Student FAQs

• Courses or course modules that can be delivered effectively remotely will continue in that format. That includes most courses at the College.
• On an exception basis, courses or course modules that require some degree of face-to-face instruction, may be delivered that way if it is possible to safely do so while respecting the Provincial Health Officer’s directives.

Read the full Fall Term Update for more details.

• Students may participate in a Zoom session (meeting or webinar) without providing their full name. They can choose to have just their first name displayed if they wish.
• Students and instructors should not use the audio, video or chat features of Zoom to share personal information about themselves or others.
• Any recordings made by instructors of Zoom sessions are stored locally on the instructor’s device, not in the cloud.
• Zoom stores data in the cloud in data centres located in several different countries. Recently, Zoom introduced a feature that allows users to select a particular country to store Zoom session content. Langara has selected the Canada Region as the default storage location for its Zoom accounts.
• Metadata, such as information about users’ computer devices and network configuration, is currently stored outside of Canada. However, the College has directed Zoom to fully provision its account in the Canada Region data centre and expects Zoom to comply shortly. This means that all data will be stored in Canada.
• Zoom versions 5.0 and later include enhanced security features, such as more robust data encryption of data in transit and data at rest. All users should ensure they are using version 5.0 or later.

As previously announced, our annual convocation ceremonies, originally scheduled for June 2020, have been postponed. A wide range of options were considered, and we have decided that the best course of action is to plan to postpone until June 2021; specifically, the June 2020 and 2021 ceremonies will be combined, if it is safe to do so. We recognize that this delay is disappointing, however the health and safety of our students and employees was our first consideration, along with the uncertainty of when large group events will once again be allowed in BC.

Parchments are normally distributed at or after convocation and we do not wish to delay students who would have received their parchments in June 2020. In mid-June, we will be enacting an unprecedented, one-time process and will confer parchments in absentia. The formal conferral, and messages of congratulations will be shared online with graduates in mid-June. Parchments will then be mailed out to students who have been approved for graduation at the mid-June conferral. Unfortunately, these graduates will need to wait until June 2021 to attend Convocation and cross the stage.

The June 2021 Convocation ceremonies are expected be held at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre the week of June 8, provided that public health directives allow us to do so. Additional information will be posted on our Convocation page as it becomes available.

Langara Emergency Funding
The deadline to apply for the emergency financial aid was April 20, 2020. If you are registered as a full time, domestic, student for the Summer 2020 term, you may be eligible to apply for our general bursaries. Bursary applications are due no later than May 15, 2020.

Provincial Emergency Funding
Today the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training announced new financial supports for students. As part of that funding, Langara has received a total of $419,000, allowing us to provide more emergency financial assistance to students, including specific Indigenous Emergency Assistance Funds. Students who require emergency aid should email us at finaid@langara.ca from the email that is listed in your Langara account (@mylangara.ca).

The funding also provides resources to enhance the educational experience and outcomes for Indigenous learners and supports for students with disabilities in programs with high labour market demand.

Federal Emergency Funding

As of April 22, the Government of Canada announced plans for new supports to assist students and recent grads negatively impacted by COVID-19. The supports include additional funding and grants, broadening eligibility for student financial assistance, and enhancing the Canada Student Loans Program.

The six-month freeze to student loan payments announced on March 30 and the improvements to the Canada Summer Jobs program for students announced April 8, also remain in place.  

Canadian Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
On May 13, the Federal Government announced that Canadian post-secondary students and recent graduates who have lost income or summer jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to apply to receive financial relief from an emergency aid program. Applications for this program open this Friday, May 15. Eligible students are encouraged to register with the Canada Revenue Agency ahead of time, if they have never filed a Canadian tax return. Depending on their eligibility, qualifying applicants will receive either $1,250 or $2,000 per four-week period for which they’re approved.

Learn how to apply.

Applications to both our Student Work Assistance Program (SWAP) and our Work on Campus (WOC) program will open as of Monday, April 27, 2020. These programs provide students with relevant work experience as well as financial support during their time at the College. Students will be able to apply for these programs online through the Financial Aid website.

Updated campus hours, effective March 30, 2020. Please check the availability of our services.

Monday - Friday:

• Campus is open with limited access. All buildings are closed with the exception of:
• L Building Computer labs - L103 & L104 and A Building MAC Lab - A110 will be open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm

The parkade is closed effective March 27, 2020. 

