UVic students and staff express concern about return to campus
The University of Victoria (UVic) campus was quiet on Friday, but come Monday, students will be back as in-person learning resumes.
"I’m excited but also a bit nervous, probably like most people," said Victoria Jackson, a recreation and health education student at UVic.
"Of course there’s hesitations because of COVID, but if we’re being safe, I think we should be OK," said Daniella Snyders-Blok, a theatre student.
Snyders-Blok is happy to get back into the classroom because studying theatre from home is challenging.
"It’s very difficult and there’s a lot of hands-on set design that you can’t learn about online," she said.
HYBRID LEARNING
Access4All is a student-led group that represents students with disabilities, compromised immune systems and chronic pain. Access4All co-chair Jonathan Granirer says now is not the time to be going back to full in-person classes.
"Well, obviously a lot of students are really concerned but a lot of students are really excited to get into the classroom," he said.
Granirer wants to see the university offer an option or a hybrid education, "which would give students the option of attending in-person or online."
University of Victoria Faculty Association says that's not an option.
"That is something that the Faculty Association has opposed from the start," said Lynne Marks, president of the UVic Faculty Association.
Marks says the university has also been against asking its faculty members to teach a class both online and in-person.
FACULTY OPINION
The association polled its members about the return to the classroom and the results speak for themselves.
"About three-quarters are very concerned about returning at this point," said Marks.
She added that faculty would have liked to see the university hold off in its return to in-person learning for a few weeks.
"So that we could wait and see hospitalizations going down, case numbers going down," said Marks.
The University of British Columbia has just pushed back its return to in-person learning until Feb. 7.
Meanwhile, on the island, North Island College, Vancouver Island University and Camosun College all went back on Jan. 10.
"It’s been going well," said Alli Petheriotis, a psychology student at Camosun College.
Petheriotis says she was apprehensive about coming back at the start of the month, but says in-person learning works better for her.
"For hands-on learning, it’s a lot better," she said.
UVic says it is following the advice of the Provincial Health Office. That advice says the most up-to-date health investigations show that when a post-secondary student contracts COVID-19, it is often associated with a transmission at home or in a social setting, rather than classroom.
UVic is telling its students to stay home if they are sick and expects to see a higher level of absenteeism this semester.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.