Dear Current and Future Students of TWU,
Since my last message to you, we have been actively planning for the journey forward together for this fall at Trinity Western University. We recognize how challenging this season is to each student and family, and we are committed to doing all that we can to remove any barrier that stands in the way of you studying this year at TWU. Like you, we are leaning into the promise that God is “able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine” (Eph 3:19).
As unsettling as the global pandemic is, we are focused on a specific goal: to provide you with a tremendous education, by enhancing social interactions, belonging, faith formation, and leadership opportunities, while reducing the spread of COVID-19.
The good news is this: a TWU experience is powerfully transformative, and COVID-19 has not changed our commitment to you.
As I write, 12 different taskforces are currently at work figuring out how to provide you with a transformative TWU experience this year under the significant limitations of health and safety directives. While the ink is still wet on many of our plans, we want to invite you into our plans for the fall. We are eager for you to return to campus. At the same time, our love and care for you demands that we prioritize your health and safety.
Health and Safety
In order to provide a robust health and safety network, we are dramatically increasing the number of health care workers on campus and will launch new public health protocols for the fall semester. We are committed to making the best decisions possible in light of the counsel of our provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry (who was recently recognized in a New York Times article as 'one of the most effective public health officials in the world'), the BC Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Vancouver Coastal Health.
Classroom Instruction
Health and safety measures required to protect the well-being of our students, staff, and faculty, will impact our use of classrooms and labs. As a result, most classes will need to be delivered through remote methods. Prior to COVID-19, God had led us to devote considerable energy and resources to develop a high-quality, multi-access delivery platform for international students overseas. In the face of COVID-19, we are leveraging this expertise to design and deliver education this fall that satisfies our high standards of quality for student learning.
Where specific learning objectives cannot be accomplished online, a set of courses will be delivered in a traditional face to face setting. We are committed to exploring all opportunities we can for social interaction, academic support, tutoring, community and service-learning outside of traditional classroom settings.
Housing
We are committed to housing students in dorms this year. Yes, health and safety measures will reduce the number of rooms available. We are working to make sure that each and every student who is housed in our dorms will be cared for and have access to the care of health professionals should they become ill. With a reduced capacity in our dorms, we are currently establishing criteria in determining who will be offered residence. We will communicate the selection process and criteria over the next few weeks.
Finance
We understand that financial circumstances are unique for each student and their family and that students may be facing an increased economic burden due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are working hard to remove barriers that may be preventing students from experiencing their TWU education.
Additionally, we have created a one-time COVID-19 student aid package of up to $2,000, available to full-time undergraduate students enrolled for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters. As well, the Federal and Provincial Governments have made more money available to university students than ever before. Our Financial Aid team is here to help you understand these programs; please reach out to us at awards@twu.ca.
We appreciate that this season is unique for each of you and you will have specific questions that pertain to your situation. In order to provide you with a clear and positive way forward, I invite you to join me and other key University leaders for a special town hall event on Wednesday, June 17 for returning students and Thursday, June 18 for incoming students. At these town halls, we will provide further updates regarding health and safety, housing, classroom arrangements, course fees, financial aid, and a variety of other timely topics. It will be an interactive event where your questions will be answered live – by video or in the chat room.
Please be sure to RSVP using the links above to reserve your spot—as space is limited.
We are so grateful to be on this journey with you and in the midst of uncertainty, we look to the Lord for guidance, assurance, and hope.
Grace and Peace,
Mark Husbands
President
________
For more information on our response to COVID-19 and "The Journey Forward" towards Fall 2020 please visit: twu.ca/covid-19-information
Trinity Western University is Canada’s leading global Christian liberal arts university committed to inspiring hearts and minds.
For media inquiries, please contact media@twu.ca.