Your wellbeing is our first priority: A message to students from the Office of the Vice Provost, Students
Message from the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students
Hello!
I hope you had a safe and enjoyable summer with family and friends. As we kick off the new school year, I wanted to take a moment to review a few things about what Ryerson will be like this fall and to go over how things will work if you need to come to campus.
Your wellbeing is our first priority
There’s no question that the fall semester will be different – just like so many aspects of our lives. While the majority of your programs will be held remotely, some of you may be coming to campus because you are registered in a class that has an on-campus component, or have pre-booked and confirmed an appointment at the Student Learning Centre (SLC), the Ryerson Library, or the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). Some of you will have already moved into your Residence and are able to access your assigned buildings in accordance with directions provided by Housing and Residence Life.
With your wellbeing in mind, we’ve made adjustments to our shared spaces in preparation for these kinds of activities. Taking our lead from Toronto Public Health, Ryerson has implemented many health and safety measures across campus, including enhanced cleaning protocols, new guidelines for shared spaces, helpful signage and hand sanitizer stations to keep you safe.
We’ve also staggered activities to minimize the number of people in one place at a time, so we ask that you please adhere to your schedule and refrain from tampering with any furniture, spaces, or other amenities that have been identified as closed or unavailable. Finally, spots on campus have been made available to support quiet study and select services, so we ask that you please respect the intended purpose of these spaces.
Things to know about coming to campus
If you plan to come to campus, you are expected to complete a health self-assessment prior to your arrival each day. Additional screening questions may be asked of you in advance of being granted entry to a building, and you will be required to read and sign either an acknowledgement of informed consent or a waiver, depending on the scheduled activity.
Importantly, masks are now required in all indoor spaces per Ryerson’s Face Mask Policy and failure to comply may impact your ability to be on campus. To help ensure your safety, every student who comes to campus will have the option of picking up a reusable Ryerson mask at no charge.
Masks will be available for individuals at the MAC and the SLC, and though no appointment is necessary, you should be prepared to show your OneCard when picking them up. Groups of students who have approved activities on campus will have their masks delivered to their meeting place. Currently, these groups include student staff working in residence, students living in residence, students quarantining in residence and a small number of students who will be attending campus for in-class instruction.
While masks will be available to you, I want to stress that you should not come to campus specifically to get yours. You should only be on campus for pre-approved activities and only then should you be picking up your mask. We’ll have lots available to pick up at a later date, as more activity happens on campus.
In-person placements need informed consent
Experiential learning is a key part of the Ryerson student experience, however, under the circumstances, there are inherent risks associated with working alongside those outside of your immediate family or community. As a result, all students attending an in-person placement or work term this fall – both on and off campus – should review, confirm and agree to the statements in an informed consent form, which will be provided by your placement coordinator.
If you’ve been outside of Canada
International students who are arriving from outside of Canada will have received information from Ryerson’s International Student Support (ISS) team, including the requirements for your entry. If you have not received these details, please contact International Student Support at issask@torontomu.ca immediately. We encourage you to review ISS’ pre-arrival checklist before travelling to Canada.
Domestic students who have travelled outside of Canada and have recently returned must self-isolate (quarantine) and stay home for 14 days whether you have symptoms or not. More information on how to self-isolate can be found here (external link) .
Our safety is our collective responsibility
We know change is never easy, but we each have a responsibility to do our part – as best we can – for the sake of our community. As we learn how to navigate Ryerson’s new campus protocols together, I encourage you to talk to your friends about best practices, to look out for one another and to err on the side of caution for everyone’s benefit.
When in doubt, please remember and adhere to Toronto Public Health’s “Tips to Prevent the Spread (external link) ”.
We’re here to help you thrive
We understand that the last few months may have been isolating, so we’ve created opportunities to connect with your friends and the greater Ryerson community safely. Virtual learning supports, remote counselling sessions, peer-to-peer mentoring, virtual hangouts and movie nights, and many more resources are available to you this term.
Check out all of the services available to you at #RU4U – virtual events and opportunities for students can all be found on ConnectRU, your campus events hub. We’re also posting important information and updates on Ryerson’s dedicated COVID-19 website.
Remember: Ryerson’s faculty and staff remain dedicated to supporting you in this new environment. We all want to get back to campus life as soon as possible, but it’s important that you do not come to campus unless it’s necessary. As the semester unfolds, we’re committed to listening to your concerns, to being flexible and to offering innovative approaches to education as we prepare for our eventual return.
Best of luck this fall and take good care,
Jen
Jen McMillen
Vice-Provost, Students
