UBC shifts to online classes for start of winter term due to COVID-19

When UBC students return from their winter break in January, most of them won’t be returning to campus for classes, as the school shifts to online learning due to rising COVID-19 case counts.

In a release Wednesday, UBC said this will be a temporary shift and it hopes student can safely come back Jan. 24.

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The move is at odds with the recommendation made by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

“Public health experts in B.C. strongly recommend continuation of on-campus instruction for post-secondary institutions in January 2022,” she wrote in a latter.

Some courses, such as clinical, performance or studio components will be done in person with safety protocols in place.

Planning for 2021/22 Winter Session, Term 2 at #UBC https://t.co/VJXk2ywbQp pic.twitter.com/snuCA3wmoo

— University of British Columbia (@UBC) December 22, 2021

The campus will remain open, along with student housing, student services, and all libraries.

Cole Evans, the president of the UBC Alma Mater Society says he thinks the school is “going above and beyond the guidance of the Provincial Health Officer.”

As of Wednesday, UBC is the only post-secondary institution that has announced its plan to go virtual. However, this announcement comes after UBC students and their representatives called for the cancellation of in-person exams this month.

“This is something that we have been asking for, for a long time…I think this is a good decision that will you know, make sure that we keep our students safe,” says Evans.

Unlike UBC, the University for Victoria suspended in-person exams after the cluster of infections earlier this month, however, the university has yet to announce any remote learning restrictions come the new year.

Simon Fraser University has also not made any statements about their plans for classes following winter break.

In Henry’s statement directed to post-secondary institutions, she outlines a list of reasons as to why officials are recommending on-campus classes including how the previous move to online learning “in 2020 and 2021 was associated with significant negative consequences for post-secondary students, who reported significantly poorer and worsening mental health.”