Our plans to return to campus in the Fall are actively underway!
Upon the guidance and direction of the BC's Provincial Health Officer and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, post-secondary institutions in BC are planning for a return to campus this Fall. The provincial government has released BC's Restart: A plan to bring us back together. We are excited to be welcoming many of you back to campus, and welcoming our new students who will be joining us for the first time!
As the vaccination rollout continues throughout the summer, we expect the COVID-19 numbers will continue to decrease and conditions in the Fall will therefore be quite different. All of us at KPU continue to work tirelessly to provide you with a high-quality educational experience. Your health and well-being continue to be of utmost importance to us and we continue to work with our healthcare partners and WorkSafe BC to ensure all necessary measures are in place to keep the KPU community safe.
Here is what you can expect for the Fall 2021 term:
Course Delivery
Our fall course offerings will include a variety of in-person and online classes, as well as classes being offered in a blended or partially online format. The delivery format of each course is noted in the timetable, which will be released on June 25, so that you are able to view the various options when you browse classes and register.
You will be notified by email of the date and time on which you will be eligible to register. Please ensure you are checking your KPU email often.
All students who register in online or partially online courses will need to have a laptop, personal computer, or tablet, and access to the internet in order to complete courses and access KPU services. For more information about minimum technology requirements for learners at KPU, visit kpu.ca/minimum-technology-requirements.
For online courses, curriculum will be delivered as a mix of both synchronous and asynchronous learning:
Synchronous learning online is the educational term for live streaming. It occurs at a designated day and time to allow for real-time interaction between instructors and students. This may be used for short lectures, group discussions, office hours, and question and answer periods. If your course has synchronous components, you will need to be online during the scheduled days and times.
Asynchronous learning online is the educational term for aspects of learning that don't need to be live. For any asynchronous components, you will be able to access the course material at any time, although you will need to adhere to the deadlines for activities, assignments and overall timelines that your instructor provides. As much as possible, KPU will provide opportunities for our learners to complete their learning in an asynchronous format when the ability to participate synchronously is not possible. It is important for you to know that asynchronous activities require you to be more self-directed in reading, watching videos, and completing activities online in order to achieve the course outcomes. This can feel unfamiliar if you are used to classroom-based learning. KPU's Learning Centres have resources and learning strategies that will help you to succeed (see below).
KPU will also offer a number of courses in a blended, or partially online format that include both on-campus, in-person, and online delivery of the curriculum, in order for students to meet the learning outcomes of the course. Courses requiring students to be on-campus for in-person delivery will be noted in the timetable so you are aware of this requirement when you register.
Assess your own personal health status and determine whether attending the KPU campus is in your best interest. If not, consider opting for online-only courses.
The first day of classes is September 7. You will receive greater details from your instructors about your course delivery format - but please note this may not be until the first day of classes. For courses with on campus requirements, your instructor will confirm for you the specific times during the term when you will be expected to be on campus.
Fall Deadlines
Add/Drop and Voluntary Withdrawal Deadlines
Online and blended learning environments will be different for many of you and KPU will continue to provide extended deadlines for you to add, drop or withdraw from classes in the Fall academic term (see link below for dates). This will allow students more time to decide whether the course format and delivery is right for them, and make adjustments if necessary.
Fee Payment Deadline
The Fall fee payment deadline ensures you can complete your enrolment adjustments during the extended add/drop period before your tuition and fees are due.
Fall term dates and deadlines are all posted at kpu.ca/registration/dates.
Learning Online
For our online learners, here are a number of resources to get you started and help you to better understand and be successful in the online learning environment:
- KPU's Learning Centres: study skills, academic skills and tutoring support
- Making the Move to Online Learning (3 minute video)
- Get Started with Online Learning at KPU (a web-based guide)
- Learning to Learn Online (a free downloadable guidebook)
Additional supports are available through our Student Services Website to help you navigate the term.
Health and Safety Guidelines
Please note, on-campus course components may be cancelled at any time upon the order of Provincial health authorities, or at KPU's discretion in order to protect the health and safety of the KPU community.
KPU cannot guarantee that its campus, facilities and all students and employees are and will continue to be infection-free. Protecting the health and safety of KPU students and employees is a shared responsibility.
Following KPU's Safety and Health Policy (SR7) the university has developed comprehensive health and safety plans for all courses delivered on campus. These plans meet the appropriate WorkSafe BC safety guidelines and comply with public health requirements to ensure a safe environment for all our students and employees. In the event of future changes to provincial health safety guidance, these plans will be updated accordingly.
It is your responsibility to be aware of and comply with KPU's health and safety guidelines, including any additional requirements of your particular course. Failure to do so may result in you losing the privilege of access to University property, services or University activities, pursuant to KPU's Student Conduct (Non-Academic) Policy, ST 7
We expect all KPU students to act in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for those around them, including respect and consideration for the health and safety of all community members.
KPU students attending on-campus classes are encouraged to take responsibility for their own health and safety, stay away from campus if they experience COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has, and immediately report unsafe conditions on campus to their instructor or supervisor.
KPU's health and safety guidance will continue to evolve and we thank you for doing your part.
For more information regarding KPU's return to more on-campus activity, please visit our Return to Campus page.
For more information regarding KPU's COVID-19 response, visit COVID-19: Information and KPU's response
Take care and stay safe.