant each of us courage, wisdom, and strength during these times. Take care of your loved ones, serve your neighbors, trust our God.

In His love,

Stan Helton, President                                                                        David Ford, Academic Dean

Covid Response – Courses Online, Campus Closed

ABC staff and administration have been closely following the news updates on Covid-19. In accordance with the latest restrictions and recommendations coming from Alberta Health and from the City of Calgary, as of 9:00 this morning, ABC’s campus is closed. At this time, the campus will be closed until further notice. Staff and faculty will be working from home whenever that is possible.

Classes will run on their normal schedule, but now remotely, via Zoom.

Student Life

Regarding student life outside the classroom, all student gatherings are cancelled until further notice. This includes chapel, Community Lunch, and PACE snack times. Because of our commitment to prayer through the ups and downs of daily life, Community Praying of the Psalms will continue via Zoom at 9:20 am, Tuesday-Friday.

Resources

If you have registered for an upcoming course (PACE), your textbooks will be mailed to you at the address we have for you in Populi.

Graduation

If you are graduating this April, we want you to know the following:

• Graduation pictures will still be taken as scheduled on Tuesday, March 17.
• The timing and structure of graduation is currently being reimagined. More information to follow.

Our greatest concern is for the health and safety of our students and their families. We are confident that, as people of faith in a great God, we will not only endure the trials of these days, but that we will emerge on the other side of this trial wiser and with a greater appreciation of all those things that we temporarily lost during this event.

For more details, see the full letter to students from our Academic Dean.

Summit 2020 Postponed Indefinitely

Due to distancing standards for Covid-19, we will be postponing Summit 2020 indefinitely

We feel it is wisdom to increase distancing and limit travel at this time. One of the guiding documents in our decision is the Government of Canada’s Risk assessment grid for mass-gatherings.

We are “postponing” because we know how important it is for us to gather together; especially around a topic about the Future Church. We will keep you posted about new dates…perhaps the Fall? We will let you know.

If you have already registered, we will be crediting your payments back to you as soon as possible.