Student FAQs

Registration for regular studies opens June 22, 2020 for the Fall Semester 2020 and will run until July 3rd, 2020. After July 3rd, students can add or drop courses until registration ends on September 14, 2020.

More information about registration for Continuing Studies courses will be posted prior to CS registration.

Most courses will be delivered online. The following subjects have at least one course with an on-campus requirement:

• Applied Planning
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Criminology
• Design Formation
• Film Arts
• Fine Arts
• Gerontology
• Health Care Assistant
• Nursing
• Photography
• Publishing
• Social Service Worker
• Theatre Arts

Courses with an on-campus requirement will have a room number included on the schedule. Online courses will show "www" and may have a scheduled time to meet in an online environment. Please carefully read the course notes in the registration guide when registering for courses.

Based on the updated advice we have received from the Provincial Government and our academic assessments of how best to teach different subject matter, we have decided to take the following approach to the delivery of our courses this fall:

Online (off campus) Courses

Section numbers will include “W”. Example: W03, AW2, BW1. Type and location will be “www”. Online classes will be scheduled in one of three ways

1. Scheduled days and times to meet through an online platform such as Brightspace.
2. No scheduled time to meet, class lectures and assignments are delivered through an online platform such as Brightspace.
3. Mix of scheduled and non-scheduled instruction. These sections will indicate both a meeting day and time for the scheduled portion, and "www" to indicate the non-scheduled portion of the course.

Mixed Mode Courses

Will have some online and some on-campus delivery. These sections will begin with "M". The in-person portion of the course will have scheduled days, times, and room numbers, and the type will be either "Lab" or "Lecture". The online portion will indicate "www" as the location. The online portion may or may not have scheduled meeting times. Note: Mixed Mode courses require that you be living in the Metro Vancouver area.

Fully On-Campus Courses

Will have section numbers beginning with "0" (zero), "A" or "B". For example, 001, 016, A03. They will have scheduled days, times, and room numbers when classes are held. Note: On-campus courses require that you be living in the Metro Vancouver area.

The College has determined that the spring semester (January – April 2021) will continue in the same way as the fall semester, with the majority of instruction continuing to be delivered online, except for those courses or course modules that must be delivered face-to-face to achieve learning outcomes.

We will run the entire spring semester as outlined above, unless the PHO requires us to stop face-to-face instruction. We are closely monitoring the updates and direction of the PHO and will wait to see what the COVID-19 situation is in BC this fall and any progress on a potential vaccine, before deciding about the summer 2021 semester.

As you know, most classes are being delivered online. To help ensure that you have a good learning experience, we want to provide you with recommendations for the basic technical requirements needed for most Langara regular or continuing studies courses:

• internet-connected device (laptop, desktop, tablet or smartphone)
• keyboard or equivalent (e.g speech to text input) for text entry
• webcam or camera on smartphone
• microphone, either built in or external (e.g earbuds, headset)

If you do not have access to equipment that meets these minimum standards, computer labs that are open on campus meet these requirements (with the exception of webcam/camera and microphone/earbuds). 

Please note that some courses may have other, higher, computing requirements due to their specific content. Consult your course syllabus or contact your instructor for more information. Continuing Studies students who have concerns about whether their equipment will work for their course are encouraged to contact their Program Coordinator.

Courses that are being delivered online will stay online for the full semester - students will not be required to attend in-person instruction part way though the semester.

Exams for online courses will be delivered online. There will be no exams written on campus for courses that are 100% delivered online.

The College is currently undertaking a thorough assessment of the privacy impacts of using Zoom for instructional and administrative purposes.

• 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.

The Virtual Graduation Celebration will stream June 17, 2020 at noon via Youtube and Facebook and available at langara.ca/grad2020.

A wide range of options were considered for an in person ceremony, 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.

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.

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 until further notice. Please check back for updates.

• Students can meet English pre-requisites for the Fall Semester 2020 with the following scores:

  • + 50% in BC English Studies 12 (or Literary Studies 12 or First People’s 12 or equivalent) can register in first-year university-transferable English courses: ENGL 1123, 1100, 1129, 1130, 1181, 1191, and CMNS 1115, 1118 and 1122
  • IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo English Test 110 (or equivalent) can register in ENGL 1107* or CMNS 1114 and 1115. IELTS and Duolingo scores cannot be used as prerequisites for any university-transferable English or Communications courses.
  • * Successful completion of ENGL 1107 will act as a pre-requisite for university transfer English courses and Communications courses (ENGL 1123, 1100, 1129, 1130, 1181, 1191, and CMNS 1118 and 1122)

• Students who don’t have BC high school grades or IELTS or Duolingo scores, and who want to register in English courses, may contact the English Department, english@langara.ca for advising.

