UBC Return to Campus Guidelines

As UBC begins the 2021/22 academic year, we are excited to welcome back our students, faculty and staff. Whether you are a new or returning student, a faculty or staff member, we want to welcome you.

Based on guidance from the Provincial Health Officer and experience to date within B.C. and other jurisdictions, controlled environments such as post-secondary educational settings are lower-risk sites for COVID-19 transmission. The multiple layers of infection prevention measures in place have helped post-secondary campuses remain open and available for learners with remote adaptive learning while successfully minimizing the spread of COVID-19.

For UBC’s latest response to COVID-19, please visit covid19.ubc.ca.

COVID-19 Campus Rules

The COVID-19 Campus Rules are framed around Step 3 of the BC Restart plan. The Public Health Officer moved to step 3 on July 1, 2021 and will extend until the start of step 4 which is anticipated to begin September 7, 2021 at the earliest.

  • Daily health self-assessments: A daily self-health assessment is required before attending campus. Sending your daily-self assessment confirmation to your supervisor is no longer required.
  • Stay home if you are sick: If you feel sick stay home use the Thrive Health self-assessment tool for guidance. Follow the advice from Public Health.
  • Mandatory training: All faculty and staff currently working-on or returning to campus must complete the mandatory online training module “UBC Go Forward COVID-19 Safety Planning” training.
  • Signage: Everyone must follow relevant signage when moving around UBC campuses or worksites.
  • COVID-19 safety plans & communicable disease plans: Supervisors will ensure that all faculty, staff and contractors are familiar with the latest guidance from the Provincial Health Officer as it relates to their work areas.
  • Non-medical masks: Non-medical masks are required for all indoor public areas at UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan, including lobbies, hallways, stairwells, elevators, classrooms and labs.

View full UBC Campus Rules (updated August 26, 2021)

Get vaccinated!

We strongly recommend that all UBC community members get vaccinated before returning to campus, for those who are able. In BC, vaccines are available to everyone aged 12 and older, including incoming international students who can receive their vaccinations after arriving in Canada. You can learn more at https://immunizebc.ca.

Additional resources/announcements from UBC: