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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Update 5: August 11, 2020

Dear Research community,

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, the Return to On-Campus Research Task Force has been working collaboratively to advise on processes to facilitate the staggered and phased-in expansion of research activities on campus. At this time, Research Activities that fall under Stage 3 will be reviewed and considered in the On-Campus Research Framework.

The new expanded On-Campus Research Framework has now been posted on the Ready for You website.

Stage 3 is open 

The process and forms for researchers to apply to return to on-campus research are live on the Ready for You website, and also accessible through the Ready for You research-related FAQ. Stage 3 sees on-campus research fully resume with necessary health and safety restrictions. Approved on-campus research includes projects that meet the criteria for stages 1 and 2 as well as ongoing research for which significant setbacks will be experienced by April 2021, and new and ongoing research for which health/safety/distancing/mitigation strategies can be met, and for which Stage 3 building capacity exists.

Stage 3 assumptions

  • Research activity that can be carried out remotely will not be approved for on-campus operation. Where a combination of activities can be conducted on campus and remotely, remote research activities must not be performed on campus. 
  • All projects will need to demonstrate appropriate risk-mitigation strategies in line with the Risk Matrix. A detailed safety plan will be required for all cases when the two-metre distance cannot be respected, or when other high-level risk factors exist (e.g. density issues; physical contact required). Personal protective equipment will be a key consideration for approval in these cases. 
  • Research is limited to the fewest number of personnel required to conduct the work.
  • Faculty and staff: Continuing to work from home is a priority. On-site work rotations may be required to manage building density/capacity limits. Only a limited number of research personnel, up to Stage 3 building capacity, will be approved to access campus for research that cannot occur remotely.
  • Students: Limited in-person access remains in effect. Remote research is still recommended. Individual approval is still required for all graduate and undergraduate students requiring one-time or long-term access to campus.
  • Non-Ontario Tech persons: Approval is still required to gain one-time or long-term access to campus.
  • Research travel: Domestic and international government restrictions are in effect; exceptions considered.

COVID-19 health and safety training

In preparation for return to on-campus research activity, researchers are invited to complete infectious disease training. 

Visit the Infectious disease training - COVID-19 page on the university’s Healthy and Safety website to complete the online training module.

 

Training has been developed to support our employees, but students have also been included if they are/will be attending campus to support research, lab work or other operational items. Student-specific training is being developed and will be ready for the Fall. Currently, you are only expected to go through this training once; however, retraining may be required in future, similar to AODA training and Sexual Violence training.

This training should be taken as identified through the essential activities list, operational list, or those with future access requests under review. For those already on campus doing approved essential research or work activities, we encourage completing the training as soon as possible. Training is mandatory. 

The Return to On-Campus Research Task Force will continue to monitor the situation and will provide regular updates to the research community as we move through the five stages of resuming research on-campus. I appreciate the strong commitment by our university community to the research enterprise and I wish all of you continued success with your own research.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Les

Les Jacobs, PhD, FRSC 
Vice-President, Research and Innovation 
Ontario Tech University 
905.721.3267 
289.688.5120 (cell) 
les.jacobs@ontariotechu.ca