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.
PAST Updates
- April 1: COVID-19 – Remote Work Arrangements and on-campus research curtailment — extended to end of April
- March 26: COVID-19 – UBC’s spring graduation ceremonies
- March 26: COVID-19 – Important information for secure remote working
- March 25: COVID-19 – Status of summer terms
- March 19: COVID-19 – Curtailing research activities on UBC Campuses
- March 16: COVID-19 – Remaining assessments and final exams for all students
- March 16: COVID-19 – Remote working for faculty, staff, graduate students, post doctoral fellows, and student employees
- March 13: COVID-19 – Transition to online classes at UBC
- March 13: COVID-19 – Updated guidance regarding events and travel
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.
For more information and the latest updates, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control website.
UBCO Health & Wellness (UNC 337) are still available; however, most of our services have moved to virtual delivery.
As services and availability may vary unexpectedly, all students must call ahead to book an appointment or to access any of our services.
Walk-in service is not currently available. If you need a physician, nurse, or access to one of our counsellors, call us at: 250-807-9270.
FAQs are available to help UBC students during the current COVID-19 outbreak. Learn more.
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Taking care of your personal health and wellbeing is more important than ever. Explore resources to keep yourself mentally and physically healthy. See Maintaining Mental Health & Wellbeing.
Physical Distancing Reminder
Give yourself space and reduce close contact. Keep 2 metres between you and others.
(Recommended by Government of Canada)
Okanagan Campus Operations
Although the Okanagan campus remains open, operations and activities are modified:
- Courses are being transitioned online.
- Final exams will not take place in person; faculties will provide details as soon as possible.
- Many faculty and staff are working remotely.
- Events and gatherings of more than 50 people are cancelled.
Limited Access to Facilities
UBC Okanagan is moving to limit access to certain spaces in academic and administration buildings including computer labs and classrooms. These measures will allow custodial resources to focus on enhanced cleaning in areas of buildings that remain open.
See Limited Building Access & 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: March 23
- All services being provided online only.
- Contact advisors by email.
ACADEMIC ADVISING
Effective date: March 23
- Academic Advising being provided online only.
- Contact advisors at advising.ubco@ubc.ca
ARTS AND SCIENCES, IRVING K. BARBER SCHOOL OF
Effective date: March 31
- IKBSAS Students: For Credit/D/Fail options, see update email sent March 31, 2020 from Dr. Scott Reid and Dr. Trudy Kavanagh, Associate Deans for Undergraduate Students.
- IKBSAS Faculty & Staff: See IKBSAS intranet (faculty-staff only) for COVID-19 communications.
- All faculty and staff are working remotely and available by email.
ATHLETICS (UBCO Heat)
- For cancellations and closures, visit the Recreation website.
AWARDS & FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Effective date: March 18
- Admissions & Awards team working remotely.
- All available by email and Skype for Business.
BOOKSTORE
Effective date: March 17
- Closed until further notice.
- Online orders available, with free standard shipping to anywhere in Canada while stores remain closed.
CAMPUS MAIL
Effective date: March 20
- On-campus support available.
- Users not on-site should suspend regular orders of perishable items.
CAMPUS OPERATIONS & RISK MANAGEMENT
Effective date: March 27
CAMPUS PLANNING
Effective date: March 17
- campus.planning@ubc.ca or 250-807-8917.
- Remote meetings only (phone or videoconference).
- Staff unavailable for walk-in traffic.
CAMPUS SECURITY
Effective date: March 20
- 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.
CENTRE FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING
Effective date: April 3
- CTL Help Desk ctl.helpdesk@ubc.ca monitored; response within 24 hours.
- Virtual drop-in sessions: Monday 10am; Wednesday 11am; Friday 1pm.
- Resources for teaching remotely.
CONFERENCES AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Effective date: March 17
- University classroom space bookings for March and April from external groups cancelled or re-scheduled to a later date.
- Guest Accommodations postponed to June 1 (reduced number of rooms).
- Contacting all groups (May-August) to ask if they would like to re-schedule to the 2021 season.
