Tuesday May 12, 2020 ~ VICTORIA
by Mary Brooke~ West Shore Voice News
The post-secondary learning experience will be different from the outset in the Fall 2020 semester, following a stumbling into online-delivery-only that happened mid-March in the immediate wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In announcements posted May 11, all three major universities on south Vancouver Island — University of Victoria (UVic), Royal Roads (RRU), and Vancouver Island University (VIU) — have announced their intent to deliver courses primarily online this fall.
- UVic president Jamie Cassels said yesterday in a release that the university will deliver their programs predominantly online in the fall so that undergrad and graduate students can complete their degrees on schedule. Apparently the aim is to bring back researchers and campus staff gradually while other studies will be done in physical space (mainly for experiential learning and grad research “where health and safety permits”). No reduction in tuition is mentioned as the institution moves to primarily online delivery. The campus will gradually resume research activities for faculty and graduate students while complying with physical distancing and other health and safety requirements. There will be a gradual return to campus for employees working in academic, administrative and support units who have been working remotely.
- RRU already primarily delivers their programs online and will do that entirely through the full fall semester; all on-campus classes including residencies have moved online until Dec. 31, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their on-campus library is closed (while receiving phone calls and emails), with reference assistance available online.
- VIU in Nanaimo announced their upcoming “hybrid program” of online and classroom learning in small groups, noting that education and research best suited to being done in-person will be maintained. Financial supports for students are clearly posted on the VIU website, where it also says the university’s next announcement related to COVID-19 adjustments will come June 8.
Meanwhile, Camosun College which serves a large population of students in the south Vancouver Island area has said it is developing plans for a gradual reopening with a range of strategies, and is still working on submitting that to the Ministry of Advanced Education for approval. But says they will follow the BC guideline for “increased use of online learning balanced against the need of social interaction for learning and development”. Details about withdrawing from Winter 2020 courses (which would have been for January to April 2020) are clearly posted.