Learning Continues at Selkirk

Is Selkirk College open? Did you close as a result of COVID-19?

The BC Government defines post-secondary education as an essential service so we are here, open and operating, but just differently. 

How is Selkirk College delivering programs/courses?

With strict adherence to public health and safety guidelines, we have cautiously started to welcome students back to our campuses using a range of delivery models that are in-person where feasible and safe to do so, and online where required. The breadth of educational options at Selkirk College means that delivery models will look different depending on the program. Get the details...

Who can I contact with specific questions about my program?

Your school chair or enrolment officer will provide more specific details. 

• Kate Knott - Academic Upgrading and Development
• Gordon Rein - Business
• Brendan Wilson - Environment and Geomatics
• Martin Keyserlingk - Hospitality and Tourism
• Tammie Clarke - Health and Human Services
• Robert Schwarzer - Industry Trades Training
• Daryl Jolly - School of the Arts
• Shana Rablah - Selkirk International
• Duff Sutherland - University Arts and Sciences

Will I be required to be on or near campus?

Your plans will depend on your program. Programs with experiential components can expect in-person activities. Get the details...

What type of learning can I expect?

Selkirk College faculty and instructors are designing program learning and evaluation to meet the program and course learning outcomes. Using our online learning management system, students will be able to access course materials online. Faculty and instructors will either instruct online, remotely, hybrid/blended, and in-person.

Course and program outcomes will meet transfer requirements and workplace and professional competency requirements. Get the details...

How will you protect students and employees who come on campus? 

Selkirk College is following guidelines from the Provincial Health Officer and WorkSafe BC to ensure the safety and well being of students and employees while also meeting standards established by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. 

Actions include mandatory masks, physical distancing, personal protection equipment, modification to learning and workplaces with signage, linage and plexiglass barriers in addition to smaller class sizes and enhanced sanitization. Get the details...

With safety considerations, how will education be delivered at Selkirk College?

Due to COVID-19, we are offering a mixed delivery of courses. Terminology students can expect to hear about includes:

• Online – Where students will be provided with content, activities, and evaluation that students can access at flexible times, with due dates for specific activities and evaluations. Students will be able to contact and engage with their instructors and fellow students on our learning management system, Moodle. 
• Remote – With a schedule (synchronous) where students will be expected to attend classes aided by remote technology such as Zoom. Instructors will provide lectures and other learning activities in real time.
• In-person – Where students will attend scheduled on-campus and off-campus applied learning activities related to their program. Examples of these activities include studios, shops, labs, field work, practicum and others.
• Hybrid/Blended – Where students will learn with a range of scheduled remote learning, online asynchronously and in-person instruction.

What does online delivery mean?  

Online course delivery will not be on a weekly schedule. Instead, learning will be provided with content, activities, and evaluation that students can access according to their own schedule, with due dates for assignments. Students will be able to contact their instructors and engage fellow students in Moodle discussion forums. If some specific activities and evaluations are scheduled, students will be informed.

What does remote delivery mean?  

Course delivery will be scheduled with instruction delivered using computer aided technology e.g. Zoom. Students will join classes remotely and participate in lecture and discussion groups. Evaluation will be either delivered remotely or in-person.

What does in-person instruction mean? 

Parts of courses may include in-person activities and evaluation. In-person activities will be scheduled. Example of in-person activities includes – labs (e.g. science, computer), studio, shop, practicum/clinical, field work. Your course instructors will provide more information on in-person components. In-person activities will include safe workplace procedures and strict adherence to public health and safety guidelines.

What does the term blended/hybrid mean?

Course work may include a mix of the above learning methods. Course delivery will be summarized in course outlines or other documentation provided by the instructor.

How do I know it is safe to participate in in-person or hands-on activity? 

Safety of students and employees remains the main priority. The transition to the new normal at Selkirk College is being guided by the Provincial Health Officer’s core guidelines, practice standards that are being developed for the post-secondary sector by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training and health and safety guidelines from WorkSafe BC.

Why isn’t all learning online?

The college has programs that require access to specialized equipment that is on-campus and/or in-person instruction in labs, clinics and shops. This learning cannot be duplicated online.

Is there a possibility plans could change?

COVID-19 has created a lot of uncertainty to every aspect of our lives. Depending on circumstances, we may need to make adjustments through the months ahead as we receive new and modified information. Our goal is to keep people safe while delivering the best possible educational experience for everyone.

Can I still access academic advising and other student services?