CO-OP OFFICE (ARTS, FINE ARTS, HUMAN KINETICS, MANAGEMENT, MEDIA STUDIES, SCIENCES)
Effective date: March 18
- coop.ok@ubc.ca monitored by staff remotely.
- Appointments by phone or Skype. Students should book via Canvas.
DAYCARE (UNIVERSITY CHILDREN’S LEARNING CENTRE)
Effective date: March 19
- Closed as of 5:30pm March 19 until further notice.
DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRINCIPAL
Effective date: March 20
- All staff working remotely and available by email. Visit DVC website.
DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
Effective date: March 17
- Team working remotely.
- Email ok.alumni@ubc.ca or invest.okanagan@ubc.ca
DISABILITY RESOURCES
Effective date: March 26
- All services being provided online only.
- Exam accommodations information is available. Read more.
- Contact the DRC at drc.questions@ubc.ca.
EDUCATION, OKANAGAN SCHOOL OF
Effective date: March 26
- See Faculty of Education updates.
- All faculty and staff working remotely and available by email.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Effective date: March 19
- Energy team working remotely; no walk-in traffic.
- Contact the Energy team.
ENROLMENT SERVICES
Effective date: April 1
- Staff working remotely and unavailable for walk-in traffic.
- All services provided online only.
- Email inquiries to sis.ubco@ubc.ca.
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Effective date: March 19
- 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: March 17
- facilities.planning@ubc.ca or 250-807-8917.
- Remote meetings only (phone or videoconference).
- Staff unavailable for walk-in traffic.
FINANCE
Effective date: March 19
- finance.ubco@ubc.ca is being monitored.
- Payroll questions: ubco.payroll@ubc.ca.
- Accounts Payable: ubco.accountpayable@ubc.ca.
- Mail box at EME 2171 is checked regularly.
- Staff unavailable for walk-in traffic. Appointments by phone or Skype.
FOOD SERVICES
Effective date: April 3
- Picnic (in UNC): 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
- Hedwig (at Monashee): 10am to 11:30pm, 7 days a week.
- Koi Sushi (in UNC): 11am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
- For COVID-19 updates, visit Food Services.
HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT
Effective date: March 19
- 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).
- Support for Managers and Supervisors.
- IT Services for Working Remotely.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Effective date: March 30
- 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.
IT, MEDIA AND CLASSROOM SERVICES
Effective date: March 27
- Service Desk in ADM closed until further notice for walk-ups.
- For help, submit online tickets to IT Helpdesk or call 250-807-9000.
- Onsite appointments can be requested from 10am-noon or 1pm-3pm; to request, submit a Helpdesk ticket (New ticket -> Something Else).
- Staff are dealing with a high volume of requests.
- Limited IT staff are working on campus; most working remotely.
- Visit IT updates.
LIBRARY
Effective date: April 1
- Physical operations ceased March 20 at 5 p.m.
- Remote operations until further notice.
- 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: March 17
- Operational with requests by phone, email and in-person.
- High volume of calls.
- Parking rules remain in effect.
PROJECT SERVICES
Effective date: March 24
- 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: March 17
- All staff working remotely and available by email. Visit Provost website.
RECREATION
- For 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.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION & RESPONSE OFFICE (SVPRO)
Effective date: March 17
- 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: March 30
STUDENT EXPERIENCE OFFICE & CAREER SERVICES
Effective date: March 23
- All services moved to online delivery.
- Contact: getinvolved.ubco@ubc.ca.
STUDENT HOUSING/RESIDENCES
- For updates, visit Student Housing.
STUDENT LEARNING HUB
Effective date: March 23
- 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: March 17
- sustainability.ok@ubc.ca or 250-807-8917.
- Remote meetings only (phone or videoconference).
- Staff unavailable for walk-in traffic.
UBCO STUDIOS
Effective date: April 3
- All staff working remotely.
- Video production support and consultation available.
- Urgent equipment loans can be accommodated.
- Contact ubcstudios.ok@ubc.ca or leave a message at 250-807-9832.
