Lethbridge College, along with several other provincial post-secondary institutions, has made the collective decision to forgo competing in the 2021 ACAC winter season for basketball, volleyball and futsal.
The group of institutions say it was a difficult decision, but the responsibility of post-secondary institutions to establish and maintain a safe environment for students, staff and faculty is the preeminent factor in all considerations and decision-making.
“Our priority is to ensure a safe and consistent response to all of our operations, including Kodiaks Athletics, during this pandemic,” says Dr. Paula Burns, Lethbridge College President and CEO. “The decision to not take part in province-wide ACAC competition aligns with our college’s academic delivery, which includes face-to-face programming only with purpose – balancing academic outcomes with safety. Our president’s group has agreed that athletic participation at our institutions will follow the same path.”
The decision to participate in future ACAC competition will be evaluated on a semester-by-semester basis, leaving the possibility open for some sports to proceed in the spring.
“Kodiaks Athletics are an integral part of our institution and provide so many benefits to our college as a whole,” says Dr. Burns. “We are committed to working with the Kodiaks and our student-athletes to provide them the best possible experience under these unique circumstances. They will continue to train and develop key skills both on- and off-court during this winter semester.”
The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association has announced student-athletes will not lose any athletic eligibility this season. Kodiaks student-athletes will also receive all scholarships and student-awards they are eligible for during a typical season.
“We will cheer on our Kodiaks with renewed enthusiasm as soon as it is safe to do so,” says Dr. Burns. “When we say #WeAreAllKodiaks, we mean it, and we will continue to support our student-athletes throughout this process.”