U of T ENGINEERING

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Posted October 7th, 2021 by Tristan McGuirk

Vaccination uploads & checking in

To our U of T Engineering community

Walking through our campus, seeing so many of you back in person and having a chance to chat has been amazing — it’s so good to have our engineering spaces in use again. It has been really inspiring to meet up with students, staff and faculty. While the pandemic is still very much ongoing, the return back to Skule™ this year has been relatively smooth, and that’s due to the huge amount of preparation by students, staff and faculty alike.

I’m also sending out my thanks to everyone for your ongoing cooperation and efforts to keep us in-person — uploading your vaccination receipt to UCheck, showing your green screen every day, wearing your mask in all common-use areas, and staying home if you're not feeling well.

As we all settle into the Fall Term and midterms approach, I wanted to take a moment to check in and remind everyone of some key dates and resources.

Upload proof of vaccination & UCheck every day

  • All members of the U of T community who come onto campus must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and are required to upload proof of vaccination through UCheck. Everyone must receive their final dose by October 15, 2021 to qualify as fully vaccinated by October 29, 2021. All members of the community must provide proof of being fully vaccinated in UCheck by October 29, 2021. Employees, — including both faculty and staff — must upload proof of vaccination in UCheck even if they are currently working remotely.
  • Everyone coming to campus in person must complete UCheck every day, and receive a new green screen, before arriving on site. Spot checks are being conducted around campus and in classrooms — “Show Your Green”!

Mental health is health

  • As the term picks up speed, the upcoming Thanksgiving long weekend provides a good opportunity to slow down for a moment. Academic success is terrific, but maintaining your own health and finding balance is the most important thing — and sometimes taking a break is what’s needed. Get to know a classmate and take a walk to check out the changing leaves on campus, set aside time to reset your sleep schedule to prioritize your wellbeing, help your family prepare a meal, or play some games and relax. I know I’ve got a long run planned for this weekend
  • If you’re feeling overwhelmed, this is a good time to reach out for help. All students can reach out to the Faculty’s Mental Health Programs Officer for mental health resource navigation support. For undergraduates, the First Year Office or your program’s academic advisors are also excellent places to start. For graduate students, know that your supervisors and your graduate department administrators can offer a helpful connection to information and resources. I’m also sharing some of the mental health resources that are available to us 24/7 — we should all keep these handy.

Coffee with Chris

  • This Fall, I’d like to connect with our students, staff and faculty — to hear from you and answer any questions you may have. In the weeks ahead, we’ll be setting up a couple of open discussion-style Coffee with Chris events — dates to come, so please stay tuned and I hope to see you there.

I’m proud of the way I’ve seen our community take responsibility to keep ourselves, our classmates, and our colleagues safe. I hope you all have a relaxing long weekend, and that we launch into the second half of the semester with renewed balance and energy.

Chris

Christopher Yip
Dean
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
University of Toronto

Support Resources for Students

Academic Concerns & Advising

You may have concerns about upcoming academic work that you may feel unprepared for or are unable to complete at this time.

Mental Health Resources for Students 

Each of us responds to stress, grief and tragedy differently — at one time or another, we all need help. If you are feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to turn, please reach out.

U of T My Student Support Program (MySSP)

  • Immediate and/or ongoing confidential, 24-hour counselling support
  • 1-844-451-9700 (outside of North America, call 001-416-380-6578)
  • Download the My SSP app: Apple App Store | Google Play.

Multifaith Chaplains

U of T St. George Health & Wellness

  • Physical & mental health care by physicians, nurses, counsellors and psychologists.
  • 416-978-8030

U of T Engineering Mental Health & Wellness

  • Mental Health learning opportunities, COVID-related resources, reports, services & supports for U of T Engineering.

Student Mental Health Resource

  • U of T’s mental health resource hub containing the tools, strategies and experts to meet you exactly where you are on your mental health journey.

Support Resources for Staff and Faculty

For staff and faculty who are supporting students navigating mental health challenges, the U of T Engineering Student Well-Being Resource Guide outlines additional considerations and a variety of resources for both you and the student. We thank you in advance for all the ways that you continue to foster a culture of care and support here at U of T Engineering.

All U of T staff and faculty members have access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). If you are experiencing distress, please reach out at any time – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – by contacting the EFAP at:

Posted in COVID-19

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