A group of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby recently complained about the impact the school’s move to online learning during COVID-19 would have on them.
Burnaby’s coolest pub would likely have the same complaint as well.
The Study at SFU has been shut down ever since the pandemic began and the school’s continued use of online learning this fall will likely mean this pub will stay closed for many more months. Depending on how the pandemic goes, SFU could stick with online learning for the entire school year.
Online learning means few students are on campus and that greatly reduces the number of customers available for a pub.
I know because I live next to SFU and walk the campus every day. It’s a ghost town right now, which is bad news for a business like The Study, which only opened in spring 2019.
I went to this pub a few times and it seemed to draw mostly from students. There are also thousands of people who live in the UniverCity development who have nothing to do with the school, but the pub mainly relied on students.
This is a big loss for our neighbourhood because the food was really good, the décor was fantastically retro and the views from on top of the mountain were incredible.
The Study is run by the Joseph Richard Group, which runs more than 15 different operations, from restaurants to public houses to liquor stores to a hotel, plus a winery, said spokesperson Karen Renaud.
The Study is the group’s only business that is still closed, Renaud said, adding that the group respects the situation that SFU is in and is waiting to see when in-person classes resume.
But how long can this group wait? It’s a tough situation.
I was hoping that the pandemic was calming down in Metro Vancouver, but the latest numbers show a big surge so who knows where things are headed as far as people continuing to frequent pubs, bars and restaurants.
Meanwhile, SFU is sticking with its online plan, despite concerns from students.
“The quality is just not the same,” said Osob Mohamed, the president of the Simon Fraser Student Society, during a recent virtual town hall meeting.
She said students are missing out on the ability to talk with their professors and the quality of their school experience is often at the mercy of the robustness of their internet connection.
“It uncovers a lot of gaps in the system.”
But John Driver, SFU’s vice-president academic, said it’s incorrect to assume the move to new delivery methods affects the quality of education the school is able to provide. He said the university is actively providing coaching and resources to support instructors in their move to online teaching, as well as resources to assist students.
“The technological advances we’ve made in the past couple of decades means we can connect with each other better,” he said, adding online classes have been an option chosen voluntarily by about 10% of undergrad students for years as they’re better able to fit them around their busy schedules.
“We do have a lot of expertise and experience in remote learning.”
Sounds like the school doesn’t plan on changing its mind anytime soon.
- With files from Mario Bartel
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
