Student FAQs

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, registration for Summer 2020 courses (originally scheduled to begin on March 23), was temporarily postponed while the College worked to develop a plan for online delivery of our courses.

Summer 2020 course registration will now begin on April 6, 2020.

• Activation will be available beginning on Monday, March 30 
• Registration Period 1 will be open from April 6 to April 19 
• Registration with be closed from April 20 to April 23 for end of term processing 
• Registration Period 2 will open on April 24

Most courses will be delivered fully online with no on-campus components. Exceptions to this include practicums for Nursing students, as well as some co-ops. Courses will begin on schedule, starting May 4, 2020.

Before you can register, log in to your Student Information System to activate your new registration date and time for Summer Semester 2020. Activation will be available beginning on March 30.

• If you had previously activated for Summer, you will need to do this again.
• International students who have already paid the commitment fee for Summer will not need to pay again.

Please refer to the Important Dates page for information on fee payment deadlines, drop dates, refund deadlines, etc. Current course schedules are available from the Course and Exam Schedules page. NOTE: to maintain social distancing protocol, we are asking all students to pay online. Visit langara.ca/fees for more details.

Courses will be online and the term will start on May 4, 2020.

For registration dates, see the "When does summer registration start?" FAQ above.

Langara Emergency Funding
If you were a full time student in the Spring 2020 semester, Langara College has allocated funding for domestic and international students in emergency need to cover expenses for groceries and basic needs (eg. Medicine, food). If students find they need emergency aid, please email finaid@langara.ca from the email that is listed on your Langara account (@mylangara.ca). We will receive requests until April 20, 2020, or until funding is all dispersed.

Include your name, student number, and explanation of the emergency need.

We will do our best to help as many students as possible, but funding is limited. If approved for emergency funding, a cheque will be mailed to the address listed on your student record so please ensure your address is local, and correct.

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.

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.
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.

If your course has an exam scheduled between now and the end of the semester, including the Final Exam period, please contact your instructor to discuss receiving your exam accommodations. If the format is not accessible, please email accessibilityservices@langara.ca to discuss your options.

Math Diagnostic Test (MDT)

• The MDT on March 20 is cancelled.
• Future MDT are under review. 
• Students who required the MDT to meet pre-requisites for summer classes will be required to contact the respective Departments for information on next steps.

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.

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.

No. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, as of March 13, courses of study being delivered online on an exceptional basis due to COVID-19 will not affect Post-Graduation Work Permit Program eligibility for a post-graduation work permit.

Commencing March 21, 2020 - Students will be able to withdraw from courses for the spring semester on the student information system until April 3, 2020. A withdrawal grade for the course will be added to your student record and will not impact your Grade Point Average. No refund will be provided for withdrawals. If you do decide to withdraw from courses for the spring semester, please ensure this will not impact your student status. If you are a band funded or band sponsored student, please contact indigenous@langara.ca, if you are on student loans, please contact finaid@langara.ca to ensure you are aware of implications of a withdrawal. If you are an international student, please be aware that a withdrawal may have impact on your Post Graduate Work Permit eligibility. We strongly urge you to contact your International Student Coordinator prior to withdrawing from your classes or contact international@langara.ca

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.

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. 

All clubs have been notified to cancel all meetings and activities at this time.

The 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, between 11:00 am–1:00 pm. 

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/

Accessible via the myLangara portal, Course Tool is a simple course management system, separate from Brightspace, that instructors may use to distribute files or contact students. It is most often used to contact students before the semester has officially started.

Help using Course Tool can be found here: https://iweb.langara.bc.ca/lts/course-tool/

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.

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.

The U-Pass BC program is offered to students under agreements in place with participating colleges/universities and their associated student societies and students pay for this pass through their student fees.  Given these arrangements, TransLink is in discussions with post-secondary school and student society representatives about the fees and continued use of this program in light of the impacts on classes and transportation from COVID-19. Stay tuned for updates and thank you for your patience.