Many post-secondary students on Vancouver Island won’t be back on campus in September.
The University of Victoria, Royal Roads University and Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo say the novel coronavirus pandemic will keep classes mostly online for the fall term.
On Monday, University of Victoria president Jamie Cassels announced the university would offer programming that is predominantly online this fall, but as long as physical distancing can be practised, there will be a gradual return of faculty and graduate students conducting on-campus research, experiential learning and work-integrated learning. The timetable for the fall semester will be posted this month.
Cassels said there is a plan to slowly bring back university staff who have been working from home.
“We are committed to offering students options for staying on track, graduating on time, and meeting their learning goals,” he said in a statement. “Know that we are dedicated to continuing to meet the immediate needs created by this global challenge, and look forward to the day we can welcome all our students, faculty and staff back to campus.”
Michael Lo, a third-year UVic student, said online learning has its challenges, but he understands the university can’t put students at risk by bringing them into large lecture halls. Provincial health guidelines prohibit gatherings of 50 people or more.
“It sucks, but you have to face the option between providing a traditional academic environment versus potentially getting students sick or families sick,” said the political science major.
Online learning exacerbates inequities between students, he said, especially when students live in remote areas with poor internet connection. Even living in Victoria, Lo’s internet connection is so slow, he sometimes has to wait 10 minutes for certain online programs to load, versus a matter of seconds on campus.
“Online learning sounds good in theory, but it kind of exposes a lot of inequalities in the community,” he said.
Lo said his professors are working hard to adapt to the online space and he’s had some great experiences as his classmates connect in digital hangout rooms.
He worries, however, about first-year students whose introduction to university life will be logging in from their home. “I can see a lot of people deferring for the fall semester,” Lo said.
Owen Taylor of Saanich is starting his first year in political science at UVic this September. The 19-year-old was planning to live in residence, but now it looks as if he’ll continue to live at home.
“I think I’m missing out a little bit on the residence [experience], because it’s a big part of university,” he said. “But I think overall, it’s better safe than sorry and things will get back to normal eventually.”
At Royal Roads University in Colwood, all classes, including residencies, will be offered online until Dec. 31.
“At Royal Roads, our top priority is student safety. We are working hard to maintain a quality learning experience for our students as they move to complete programs,” said Philip Steenkamp, the university’s president.
“Royal Roads is ideally suited to make this shift, as a university where most classes are routinely held online.”
Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo said it will offer a mix of online classes and on-campus learning this fall. That means most classes will be delivered online, while labs, practicums and experiential learning will be modified to ensure they comply with provincial guidelines on physical distancing, said VIU president Deb Saucier.
“There will be lots of opportunities to take part in a variety of different activities to enhance your learning and allow you to connect with others and be part of the VIU community,” Saucier said.
Island universities suspended on-campus classes after B.C. declared a state of emergency on March 18.
Thousands of students living in UVic residences were asked to leave to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
