Fall 2021 Planning Information Session Q&A

We are planning to return to in-person activities to the fullest extent possible. While some components of courses will continue to be taught online, we expect more on-campus academic activity by September. The university will also continue to develop plans for a progressive return to campus for the Winter 2022 semester.

On May 4, we posted our projected course-delivery formats on MyCampus to indicate which course components may be:

• Entirely online.
• Entirely in-person.
• Partially in-person.
• Entirely online or entirely in-person (both options available).

It is crucial that we communicate this preliminary information to our students now, especially to those who are planning to move to the Oshawa area and intend to sign leases. We will continue to review this information as we get closer to September. 

See the Fall 2021 course preview information and registration schedule on the university's Office of the Registrar website.

We are in the process of outlining general planning scenarios. Section offerings and teaching assignments will be negotiated individually between the dean and instructor. 

Currently, we anticipate the Fall 2021 exam periods (both mid-terms and finals) to include some combination of in-person and remote assessments to accommodate a range of class sizes.

While our planning will continue to include contingencies, the possibility of offering exams in large-group or high-density settings remains questionable. Public-health directives and, more specifically, physical-distancing requirements will guide our decisions in this area.

 Recognizing that some students may continue to face health or travel restrictions that prevent them from attending in-person exams, it is still important to plan online exams for students who are taking online courses.

In addition to on-campus quiet study space in the Campus Libraries, we will create ‘flex spaces’ where students can watch and participate in remote-learning activities. We will follow all public-health requirements in setting up these spaces (e.g. meeting physical-distancing and masking requirements, etc.).

We have already broken up some of the larger classes into smaller sections where possible. We are focusing on potentially integrating new streaming platforms within the classroom to provide both in-person and online sections.

We are looking forward to the fall term with optimism. We currently expect more than 60 per cent of courses to have some component offered on campus.

Our anticipated revenue for 2021-2022 are nearly identical to our total revenues in 2019-2020. We have been investing in teaching primarily by reallocating funds within the budget.

 We are also:

• Increasing the number of course sections by splitting some courses so there's a section on campus and a section online to meet student needs and demand.
• Introducing new technology into the classroom.
• Increasing support for Teaching Assistants (TAs).

Importantly, the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) will be:

• Introducing a Teaching Scholar-in-Residence program to work with their colleagues and provide mentorship on best practices in an online environment.
• Shifting its focus to supporting the instructional and pedagogical needs of faculty members, instructors and TAs.

No, it is optional. However, we plan to outfit more than 50 per cent of all of our classrooms with streaming technology so instructors may choose to use it if they wish.

No, if the schedule posted in June says your class is online, we want to maintain that commitment to you and your students. If an instructor wishes to come back to campus and stream their class, we will try to accomodate. Each of these requests, if any, will be handled on an individual basis.

As more students come to campus to receive instruction in classroom and laboratory environments, we will need to provide appropriate support services on campus such as Academic Advising and other front line services. The return of these services will be gradual.

We've come a long way in our thinking in terms of what blended learning looks like. Not only have we looked outside and brought in experts to see what were they doing in their institutions, but we've also looked inside, because we have so many experts doing innovative things here.

Change is difficult in the post-secondary sector. Many organizations will gravitate toward the old normal, because that is how institutional culture works.

Our ambition is to create a unique, hybrid style of learning, because this is what our students expect. We will only get there if we work together as a team and share information and best practices readily with one another, not just within faculties, but across the entire university.

Barring any surprises, the building will be open. The departments/units who will occupy the building are expected to move in between early and mid-September.

Thanks to our faculty, staff and students, we’ve really been able to maintain that feeling connection and caring for one another even while we’ve been physically separated. The one thing we know for sure is that this coming year is going to have a great deal of uncertainty. As we transition back to campus, we’re going to need to be empathetic, kind and understanding to one another in all situations, and ensure everyone feels like they truly belong.

The university continues to follow a risk-based approach to determining on-campus research activities. While we anticipate there will be on-campus undergraduate research opportunities available in the fall, the dynamic nature of the pandemic does not allow us to provide a definitive answer at the moment.

Many funding organizations have web pages dedicated to COVID-19-related changes to their funding programs. Researchers should visit the websites of their research sponsors on a regular basis to see what new information is available regarding COVID-19-related changes. Major agency information is also available via the university’s research-related FAQ.

Our Return to On-Campus Research application and risk-mitigation processes are still in place. If researchers wish to restart their labs or return to other research activities on campus, they should submit their application now so they can be prioritized before students return in fall.

We will work with the faculties directly to collect and review research students’ needs.

The Ontario Tech Research Ethics Board (REB) is independent from the university’s administration. The REB is working with the operations team and reviewing the recently released provincial regulations.

We look forward to getting back into in-person research and we recognize the tremendous pressure those who do this work have faced over the last year.

