A shorter update today, but with some very important updates for our students, faculty and staff.

In today’s update:

• Research Activities Update
• Options for Dropping Courses
• Service on our Campuses

Research Activities Update

This would typically be the time of year that research activity would increase at our research-intensive University. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, however, has added uncertainty to many of our research plans.

While our campuses remain open and research activity can continue, the strict directives around physical distancing must continue. If our researchers can suspend on-campus operations, I strongly encourage you to do so and to undertake work that can be done remotely, such as literature reviews, manuscript development and so on.

If you do wish to continue, our Acting Vice-President Research, Dr. Kathy Lewis, provided some guidance by email this morning. We’ve added some of that content to our website as well.

Options for Dropping Courses

We are allowing undergraduate students who would like to drop a Winter 2020 semester course the option to do so without academic penalty. There will be no financial refund associated with this, however, as students have a choice to complete the term through alternate methods of delivery offered by UNBC.

Students may request an exceptional drop from Winter 2020 semester courses by using their UNBC email account and providing their student number, full name, and the course(s) they wish to be dropped to the Registrar’s Office at studentinfo@unbc.ca. Emails sent from non-UNBC email accounts will not be accepted. Graduate students who are concerned about their Winter 2020 registration should contact grad-office@unbc.ca from their UNBC email account.

With this option though, I urge students to fully understand the potential ramifications this decision can have, such as impacts on student awards or funding, meeting pre-requisites for future courses, degree program progress, as well as international student visa status.

Service on our Campuses

As mentioned in my update yesterday, many units on our campuses have moved to appointment only to ensure physical distancing and limiting face-to-face meetings. Signs will be posted on the doors of the units highlighting contact options and how to arrange appointments as needed. We encourage people to call or email ahead in arranging assistance.

Please continue to go the website on our home page as updates are added regularly.

Thank you all again for your continued efforts as part of UNBC’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in supporting our University Community.

Geoff Payne,
UNBC Interim President and Vice-Chancellor