Dear KPE students, staff and faculty,
I hope this message finds you well and that the term to date has been productive, with many opportunities for connection and collaboration. As we approach the midway point of the Fall term, I wanted to provide an update on our plans for the upcoming Winter term.
In my last update, I confirmed the Faculty’s plans to proceed with a safe, gradual return to campus for the Fall term. We started by delivering academic and co-curricular activities to small and mid-sized groups, and have been pleased to see members of our community in our spaces once more, as much of what we do is built around — and for — in-person interaction. Since the Fall term began, we have been able to increase capacity in our Sport & Rec programming as public health guidelines have evolved. We continue to offer a wide variety of in-person and online programming for our community and look forward to increasing our number of participants and offerings starting in the winter term.
In another positive development, the University recently moved to allow increased capacity in instructional lab spaces. Requirements for the wearing of masks and other PPE will still apply. Recognizing that many students may have chosen courses and made living arrangements for the term based on the expected mode of delivery, the Faculty will not require students to attend any in-person instructional activities that were not previously designated as in-person for the duration of the Fall 2021 term. Students with questions about these changes should connect directly with their supervisor to discuss potential impacts on their research.
These recent changes to public health guidelines align with our previously communicated plans to return to campus in the new year. With public health and health care indicators remaining stable across Ontario as vaccination rates increase, I want to confirm that the Faculty will fully resume in-person activity on campus, as of January 2022, inclusive of small, mid, and large-sized academic courses, student learning/research activities, social activities and student support services.
As a reminder, the University of Toronto requires all those present on campus, or on premises owned or operated by the University, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination via UCheck, in full accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. I strongly encourage everyone who is able to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible to enable a smooth return to in-person activities.
Please continue to check the frequently updated resources available to you, including the University’s UTogether website and COVID-19 FAQ.
I look forward to reconnecting with you on campus next term and am excited about the many memorable experiences that lay ahead as we move forward.
Sincerely,
Gretchen Kerr, Ph.D.
Dean, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
University of Toronto