I want to thank you all for another week of cooperation, patience and above all, kindness. I know these are challenging times that we are working through. More good news for students in today’s update.

In today’s update:

• Indigenous Emergency Assistance Fund
• Research Support Award
• Helping our Four-Legged Friends

Indigenous Emergency Assistance Fund

Another helpful announcement from the provincial government today regarding support for Indigenous students. An additional $1.5 million is being provided province-wide to supplement the Indigenous Emergency Assistance Fund, which helps Indigenous students who are experiencing an unexpected financial emergency that may affect their ability to finish their studies. This is another piece of implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, and provides support to an exceptional group of students on our campuses. Our students can contact Aboriginal Student Life Navigator, Roxanne Umpherville, at roxanne.umpherville@unbc.ca to learn more.

Research Support Award

The Office of Research has created a Special Graduate and Undergraduate Support Award for Research to help students negatively impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The competition, valued at $3,000, supports student research endeavours, with eligible expenses including wages or stipends for graduate or undergraduate research assistants, and course fees for related training. Travel costs for training and for conferences are not eligible. The funding period is from May 1 2020 to Aug. 1, 2020, and the application submission deadline is April 15, 2020.

Helping our Four-Legged Friends

I’ll end the week on a feel good note. We received a request from the SPCA to see if we could provide some lab coats or scrubs, as they are expecting to care for a lot of animals while owners are in hospital. It’s understood that animals can carry the virus on their coats so some form of Personal Protective Equipment would be helpful for SPCA staff. Huge kudos to the Chemistry department, who provided some lab coats that we will deliver next week.

So, thank you all for another week full of success stories, problem-solving, and sharing as we continue the mission of the University. I know as the days and weeks move along, there is an uncertainty of when this will end as you follow the news from within our community and around the world; please take comfort that it will end. I know how hard this is for all of you. We have good days and bad, but we are collectively working with each other to be solution-oriented. Take the time to connect with family and friends this weekend as physical distancing is not social distancing. A phone call, email or other forms of communication goes a long way to show we are all in this together.

We’ll pause our daily updates over the weekend, but will continue to monitor and provide information should it be necessary to do so. As always, you can send your questions to unbccommand@unbc.ca and visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) website for information.

Take care and stay safe!

Geoff Payne
UNBC Interim President and Vice-Chancellor