Students at Langara College work together in a class in the B Building this semester. DAN/EL JOHNSTON PHOTO Catch 22: extra work or risk exposure Teachers face dilemma as sick, isolating students told to stay home, potentially fall behind By DANIELJOHNSTON angara faculty say they are struggling to accommo- date absent students due to Langara’s sick policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, faculty are faced with a dilemma: either accommo- date absent students by providing online options or extra tutoring — or risk having sick students come to school because they don’t want to fall behind. They are also trying to navigate the challenge of teaching “hyflex” classes that contain both in-person students and students who are online at the same time. Langara’s student attendance policy states, “Instructors should be reasonable and fair when consid- ering requests for accommoda- tions resulting from unavoidable absences.” Bryan Breguet, chair of the economics department, said that instructors are left on their own to decide how to help students keep up when they miss classes because of COVID concerns. “There are no “There are no general According to instructors in the department of library and informa- tion technology at Langara, hyflex learning works but is also time consuming. “We did a poll among students and there was a general guide- guidelines as to how lot of concern lines as to how it * about safety works, not at the it works, not at the in the class- college level,” college level ... The room, and the Breguet said. teachers, we're “The college college has asked us concerned as has asked us to to be maybe more well,” said Fiona be maybe more : Hunt, depart- empathetic and empathetic and more ment chair for more flexible.” . " the library and Instructors flexible. information are also experi- — BRYAN BREGUET, CHAIR OF THE program. menting with ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT “We started hyflex learning that involves teaching students in-person and online simultane- ously. looking into ways that we could make everyone feel more comfortable and we came across the idea of hyflex.” Hunt is part of a Langara committee on introducing hyflex learning to other programs in the college. “T think that we're the only depart ment who has actually piloted it so far, but I know that other depart- ments are interested,” said Hunt. Diane Thompson, an instructor also in the library and information technology department, says that although hyflex learning is working, it’s creating extra work for faculty. “There are all kinds of benefits, the instructor doesn’t get exposed to somebody who isn’t feeling well and potentially has COVID, and the student isn’t spreading it rapidly amongst the class,” said Thompson. “The student can still participate in the activities and the learning that’s happening that day without compromising everybody’s health.” But there is a drawback. Thompson said hyflex requires a lot more resources and attention, and without the right technology, it doesn’t work well. “You're aware of the students in front of you, but then you also have to think: how do I include those students over Zoom?” said Thomp- son. “You can’t do this by yourself. You have to have somebody else there with you.” To make hyflex learning work, instructors use students to monitor the Zoom call. Hunt said it’s diffi- cult for the instructor to keep track of their in-person teaching and the Zoom station without the student monitors. The future of hyflex is unsure. “Whether it continues in the future is something that we haven't decided yet,” said Hunt, referencing hyflex learning in classes. “Students were quite understanding, I think they were so pleased that they could attend in a flexible way.” Students worried about cafeteria safety SFU and BCIT share cafeteria safety concerns ByJORDAN COPP tudents at Langara College S and other Metro Vancouver post-secondary schools have ongoing concerns about COVID- 19 safety precautions in their school cafeterias. Langara College nursing student Sarah Smith said she no longer uses the cafeteria because of COVID concerns. “T used to, but I don’t anymore ... I either bring [my lunch] from home or I get food off campus,” Smith said. In the Langara cafeteria students can sit side-by-side at tables, without any barriers between tables or even distance markings. Langara’s mask policy follows the guidelines of the provincial health office and the Ministry of Advanced Skills Education and Training. The policy states that students are allowed to remove their mask to eat or drink while sitting down. One student noted there is not enough space between seats in the cafeteria. “T think it would be better if there were some Plexiglas barriers, that would definitely be helpful on some tables,” said Zach Lee, a Langara criminal justice student. Lee also said that there are few signs on the walls outlining COVID precautions. Some students at other local post-secondary schools share simi- lar concerns about COVID safety in their school cafeterias. “There is plenty of space most times,” Tom Milten, a first-year SFU student, said. “But when it’s the main lunch hour and everyone is trying to find a spot, it gets crowded. “Even though the tables look clear, I always sanitize them with wipes I bring from home.” When first-year BCIT student Lance Adder has a break, he heads to the main cafeteria. “But if my break is around noon, T’ll get my food and take it some- where less crowded to eat,” he said. One issue is that students who have finished eating continue to socialize without a mask on. “It made me really uncomfortable with COVID,” Smith said. “There’s always a lot of people hanging out together without masks and the tables are always dirty. It just kind of grossed me out.” One question that students have raised is if the mask policy in the cafeteria also applies to non-desig- nated eating areas. Some students choose to eat in less crowded spaces such as hallways and empty class- rooms. Adder said that the mask policy about areas outside of the cafeterias was unclear at BCIT as well, but eating in the hallway feels like a safer choice. SFU student Alex Davis was also unclear about her school’s policy on students eating outside of cafeterias. “It bothers me to see students eating in the halls. It makes me uncomfort- able.” All three of the schools where students were interviewed say they are following provincial health guidelines. Dwayne Doornbosch, Lang- ara facilities director, said that the college follows the return to campus guidelines laid out by health authori- ties. “Regulations include promoting good hygiene and providing hand Students congregate during peak hours in the Langara College cafeteria JORDAN COPP PHOTO washing facilities or hand sani- tizer; communication reminders via digital signage or social media; and engineering controls such as Plexi- glas barriers at high traffic or client- facing locations,” Doornbosch said by email. Doornbosch said the COVID- safety measures taken throughout the college are outlined in Langara’s communicable disease prevention plan. The precautions are required to reduce the risk of transmission, not limited to COVID-19. Additional measures would take place when advised by public health officials.