With the recent closure of the campus due to the COVID-19 virus, Vancouver Island University has decided to implement a number of preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of the virus spreading to students. Such measures include the cancelling all face to face classes and instead implementing remote online instructions. While we applaud VIU’s initiative for putting the student’s health and safety as the main priority, it is important to consider the financial impact on the students, especially international students.

When most students agreed to take on the financial burden of taking out loans to pay such an exorbitant fee, we did so because we expected to receive in-person face-to-face instruction, as well as the opportunity to seek out help from our professors during office hours. Because of the circumstances of this decision, this is now no longer a possibility for students, and we are now essentially stuck paying full fees for online classes.

This does not account for fees for campus activity fees (activities which have all been cancelled), lab fees, gym fees, building fees, general facilities fees, etc. We believe it is no longer fair to charge students for such amenities. Because of the financial impact of this decision, we are requesting the University to kindly consider giving partial refunds to all students.