Statutory holidays: Closed.

There are two printers between L103 and L104 in the Library Building.

There is currently no charge for printing.

If you have not heard about a specific course, please email us at covidquestions@langara.ca, with the following information, so we can follow up:

• Course name
• Course number
• Section (if known)
• Instructor

While waiting for additional information, we ask that you not come to campus to attend your class in person; please wait for direction from your instructor.

We are currently available to see students for appointments already scheduled through telephone and online counselling options given the current situation with COVID-19 and the College’s decision to move classes online. Regrettably, this means we will not be seeing students face-to-face at this time.

Please contact our reception at 604.323.5221 to confirm or cancel your appointment.

Students who are at imminent risk for suicide, please contact the following resources:

EMPOWER ME
24-hour helpline for anyone in crisis. Free counselling for students enrolled in LSU Health & Dental Plan.
1.844.741.6389 (toll-free)

ACCESS & ASSESSMENT CENTRE (VGH)
For individuals living within Vancouver for acute mental health and addiction support including suicidality, psychiatric crises, intake, and referral. Note: As of April 3, the AAC is experiencing high demand on their services and has sometimes been challenging to access. Students are encouraged to try another resource included here if they have difficulty accessing services at the AAC.
Call or walk-ins from 7:30 am–11:00 pm
Segal Family Health Centre (part of VGH) – 803 W 12th Ave. (First Floor) 604.675.3700
Burnaby Outpatient Mental Health – call to make an appointment:
Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm 
604.453.1900

CRISIS LINES
BC Distress Services 1.800.784.2433 (toll free) or (local) 604.872.3311
www.crisiscentrechat.ca (online chat for 19+) 12:00 pm–1:00 am
Fraser Health Crisis Line – 24-hour crisis support. For individuals living within the Fraser Health catchment area – 604.951.8855

Instructors will contact students about classroom work that would normally be in these spaces and what options are available for providing access if required. The College has some applied learning courses where exclusive online instruction won’t work and the approach to online learning will vary depending on the course.

For courses that still have final exams, they will continue to take place online on the same time and day as originally scheduled, in order to avoid scheduling conflicts. If you have any questions, please contact your instructor(s). 

Please visit the Student Responsibilities page on the Accessibility Services website for details.

Math Diagnostic Test (MDT)

• The MDT is scheduled for June, July, and August, 2020. View the MDT schedule for details.

Langara English Test (LET)

• The LET has been suspended indefinitely. Please check back for updates. 
• Students who required the LET to meet pre-requisites for summer classes will be required to contact Kina Cavicchioli (kcavicchioli@langara.ca) or Kathleen Oliver (koliver@langara.ca) for information on next steps.
• For more information about pre-requisites for English, see the Summer 2020 English FAQ (PDF).

Physics Diagnostic Test (PDT)

• The PDT is cancelled.
• Students who required the PDT to meet pre-requisites for summer classes will be required to contact the respective Departments for information on next steps. 

Nursing students are not required to finish the clinical placements. More information will come to students from their instructors.

An interruption of study of up to four weeks will have no impact on student eligibility for financial assistance or disbursement of funding if students recommence classes at the end of the interruption. No withdrawal/unsuccessful completion reporting to StudentAid BC is required.

Visit the StudentAid BC COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information Bulletin for more information regarding student loans.

Spring 2020 bursaries will be assessed by Financial Aid by March 20, 2020. If you are approved for a bursary, a cheque will be mailed to your address on myLangara. Please ensure your address is correct.

The Summer 2020 Bursary Application is now available. Please complete and return to Registrar and Enrolment Services by May 15, 2020. All applicants will be emailed notification of the results by the end of July.

If you are in need of additional emergency funding for this spring semester due to extenuating circumstances, please refer to the “How can I apply for emergency financial aid?” FAQ above.

Transcripts for regular studies academic records are available for order through the Student Information System (formerly called myLangara), as usual. Rush orders are not currently available. In-person pickup is not currently available; transcripts will be mailed out or sent electronically to receiving institutions set up for that (eg UBC, SFU, KPU, etc). If you are having a transcript mailed to you, please ensure your mailing address is up to date in the Student Information System first.

