Campus status

This is Durham College's official site for emergency communications. During an emergency, updates will be posted here.

Current status

All campuses and operations are open; classes and activities will proceed as scheduled. The latest update will be posted below.

Emergency training exercise taking place at both campuses on May 16

Please be advised that an emergency training exercise, known as a Targetted Automobile Ramming and Mass Casualty Incident (Exercise TARMAC), will be held on May 16 at Durham College’s (DC) Whitby campus from 7 to 9 a.m. and Oshawa campus from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

There will be over 250 emergency personnel on campus during this time, including live vehicle burn props and medical simulations. If you see these tactical units, please be advised that there is no active incident taking place, they are here for training purposes only.

The Champions South parking lot at Oshawa campus will be closed during this time, as well as limited parking will be available in Champions North parking lot. Parking gates will be up for the day with Durham Regional Police Service assisting with traffic control. 

Our Alertus Emergency Mass Notification tool will also be activated across both campuses between 9:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on May 16 for approximately two to five minutes to test its performance.

If an emergency situation does arise during this time, DC will communicate with the campus community through  email, social media, mobile app, and our campus status website.

General information on campus cancellations and closures

When conditions become so severe that the college cannot operate effectively, a decision may be made to change scheduled operations, resulting in class cancellations, early departure for non-essential employees or, in rare cases, a closing.

A decision to close the college, or any college campus location, will be made by the Emergency Management Response Team (EMRT) on behalf of the president of Durham College. Such decision will only be made after a careful assessment of conditions that place, or are likely to place, members of the campus community in danger or that may have a substantial adverse effect on normal campus operations.

Individuals travelling to and from campus are reminded to leave enough time to travel safely. Individuals living in areas more heavily impacted by the weather should use their judgment and discretion when coming to campus, with safety being their first consideration at all times.

Timely and accurate announcements regarding changes in Durham College’s scheduled operations will be made via our emergency communication channels. For a complete list of these channels please see below.

Websites

Social Media

Email

  • Students will be notified via their Durham College issued (DC Mail) email address.
  • Staff will be notified via their Durham College issued email address.

DC Mobile app

Phone

  • Campus voicemail - 905.721.2000.

Television and Radio