Information for Students

The scheduling of fall courses and classroom requirements is done and programs will continue to be a mix of online, face-to-face, and blended formats. We are excited to welcome more students on campus and in-community. We are feeling very good about the return given the high community vaccination rates and knowing that when necessary, our safety protocols worked so well to protect the in-person training that we’ve continued since June of 2020. Students will be contacted directly by their program areas with details of fall planning.

If you have a question that is not covered here, please contact your instructor, program area or course administrator directly by phone or email and we’ll work to get you an answer as soon as we can. 

Classroom and shared space occupancy limits have returned to normal at all BC post-secondary institutions. People are asked to continue to respect people’s personal space and spread apart as much as room sizes allow. JIBC students benefit from the small class sizes which are central to our practical learning environment.

Please review the JIBC COVID-19 Safety Orientation – 2022. 

The orientation outlines expectations for participation including:  

• Perform a daily personal health assessment and stay away if any concerns are identified.  
• Mask, physical distancing, and hand hygiene requirements.
• Be prepared to follow guideline changes based on local Medical Health Officer consultation with the Institute from time to time.

Every student, instructor, and staff person are responsible to perform a daily Personal Health Assessment using the Thrive BC COVID tools prior to attending campus.

One of the questions in the screening is:

“Did you provide care or have close contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19? “

This question is meant for individuals who may be caring for, or living with, a person with COVID-19 outside of the health-care environment.

For working health-care professionals, please use the following guidance related to this question:

Ok to attend site/participate in class: An active health-care worker or first responder who has cared for COVID-19 patients as part of their work assignment, but is asymptomatic, and was wearing their own full PPE according to their work protocols during any close contact.

Must not attend site/participate in class (expected to self-isolate): Anyone (including active health-care workers and first responders) who has been directed by Public Health, a physician, or their employer to self-isolate based on their personal or work-related close contact with, or caring for, a COVID-19 patient (including all instances where they were not wearing their full PPE).

JIBC continues to support students by providing access to necessary learning support services. This includes the following:

JIBC Library

The JIBC Library at the New Westminster campus is now open. We are pleased to once again provide in-person services to the JIBC community. The library remains committed to supporting our students, instructors/staff, and field personnel through both in-person and online/distance support.  

Our library services include:  

In-person (New Westminster campus):  

• Laptop and iPad borrowing. 
• Computer and printing access. 
• Study space (individual and bookable study rooms). 
• Print course texts and books. 
• In-person research and APA help. 

Online and distance:

• Research & reference help over the phone, email, and virtually (e.g. helping you with your research).
• APA citation and reference list assistance.
• Mail service for borrowing physical books and DVDs (within Canada).
• Access to digital resources including journal and newspaper articles, ebooks and streaming media (login using your student number and password).

If you have any questions, please contact the JIBC Library at 604.528.5599 or by email library@jibc.ca.

Writing Centre

The Writing Centre is closed to all face-to-face and drop-in sessions, but the coordinator and several tutors are still accepting submissions and writing questions by email. Please email your draft and the assignment description in the syllabus to writingcentre@jibc.ca. The Writing Centre will do its best to give you feedback within two business days.

Additional learning support is available through the Senior Manager, Learning Support and Disability Resources and can be arranged by emailing studentresources@jibc.ca.

Blackboard

During this period of transition, you may have questions about Blackboard. First, check out the Online Learning for Students page. If the information provided does not answer your question, check out JIBC Blackboard Help for Students or contact Student Services for more information at 604.528.5590 or toll-free at 1.877.528.5591.

The BC Provincial Emergency Assistance Fund (COVID-19) is available to any domestic student currently registered in a program and experiencing hardship due to COVID-19.

The uncertainty associated with going through the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, personal and community losses, and changing rules may result in feelings of anxiety and loneliness – even as some people celebrate coming together. Please make sure you stay connected with each other, whether through social media, text, private messaging apps, or even actual phone calls! Check on your classmates if you haven’t heard from them. Emotions are high for many people right now. We need to support one another.

If you are struggling and need to connect with support, 24/7 support is available by calling the BC Crisis Line at 1.800.784.2433.  You can also go online for support via chat at www.youthinbc.com (12 p.m. to 1 a.m.) or www.crisiscentrechat.ca (12 p.m. to 1 a.m.).

For information on anxiety and COVID-19, check out Here to Help’s info sheet with tips to manage anxiety.

There are also a number of apps you can download to help stay well and keep anxious thoughts in check, including:

• Mindshift (CBT)
• Headspace (mindfulness, meditation)

For Students: If you need more resources, or wish to talk further, please contact Travis Wolf, JIBC Senior Manager of Learning Support and Disability Resources, at studentresources@jibc.ca. 

Please also check out the Adapting to COVID-19 resources section on the BCcampus website, which in addition to a section on mental health supports, contains other useful information and support for post-secondary students adapting to COVID-19.

Other Mental Health Supports:

Students, faculty and staff may be anxious or experiencing increased stress about returning to in-person activities on campus.

• Here2Talk - a free and confidential 24/7 mental health counselling and referral service.
• Capacity to Connect program - provides faculty and staff at post-secondary institutions with easy access to the tools and skills they need to provide intervention and help for students who are struggling with their mental health and wellness.
• KUU-US crisis response service - a culturally aware crisis support is available 24/7 to Indigenous people in B.C.
• Faculty and staff can access personal confidential counselling and wellness services through EFAP at Homewood Health 1.800.663.1142.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, there are important procedures and protocols you need to be aware of and follow as an international student travelling to Canada. Details are outlined in our Travel and Self-Isolation Guide for International Students.

See current direction for returning travellers on the BC-CDC website or the Government of Canada, COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine and borders website.