Classes at the University of the Fraser Valley are not cancelled, but large events or gatherings at the school are no longer permitted as the school deals with the ongoing coronavirus situation.
The school also stated that students will no longer need to obtain a doctor’s note if they miss classes due to a short term illness.
Here is the full release, posted on Friday afternoon, from the school:
While UFV remains open under regular business hours with classes continuing as scheduled, the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve. The BC Ministry of Health made several recommendations on Thursday.
Here are some key developments relating to UFV and our students, faculty, and staff.
As of March 12, the University is aligning with the following recommendations from the BC Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Officer:
1) All UFV events or gatherings attended by 250 people or greater are now cancelled. Classes at UFV do not exceed this maximum and will proceed as scheduled.
2) As recommended by the Provincial Health Officer, the requirement of obtaining a doctor’s note to document a short term illness is suspended for students, faculty, and staff. Requiring these notes puts undue stress on the medical system.
3) All UFV-related travel for faculty, staff, and students outside of Canada, including to the US, is cancelled or suspended until these provincial recommendations are lifted.
4) Effective March 12, the Public Health officer is recommending all British Columbians avoid all personal travel to countries outside of Canada. Faculty, students, or staff members who choose to travel outside of Canada for personal reasons will be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon returning to Canada and before returning to a UFV campus.
For faculty and UFV staff: if travel was booked prior to 3pm on March 12 please contact UFV Human Resources at hrsupport@ufv.ca for further information regarding self-isolation and returning to work.
UFV will continue to monitor the changing COVID-19 situation and will communicate whenever there is a significant update, or on every Tuesday and Thursday.
UFV encourages you to check factual health sources for information relating to COVID-19. The BC Centre for Disease Control has an excellent Frequently Asked Question guide to correct some of the misconceptions around COVID-19.
If you have questions, please email UFV Environmental Health and Safety at COVID19@ufv.ca, visit the UFV Risk and Safety webpage for FAQs, the Canada Health FAQ webpage, or call the Public Health Agency of Canada coronavirus information line at 1-833-784-4397. Please check UFV.ca for updates.