Dear Students,
As we enter the next month of our new reality, I wanted to take the time to connect with you and to let you know that I’m thinking of you. I know that things have been stressful and that you’ve had to respond to a lot of change. I know that your semester is not finishing as you thought it would. I suspect that you’re feeling a lot of uncertainty right now, as well as a lot of concern about many things: finances, school, health, family, and more.
Know what? Me too.
I’m writing this in my basement in a hastily assembled home office, complete with a quickly-built table made from scraps and a folding chair. Many of the things I look forward to during the spring months – various celebrations and events – are on hold or up in the air. I’m worried about how to ensure you’re getting the support that you need, that you’re ok. I worry about my family members, colleagues, and friends and the challenges that they’re facing. Any given day has me feeling sad, anxious, uncertain, and, sometimes, even scared.
Sound familiar?
At the same time, I also feel joy, hope, and gratitude. When the doom and gloom of the news and social media are getting me down, I turn my attention to the good things, and the funny things, that are happening right now… all the random acts of kindness, the funny work-from-home fail videos, the collective efforts to put inspiring content online, and more. I’m thankful for my team who is working so hard to make sure that you are cared for and supported, that you have access to counselling, advising, financial aid, and a full range of other supports and services. And today, the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and we’re doing what we need to do to flatten the curve. All of that makes me feel hopeful.
Please know that we are here for you. Current information about how to access a range of supports and services is found here. Based on what I’m hearing from the VPS team, I’d like to highlight a few things for you:
- Struggling with your mental health and wellness? Remember that counselling is still available for you. Plus, our student support team is putting together virtual content for you. There are weekly drop-in sessions, as well as mindfulness sessions. More content is on its way, including sessions on managing anxiety, dealing with procrastination, and more. Follow UFV Student Life and UFV Counselling on Facebook to get all the details.
- Worried about finances? Our Financial Aid and Awards team is ready to help you. In addition to all the usual things that are available to you – bursaries, scholarships, student loans, and more – Financial Aid also manages our emergency funds, including the funds provided by government to aid students. Connect with them at finaid@ufv.ca. Another great resource on all of the government financial supports available right now can be found here.
- Need academic help? The Academic Success Centre provides free student-focused tutoring, workshops, and programming for all students in a virtual environment. The Math and Stats Centre is still open online for you. Plus, the Library is still providing research support and other services, as well as access to a plethora of resources for you.
Remember to stay up-to-date on the UFV Coronavirus site, too. Of note, recent posts address convocation and the options for Winter grading (which includes options for letter grades, incomplete grade contracts, withdraws, and credit/pass grades), as well as a compiled list of FAQs for students.
Expect to hear from me more in the coming days and weeks. In the meantime, please send your questions, concerns, or ideas to me at vpstudentsoffice@ufv.ca. I’ll use these to frame upcoming posts and videos.
Take care of yourselves and the people around you,
Alisa