Yes! Our student services staff are committed to provide you with the support you need to complete or prepare for your semester. Learn more...

Technology Needs for Learning

Can students access general purpose computer labs? 

Due to COVID-19 Computer Labs at Selkirk are operating at reduced capacity while our IT Services team has been dilligent about helping Selkirk College students and employees transition to online dependance. Get more details here...

Do students require access to a computer and internet to study at Selkirk College?

Yes! Access to a personal computer is critical to your success as a student. Whether your course is offered online or in-class, a computer and an internet connection help you to participate in lessons, access course materials, complete assignments and interact with your instructor, classmates and college services.

What computer do I need for my studies?

Find out what you need to know about computer hardware, internet and software requirements check Technology Needs for Learning...

There are student supports in place to help with access to technology. Please connect with Financial Aid. 

What about specialty programs with advanced computer requirements?

Some programs have specialized computer hardware and software requirements.  Examples of these programs may include:  School of Environment and Geomatics - ADGIS, BGIS, IEP; School of the Arts - Digital Arts, Web Development, and Music. Computer requirements will be provided by the school chair of these programs.

Can I use my cell phone instead of a computer?

No! A cell phone is not an adequate substitute for a personal computer for students.

How can I get help to connect remotely? Should I always have my laptop with me?

Knowing that many people need access to onsite resources, IT Services has instituted a VPN solution to allow off-campus users the ability to access on-campus resources. Please contact IT to get set up on VPN so that you can access our internal systems. They are available through their online helpdesk...

Tuition and Fees

• There will be no tuition reduction because we plan to deliver the same courses, with the same learning outcomes for students, though the methods will change. 
• The credential at the end remains the same - extremely high value. 
• The cost of delivering online is at least the same and may be higher. In fact, some institutions charge an additional fee for online courses. This fee recognizes the costs of delivering remotely are actually a little higher.
• Shifting to online isn’t free. There are software/tech costs etc. and instructors still need to transition their instruction and materials for an online environment.

• The educational experience with online/remote will be different (and students need to be prepared for the difference), but it is still of the highest quality.
• The credential at the end remains the same - extremely high value. 
• Remote learning has been embraced, almost all materials are available online, in some cases, textbooks are being replaced with e-readers which are a lower cost to students. 

Applying to Selkirk College

I am ready to apply! I want to get in touch with enrolment/admission services. Are they open in person?

Excellent! We are here to help! Our "Contact Us" page has all this information. Check here...

Required documents

I was/will be unable to submit my documents before the deadline, due to the current situation. What can I do?

Enrolment Services will work with you to ensure we have the information needed to evaluate your application for admission. You can also scan and email us official and unofficial documents to review. If we require additional information or official copies, we will contact you via phone or email and identify any outstanding requirements. Please contact us at admissions@selkirk.ca for more information.

I am unable to report my secondary school grades, due to the current situation. What can I do?

Enrolment Services will work with you to ensure we have the information needed to evaluate your application for admission. Please send any questions to admissions@selkirk.ca

How is Selkirk College receiving admission documents?

As our Enrolment Services staff are working remotely, we are processing mailed documents only twice per week. Instead of mailing admission requirements, you can scan and email your Enrolment Officer copies of your official and unofficial documents for review.

International students

What if the English assessment test is no longer being offered in my area? How can I meet the English Language Requirement?

We have recently approved the acceptance of test scores from Duolingo, an online English proficiency evaluation tool. Duolingo information can be found at: https://englishtest.duolingo.com/ 

Apply for your desired program and once you have completed this online evaluation forward the scores to our Enrolment Services team at internationaladmissions@selkirk.ca. Please send any questions to the same email address and we will be glad to assist you in finding the answers to make your educational journey a reality.

If my admission to Selkirk College was deferred, will my Study Permit be impacted?

Impacts to Study Permits and travel to Canada are governed by the Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada. We are keeping this information up to date for you at Study and work Permits.

Post-secondary/transfer students

How will Selkirk College evaluate my application for admission, if I am a post-secondary transfer student?

Once you apply to Selkirk College your Enrolment Officer will connect to request you contact all post secondary institutions you have attended and have them send us your transcripts. We are working with our post-secondary partners to ensure a process is in effect to ensure we receive your transcripts. Service disruptions will not impact your application to Selkirk College.

If I received a ‘P’ grade from my last institution will I receive transfer credit at Selkirk College?

Yes. If you received a ‘P’ grade from a BC institution in the January – April 2020 semester it will receive transfer credit at Selkirk College.

