March 15, 2020 | 2:00pm
To our U of T Engineering community
We’re continuing to make adjustments to our plans to find creative ways to keep the semester going as best we can. We’re also listening to your concerns and feedback, and we know that many of our students are faced with difficult decisions about whether and when to return home given the increasing challenges with international travel.
We have decided that all U of T Engineering undergraduate and course-based Master’s of Engineering (MEng) students will not be required to return to the St. George campus in person for the Winter 2020 session. This includes UTIAS.
Course work will continue with online alternatives. Students, please keep checking Quercus for info from each of your course instructors on how these adjustments will affect your courses, labs and exams. Students registered with Accessibility Services should continue to contact Accessibility Services to receive accommodations and supports.
I’ll be following up directly with faculty members with more details on completion of term work and final exams as I get that info.
My thanks to our entire community for your strength and flexibility during this unpredictable time.
Chris
Christopher Yip
Dean
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
University of Toronto
To all Engineering students, staff and faculty
I know the last few weeks, and especially the past few days, have been really hectic, unpredictable, and frankly confusing.
The COVID-19 situation is moving really quickly and I know that this has affected each and every one of us, both academically and personally.
I want to be really open and clear in sharing what is going on, because it is such a quickly evolving situation.
Since my note this earlier morning, I’d like to answer questions that many of you have raised — and in particular to thank you for being frank in your comments.
- Physical lab spaces — including computing (ECF) labs and undergraduate teaching labs and makerspaces (Myhal Light Fabrication Facility) where people gather — will be closed. Research laboratories overseen by faculty members will remain open.
- At this time, students are encouraged to stay home or in residence and access course content online. We may all still be back on campus for exams after April 9 — I’ll let everyone know what is happening around final exams as I find out more from the University.
- I’m asking managers and chairs to be flexible in accommodating staff requests to work from home where it’s feasible for them to do so. For faculty and staff — info on how to set yourself up to work remotely are here: https://uofteng.ca/workingfromhome
- For students, info on how to remotely access ECF can be found here:
I will also be sending out a separate email directly to faculty, instructors and TAs outlining some ideas and options for alternative ways to deliver your course content.
Students, please keep checking Quercus for updates on your courses.
Everyone at the University is trying to make decisions that protect our health and wellness, and that uphold continuity as best we can. This is really a complex and unprecedented situation — and we know that we’re not going to get every single thing right.
We are trying to be flexible and make good calls — adaptability is key.
I’ll provide updates as soon as I get them and keep everyone in the loop.
I thank everyone for all your efforts in helping us manage through this very weird situation.
Chris
Christopher Yip
Dean
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
University of Toronto
Dear Engineering students, staff and faculty
You will all have received the below message from President Gertler outlining changes to our classes and operations. I want to make it clear how these changes affect us here in Engineering.
- We will be cancelling all in-person meetings of undergraduate and graduate classes, effective Monday, 16 March 2020 through the end of the semester, which is 9 April 2020 for Engineering. Classes scheduled for today, 13 March 2020, will meet in person.
- Students, please check Quercus for messages from your instructors on the nature of any changes to your courses.
- Exams will happen — we will update you as soon as we are able on any changes to delivery or format.
- Our campus remains open, and staff and faculty should continue to come to work on site at this time where they are able.
- As always, any students, staff and faculty with cold and flu symptoms should stay home and report their absence through the tools available — the Absence Declaration tool in ACORN for students, or Employee Self Service for staff and faculty.
This is a very complex situation and things change rapidly — I know that this is a confusing time so I will keep everyone up to date on events, news, and announcements from my office via our various channels.
Chris
Christopher Yip
Dean
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
University of Toronto