Returning to Campus Tomorrow
Dear UTM community,
I hope you will excuse my sending this message over the weekend, but I write because many more of you will be arriving on campus tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 7. In some cases, it will be the first time you’ve been at UTM in person in two years – or the first time ever.
We have worked hard to answer people’s questions in recent weeks, and we have gathered FAQs on the UTM Together page. But I wanted to share some important information one more time, in case you have the same things on your mind that I do.
First, here is where you check what’s open on the UTM campus. (Though protests affected the St George campus this weekend, UTM was not affected, and the campus is open.)
UTM gathers information about transit here and about parking here. The protests did impact the St George-UTM Shuttle: normal service is resuming, but you should check the Shuttle website for updates.
Whenever you are on campus, we will be working together with you to keep you and yours safe, using the best tools we have: vaccination, masking, good ventilation. Please complete your UCheck before you arrive on campus: UCheck is mandatory. UTM will be distributing some masks on campus: check this site for locations, which will be updated regularly.
If you are new to campus, we have maps for that. The timetable, along with Quercus and Acorn, tell you which room your class is in. We have distanced study spaces, and a new tool to help you find unused classrooms for quiet study. Find out where you can eat and drink here. If you are eating inside, please don’t remove your mask for long: take your mask down for a bite or sip, then put it back up.
I know it’s still a very challenging time for everyone, and there is support available. Our international students can connect with our International Education Centre. Accessibility and Health and Counselling are there for students; EAP and other services for staff, faculty and librarians; and Family Care for everyone.
Monday will be a milestone for me: we are opening the Vice President & Principal’s office fully for the first time since I became Principal in 2020. I look forward to seeing some more of you on campus tomorrow.
Take care, and thank you.
Alexandra Gillespie
Vice-President and Principal
University of Toronto Mississauga