• Other departments may have courses with an LET score as a pre-requisite. Please contact the department for course registration advising.

  • Langara School of Management: Pre-requisites for courses are not changing. Students who need an LET score to meet the pre-requisite for a course should register for ENGL 1107 (if English is not their first language) as successful completion of this course will also meet the pre-requisite requirement.

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. 

Transcripts for regular studies academic records are available for order through the Student Information System (formerly called myLangara) from the Langara login page, 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) from the Langara login page 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.

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 Langara Bookstore is accepting online orders. 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. 

For those who are unable to purchase books online, the Bookstore is open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm each day. Please read our July 20 notice for more information. 

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. 

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

Statutory holidays: Closed.

• 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.

• 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.

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

Subject Tutoring
Writing & Tutoring Centre

• Physical space is closed but online tutoring and Writing Centre services are available online.
• For subject tutoring schedules and details, visit the Learning Commons website.
• For writing help and to make an appointment with a tutor, visit the Writing Centre website.

Math & Stats Activity Centre (MSAC)

• MSAC tutoring will be offered through Brightspace for the summer. Self-registration instructions.

Virtual Learning Support

For support with academic and online learning questions, visit the Virtual Learning Support website.

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/

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

There is currently no charge for printing.

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

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.

The bookstore is now open. We continue to strongly encourage all students to stay home, and order online. Please access the Bookstore only if needed.

To order online: please visit https://langara.ca/bookstore/.

To visit in person (Monday-Friday, 10am-3pm): please perform a health self-check at https://bc.thrive.health before you arrive on campus. If you are feeling unwell, please stay home for at least 14 days, and do not visit the campus. Over the past month, the Bookstore has been busy preparing our space to maximize health and safety for our students and staff. We have worked closely with Langara’s Health & Safety Officer to develop a sound safety plan, which includes rigorous health & safety training for each staff member, and safety precautions such as plexiglass barriers, hand sanitizer stations, physical distancing measures, and more. What visitors can expect:

• When you arrive and depart, you will be asked to use the hand sanitizers located at the entrance/exit.

• Access will be limited to seven customers in the store at any given time. Due to the reduced numbers, please expect line-ups with physical distance markers. We appreciate your patience while we take these measures to keep everyone healthy and safe.

• Masks are optional – we will have physical distancing measures in place, but respect individuals’ decisions to wear/not wear a mask.

• The Bookstore will be cleaned and sanitized thoroughly every morning and midday. Selling areas and cash counters will also be cleaned at regular intervals.

• Credit / debit cards are preferred; however, we will have one cash register available for cash transactions.

• In-store washrooms will be unavailable for customer use.

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.

If you find yourself in an emergency situation, and in need of funding, please contact the Financial Aid department at finaid@langara.ca. 

Provincial Emergency Funding
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. 

Due to the overwhelming response and need by students for Emergency Funding, we have had to put a pause on accepting applications at this time. Funding, as previously reported, was limited and has been exhausted.

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.

The Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training has announced that applications for StudentAid BC, along with the new non-repayable B.C. Access Grant, are now open. Every student who applies for StudentAid BC will now be automatically assessed for the new B.C. Access Grant. Aimed at low- and middle-income students, the grant will provide up to $4,000 a year to help eligible students with the upfront cost of programs leading to a certificate, diploma or degree. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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 suspension is currently agreed to be in place up until the end of August 2020. However, as the changes to on-line course delivery that also impact the delivery of the U-Pass BC are expected to continue into the fall term, discussions with partners are ongoing to determine if and when the U-Pass BC program can resume.

In the meantime, you may have noticed that your fee statement may include the U-Pass BC fee for fall course registration. Please note, this fee is still subject to change, as no decision has been made yet about the operations of the program. If the U-Pass BC remains suspended for the fall term, we will provide those students who have paid the U-Pass BC fee an account-credit or a refund.

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: Skytrain and Seabus passes are available for purchase through a variety of sources, as listed on the TransLink website. 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: Where can I direct additional questions?
A: Please contact us by e-mail at upass_admin@langara.ca 

The extended health and dental plan is administered by the Langara Student Union. As new information is available it is being posted on the StudentCare website.