A message to students from President Cassels

Dear students,

I hope you are staying well in these challenging times. These last few weeks have been nothing like we could have ever imagined.

I wanted to take this opportunity as we wrap up the spring term to say a personal thank you to you, our students, for your resiliency, patience and understanding as we transitioned away from face-to-face course delivery for the health and safety of our community. We had to manage that transition very rapidly and there was a steep learning curve for all of us at the university. You have been nothing short of outstanding throughout this crisis.

While we are a strong community of learners and educators, the current situation we now find ourselves in has created additional challenges and stresses. I hope you are able to find time for personal wellness and any needed supports. The university remains open to support you in both academic and personal matters online and over the phone. If you are struggling, please reach out—we are here for you.

We have also established a COVID-19 Emergency Bursary available to all students—domestic or international, undergraduate or graduate—who are experiencing emergency financial need as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We received some good news from Ottawa last week that the federal government is pledging to provide nearly $9 billion in supports for post-secondary students and recent graduates.

For this summer, we moved all of our course offerings online and we are looking forward to welcoming thousands of students to virtual classrooms. It’s a new and exciting challenge for us all.

I know many of you have questions about the fall term, and I want to reassure you that we will be providing you with more information in the near future. Whether our courses are delivered in-person or online, we remain committed to offering high quality academic programming and experiential learning opportunities that will help you achieve your educational goals. Your well-being is and will continue to be front and centre in our decision-making.

This crisis will pass and I look forward to the time when we can welcome our students, staff and faculty back to campus. Until then, I encourage you to maintain your commitment to your education. You are the leaders of tomorrow and your education will not only be critical to your personal success, but to helping to create a strong and healthy future for local and global communities as we emerge from these challenging times.

For the latest information and resources, please visit UVic's COVID-19 website.

With best wishes for a safe and healthy summer,

Jamie Cassels
President and Vice-Chancellor
University of Victoria