Douglas Students’ Union Fall 2021 Updates –   

 To all our valued members, new and returning to Douglas College,  

Welcome to campus for the Fall semester and for those returning to in-person learning, welcome back to campus! We hope that everyone is continuing to stay safe and taking care of themselves. There have been so many changes over the 18 months for everyone and we want to make sure that you are all prepared for the fall semester and know that we are here for you.   

We are excited and optimistic for the coming fall semester. For those attending classes in-person this fall, we are working to ensure you have access to all services and events on campus while following public health orders with increased safety measures. For those that are starting or continuing their education online, you can access everything the DSU has to offer through our online services, our drop-in sessions, our online events, or by contacting our office directly at 604-527-5110. While public health orders continue to evolve and be updated, we continue to monitor the changes and adapt to ensure that we are here for you! 

IN-PERSON SERVICES  

  • Following the provincial health authority and WorkSafe BC guidelines, we have made changes to our spaces to ensure the safety of all our staff, directors, and our members entering the building.   
  • The Douglas Students’ Union continues to follow and be in accordance with Provincial Health Orders and Mandates set by the Public Health Office. As per the most recent Provincial Health Mandate released on August 25th, 2021, wearing a mask is mandatory while in the building and on campus. We encourage the practice of proper hygiene by washing your hands or using the available sanitizer, and ask that you maintain social distancing measures by following the appropriate signs found within the building.  

OFFICE HOURS  

  • New Westminster Office – Our front desk is located on Level 2 of the DSU building on the New Westminster campus. Our front desk is now open Monday through Friday from 9:30am-4:30pm. 
  • Coquitlam Kiosk – Our Kiosk in the AB building on the Coquitlam campus (located next to security) is now open Monday through Friday from 9:30am-4:30pm.  

VIRTUAL FRONT DESK HOURS   

  • For those continuing with online and remote learning this semester, we will be continuing our online drop-in sessions to access the Front Desk. These will be held weekly through Zoom. Watch our social media and website for drop in dates and times.   

LOCKERS  

  • Lockers will be available for members at a cost of $10 per semester. Members can access the locker rentals through the New Westminster DSU L2 office and the Coquitlam Kiosk. Payments can be made by card or cash at this time. Updates are available on our website.

CLUBS  

  • Clubs will be returning to in-person activities and initiatives this semester. They are a great way to get involved and to meet fellow students at Douglas College. All students are welcome to join a current club, or to start their own.  
  • Join us at our upcoming Club Fairs happening September 15 & 16 to see what clubs you can join, or to promote and recruit students for your club. You can also always check our website to see the list of active clubs.  
  • For those wanting to start their own club, club registration packages are available at the beginning of September and due back by Friday October 1st at 4pm. For more info about starting your own club, please email clubs@thedsu.ca.  

DSU HANDBOOK DAYPLANNER  

  • The DSU offers free handbook day planners for members. The handbook day planners are available for pick up from the DSU building in New Westminster and the DSU kiosk in Coquitlam.   
  • This year, we will also continue to offer a mail out service for our handbooks.  If you would like your handbook mailed to you, we will mail it anywhere within Canada. To have your handbook mailed to you please fill out the form on our website

FOOD BANK  

  • The DSU Food Bank is an emergency service for those needing short-term assistance. To ensure the safety of our staff and all our members by minimizing the amount of traffic in our building and face to face interactions, we have transitioned the service online. The Food Bank will be available to all members starting September 20 with confirmation of enrolment. Members will be able to access the Food Bank twice per semester through the form on our website. 

