The subject matter in this message is upsetting. The following support services are available.

Students:

• UNBC Counselling Services at 250-960-6369 provides programming and support.
• UNBC students can also access Here2Talk, a 24/7 counselling and community referral service.

Faculty and staff:

• UNBC employees can access the Employee and Family Assistance Program at 1-800-663-1142 for 24/7 access to confidential, professional counselling services.

Good afternoon,

In late September, I publicly noted the UNBC community’s support for those affected by the violence directed at civilians in Iran. Since that time, we have seen a growing chorus of condemnation from the global community and an inspiring show of determination from Iranian citizens who are taking to the streets and demanding that their fundamental human rights be respected. Sadly, the ruling regime has also escalated its brutal tactics, including at post-secondary institutions such as Sharif University of Technology.

Members of our community, including those with deep connections to Iran, are dealing with issues and emotions to which many of us may not be able to fully relate. During these troubled times, our UNBC community must show compassion and demonstrate flexibility for those who are affected; people may need to grieve, support those closest to them, or support other members of the community dealing with turbulence abroad and we can make the space available for that to happen. Yesterday’s event that saw the UNBC community come together to stand in solidarity is an exceptional example of how we can do just that; thank you to the organizers who invested considerable time and energy into arranging it.

Recently, UNBC has established a new award called the International Student Support Award, thanks to the generosity of donors. This award is available to full-time undergraduate or graduate international students facing significant challenges or financial barriers and is designed to support students from countries facing current economic, political, global, or human rights conflicts. If you are interested in making a gift to support those around us who need it most, you can do so on the UNBC Giving website. (When filling out the form, select 'International Student Support Award' from the 'Give To' drop-down menu).

UNBC also looks carefully at each application for admission that it receives and works with students and programs to make the best decision about their status and admission. We can consider various supports around the application fee, international admissions deposit, and expedited application review, as well as facilitating admissions without official transcripts in the event universities are unable to respond in a timely fashion to requests or applicants are unable to safely obtain transcripts.

As I have said previously, the world is in a constant state of turmoil, which can affect us all differently. At UNBC, we have supports in place for students, faculty and staff who may need them, including those who are feeling the impact of the current situation in Iran. Please refer to the resources at the top of this message and pass the information along to others in our community seeking support.

The UNBC community is here to support one another; we stand in solidarity with those who are opposing oppression and seeking to effect change for the betterment of our world.

Thank you,

Geoff Payne
UNBC President and Vice-Chancellor