Dean's Messages

Good afternoon to our U of T Engineering community

A quick note to follow the University’s latest update on campus status. I’m writing to share that in Engineering, we anticipate a safe return to in-person classes on Monday, as we had planned. The University is closely monitoring the protest at Queen’s Park, and will share any necessary updates through the UTAlert system — I encourage everyone to sign up if you haven’t yet.

To me, learning from each other in person is vital to engineering. I also know that many are anxious about this return — all of us have been affected by the pandemic in diverse and complex ways, and I recognize and appreciate the stress that all of us are feeling.

Over the last month, we have made thorough preparations that prioritize safety and wellness, to ensure we’re ready to welcome our community back to campus. We are going to take this return to in-person one step at a time, similar to how we approached the return during the Fall Term. I think key words for the rest of this term will be flexibility and adaptability.

Engineering is a very special community, built on collaboration and teamwork. It has taken all of us working together to get to this point. This week we will be carefully observing how the return to in-person goes, and making adjustments as needed to ensure a safe and successful semester.

Chris

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

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Support Resources for Students

Academic Concerns & Advising

You may have concerns about upcoming academic work.

• Undergraduate students: There is a petition process that can help mitigate the impact via extensions or exceptions to deadlines. You can read more about this process at https://undergrad.engineering.utoronto.ca/petitions/term-work-petitions/, and reach out to your Academic Advisors (through the advising portal or by email).
  • First Year Team & Advisors
  • Upper-Year Academic Advisors
• Graduate students: Those who feel that they may need an extension or exception to deadlines should consult with their course instructor/supervisor. Graduate students who need advice about requesting academic considerations can contact the graduate administrator in their home department or institute.
  • Engineering Department Graduate Administrators

Mental Health Resources for Students

Each of us responds to stress, anxiety and uncertainty 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

• Campus Chaplains offer spiritual care in times of grief.
• View chaplain directory and book an appointment for a chat.

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:

• (Toll-free) 1-800-663-1142
• (TTY) 1-866-398-9505
• (Collect) 604-689-1717

http://benefits.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/efap/

To our U of T Engineering community

You will have received the message from the University this afternoon about the planned protests at Queen’s Park this weekend — I want to provide our Engineering community with an update as well.

Our priority, as always, is to ensure the safety of our students, staff and faculty. In anticipation of possible disruptions, the University is restricting access to some buildings starting from 12 noon today, Friday, February 4, 2022. 

• Students, staff and faculty with key, fob or card access can still gain entry, and the campus remains open.
• The Gerstein and Robarts libraries are closing at 5:00pm Friday; on-campus parking lots are now closed.
• Those visiting campus are advised to remain vigilant on and around the St. George campus today and over the weekend.

The University will be using two tools to keep the community updated — please sign up for these:

• University of Toronto Alert System — UTAlert allows the University to quickly send important messages via email and text
• U of T Campus Safety app — The app features emergency contacts, crisis alerts, location services features, in-app tip reporting and more.

This situation is temporary and shifting rapidly — we will share the latest information as we get it. At this point, we anticipate a safe return to in-person classes on Monday, February 7, 2022. In the event that this situation continues through the weekend, we will provide you with an update as soon as we can.

Please ensure you monitor your emails, social media accounts and the University channels I shared above. Staff and faculty can reach out to chairs, managers or supervisors should they have any questions or concerns.

We will all get over this latest hurdle together. Wishing everyone a safe and warm weekend.

Chris

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