On October 20, OCSU hosted its first-ever virtual Q&A, bringing students from all four regions together with three senior high level Okanagan College administrators, Samantha Lenci, James Coble and Phil Ashman. Students from all 4 campuses joined the two-hour conversation, raising concerns about campus facilities, academic programming, and student services.
What we heard from students
Fitness fees and facilities: Frustration over limited hours, no weekend access, and perceived inequity between campuses.
Course availability: Difficulty finding in-person adult upgrading courses, and course cancellations and changes in Salmon Arm.
Program communication: Concerns about unclear or outdated information on program status.
Student services: Supports that are hard to find without actively searching.
Housing conditions: Issues in the older Kelowna housing building, including non-functional AC and poor Wi-Fi.
Textbook costs: The expense of materials that are required but not used.
Other topics: The Salmon Arm Hub model, AI in the classroom, and student advocacy.
What happens next
While no policy changes were finalized, the administrators committed to investigating the issues raised and following up with students and OCSU. Some highlights:
Exploring broader access to the Salmon Arm student housing gym
Using student feedback to review fitness facility hours and programming
Sharing feedback on student service promotion and the Salmon Arm and Penticton hub models with the college’s Hub steering group
Continuing work on textbook affordability through open educational resources and other models
A floor-by-floor refresh of the older Kelowna housing building, with bed frame and mattress replacements this semester and suite upgrades targeted for next summer
We’re students for students, and we’ll keep following up on every commitment made. We’re already planning the next Q&A for the winter term. Watch our channels for details.
— OCSU