Will the ‘P’ grade satisfy a minimum grade requirement for a pre-requisite course?

All requests for transfer credit for a course that has a minimum grade requirement may be reviewed on a case by case bases by the program Chair to determine if transfer credit will be approved.

How is a ‘P’ grade calculated in my application if a competitive admission process is being used?

Our competitive admission process considers a number of criteria beyond GPA and course grades. The assessment of your application will not be jeopardized by a ‘P’ grade in any previously completed course.

Financial Aid

What is the deadline to apply for BC student loans?

The 2020/2021 applications for classes starting on or after August 1, 2020 are now available through StudentAid BC.

When can I apply for bursaries and scholarships?

Bursaries open September 15th, see selkirk.ca/bursaries for details.

Scholarships open February 15th, see selkirk.ca/scholarhships for details.

Learning Supports

Are people still available at Selkirk College to help me?

We are still here to serve you at Selkirk College, just a little differently. 

I need to reach a counselor for personal or academic support? How do I do that?

Counseling Services continue to be offered to students, however, the service has moved to phone or video conferencing to ensure social distancing. Booking an appointment remains the same. Get all the information at Counseling Services . To access immediate support for mental health during this time,  check out our resources at Healthy Campus.

I need support with my co-op placement. I need a job! My resume is awful. Are employment supports still available?

Co-op Education & Employment Services are still here to support you during COVID-19. It's more important now than ever to be employment ready. Book virtual appointments or simply send an email question. All our contact information remains the same at  CEES online at selkirk.ca.

Indigenous Services supported me during my time at Selkirk. How do I reach them now?

Indigenous Services are still here to support you. Their contact remains the same. Please go to  Indigenous Services to connect.

I have a disability and Accessibility Services is my lifeline at Selkirk College. How do I reach them?

Our Accessibility Services team is still here to support you, just remotely. We understand this may not be what you are used to. Please reach out to our coordinators and assistants who are found here:  Accessilibity Services  or book  an appointment...

I am struggling with online learning. Is there help for me?

Selkirk College's Learning Success Center is as important now as ever. Transitioning to a new form of learning such as online or distance can be challenging. We are here to help!

Please visit our web pages to learn more about the  steps to get started with online learning  and  how to succeed as an online learner.

Or book an online or  phone appointment with us...

Campus Services

Are campus services still available?

Selkirk College is still here to serve you, just a little differently. 

I need tech support how do I reach IT Services? Are the computer labs open?

Computer Labs at Selkirk are closed until further notice but our IT Services team has been dilligent about helping Selkirk College students and employees transition to online dependance. You can reach them where they always have been at  IT Services. You can also check out  Technology Needs for Learning

How do I pay my tab? How do I get my records? Access Financial Aid?

• Admissions: Selkirk College is accepting applications online, please visit:  educationplannerbc.ca  to apply. 
• Email: admissions@selkirk.ca for registration
• Please visit the  Admissions Contact Us  page to find the approproate contact for your program of interest
• Financial Aid email: financialaid@selkirk.ca
• Student Records email: records@selkirk.ca
• Arrange payments email: cashier@selkirk.ca

Are Selkirk College Libraries open?

We are still here to serve you. Check the library website for up-to-date hours and further details. 

Are the bookstores open?

Our bookstores are open for in-person shopping. Check out our webpage for current hours. 

Are cafeterias open?

The cafeterias are on modified hours due to restrictions resulting from COVID-19. Please find all our most up to date hours at Cafeterias...

Is that Selkirk College Shuttle Bus still running?

The Selkirk College shuttle bus is no longer running. For transit updates, please visit the  BC Transit Website.

Is there anything happening with on campus for recreation? Are gyms open? Happening classes?

Check out our calendar for adapted facilities hours and our new COVID-19 rules. We also have online classes! Get the details, stay tuned for updates and more programming to be added at Campus Rec ...

We are accepting applications and our contact and process remains the same. There have been alterations to our operations and we welcome you to find out more at Student Housing .

Mental Health Supports

I'm having a hard time with this and it is impacting my mental health. What resources are available through Selkirk College?

This is a very difficult time and it is understandable that there is a heightened sense of anxiety. In response, Healthy Campus at Selkirk has created a biweekly newsletterwith tips and strategies to help better take care of yourself. They also have many further resources. Check this all out here. You may contact Selkirk College's Counseling Services to make an appointment. You can find more information for bookings here.