North Vancouver’s Capilano University will be delaying the start of the spring semester over concerns about COVID-19.
Classes were set to begin on Jan. 4, but university administrators wrote to the staff and student body on Dec. 27 saying the beginning of the term had been pushed to Jan 10.
“This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to afford additional planning time, as needed, as we continue to monitor the COVID-19 context in the province and locally,” the letter from CapU vice-president Laureen Styles stated. “I understand this message may be discouraging as so many of us have been looking forward to the beginning of term next week. As a teaching-intensive university, we deeply value in-person experiences. While I share your disappointment at this point in time, I hope the decision to postpone the beginning of classes will serve to facilitate a stronger start for us all this spring.”
Styles said she did not expect the delay would change the scheduled end date for the term of April 12, 2022.
The campus will be open as of Jan. 4 and some services will be operating, including the campus book store and library. The cafeteria remains closed until Jan. 10.
Where practical and possible, staff are being encouraged to work from home.
No one from the university was available for an interview, but in the letter Styles went on to say the university may provide more detailed plans following Dr. Bonnie Henry’s next update to the public on Wednesday, Dec. 29.
In August 2021, the university told community members they would need to be fully vaccinated or face regular testing to be on campus.
