COVID 19 Update – August 10, 2021

Dear Colleagues,

I hope that all is well with you.  I want to invite those of you who are interested to sign a petition to BC and federal politicians that asks that vaccinations and masks be required for everyone who will be on campus at all BC postsecondary institutions in the fall. The petition also asks that those not yet vaccinated, or with exemptions, be required to undergo regular rapid COVID testing. This is the approach that has recently been announced at both the University of Waterloo and the University of Ottawa.

The petition is available here:  https://forms.gle/LsLr8c7badZ2HS4t8

It was developed by the Association, in collaboration with faculty members at UBC and SFU.  I would like to thank all of the faculty members involved in developing the petition, as well as Nathan Todd, for his exceptional technical expertise.

If you wish to do so, I would encourage you to circulate the petition link to colleagues at other BC postsecondary institutions. I would also encourage you to circulate it to students and staff you know, at UVic and elsewhere in BC, while not sending it to those you have a power relationship with, to ensure that those signing are doing so freely.

The Association is hoping that the University will do more to protect the university community this fall and will work with us in lobbying the government to protect students, faculty and staff. As I noted in my previous message, the government is not permitting postsecondary institutions to mandate vaccinations or masks.  So if we want that to change, we need to influence the government.

All the ve​ry best,

Lynne