#Access4All Campaign
#Access4All is a campaign started by Disabled students at the University of Victoria (UVic) in the spring-term of 2021 during the COVID-19 crisis. For many, in-person education continues to be a risk to health and safety.
Universal hybrid online access to course materials, lectures, tutorials, labs and class resources is still needed. We know this technology is possible – we had online classes for nearly 2 years. We know people are capable of providing hybrid online/in-person classes – there are instructors who, to this day, provide online/hybrid attendance options out of the goodness of their hearts.
#Access4All is a UVSS Campaign calling for hy-flex and hybrid education options for all students at UVic
Solely to in-person delivery of classes is an active dismantling of equitable education.
Those who are:
- Disabled
- Have mental health conditions
- Mature students
- Immunocompromised
- Caring for at-home dependents
- Working while studying
- Unable to afford rent in Victoria
are disproportionately impacted by a mandatory return to in-person classes. Without recorded lectures, online course options, and other similar access points for at-home learning, these students are disadvantaged by a lack of accessible learning options.
#Access4All committee members have met with local MLAs, Parliamentary Secretary Dan Coulter, UVic Executives, and continue to participate in the revision and renewal of policy AC1205: the policy outlining academic accommodations at UVic.
In April 2025, the #Access4All committee signed a joint letter sent to UVic’s Senior administration alongside fellow student, staff, and faculty association and unions.
These efforts have not resulted in any tangible or meaningful actions that address these accessibility barriers at UVic, despite clear and consistent asks on the part of Disabled students, as well as faculty and staff.
We demand #Access4All
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that adaptations to the delivery of education for the well-being, health, and safety of all students can be achieved when deemed “necessary.” Maintaining accessible education options is necessary.
Demands of the University of Victoria:
- That UVic ensures all classes in all faculties are offered with online and hybrid options, including labs and tutorials.
- That UVic provides ample support for professors navigating these online and hybrid courses, and that UVic joins the Access4All campaign in lobbying the provincial government for funding for the necessary additional TA support for professors.
- That UVic clearly states which professors are recording their lectures in the course registration for all courses in all faculties.
- That UVic reinstates Echo360 training and pays professors and teaching assistants to attend. In addition, encouraging the use of Echo360 technology and providing documented benchmarks and yearly progress reports showing the increased use of the system.
- The punitive attendance policies be eliminated. Attendance policies are discriminatory towards disabled people who cannot regularly attend class. Attendance policies also put students at risk, as students who are ill are more likely to come to class to avoid losing marks for missing class.
- That the UVic Board of Governors make a public statement announcing their commitment in continuing to dismantle ableist structures at UVic.
- That UVic provide free face masks at building entrances or at designated pick up points and that UVic commit to applying for provincial funding in partnership with #MaskUpUVic to secure adequate PPE for our campus community.
Want to get involved with #Access4All?
Check out our Instagram:@uvicaccess4all
Email uvicssd@uvic.ca to learn more about how you can support #Access4All
Show your support by SIGNING THE PETITION: http://chng.it/B7h6mzB9xt
