Brock to offer most classes online through winter term
Brock University will stay the course when it comes to in-person classes during the winter term.
Brock’s provost and vice-president, academic, Lynn Wells said the university will continue to provide most classes virtually.
“The university has chosen to continue with primarily online instruction in the winter term due to continued uncertainty posed by the pandemic,” said Wells. “Many universities in Ontario have already begun to announce that they plan to continue instruction primarily online in the winter, and ... Brock is joining that group.”
The decision to continue with virtual classes as the primary method of learning was determined by the university senate.
Brock classes will extend the current academic model through the winter term that runs from January to April.
In a media release on Brock’s website, the university indicated that, “while courses will continue to be delivered primarily online in the winter term, a limited number of courses for which no online alternative exists will be offered on campus, as was the case in the fall term.”
For the fall term, there are only a few hundred students taking courses on campus at any given time. Brock’s total full- and part-time enrolment levels are about 19,000.
With a reduced student presence on campus, fewer staff are required on site to support the wide range of normal campus activities, from food services and library operations to administration of parking and residences.
Many staff are also working primarily or entirely from home during the fall term.
Sean Vanderklis is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter for the Niagara Falls Review, covering education issues across Niagara. His reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.