All UFV campuses remain OPEN on Monday, Nov. 15 All classes and activities will proceed as scheduled. Hope Centre is closed.
Please allow extra time for commuting due to very heavy rain and localized flooding. Use caution when travelling to, and around, UFV.
Exercise your judgement when deciding to travel and be aware that conditions may change during your time on campus. Please drive and commute with care.
Contact your professor (for faculty and staff, contact your supervisor) in the usual manner of communication if you cannot come to class or to work.
Please check ufv.ca for updates.
I think campus should be closed due to weather vedder river is on flood watch and FRRD is in state of emergency and the whole school district is closed today so should we putting staff and students at risk just my opinion and concerns it is what it is
Thanks Jason. I understand your concern. We are monitoring the situation and keeping a close watch on road conditions, environment Canada forecasts, transit updates, and other sources of information. Please watch UFV.ca for updates as the situation is dynamic.
I would agree with this. I am driving out from north van today and many highways are closed. Transit is extremely slow, and diving is quite dangerous due to my small car. Since I have an exam I have to come in, but I have gotten many emails that some of my classmates are under evacuation due to flooding.
My SLG leader has even had to cancel our review session because she is under evacuation notice.
Although it is our duty of students to not miss class (especially exams) I think it is also the duty of the faculty to weigh the possible danger of this situation.
Hi Elle,
Thanks for your note. UFV is gathering data and watching road conditions, environment Canada forecasts, transit updates, and other sources of information. Please use your judgement when deciding to travel – notify your professor (or supervisor if you are employed at UFV) if you decide not to travel to UFV. Please watch UFV.ca for updates as the situation is changing quickly.
Thanks for your response Dave,
I am not sure if it is safe for students to drive out given the closures and evacuations. Will UFV provide resources if students like myself determine that it is not safe to go into class?
I am extremely worried to the repercussions of missing an exam, but my- and my classmates safety should be the number one priority.
Hi again Elle, check in with your prof via the usual communication method (however you normally contact them) and let them know your concerns. More info coming soon from UFV. Check UFV.ca over the next hour for more info. I agree road conditions are not good at all now to say the least.
Abbotsford-Mission highway just closed… update?
Hi Cole, Please monitor Drive BC https://www.drivebc.ca/mobile/events/index.html for updates. Looks like the bridge is open at this time but drivers may have to find alternatives to Hwy 11 to Hwy 1. This may change as the flooding is clearly a dynamic and changing situation.
I have to agree that campus should be closed. Students travel from all over Fraser valley to attend class. Many roads are flooded out. How is this safe for students to travel in?
Hi Stephanie. UFV is monitoring the situation and keeping a close watch on road conditions, environment Canada forecasts, transit updates, and other sources of information. Use judgement when deciding to travel – allow extra time – and notify your professor (or supervisor if you are employed at UFV) if you decide not to travel to UFV. Please watch UFV.ca for updates as the situation is changing as the rains continue.
The Chilliwack school district is shut down and we’re still open? This is another example of UFV valuing practices over the safety of their students. This is an unnatural event for the Fraser Valley. Multiple professors have confessed that UFV is clearly a “commuter” school. This is terrifying for any students with non-negotiable commitments like midterms or labs. I shouldn’t have to risk destroying my only vehicle or risk getting into a car accident just for an attendance mark.
UFV’s responses to other comments are disappointing. “Make your own judgement” when a student is concerned about trying to make it in for a midterm today… We raise concern in hopes of advice and implementation, we have currently received neither.
I commute from Surrey. That is a 2hr drive with regular traffic. With these conditions? It would take me at least 3hrs each way in the complete darkness, navigating random routes that I’ve never taken before. Individual professors are taking responsibility for their student’s safety by canceling class under their own discretion; yet the school in entirety continues to ignore the situation.
Please do not tell me to monitor road conditions, it’s very clear that the only person who isn’t is UFV. The students are worried. Lead us through this and take action.
Hi Gabriela, I can assure you we are doing nothing but focusing on this situation this morning. We are monitoring highways, news conferences with the Minister of Safety, watching Environment Canada reports, monitoring social media video and reports of road conditions posted there, and always with safety as the number one consideration. Please watch for an update on UFV.ca in the next hour or so.
The schools power has already gone out twice since 9 am!!!
Stay safe everyone! I live in Chilliwack and multiple roads are closed so I wasn’t able to make it to campus today! There’s a lot of flooding around the Vedder area. Just email your professors if you don’t feel safe going or are unable to! Hopefully the conditions improve.
Daymon, Well said. I agree with all you have written here. Watch UFV.ca for updates.
Hello,
I just read on the news that a state of emergency was called in Abbotsford. I really don’t think there is any ability to justify keeping the school open at this point… please allow us to not miss out on a lecture.