UBC Exchange Petition

To Whom It May Concern,

We would first like to start by thanking all of our academic advisors for the effort, time and consideration that they have devoted into making our experience while navigating exchange as harmonious as possible. 

As you may know, for the past few months we have all been preparing to embark in, what some might call, ‘the experience of a lifetime’. We were getting ready to pack our belongings and launch into what was bound to be a new journey; a journey of knowledge, of growth. However, we were all faced with the fact that this particular voyage was not going to be one we would be partaking in due to reasons that escaped our control, reasons that currently, we are unable to fully grasp.

March 15, 2021 marks the day we were all told to unpack our bags and make a decision based on alternatives that, in our eyes, can be deemed as restrictive and even more so, unjust. All things considered we would like to raise a list of concerns that go as follows:

1. Not Facilitating Realistic or Fair Alternatives
   1. During the start of the Pandemic in 2020, UBC students were given the choice to continue their exchange studies online, if the partner university permitted such an option. Currently UBC has not given us the opportunity to entertain such thoughts and have only given exemptions to people who are citizens or permanent residents of the country in which they will pursue their exchange studies. There is a significant number of potential exchange students who are either or both international students and not in Canada during the moment of the travel advisory update. We request further explanations on why this advisory will apply to foreigners going back to their home countries and not to all foreign students in general, given that different countries have different entry requirements.
2. Affordability, Academic Plans and Housing
   1. Although UBC had issued a warning advising against making travel plans before January 1st, many of our visa processes required either or both a ticket booking, international insurance and a signed agreement or contract for housing. These are all additional expenses we have incurred while trying to keep our visa processes vigent. We believe that UBC is not considering our current financial situations and the long term effect this has on our academic plans. We believe that this situation should not inhibit students from having to modify their academic plans, many of which do not only involve specific courses necessary for major requirements but also graduation dates and additional housing costs for extended studies, which may amount to thousands of dollars. Given the date of the announcement, a significant number of students currently do not have housing in Vancouver as they anticipated being away during their exchange period. We believe that there is a lack of consideration for the costs and time involved in trying to look for new places to stay during the Spring 2022 term, as many of us have already had to spend money on housing, as per requirement of different visa processes.
3. Exemptions and Choice to Pursue Exchange Program under Level 3 Travel Advisory
   1. According to the UBC Students Abroad Policy, “If a Student believes exceptional circumstances exist to justify the University giving the Student a special authorization, he or she may apply for special authorization as outlined in Article 5.2 of these Procedures.” However, the last email sent by Go Global states that no exemptions are given, without a reasonable premise, even considering the implementation of the UBC Students Abroad Policy. Most if not all current UBC exchange students are legal adults and we believe we should have a choice in deciding what risks to take when it comes to traveling abroad. We understand that the UBC Students Abroad Policy is in place to protect students from danger, but we would like to bring into question the legitimacy behind its forced implementation.

We would like to thank you for hearing out our concerns and are open to discuss any of the points above over an online meeting or through a separate communication. We were all excited and prepared to go on exchange this semester after its third consecutive cancellation, however we are looking for answers to the above.

Thank you for your patience,

Incoming Spring 2022 UBC exchange students

UBC Exchange Students    Contact the author of the petition