As usual, COE letters can be downloaded from the Student Information System (formerly called myLangara) for free; these meet the needs of most students. If you require a personalized letter, please send a request to records@langara.ca and include what specialized information you need in your letter. Your request must come from your mylangara email address, or the email address indicated in the Student Information System as your "preferred" address.  Rush COE letters are not currently available, but we will do our best to process requests for personalized letters as quickly as possible. In-person pickup is not currently available; letters will be e-mailed to you via PDF.

Given the significant reduction in foot traffic, the campus is open with limited access. If you need to access your locker, sign in with Security and someone will escort you. 

Clubs will be hosting virtual activites this summer. If you are interested in joining a club, reach out to them. A list of active clubs and club contact information can be found at langara.ca/clubs.

The Langara Community Cupboard provides one week’s worth of non-perishable food items per student per week. Students can access the Community Cupboard through The Hub (A140) Monday to Friday (excluding holidays), between 11:00 am–1:00 pm until Monday, August 31 or while supplies last.

Please see resources for an additional list of food banks located in the Lower Mainland. 

Online Writing Support

Writeaway

• Submit your writing anytime and get detailed feedback in 48 hours.  You can also submit a short question about getting started with your writing, grammar or style. 
• Individual writing assignments only.  Tutors cannot help with group-written assignments or take home exams.

WConline

• Real time tutoring from the Langara Writing Centre

• Sign up online and book an appointment with a tutor who can communicate with you via camera, voice, and text while working with your writing.

Self-help Writing Guides
The Writing Centre has self-help guides to get you started. Here are some popular ones:

• The Research Essay or Term Paper
• How to Summarize
• How to Quote
• More guides

Subject Tutoring

Economics

• Economics tutors are available via email and web-conferencing. See their website for the schedule and more info

Psychology

• Psychology students can access online tutoring support in Brightspace under Resources - Psychology Lab BrightSpace

Borrowing at the Library
You can still access the Library’s print books and DVD’s including Reserves by submitting a request online for pick up in the Library. Submit an online request now.

Visit the Library Services website for the most recent updates.

Online Reference – AskAway Chat Service
The AskAway Chat Service allows you to get research help in real time. The chat will be staffed by Langara Librarians and Reference Assistants during regular working hours, making it more likely that you will be chatting with a representative from Langara. Access the service here, on the library website, and inside the Library databases.

Library Reference Email
The general library reference email can be reached at libref@langara.ca. This email is monitored constantly during regular working hours. 

Library Assignment Guides
Librarians collaborate with instructors to create Library Assignment Guides that help you get started on research assignments. These guides suggest resources, databases, and strategies that are chosen based on the assignment prompt. Even when an assignment hasn’t been given to the library, general subject guides can point students in the right direction to get started with their research.

Subject Librarian Contacts
Departments at Langara are assigned Subject Librarians. If you are working on a research project, you are encouraged to contact your subject librarian in order to get directed help.

Ebooks, Databases, Streaming Media
While physical materials are still available through request, a great number of library resources are accessible online:

• Individual library databases can be accessed through our Articles in Journals section of the website.
• View a list of all library databases.
• Ebooks and Streaming Media can be found by searching in the Library Books and Media advanced search options by specifying format.

If you need help locating resources or navigating databases, please reach out for help via chat or email.

Online Learning Tools

Langara has several online learning tools that your instructors are using to continue your courses online. Your instructors will contact you and let you know which tools you will use in each class.

Brightspace by D2L, formerly known as D2L, is Langara’s online course management system. Most of your instructors use Brightspace, and you will access online course content such as notes, readings, assignments, quizzes and exams using the Brightspace platform.

Help for using Brightspace can be found here: https://iweb.langara.bc.ca/lts/brightspace/

Kaltura MediaSpace is an online media hosting/streaming service similar to YouTube. You can use MediaSpace to upload, edit, and share your media with other users, and for inserting media into your Brightspace courses.

Help using Kaltura MediaSpace can be found here: https://iweb.langara.bc.ca/lts/mediaspace/

Zoom is a web conferencing solution that provides screen sharing, meetings, live chat, and a lot more. Most often, you will join a meeting by clicking on a link in an email sent to you by the meeting host – no account required.

Help using Zoom can be found here: https://iweb.langara.bc.ca/lts/how-to/zoom/

CourseWeb is Langara College’s implementation of WordPress.

Help using CourseWeb can be found here: https://iweb.langara.bc.ca/lts/courseweb/

IT Knowledge Base - Easily find solutions to common issues such as activating computer IDs, resetting passwords, connecting to WiFi, and using printers.

