Good afternoon,
As promised in recent weeks and my video update on Monday, Tom Roemer, Vice President, Academic has now provided an update regarding plans for our fall 2020 term to our students, faculty, and staff.
We have been working very closely with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training and other post-secondaries across the sector to ensure we continue to keep our community safe while meeting our critically important provincial mandate.
For almost 55 years, BCIT faculty and staff have provided students with an exceptional, applied learning experience anchored in a deep understanding of and connection with industry across BC’s key economic sectors. Our 2020/21 programming will be no exception.
The health and safety of our BCIT community is our primary consideration in choosing delivery approaches for each school and program, anchored in the guidance of BC’s Provincial Health Officer, local Health Authorities, WorkSafe BC, and the expertise and commitment of our Safety, Security and Emergency Management Occupational Health and Safety team. Your health and safety is paramount.
We are equally committed to ensuring that BCIT students continue to be in high demand among today’s and tomorrow’s employers, regardless of the learning and teaching methods that may be required to ensure both educational excellence and safety. Employers know our graduates offer not only outstanding technical skills, but also the critically important human skills required to contribute and succeed in today’s complex world: collaboration, communications, and critical thinking.
I am tremendously proud of our faculty and staff and their incredible resilience over the past weeks in continuing to instruct, support, and encourage our students, while adapting to ongoing changes, challenges, and opportunities as this situation has evolved.
We are a community of innovators and problem-solvers and have a key role to play in addressing the current challenges of this pandemic and supporting economic renewal here in B.C. and beyond.
Thank you and stay safe.
Kathy Kinloch
President