Administrative staff scenarios will be determined on a case-by-case basis, based on public-health directives. Frontline services will be a priority, gradually returning over mid to late summer. The university is considering administrative staff frameworks for work scheduling and hybrid work arrangements.

When we are finally in position to return to campus with the necessary safety measures and protocols in place, we are mindful of the different reasons some staff may feel uncomfortable doing so. Our priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees, and following all government, public-health or legislative measures in place to meet the safe work-environment standards. The Human Resources team will engage with employees who are unable to attend work on campus because of a medical condition.  

We encourage you to review the mental and physical health-related services offered through our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).

We're mindful that some staff may feel uncomfortable about returning to work. Up to this point, managers and administrative staff have worked together to come up with appropriate arrangements for those who need to make their way back onto campus based on their job.

The safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority, and the university will continue to adhere to the necessary protocols and practices required for those staff on campus. Where it is safe to do so, staff will be returned to campus as the university continues its work to finalize an approach for hybrid work arrangements.

We're aware of the changing work environment and the desire of employee’s for greater flexibility in work location. Earlier this winter, a consultancy group was mobilized with representatives from different areas and disciplines across the university’s administrative employment group. As part of its work, this group continues to share ideas – including engagement and exchanges with othe universities -- and move towards opportunities that would provide flexibility on a position-by-position basis for administrative staff to work remotely for parts of the work week.

This will depend on the unit and the function. With more than 60 per cent of classes having an on-campus component, we’re going to need support services. Frontline services will be a priority, gradually returning over mid to late summer. We are currently working with unit leads on a checklist and a plan for gradual return to campus through August.

The principle is the same for both locations, but hours may differ based on the time students are in classes.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the Office of Student Life transitioned all of its support services online. Student Life has also implemented a Stepped-Care Model: a new triage system for mental-health support that has significantly reduced wait times. The provincial government has also invested a large sum of money into student mental health that has been distributed throughout the university sector. We have also invested in Academic Advising to ensure students have access to the necessary tools and supports.

The delivery format of student services and events will depend on public health directives. Student services and supports will follow the same staggered approach as our back-to-class plans. Check with individual units for their approach.

This will be reviewed with each unit.

Currently, our focus is on planning for academic activities. However, we are examining prospects for extracurricular activities in consultation with the Ontario Tech Student Union. The possibility of allowing extracurricular activities, including varsity and recreational athletics, really depends on what the public health directives will allow us to do.

Students have had an ability to enter Canada throughout this pandemic, and we expect that to continue. We will continue to work closely with provincial and federal governments, especially in the context of quarantine requirements, and continue to inform our international students in the weeks and months to come.

Canadian universities are currently collaborating with the federal government in an effort to speed up the process. We do, however, still recommend that international students start the process as early as possible.

In Canada, the vaccine is currently offered to all legal residents. We strongly encourage researchers and other visitors to be vaccinated upon arrival. We will continue to monitor the situation and will advise the community when there is a definite answer.

All universities are currently engaged in discussions on this topic and protocols are being reviewed. Our current assumption is that you will not need to be vaccinated prior to entering an open university building. However, we are expecting that different protocols may be required for select areas like residence.

The university is looking to work with students, faculty and staff to create an awareness program for September. Our Campus Ice Centre currently serves as a mass-immunization clinic, and we are working with them to see if we can make the distribution even easier, for example, a pop-up clinic in residence.

Yes, based on the Durham Region Public Health directives currently in place, PPE will be required. The required use of PPE will be in place until public-health officials indicate otherwise.

The university sector is following the expert advice set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Our current ventilation for newer buildings is above ASHRAE standards. We have replaced all of our air filtration. We've purchased and tested air purification that goes through the ducts. The technology is proven to kill 99.9 per cent of viruses, bacteria and mould by eliminating airborne and surface contaminants.

The university will not aggressively enforce its mask policy but will focus on education and rely on people to do the right thing. We ask that everyone be respectful. We advise you to refrain from approaching individuals, or commenting on those who are not wearing a mask as they may be unable to do so. It’s appropriate to leave space between yourself and the individual, or to ask the individual to provide appropriate distance.

However, repeated breaches of the directive without a reasonable justification may be addressed under relevant disciplinary (e.g. Student Conduct policy) or performance-management processes. We expect our campus community to be respectful of this approach and each other. We will not tolerate inappropriate behaviour.

Note: We have information on the Ready for You website regarding the requirement for masks and eye protection. Anyone who needs accommodations must to go through Student Accessibility Services or Human Resources. We are creating scripts to help instructors respond to these types of situations in the classroom.

At this time, we require masks to be worn when inside buildings on campus, and outdoors when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Faculty members are required to wear masks while teaching. If you need accommodations, contact Maureen Calhoun, Health and Safety Officer.

Please contact lookingahead@ontariotechu.ca.