Skip to content

Christmas break extended for UBCO students

Move made to support mental health of students, accommodate ‘overload’ of work
23465718_web1_ubco_1
(File)

Students at UBCO will be off school this winter break for a week longer than usual.

According to a report by the UBC Okanagan Senate and The Ubyssey, the Senate has approved the week-long exention, pushing the term two start date to Jan. 11. It will now end April 13, a total decrease of two teaching days.

According to the university publication, both UBCO administartors and students were largely in favour of the term date changes, quoting a ‘overload’ of work.

READ MORE: Firefighters tend to apartment blaze along Gordon Drive

According to a UBCO spokesperson, this move comes as an initiative to support student mental health.

However, the Senate stated on Twitter some programs may opt-out of these changes, and retain their original term two start date of Jan. 4. Changes, they stated, should be reflected in the UBC Okanagan calendar website by mid-day Friday (Nov. 27).

UBCO stated the revised schedule preserves the week of Feb. 15 to 19 for midterm break, but classes will finish on April 13, five days later than the original schedule. Final exams will start April 16 and continue through April 29, concluding two days later than the original schedule.

Also, they explained a few professional undergraduate programs that have special requirements will remain with a Jan. 4 start date.

“The decision to adjust the Term 2 schedule was not taken lightly and we know it will affect people in many ways, but it is intended to support our community’s mental and physical wellbeing,” stated the UBCO spokesperson in an email.

The student senate caucus advocates for the roughly 11,000 students studying at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

The university has yet to announce the extension on their website.

For more information visit Ubc.ca/news.

This story was updated to include comment from UBCO.

READ MORE: Tree of Hope shines bright over Kelowna

READ MORE: COVID-19 case confirmed at Quigley Elementary School

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: phil.mclachlan@kelownacapnews.com


 

@newspaperphil
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.



Phil McLachlan

About the Author: Phil McLachlan

Phil McLachlan is the editor at the Penticton Western News. He served as the reporter, and eventually editor of The Free Press newspaper in Fernie.
Read more