Fall Term: How B.C.'s Public Colleges are Planning for Recovery and Restart
A Message from BC Colleges President, Colin Ewart
Earlier this month the Premier and Provincial Health Officer (PHO) outlined the Province’s Restart Plan focused on a “new normal”. This plan signals a positive step forward, as we continue to flatten the curve in British Columbia for COVID-19.
Our college presidents, boards, faculty, and staff continue to work hard to put in place safe operations plans. In partnership with other post-secondary institutions, as well as the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills, and Training, WorkSafe BC and under the advice of the PHO, we remain committed as a priority to maintaining the safety of our students, faculty and employees. As always, it is also of prime importance for all colleges to deliver quality accessible, affordable, and applied education and training that prepares learners for the jobs of the future.
We remain focused on delivering a quality educational experience for all post-secondary learners, regardless of the teaching delivery model. At this point, we are not anticipating a full “return to normal” in September and are planning to continue with remote and alternative delivery of teaching for the Fall semester to continue some form of physical distancing.
Some instruction cannot proceed without face-to-face interaction, and we are exploring how to deliver quality in-person instruction without compromising safety. Examples include trades training, lab work, field research and clinical placements.
Each of our ten member colleges throughout the Province have unique needs and circumstances and are adapting their programs based on the needs in their communities.
Below you will find a list of our colleges, with links to their latest updates and plans for moving forward.
- Camosun College
- College of New Caledonia
- Coast Mountain College
- College of the Rockies
- Langara College
- North Island College
- Northern Lights College
- Okanagan College
- Selkirk College
- Vancouver Community College
As vital community hubs throughout the Province, we want to reassure you that the BC public post-secondary system is open and will continue to provide quality learning and training opportunities in alternate ways.
While we do not have all of the answers yet, we will continue to update you regularly to help ease the uncertainty being felt. Thank you again for your patience, support, and feedback as we navigate forward.
We will communicate more detailed plans to our community as they are developed.
New resources regarding COVID-19 are listed below.
- About the COVID-19 Emergency Aid for Students (begins May 14th, 2020)
- Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) For students who don’t qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or Employment Insurance (EI).
- COVID-19 Survey Open until May 31, 2020. Help inform the pandemic response.
- Flexibility in post-graduation work permit rules to help international students and Canadian post-secondary institutions
- WorkSafe BC: Returning to safe operation (B.C.’s Restart Plan) Links
- Ministry of Health COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool
For more information regarding BC Colleges contact:
Colin Ewart
President, BC Colleges
Phone: 250-595-4866
Email: cewart@bccolleges.ca