Jocelyn Kjarsgaard recently moved into the student residence at the Fennell campus at Mohawk College.

Now, with the help of her mom, she was coming back with a few bags of groceries and other things.

The 18-year-old from Burlington has little apprehension about moving into the building amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“My only potential concerns would be students not taking (the pandemic) as seriously as I do,” said the first-year advertising and marketing, communications management program student from behind her mask.

She plans to keep her distance and spend most of her time in her residence suite where she will be doing most of her learning online.

If she gets bored, Kjarsgaard said she will go for a walk or run some errands.

“I’m here to focus on my studies more than anything,” she said.

Darcy Darch, Jocelyn’s mother, said her daughter’s move-in to the building went very smoothly and she has no worries about the residence.

“Everybody here was so friendly and the communication from the college really puts your mind at ease,” she said. “I don’t really have any reservations.”

Noah Pereira was getting something in the restaurant at the residence which is open for takeout only.

Like Kjarsgaard and her mother, he’s not concerned about living in a building with other students.

“With all the precautions put in place, I’m not that worried,” said the 18-year-old first year general arts and science student from Owen Sound who noted he will be taking all his classes online.

If students at the residence wish to mingle, they’ll have to do it online, noted Tim Fricker, dean of students at Mohawk College.

Fricker said a variety of safety measures have been implemented including reducing the number of students in the building to around 110, less than half of the residency’s capacity of 340.

In the past occupancy was based on two students per suite.

Now, only one student is living in each unit.

No visitors are permitted and areas where students might normally congregate are not available.

Fricker said masks must be worn when students are in the hallways and physical distancing markers have been put in place.

In addition, protective barriers have been installed at the front desk and an enhanced cleaning protocol is in place.

“It ensures that all surfaces that are high touch areas are cleaned on a very regular basis,” Fricker said.

Students began moving into the residence last weekend and all move-in times were booked online to allow for physical distancing.

Fricker said about half of the students in the residence will be learning online.

Students who require hands-on lab experience will visit the campus as needed.

The residence is owned and operated by Campus Living Centres under an arrangement with Mohawk College.

Students pay about $8,000 to live there between September and April.

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STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Hamilton Community News wanted to see what safety measures have been put in place at the student residence at Mohawk College.