Frequently asked questions

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Students Faculty, librarians and staff Health and safety Masks Vaccines

Last updated: Jan. 31, 2023, 3:20 p.m. ET (updated 1.3, 2.8 and 5.1)

1. Students

Please visit your Faculty’s site for information specific to your program. You can also contact your divisional registrar.

Students have access to a range of student services.

Please visit UTogether's resources for students page, our guide on where to go between classes, U of T's events page, Sports & Recreation and Hart House for more information. 

For campus-specific programming, please refer to the following pages:

The University has paused the requirement for all members of our community to be fully vaccinated in order to come to campus. Please note that this requirement may be reinstated on short notice if public health conditions or guidance change.

However, the University will require students living in residence for the 2022-23 academic year to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including at least one booster dose. More information on this requirement can be found on the Vice-Provost Student’s website.

Local public health units have been advised of our vaccination requirement for residences and have indicated that having a high vaccination rate in communal-living settings benefits all those living there.

The University encourages all members of our community to be vaccinated and to obtain the booster doses available to them. Those seeking vaccination appointments can refer to the provincial vaccination portal or visit the UTogether vaccine site.

Graduate and professional students can visit the School of Graduate Studies Research and Academic Resiliency and Adaptation Tool Kit page for information and frequently asked questions on research recovery and adaptation, various programs types, personal accommodations and financial support. You can also check your Faculty site or contact your Department’s Graduate Chair.

Please visit this FAQ for international students for information. For information about U of T support for students during quarantine, please visit the Vice-Provost Students web site.

You can find information on technical requirements, adaptive technology, recommended accessories, and internet connectivity on this page. The page also includes an FAQ. We encourage undergraduate students who are facing financial hardship to contact their college or divisional registrar to apply for emergency bursaries, and graduate students to contact the School of Graduate Studies for support.

Global Affairs Canada has lifted the worldwide advisory to avoid non-essential travel anywhere outside of Canada.  As a result, all students are now able to travel internationally on University sanctioned activities. Please note that travel will still not be allowed for undergraduate students for regions with Global Affairs Canada travel advisories of “avoid non-essential travel” and “avoid all travel,” as was the case pre-pandemic. If you are a graduate student that needs to travel to regions under those categories, for research or program completion purposes, please contact safety.abroad@utoronto.ca. 

For all students travelling on University sanctioned activity, you must complete all safety abroad pre-departure requirements including checking travel advisories, completing safety abroad online workshops, securing travel health insurance and completing the safety abroad registry. More information on the safety pre-departure requirements for university activity abroad is available on the Safety Abroad website. 

2. Faculty, librarians and staff

If you have HR-related questions about COVID-19, please visit the HR & Equity COVID-19 website.

If you have research questions related to COVID-19, please visit the Research & Innovation COVID-19 web site.

The Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation has resources to help instructors with course planning and best practices in teaching. 

The Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation has a range of resources available, including on planning for teaching online. The Quercus Support Resources page may also be useful as you plan. Finally, you may wish to consult your divisional head for additional guidance and resources.

The University has Working Alone Guidelines that include resources available to support members of our community while on our campuses.

We are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic may cause significant challenges for pre-tenure and pre-continuing status faculty members at the University of Toronto with respect to their research, scholarship and teaching. 

In response, any pre-tenure or pre-continuing status faculty member may request a one-year delay in their timeline to tenure or to continuing status on the grounds of “serious personal circumstances beyond their control” associated with COVID-19. 

Faculty members should submit any request for a delay in writing through their dean/chair/director/principal following the normal process. 

A tenure stream faculty member may request a delay to their interim review, their tenure review, or both. A teaching stream faculty member may request a delay to their probationary review, their continuing status review, or both. 

In line with the provisions of the Policy and Procedures on Academic Appointments, we ask faculty members to submit any request at the earliest opportunity in the review process (i.e., as soon as you know or reasonably ought to know that your review may warrant a delay).

Yes. As  faculty, librarians, students and staff return to campus, departments are expected to plan events with local facilities management or property management. For more information on event planning please refer to the General Workplace Guideline, Chapter 11: Events.  

