Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

in-person instruction

TRU preparing to welcome students back in person in September

Mar 9, 2021 | 4:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — Post-secondary institutions are beginning to plan for September, 2021.

With the vaccination rollout underway, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry expects a return to in-person instruction.

At Thompson Rivers University, most students have spent the past school year learning remotely.

Aruzhan Serikova is in her fourth year of studies at TRU. She has adjusted well to remote learning, but does miss the social interactions of campus life.

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“You can’t meet people on campus,” Serikova said. “Before COVID, I used to just walk around on campus, see all of my friends, just being in the line for Starbucks I just saw so many friends. There were so many events always happening at TRU on campus and you can just hop in and meet so many people.”

Despite classes being online, Serikova says many prospective international students, including her sister, have remained interested in an education at TRU.

“I definitely had so many people reaching out and still being interested in TRU even though it was online,” Serikova said, “So, I think for those people now that the news has been announced that September is going to be on campus, I think they are very excited — and so am I.”

On Monday (March 8), post-secondary institutions received a letter from the provincial health officer with an optimistic outlook on a return to in-person instruction in September. The letter states safety plans will be necessary, but notes college and university campuses are considered controlled settings.

“We know that there are things that people will have to do to protect their health and the health of others,” TRU President Brett Fairbairn told CFJC Today, “but what we’re hoping for is that real on-campus experience of people being able to interact, socialize, as well as to attend classes.”

Fairbairn says remote learning works well for some students, but not for others.

“Especially thinking about our first-time, first-year students, students who won’t come or may not succeed if they can’t have that in-person experience, I’m very concerned for that group,” he said. “Especially with them in mind, that’s why this is such good news.”

Fairbairn is hopeful more international students will be able to join the university in person in the fall as well.

“With all of the restrictions on travel, the requirements for COVID tests and documentation and quarantine, students want to be here in person,” he said. “We’re confident that if they can jump through the hoops that they will come.”

Serikova will be finishing up her studies this spring, but hopes her sister will be able to enjoy an on-campus experience similar to the one she had during her first three years.