Update on GBCTechTraining’s Response to the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and our government’s public health and societal response to it are having a dramatic effect on all of our lives, and the way we interact with each other as individuals, businesses and public institutions. George Brown College and our distance learning department have been challenged to adapt and adjust the delivery of our programs. This includes the way we provide our services to our students in this new normal.  The good news is that the GBCtechtraining programs and services are fully operational, open to new student registrations, and here to support you.

George Brown College closed its physical buildings to staff, students and public access on March 24, 2020. Although our physical campuses are now closed, our management and delivery of our programs and services have remained open for business.  We’ve completed a rapid migration to online delivery of most programs and courses, supported by staff working remotely from home.

In our GBCtechtraining programs, our students have always studied remotely. However, they have been supported by a strong office-based student support center housed in our Casa Loma Campus. In the last week, we have migrated our entire office-based administrative and support functions to systems that can be supported by our staff working remotely from home. 

Here is a summary of how we have adapted to these challenges:

Administrative, Technical and Tutorial Support 

We continue providing administrative, technical and curriculum support to our students as usual by phone, email and online forum. If you’re calling one of the support numbers, and do not get connected to a live representative right away, please bear with us and leave a message. Our staff are now able to receive calls to their GBC office extension at home and are monitoring emails and messages remotely. We will call you back shortly. 

To provide additional support to our students for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have expanded our Student Support Centre to include Sundays. 

The Support Center is staffed and open to your calls and emails: 

Monday to Friday, 9 am - 10 pm (EST)
Saturdays from 9 am - 5 pm (EST)
Sundays from 9 am – 5 pm (EST) NEW

Toronto Local: 1-416-415-5000 x4726
General contact 800 phone number:  1-888-553-5333
General contact email: [email protected]

Technical support contact phone number: 1-866-279-1457
Technical Support e-mail address: [email protected]

Registrations

Online vs. Other Methods

Because of COVID-19 business operations restrictions, at least temporarily, we can only take registration online and by phone. Our other methods of enrolment (by fax or mail) are temporarily not available.

Initial New Registrations

Our program curriculum products are now available by direct download. Our mail room is now closed, and we are no longer able to ship our USB-based version of the curriculum. That’s why we have migrated all new students to this direct download option. 

New students can register online as usual, through our website registration forms. Once a registration is confirmed, we will provide new students with a download link from which to download and install the curriculum software.  New students can now start working on their program immediately, and no longer need to wait to receive their USB by courier. Program textbooks are still available for purchase, but they will be shipped by courier later. 

Registration for New Modules

If you are a current student using Pay-As-You-Learn option, you can register for new modules online, using “My Account” as usual. There have been no changes to the online exam system. You may log in and take online final exams at any time. 

Payment Processing

Payments are processed within one business day. After processing, receipts will be e-mailed to students.

We understand this is a very challenging time for many in our community. We are doing our best to support you in your learning journey regardless of the circumstances. 

For any further questions, please contact us by phone, e-mail or through the contact form on numbers listed above.