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Earlier this month, we announced that UBC would deliver online instruction until February 7. Today, we are confirming that the majority of instruction will be delivered in-person from February 7 until the end of Winter Session, Term 2.
This decision was made collaboratively, in consultation with Deans, Academic Heads and Directors, and student leadership, considering the learning needs of students and the health and safety of the university community. Further details on arrangements for specific programs and courses will be provided by Faculties and academic units.
Returning to Campus
We recognize that some members of our community may be apprehensive about returning to campus, and the university has put in place multiple layers of protection to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in response to information on the progression of the pandemic. Below are the safety measures now in place on our campuses:
- All members of our community are required to follow the COVID-19 Campus Rules. More details can be found at: https://srs.ubc.ca/campusrules
- All students, faculty, staff, and others must assess themselves daily for COVID-19 symptoms prior to engaging in in-person UBC activities on our campuses, and must stay home if they are experiencing relevant symptoms. Access the self-assessment tool at https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en
- All members of our community are required to wear masks in public indoor spaces on campus and it is strongly recommended that masks are of a medical grade. You can learn about different types of masks at http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/prevention-risks/masks. For those who need masks, they will be made available for members of the UBC community. More details can be found at https://srs.ubc.ca/masks and https://ok.ubc.ca/covid19/health-safety/masks/
- Updated COVID-19 Safety Plans are in-place for the return to the majority of in-person instruction. More information about safety measures can be found at https://srs.ubc.ca/covid-19/covid-19-return-to-campus/ and https://ok.ubc.ca/covid19/health-safety/
- UBC continues to operate its COVID-19 Rapid Testing Program https://rapidtesting.covid19.ubc.ca/
In addition to the measures listed above, rapid test kits are being made available for students, faculty and staff who display symptoms of COVID-19. Test kits will be available from the week of February 7, on both campuses with the presentation of a valid UBC identification card. More information can be found at https://srs.ubc.ca/athometestkit and https://ok.ubc.ca/covid19/testing-reporting/. We also urge you to be fully vaccinated, and to register for your booster dose as soon as you are eligible. Register for your COVID-19 vaccine at: https://immunizebc.ca/.
Starting on February 7, courses at UBC will return to the format in which they were originally scheduled. If there are exceptions, Faculties and instructors will communicate them to students. Support services for students continue to be available to ease their transition back to on-campus learning.
For any students, faculty and staff needing support for their mental health and wellbeing, resources are available:
- For students, visit: https://students.ubc.ca/health/mental-health-during-covid-19 and https://students.ok.ubc.ca/support/#health-and-wellness
- For faculty and staff, visit: https://hr.ubc.ca/working-ubc/working-during-covid-19
Academic and administrative units have worked with their teams to establish remote work agreements where academic and operational requirements permit. As we return to campus, these agreements should be in place and, if needed, be discussed between Academic Heads, managers, supervisors and their employees.
You are encouraged to bookmark https://covid19.ubc.ca/ and https://ok.ubc.ca/covid19/ to find the latest updates and announcements. The university will provide regular and timely updates on how the return to in-person instruction is progressing during Winter Session, Term 2.
Thank you once again to all those who have remained on campus, supporting the important protocols and measures which are helping safeguard our UBC community. Let’s continue to support each other as we return to increased activity once more.
Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor
Lesley Cormack
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal, UBC Okanagan
This message was sent to faculty, staff and students in Vancouver and the Okanagan.
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