With public health leaders confident in the safe resumption of on-campus activities by post-secondary institutions, UBC plans to return students and staff to its campuses this fall.
The planning reflects coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines set out by the provincial health officer and regional health authorities UBC announced in a recent press release. The university’s phased approach follows the BC Centre for Disease Control’s COVID-19 Return-to-Campus Primer and the provincial government’s BC’s Restart plan.
The plan details a phased approach to restarting social connections, businesses, and activities which aims for a return the university to normal social contact starting September 7. This goal is contingent on whether more than 70 per cent of the adult population has received an initial vaccine dose — along with low case counts and low COVID-19 hospitalizations.
UBC’s phased approach will allow for the operational needs of each faculty and administrative unit. All units will need to have an approved COVID-19 safety plan in place the release states.
- Phase #1 (June-July): Faculty and staff who are required on campus to support instructional and operational planning or preparation for the 2021/22 Winter Session will be advised of their return date.
- Phase #2 (July-August): Faculty and staff who are required on campus to prepare for direct, in-person teaching, learning, student support and other activities for the 2021/22 Winter Session will begin to transition back to campus.
- Employees who are not required to return to campus as part of Phase #1 or #2 – but who wish to return earlier – should discuss this with their deans, vice-presidents, associate vice-presidents, department heads, directors and supervisors, who will be responsible for making these decisions.
UBC’s President Santa Ono thanked those faculty and staff who have been on campus throughout the pandemic, still teaching, learning, conducting research and maintaining university operations.
“Together we will bring vibrancy to our campuses, as we see the increased resumption of in-person teaching, learning, and research activity this fall,” Ono said.
For more information feel free to check out UBC’s return to campus plan FAQ webpage.
