Labs

Students will be provided with a list of specific rules and requirements for the laboratory in which their experiment is held. All lab rules, general and specific, will be reviewed by the instructor during the first lab. Some of the required laboratory safety equipment will be provided by the College and some (lab coat, safety glasses, closed shoes, etc) will be the responsibility of the student.

Centennial College’s Biology and Microbiology laboratories and all preparation areas are designated Biosafety (containment) level 2, because cultures of animal and human pathogens are stored and used. These cultures have moderate potential hazard to personnel and the environment. In a Biosafety level 2 laboratory, all personnel including students must follow the safety rules. The safety officer certifies that all personnel have read and understood the safety manual, and follow operational protocols. There must be written documentation of safety training. The laboratories are kept neat, clean and orderly at all times and doors and windows are kept closed.

The instructor/technologist responsible for the lab will enforce penalties for non-compliance with the rules including expelling the student from classes should any of the rules and regulations are broken.

Students in this Program must purchase closed shoes, lab coat, safety glasses and a lab kit specific to their Program.

For safety reasons, students are allowed to bring only their lab manual and lab kit into the laboratory. Students are advised to obtain a locker for their personal belongings.

There may be limited access to Centennial’s computers and specialty labs. For your health and safety, follow any posted protocols (e.g., physical distancing, cleaning, etc.).

Equipment

• Attendance at all laboratory and field sessions is mandatory
• Students require a locker. Contact Enrolment Services for rental at Morningside campus.
• Students require a full-length laboratory coat and flat-soled shoes with closed toes and heels.
• Students require the laboratory kit for their Biology, Microbiology and Chemistry courses while in the program.
• Students must adhere to the SETAS “Lab Responsibilities and Safety Policies”, including the Chemistry lab safety rules and the Biohazard Level 2 Laboratory Safety Rules when working in the laboratory.
• Students must have a copy of the appropriate lab protocol(s) to enter the laboratory each week.
• Students must complete laboratory monitoring duty to the satisfaction of the professor and lab technologist.
• Students must use protective field gear (walking shoes, long socks, long sleeves and pants) at all times during outdoor work. It is the student’s responsibility to protect him/her self while outdoors from foot injuries and skin irritants like poison ivy, mosquito and tick bites.
• Pictures may be taken during course activities to encourage support for the Environment and for promotional material.
• A nominal fee will be charged for bus transportation to at least 2 field trips. Car pooling may be required for other field work and riders are expected to support the efforts of drivers.
• The laboratory/field work schedule is tentative and may vary due to availability of equipment and supplies. As a result, activities may be added, deleted or rearranged as the course progresses.

Software

Students have access to industry-leading software packages and bundles that can be found in rooms, labs, and podiums across our campuses. Computers at each campus will be loaded with the applications for use in your courses. To access these features, you must log in to the network using your student number. You can see a comprehensive list of software and software packages installed by room and by campus here.

How do I access my online courses and course materials?

Centennial Luminate (using the Anthology Blackboard platform) is the learning management system that is used across the College to support students and faculty in their learning and teaching activities. It enables you to access course documentation and class assignments, monitor grades, and actively communicate and collaborate with professors and other students. Professors can post course announcements and news, such as course cancellations, time and location changes, and other reminders that will appear when you sign in. You can take quizzes and submit assignments in a secure way that tracks the time and date of each submission. Your professor will discuss their use of Centennial Luminate in each of your courses.

How can I get help with College technical resources?

The IT Service Desk is a service where students can turn to get assistance with Centennial IT issues and inquiries. The IT Service Desk is comprised of a number of individuals who specialize in over-the-phone, email, and remote technical support. You can also reach the desk from any on-campus computer lab telephone. Check the IT Service Desk webpage for contact information and service hours.

Each Centennial College campus also has a physical Client Support Counter staffed by computer technicians. Some of the technical issues the Client Support Counter can help you with include

• ○ supporting standard College applications such as MS Office, Windows, Anti-Virus software, and myCentennial;
• ○ providing guidance on how to access, save, and print from all applications;
• ○ answering questions on file storage, e-mail usage, and troubleshooting general application issues;
• ○ authentication (log-in) issues with the network, myCentennial, and Centennial Luminate; and
• ○ assessing and resolving computer lab hardware problems.

Each campus has different hours of operation for their Client Support Counters. Check the website for hours and locations.

Library Collections

Instructors may make course readings available online through the eReserves service in Centennial Luminate or as physical items that can be borrowed from a campus library on short-term loan. If your instructor is using eReserves, you will see a module in the course content on Luminate. The list may include links to library resources like databases, articles, and eBooks; book chapters; web links; and open educational resources. Check your course outline or contact your instructor for information about where your assigned course readings are located.