Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

TRU WINTER SEMESTER

TRUFA wants detailed plans as in-person learning resumes, while students are glad to be back on campus

Jan 14, 2022 | 4:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — Thompson Rivers University returned to classes this week. Despite other universities switching to online instruction, TRU is staying the course with in-person learning.

Rapid testing is still available on campus this semester, masks are mandatory, and staff and students are required to declare their vaccination status.

Should there be an increase in campus cases, the TRU Faculty Association says the expectation from the university is that they would have to quickly change to online classes. But TRUFA President Tara Lyster says the association is hoping for more detailed plans if cases spread and the full return to in-person has made some faculty anxious.

“The biggest concern for TRUFA was the unknown about the transmission of the Omicron virus and what that would actually look like,” notes Lyster, “And that flexibility to allow faculty to get boosted, or at least get through the next few weeks with a bit more flexibility would have been something that could have been done as an acknowledgement to the increased workload of this time for faculty.”

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Lyster says TRUFA asked for flexibility in using both online class options, and in-person for the return. She says jumping to online learning from in-person can take a lot of work for faculty who have already planned their classes.

“You know, there’s also a concern that if there is an increase in transmission and there is the decision at some point further down the road to pivot online, what that workload looks like for faculty and for students.”

After a full week of classes, there is awareness among students around the potential for virus spread, but many feel in-person is their best method to learn.

TRUFA says it still wants to see multi-scenario plans outlined for if several students were positive in a particular department, or staff members, or any other combination.

“TRUFA has been hearing about increased absences from students in the classroom, and what that’s going to continue to look like over the next few weeks is that domino-effect of transmission will continue,” says Lyster, “And then of course there’s the concern about faculty – if they are to contract the virus or have to isolated – what that looks like as well over the next few weeks.”