Students will once again be welcomed on campus at Royal Roads University after the school announced it’s planning a full return to in-person learning this September.
The plan to return to campus will align with vaccination coverage and public health guidelines, says the university.
“Our personal interactions are so important, and we are very pleased to be welcoming students back to campus this fall,” says Royal Roads President Philip Steenkamp.
“Our beautiful campus, on the traditional lands of the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) and Lekwungen (Songhees) ancestors and families, is a source of great inspiration for our community. It is made that much more vibrant when students, staff and faculty are here to interact in person.”
For the 2020/2021 school year, Royal Roads went completely online.
“While Royal Roads quickly and easily transitioned to fully online learning, we recognize the COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on students,” says Vice-President Academic and Provost Veronica Thompson. “We are so looking forward to the days when we can see our classrooms active again and enrich student experiences with on-campus programs.”
The university says the decision to welcome students to their Colwood campus was based on advice from the provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, who has previously said that in-person classes could be safely resumed in the fall for post-secondary students.
Dr. Henry has also spoken about the concerns regarding young people who could be suffering from worsening mental health, increased financial instability and diminished future prospects amid the pandemic, something Royal Roads says played into the decision to resume on-campus learning.
In preparation for a safe return, the university says faculty and staff will begin returning to campus before September 2021. Royal Roads says full COVID-19 safety protocols are in place, including hand sanitizer stations, increased cleaning, new signage, plexiglass barriers and upgraded ventilation.
This isn’t the first island university to announce it will resume in-person learning. The University of Victoria previously announced its plans to welcome students back to the campus.
READ MORE: ‘It was a really exciting moment’: Post-secondary students, instructors cheer return-to-campus plan
For the latest information on the back-to-school plans, visit the Royal Roads University website.
Rebecca Lawrence
