As I suspected, my update yesterday generated many questions. Thank you for sending them in. While some, unfortunately, can only be answered with a very honest “We don’t know right now,” others can be answered, so in my commitment to improve communications, I will increase the frequency of my updates to help provide our community with the information you’re looking for. As always, we will update our Coronavirus (COVID-19) website with the latest information.

In today’s update:

• Will Winter registration open on June 1 as well as Fall?
• Will any in-person labs take place in September?
• Will smaller, in-person lectures or classes take place in September?

Will Winter registration open on June 1 as well as Fall?

No. We hope to welcome as many students back to our campuses as soon as it is safe to do so. By delaying Winter registration, we have an opportunity to gauge how the “Restart BC” provincial plan is working, and make a better, informed decision regarding alternate course delivery modes, such as online learning. We will provide another update in the coming weeks.

I know this timing has a negative impact on students who rely on external funding who may be required to register for an entire year to be eligible; this is a complex matter and we will continue to work toward solutions that work for as many people as possible.

Will any in-person labs take place in the Fall semester?

Any in-person course delivery will take place based on direction received from the Provincial Health Officer. We anticipate some labs, likely upper division, will take place in person. We will ensure that information regarding how a course is to be delivered is clearly presented when registration for the Fall semester opens on June 1. 

Will smaller, in-person lectures or classes take place in the Fall semester?

Very few in-person classes or lectures will take place in the Fall semester. Again, any in-person course delivery will take place based on direction received from the Provincial Health Officer. Specific details will be made clear when registration for the Fall semester opens on June 1.

As I mentioned in my introductory paragraph, we received a number of questions to which we simply do not have answers yet, with topics such as on-campus housing, other living arrangements for out-of-region students, fees, food services, return-to-work planning, and more. The provincial government is working with all the post-secondary institutions in British Columbia on a coordinated approach for how campuses will open this Fall. We will continue to make decisions based on the information we have at hand, and relay that information to you in as timely a fashion as possible. 

Please know that the UNBC community’s safety remains our highest priority. I appreciate your patience as we work with many stakeholders to be solution-orientated in support of our UNBC community.

Stay safe, and thank you!

Geoff Payne
UNBC Interim President and Vice-Chancellor