Dear members of the UBC community.
As I noted in my UBC Broadcast earlier this week, we continue to work closely on our plans for the Fall with public health officials at the provincial and regional levels. You can find more details at broadcastemail.ubc.ca.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is optimistic that we will continue to see positive improvements, particularly given the progression of the provincial vaccination program, ongoing public health measures, and increased understanding of the virus that causes COVID-19. I too am optimistic that we will be able to safely welcome our students, faculty and staff back to campus this Fall.
I know that many you will have questions, and you may be uneasy about a potential return to campus. Rest assured, your health, safety and wellbeing remain our first priority.
Key to our approach for returning to campus is a robust safety planning process — in order to ensure the health and safety of our community.
When we do return in the Fall, we anticipate the following measures will remain in place:
- Completing a daily COVID-19 self-assessment and not attending work or school when ill ;
- Following handwashing and hygiene protocols ;
- Continuing daily cleaning protocols in indoor settings and on high touch surfaces ; and
- Requiring non-medical masks in indoor common areas, depending on the rate of COVID-19 transmission.
Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be providing more details – about the return to classes, about student engagement and campus experience, about remote working, about research and other aspects of the return to campus.
I am confident that together we will successfully, and safely, transition back to campus for the fall academic term. In the meantime, I am enormously grateful to everyone for your dedication to UBC, to our commitment to pursue excellence in research, learning and engagement, and to advance a sustainable and just society.
My unsung hero shoutout this week goes to the students, faculty and staff of the UBC School of Nursing. May is Nurses Month, and I am very proud of everyone in the School. You have really come together to persevere despite the pandemic and to do your bit to help others get through this difficult period. Thank you.
And now, for my #songsofcomfort selection this week, I’m pleased to present “An Awareness of Hope”, an original composition by UBC music student Jacqueline Boivin, who wants the piece to offer a hint of hope and positivity about the pandemic and to celebrate the arrival of Spring. It’s performed by Nathania Ko on harp and Lyla Lee on cello, who are also from the School of Music.
I hope you enjoy it.
Stay safe and best wishes.
Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor