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.

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Update 21: February 24, 2021

Note: We have updated our Fall 2021 return-to-campus plans since this message was posted. Read our March 25 message to learn more.

Update on the university’s return-to-campus plans for the 2021-2022 academic year

A safe, healthy and engaging campus has always been Ontario Tech University’s No. 1 priority. That’s why over the last several months of navigating COVID-19, we’ve taken a conservative approach to a gradual return to campus.

The university’s plans for the 2021-2022 academic year will continue to align with this approach. We’re in the process of establishing a number of forums, which will bring together representatives from across the university to discuss opportunities and challenges, and to share information related to university operations this September. We know in-person instruction is important to our students. We will continuously assess opportunities for in-person instruction as time goes by.

Plans are underway to offer courses on campus that have experiential components (e.g. labs), as well as other smaller offerings (tutorials and graduate seminars), where public health guidelines permit. However, we expect to continue holding most medium to large classes in a virtual format.

Recognizing that some students may continue to face health or travel restrictions that prevent them from attending in-person classes, we expect to provide options for remote and online learning where possible for the Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 terms. This approach will ensure:

We meet the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our university community.
Seamless continuation of instruction if we experience a subsequent wave of COVID-19.

To ensure that faculty, staff and students can properly plan and prepare for the 2021-2022 academic year, we will set a fall and winter campus schedule and only reduce the schedule if we are instructed to do so by public health.

We’ll communicate further information in the near future on how this hybrid approach will be implemented. In the meantime, if you have any questions, contact lookingahead@ontariotechu.ca.

Thank you again for your continued patience and support as we work hard to deliver the best possible academic experience.