Post-secondary institutions eager for an in-class fall
Relief and optimism could be heard in the words of the leaders of post-secondary institutions around B.C. this week after the provincial health officer told them in writing they should start planning for a full return to on-campus education in September.
For Lane Trotter, the president and CEO of Langara College, who shared the news with his students in a written statement, a return to classrooms should greatly benefit collective well-being.
“While uncertainties remain, we are so pleased to be planning to be safely together again, soon,” Trotter said.
“Young adults have experienced significant negative impacts on their mental health, financial stability, and future opportunities caused by the pandemic. A thoughtful, safe, return to campus will help meet the social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs of our community.”
Given that young adults are expected to be immunized no later than the end of July, it is time to plan for their return, Dr. Bonnie Henry wrote in her Monday letter to the heads of post-secondary institutions.
“Immunization will support what seems likely to become stable coexistence with COVID-19 as another manageable, seasonal ailment,” Henry said. As new variants emerge, they will be dealt with through monitoring, reformulated tests and vaccines, and other measures as “part of normal, continuing life with COVID -19,” she added.
The go-ahead from Henry could send tens of thousands of students back to classrooms. But before that happens, post-secondary institutions will need to work with her, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, WorkSafeBC, student and labour associations, Indigenous representatives and the Education Ministry on high-level reopening guidelines. Then, individual institutions can craft their own health and safety plans.
Henry offered in her letter some insight into what campus life could look like by fall. Two-metre physical distancing would not be necessary in the controlled context of post-secondary settings, and student housing, dining and other on-campus services will be able to return to normal, or close-to-normal,
capacities, she said.
Catherine Dauvergne, the vice-president academic and provost of Simon Fraser University, and Wade Parkhouse, the university's vice-provost and associate vice-president, academic, told staff and faculty in an email the school was well positioned for a September return.
“We know many students, faculty and staff are eager to return to campus, while others may be feeling a bit anxious. Our priority is to return to campus safely,” they wrote.
Santa Ono, the president and vice-chancellor of the University of B.C., said the university would
be looking at options for transit, quarantine arrangements for international students, if required, and on-site immunization, among other things.
“We look forward to seeing our UBC community return, making our campuses vibrant once more,” Ono said in a written message to those connected to the university.
Laureen Styles, the vice-president, academic and provost of Capilano University, said it was early in the planning process, but she expected details about the fall 2021 semester to be announced in May.
“We look forward to the day when rich opportunities to interact in-person are once again
central to the CapU learning and teaching experience,” she said in a written statement.
Kevin Hall, the president and vice-chancellor of the University of Victoria, said he was “extremely encouraged” that British Columbians could be returning to regular activities as early as this summer.
“When this began a year ago, none of us knew how long we would be affected, or the toll it would take on every aspect of our lives and work,” Hall told staff, faculty and students at UVic. “I look forward to welcoming you all to campus this September. It's going to be a great year.”