As announced by Vancouver Island University in May, the school will be moving to a “hybrid” format. As students, we have been informed that most of our classes will be delivered online, even including some critical courses that involve labs and solidifying motor skills. 

With this comes a definite gap in a students learning. Not being face-to-face with a professor who is guiding you and teaching you the material poses heavy risk for a successful education. Zoom is not a quality alternative to the level of education we, the students are paying thousands of dollars to receive. 

As seen on your tuition, all ancillary fees still stand for the fall semester such as lab, sports and recreation, building fees etc. We are being charged fees for services that we will not be using due to online learning. This is inequitable, given the covid-19 circumstances and the inability for many students to work and save money for tuition. Students are being forced to pay the full amount for tuition and in return getting a decrease in quality education and at home learning.

The university should work to remove fees that will not be utilized by students and decrease costs for tuition. Most of us will likely not even be on campus for the fall semester.

By not working to obtain the above, the university is actively creating barriers to education, and charging students for a decrease in quality education.