Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response
The University of British Columbia, including the Okanagan campus, is responding to the spread of COVID-19 virus.
For the latest updates, resources and FAQs, please visit www.ubc.ca.
UBC UPDATES
Use of non-medical masks
Effective Wednesday, September 16, 2020, UBC students, faculty, staff and visitors are required to wear non-medical masks, when indoors on our campuses.
The requirement to wear non-medical masks indoors recognizes that transmission is reduced when face masks are worn in conjunction with physical distancing and other safety practices.
There are some exceptions to wearing masks inside buildings on UBC premises.
Learn more about UBC’s policy on non-medical masks.
Campus Safety Rules
UBC has developed some campus rules to ensure the health and safety of our community:
- Assess yourself daily for COVID-19 symptoms.
- Stay home if you are ill.
- If you have been exposed to someone or have symptoms of COVID-19, complete the BC self-assessment tool and follow the instructions provided.
- Stay physically distant as much as possible.
See the complete list of COVID-19 Campus Rules.
Support
UBCO Health & Wellness
Anyone who is concerned they, or someone they have been exposed to, may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should contact their health-care provider or call public health at 811.
UBCO Health & Wellness (UNC 337) are still available; however, most of our services have moved to virtual delivery. For details, visit Health & Wellness.
OKANAGAN CAMPUS OPERATIONS
Although the Okanagan campus remains open, operations and activities are modified:
- Most courses are being delivered online.
- Many faculty and staff are working remotely.
- Many events at UBC have been postponed, cancelled or moved online. Under the current phase of BC’s Restart Plan, in-person UBC events with no more than 50 patrons in attendance are permitted — both indoors and outdoors — subject to specific UBC approvals and safety measures. This is in effect until January 3, 2021, and includes events organized by students, faculty and staff.
Study Spaces
A limited number of study spaces have been set aside for students taking in-person courses or living on campus, plus a small number of visiting students from the community.
See Study Spaces.
Building Access & Hours
Due to reduced activity on campus, UBC Okanagan has limited access to certain spaces in academic and administration buildings and reduced buildings hours.
Service Modifications
The following information is subject to change at any time. Details for faculties, departments and units will be added as information becomes available. Check back often for updates.
To update or add your unit details, contact your designated communicator or university.relations@ubc.ca.
ABORIGINAL PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Effective date: September 8
- All services being provided online only.
- Contact advisors by email.
ACADEMIC ADVISING
Effective date: September 8
- All services are being provided remotely.
- Contact an academic advisor.
ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, IRVING K. BARBER FACULTY OF
Effective date: September 8
- FASS Student updates.
- FASS Faculty & Staff: Visit FASS resource page (faculty-staff only) for COVID-19 communications.
- All faculty and staff are working remotely and available by email.
ATHLETICS (UBCO Heat)
- For details, cancellations and closures, visit the Recreation website.
AWARDS & FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Effective date: September 8
- Admissions & Awards team working remotely.
- All available by email and Skype for Business.
BOOKSTORE
Effective date: September 8
- Open; capacity of 27 people in the store.
- Online orders available.
CAMPUS MAIL
Effective date: September 8
- On-campus support available.
- Users not on-site should suspend regular orders of perishable items.
CAMPUS OPERATIONS & RISK MANAGEMENT
Effective date: September 8
CAMPUS PLANNING
Effective date: September 8
- campus.planning@ubc.ca or 250-807-8917.
- Remote meetings only (phone or videoconference).
- Staff unavailable for walk-in traffic.
CAMPUS SECURITY
Effective date: September 8
- On-campus support, first-aid, and incident response remains available.
- Walk-ins encouraged to contact by phone or email.
- For non-emergency requests or inquiries contact 250-807-9236 or security.ubco@ubc.ca.
- In an emergency, contact Campus Security at 250-807-8111.
- SALTO administration office hours limited (Mon, Wed & Fri from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only).
CENTRE FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING
Effective date: September 8
- CTL Help Desk ctl.helpdesk@ubc.ca monitored; response within 24 hours.
- Resources for teaching remotely.
COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING
Effective date: September 8
- Programming is cancelled until further notice.
CONFERENCES AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Effective date: September 8
- Closed for the 2020 season.
- Guest and Group Accommodation will resume for May to August 2021.
CO-OP OFFICE (ARTS, FINE ARTS, HUMAN KINETICS, MANAGEMENT, MEDIA STUDIES, SCIENCES)
Effective date: September 8
- coop.ok@ubc.ca monitored by staff remotely.
- Appointments by Skype.
DAYCARE (UNIVERSITY CHILDREN’S LEARNING CENTRE)
Effective date: September 8
- Visit daycare website for details.
DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRINCIPAL
Effective date: September 8
- All staff working remotely and available by email. Visit DVC website.
DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
Effective date: September 8
- Team working remotely.
- Email ok.alumni@ubc.ca or invest.okanagan@ubc.ca
DISABILITY RESOURCES
Effective date: September 8
- All services being provided online only.
- Exam accommodations information is available. Read more.
- Contact the DRC at drc.questions@ubc.ca.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Effective date: September 8
- Energy team working remotely; no walk-in traffic.
- Contact the Energy team.
ENROLMENT SERVICES
Effective date: September 21
- Staff working remotely and unavailable for walk-in traffic.
- All services provided online only.
- Contact Student Services.
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Effective date: September 8
- On-campus support remains available.
- facilities.ok@ubc.ca is being monitored.
- In an emergency, contact Campus Security at 250-807-8111.
FACILITIES PLANNING
Effective date: September 8
- facilities.planning@ubc.ca or 250-807-8917.
- Remote meetings only (phone or videoconference).
- Staff unavailable for walk-in traffic.
FINANCE
Effective date: September 8
- All staff working remotely; email finance.ubco@ubc.ca for appointments.
- Payroll questions: ubco.payroll@ubc.ca.
- Accounts Payable: ubco.accountpayable@ubc.ca.
- Mailbox at EME 2171 is checked regularly.
- Email finance.ubco@ubc.ca to arrange deposit drop-offs.
FOOD SERVICES
Effective date: September 8
- See what’s open.
- For COVID-19 updates, visit Food Services.
- UBCSUO food outlets.
HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT
Effective date: September 8
- On-campus support remains available.
- hse.ok@ubc.ca is being monitored.
- In an emergency, contact Campus Security at 250-807-8111.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Effective date: March 27
- Contact Human Resource Advisors or call 250-807-9839.
- Workplace Reintegration and Accommodation Program (medical absences and accommodation concerns).
- Managing & Working During COVID-19.
- IT Services for Working Remotely.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OKANAGAN (IT)
Effective date: September 8
- Service Desk in ADM remains closed for walk-ups.
- For help, submit online tickets to IT Helpdesk or call 250-807-9000.
- Onsite appointments between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. can be requested; submit a Helpdesk ticket (New ticket -> Something Else).
- Limited IT staff are working on campus and are dealing with a high volume of requests.
- Visit IT updates.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Effective date: September 8
- All services being provided online only.
- Contact IPS at ips.ubco@ubc.ca.
- International student FAQs and resources.
International Student Initiative
Effective date: April 3
- All members of the team are working remotely.
- Prospective and Admitted International students being served via direct email, virtual advising/events and frequent communications.
- Direct inquiries to the Ask UBC webform.
LIBRARY
Effective date: September 8
- Library spaces remain closed.
- Services provided remotely.
- For updates, visit the Library website.
OKANAGAN PLANNING AND INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH
Effective date: March 17
- All staff working remotely and available by email. Visit OPAIR website.
PARKING
Effective date: September 8
- Operational with requests by phone and email.
- Parking fees waived for Term 1 (September to December).
- Parking rules remain in effect.
PROJECT SERVICES
Effective date: September 8
- All staff are working remotely.
- Phone or videoconference meetings encouraged.
- Staff dispatched back to campus on a case by case basis; estimated travel/arrival time is 10 to 20mins.
- Contact Project Services.
PROVOST AND VICE-PRESIDENT ACADEMIC
Effective date: September 8
- All staff working remotely and available by email. Visit Provost website.
RECREATION
Effective date: September 8
- In-person and virtual programs and events offered.
- Hangar Fitness Center open.
- For details, cancellations and closures, visit the Recreation website.
RESEARCH (VPRI)
Effective date: March 24
- All staff are working remotely and available by email.
- Contact VPRI.
- COVID-19 research updates.
RESEARCH SERVICES, OFFICE OF
Effective date: March 24
- All staff are working remotely and available by email.
- Services are available via phone or videoconference.
- Contact ORS.
- Funding agency updates.
SCIENCE, IRVING K. BARBER FACULTY OF
Effective date: September 8
- FoS Student updates.
- FoS Faculty & Staff: Visit FoS resource page (faculty-staff only) for COVID-19 communications.
- All faculty and staff are working remotely and available by email.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION & RESPONSE OFFICE (SVPRO)
Effective date: September 8
- Team working remotely and available by email.
- Crisis support is available 24/7 at 250-807-9640
Southern Medical Program, Faculty of Medicine
Effective date: September 8
STUDENT EXPERIENCE OFFICE & CAREER SERVICES
Effective date: September 8
- All services moved to online delivery.
- Contact: getinvolved.ubco@ubc.ca.
STUDENT HOUSING/RESIDENCES
- For updates, visit Student Housing.
STUDENT LEARNING HUB
Effective date: September 8
- All services being provided online only.
- For details and tutor schedules, visit Student Learning Hub.
Student Recruitment & Advising
Effective date: April 3
- All team members are working remotely.
- Prospective and Admitted domestic student advising available online.
- Contact domestic recruitment team at recruitment.ok@ubc.ca.
SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE
Effective date: September 8
- sustainability.ok@ubc.ca or 250-807-8917.
- Remote meetings only (phone or videoconference).
- Staff unavailable for walk-in traffic.
UBCO STUDIOS
Effective date: September 8
- Staff working remotely and available b email.
- Production and support services available on campus in compliance with COVID-19 protocols.
- Equipment loans available by appointment Monday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Contact ubcstudios.ok@ubc.ca or leave a message at 250-807-8416.
Re-occupancy & Resumption Plans
The health and safety of the UBC community remains a priority at all times. The re-occupancy and resumption of on-campus activities will be built on guiding principles focused on the health, safety and wellbeing of faculty, staff and students.
UBC’s approach will be anchored in health and safety guidance from provincial authorities; adopting a phased, gradual approach; recognizing that we may need to reinstate restrictions should public health guidance change.
For more information and resources related to UBC’s COVID-19 Safety Planning Framework, please visit the relevant website below:
For more information about the gradual and phased resumption of research activities on campus, please visit the Research + Innovation website.