Help with IT can be found here: https://langara.rightanswers.com/portal/ss/

A Quick Guide to Langara’s learning tools is available here: https://iweb.langara.bc.ca/lts/

Although courses will be delivered online students will receive the same high quality of instruction and the same course credit as face-to-face instruction.

Many Langara students combine their studies with work. Given the economic impact of COVID-19, we know that some of you may require financial support right now. Information on applying for emergency funding from Langara is on our website, along with information on help with food insecurity. There are also many new measures from the Federal and Provincial Governments, and service providers, that may help:

• New Canada Emergency Response Benefit

• Employment Insurance

• New financial supports from the Government of BC, including the BC Emergency Benefit for Workers

• Supports for renters

• Both the Federal and BC Governments have frozen student loan payments until September 30, 2020

Some service providers are waiving fees or allowing payment deferrals:

• Customers of BC Hydro, and ICBC, can apply to defer their payments.

• Fortis BC is waiving late payment fees and suspending disconnections.

• Telus, Shaw, Rogers, and Bell, are waiving some fees

Yes. Material fees support teaching and learning. The format of delivery has changed (online courses), and the resources the fees fund may be different, but they are still used to support your education.

Q: What is happening with the U-Pass program this summer?
A: Post-secondary institutions and student associations (including Langara and the Langara Student Union) have worked with TransLink to temporarily suspend the U-Pass BC program as of May 1st. This means that no U-Passes will be issued to Langara students taking classes this summer. Students will not be charged the $164 U-Pass fee normally applied at registration.

Q: How do I apply for a refund for my April U-Pass?
A:  In agreement with TransLink and student associations, post-secondary institutions will be issuing refunds of the mandatory U-Pass BC fees for April 2020 to students who did not need to use their U-Pass BC – for simplicity, refunds will be issued to those students who did not use their pass for more than $41 in stored value travel. S

Students do not need to apply for this refund.In the coming weeks, Langara College will automatically process credits of $41 to each eligible student account.

Domestic students who do not have a balance owing will be mailed a refund cheque to the address on file. Students should confirm their address is up to date, through the Student Information System. Please allow 6-8 weeks after the credit is applied to your account for delivery from Canada Post.

International students who do not have a balance owing will have the credit left on their account to be applied to a future semester.

Q: Is there another way for me to opt-in to a U-Pass program, request a U-Pass, or get some other kind of reduced-fare transit pass?
A: The U-Pass program has been suspended. That means no students are eligible for U-Passes starting on May 1st. Information about fare pricing, including stored value and monthly Compass Cards are available on the TransLink website.

Q: I need my U-Pass to get to work / for other needs. What should I do instead?
A: Bus service is free until June 1. Skytrain and Seabus passes are available for purchase through a variety of sources, as listed on the TransLink website. Beginning June 1, front-door boarding and fare collection will resume. Translink is also implementing a number of safety precautions, including recommending that users wear facemasks or face coverings. Visit the Translink Coronavirus Precautions website for updates.

Q: When will the program be back up and running?

A: At this time, the suspension is only until August 31st, but it is possible that the suspension will be extended. At this time students will not be charged U-Pass fees for the fall semester, but if/when the program resumes, fees will be added to eligible students' account as appropriate. When the program is running, only students registered in at least 3 credits of on-campus classes are eligible.Students who take only online classes this fall will not be eligible for a U-Pass, even if the program has resumed.

VitalSource and RedShelf are offering free access to textbooks online for a limited time. We have provided sourced those textbooks that were already available in the Library. Students may also search for other titles in the Find your Textbook section of the Library website.

We request that you return your rental items to the Langara Bookstore by their due date of April 22. As the Bookstore is closed you will need to return your books to the After Hours Book Drop Station on the outside southwest corner of the L Building. Rental returns will not be accepted at any other location. Please do not go in to the Library Building to return your books.

The Langara Bookstore will begin accepting online orders on Thursday, April 16 for the Summer 2020 term. To order online textbooks, students can visit the Find my Textbooks tool within the Student Information System. Calculators and other stationary supplies can be found here. You can simply add them to your cart after adding course materials. Free shipping will be provided on all orders over $40.00.

Due to health and safety concerns, all sales are final. If you have questions or are not able to order your materials online, please contact us at bookstore@langara.ca to make alternate arrangements.