Need a Hand? Student Supports at CapU

As part of the Envisioning 2030 plan and our commitment to the Okanagan Charter, student well-being is vital to the future of CapU.

In addition to the new appointment-booking system now available on the Counselling Services and Accessibility Services pages, the University launched the Student Mental Health Literacy program this fall.

Proximity to campus has long been a concern for CapU students priced out of the North Shore.

“Many students are living far away,” he said. “Financially, they couldn’t move closer, but long commute times were taking a toll on [students’] mental health and affecting study time.”

The pandemic forced students to move off-campus permanently, creating an unexpected side-effect: students now have more time to meet virtually. With commutes going under the microscope during the pandemic and remote learning becoming more accessible, previously on-campus only services have pivoted successfully to a hybrid model.

“I’ve had counselling appointments with students who are on their work lunch breaks,” Lam said. “Which is something they couldn’t do if we required them to be in person.”

Students with disabilities have historically faced barriers — both physical and mental — to post-secondary education. The disruption of traditional instruction, combined with the rush to get back to campus for in-person classes this fall, added another layer to their concerns.

“Some students thrived during COVID-19 in the online environment because entering a face-to-face classroom is or was unbearable,” said Heather Mitchell, who helps students set up academic and personal accommodations as an Accessibility Services Advisor at CapU.

Virtual classes made attendance easier, with Zoom meetings replacing the standard lecture style. For the six per cent of CapU students who identify as having a disability or the 11 per cent who have experienced accessibility concerns on campus, there is a worry those hard-won victories may be washed away with the easing of classroom capacity restrictions.