EMERGENT AND EMERGENCY NEEDS FUND  

  • In the Spring of 2020, the Douglas Students’ Union re-allocated $100,000 towards the Emergent and Emergency Needs Fund with Douglas College to support students during the Pandemic. Students facing financial hardships can apply directly for funding at enrolmentservices@douglascollege.ca  

LOUNGES AND STUDY SPACES  

  • The DSU student lounges and study spaces are now open for students to access as needed. In New Westminster, the 1st and 3rd floor of the DSU buildingare both student lounges. The 1st floor lounge has open study space and a table tennis table and the 3rd floor lounge has pool tables, air hockey, foosball, student kitchen and open study spaces. There are also some bookable study rooms available on the 3rd and 2nd floor of the DSU building. To book one of the study rooms, please visit the DSU front desk or in advance online.
  • The Lounge in New Westminster is open Monday-Friday 8:30am-6:30pm. 
  • In Coquitlam, there is a student lounge in room A1190, with a microwave, lounge chairs and computers available for student use. The Lounge in Coquitlam is open Monday-Friday 8:30am-6:30pm. 

U-PASS   

  • The U-Pass BC program was reinstated September 1, after working with TransLink, the other participating post-secondary institutions and student associations, and with continued support from the Province of BC.  Students who are registered in on-campus classes, co-op or practicum placements that are a minimum of three credits will continue to be eligible for a U-Pass BC and will be charged the U-Pass BC fee. Those taking online classes only will not be eligible for the U-Pass BC and will not be charged.  
  • Students that are facing financial hardships as a result of not being eligible for the U-Pass and require assistance can apply to the Emergency and Emergent Needs Fund at enrolmentservices@douglascollege.ca   

ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT YOU ON AND OFF CAMPUS   

  • Health & Dental Plan (including Legal Assistance Plan)   
  • GOeVisit Healthcare   
  • Deals App    
  • DS App   
  • Here2Talk 

All our services can all be found on our website here.

EVENTS AND CAMPUS LIFE  

During the pandemic, we transitioned our events to online and virtual and continued to work toward building a sense of community for our members.  

As we return to campus this fall, we will have a mix of both on campus and virtual events throughout the semester.  

Please note that based on the recent Provincial Health Orders and Mandates, effective September 13th some on campus events and services will require a Vaccine Passport.  

Some events you can expect this semester are: our outdoor welcome beverage gardens (all ages welcome) EDGE, movie days, wellness events, guided painting, speed friending and other social events to meet new friends and so much more! Stay up to date on events this fall through our website or social media pages. 

ADVOCACY WORK   

Access to affordable and equitable education is a priority for the DSU, in hopes of removing some barriers to education for students and those who need it. Some ways that we advocate for these are through asking for a fee regulation on international fees, more access to academic materials, and funding model adjustment for post-secondary institutions. For a full list of our campaign and advocacy work, please visit our website here.

Another part of the Advocacy work that we do it through our DSU Collectives. The DSU Collectives exist to represent and support different equity groups on campus. They are organized and run by the DSU constituency representatives, and they coordinate meetings, socials, workshops, events, and campaigns & advocacy work. The four collectives that we have are: 

To find out more about DSU Collectives or to join, please visit our website here.

OMBUDPERSON SERVICE  

  • The DSU Ombudsperson provides a safe, confidential and informal environment for students to discuss conflicts, complaints or disputes. The DSU Ombudsperson can also provide support and assistance with interpretation of Douglas policies and procedures.  
  • Students seeking support can access the DSU Ombudsperson by email, phone, video calls, and drop in sessions through ZOOM. Students can contact the Ombudsperson directly through our website to set up an appointment or to access the Virtual Drop-In Sessions. Keep an eye out on our social media and website for updates!  

We are listening and will continue to listen to you and your concerns. We are working hard to address your concerns at all levels. As we move forward, we will overcome challenges together. We appreciate all your feedback, and we are committed to continue to work hard to adjust and improve our services, in-person and online, to better help all of our members and advocate for more affordable and accessible post-secondary education.  We will continue to advocate for students to the decision makers at Douglas College. If you ever have any issues, please feel free to reach out to us board@thedsu.ca   

Thank you for your understanding and patience while we continue to work to support you as best as we return to on campus and in-person. We’re excited and look forward to seeing you on campus soon!  

If you have questions or would like to access any of our services, please don’t hesitate to reach out and get in touch with us:
info@thedsu.ca
@thedsu6
www.thedsu.ca  

Sincerely,
Your Douglas Students’ Union Board of Directors