If you feel unsafe in the workplace, please speak to your manager, chair or department head. Similarly, if you are concerned about someone in the workplace who is ill and exhibiting COVID-19-like symptoms, speak to your manager, chair or department head. Managers, chairs or department heads are advised to contact environmental health and safety.  

Employees in the workplace who are ill with COVID-19-like symptoms should stay home; advise their manager, chair, or department head; and seek out medical advice accordingly. Please also review information on the procedures in the event of a confirmed case and/or COVID-19 symptoms webpage.

There have been reports of discriminatory behaviours towards some members of our community. Behaviours and comments that perpetuate stereotypes are harmful and should not be tolerated or condoned. Assessment of risk should be based on exposure history and not on race or ethnicity. We encourage members to reinforce messaging of the University’s commitment to human rights and our values of diversity, inclusion, respect and civility.

3. Health and safety

Please stay home if you are not well. Take the Province of Ontario's COVID-19 self-assessment to determine what to do next. Note your absence through the student absence declaration tool on ACORN or follow the instructions provided by your faculty or department. Also refer to Environmental Health & Safety's procedures in the event of a confirmed/symptomatic case or exposure to COVID-19.

Yes. If you miss a test or assignment deadline because of an absence, you should declare it using the absence declaration tool on ACORN. Note that the maximum period for which you can declare an absence using the ACORN declaration will change from 14 days to seven days in the future, as of Jan. 2.

For health and safety information related to COVID-19, please visit the EHS COVID-19 webpage and the General Workplace Guideline.

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, we continue to monitor public health guidance to ensure the safety measures we have in place are up to date and are informed by evidence. The University has implemented a range of safety measures across our three campuses in response to COVID-19 that have allowed for a safe return to campus. Some of these strategies will be eased in alignment with public health guidance but will be redeployed as needed. Please refer to how U of T is promoting a safe environment for the latest information.

4. Masks

The University’s mask requirements have been lifted as of July 1, 2022. However, the use of a medical mask in high-density indoor spaces when physical distancing is not possible is strongly encouraged. The University is a mask-friendly environment, and we ask everyone to respect each other’s decisions, comfort levels, and health needs. The University will continue to monitor public health conditions to adjust our response as needed, and we will update you on any changes.

In addition, individuals in specific circumstances may continue to be required to wear masks in all settings, subject to changes in provincial or federal requirements, such as those who have been recently exposed to COVID-19 or to someone with symptoms. 

It is vitally important that, even with the easing of provincial measures, we remain vigilant, conscientious and show kindness to one another.

The University recommends the use of medical masks, also called surgical or procedural masks. When purchasing a medical mask for everyday use, look for a rating of ASTM Level 2 or 3. ASTM stands for American Society for Testing and Materials.

Medical masks are regularly available for purchase on our campuses at such places as:

The University’s current mask requirements have been lifted as of July 1, 2022, in accordance with public health guidance. Some members of our community may choose to continue to wear a mask. We ask everyone to respect each other’s decisions, comfort levels and health needs. While members of our community can request those around them wear masks, those that choose not to comply with this request should not be disadvantaged or disciplined. 

5. Vaccines

The University has paused the requirement for all members of our community to be fully vaccinated in order to come to campus. Please note that this requirement may be reinstated on short notice if public health conditions or guidance change.

Indeed, although students and employees who are unvaccinated may enrol in classes with in-person components or attend University premises for work activities, vaccination requirements may be reinstated with little notice, which could result in de-enrolment or ineligibility to work.

However, the University will require students living in residence for the 2022-23 academic year to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including at least one booster dose. More information on this requirement can be found on the the Vice-Provost Students' website.

Local public health units have been advised of our vaccination requirement for residences and have indicated that having a high vaccination rate in communal-living settings benefits all those living there.

Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations is strongly encouraged. Those seeking vaccination appointments can refer to the provincial vaccination portal or visit the UTogether vaccine site.

Click here for more information on the efficiency and effectiveness of vaccines.

Yes. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that people who have already had COVID-19 should get vaccinated eight weeks following a positive test or the start of symptoms for individuals who have not completed their primary vaccination series. Getting vaccinated offers better and more reliable protection than any natural immunity resulting from an COVID-19 infection.

Health Canada provides guidance for those who are partially or fully vaccinated with a non-Health Canada approved vaccine.  

For more information regarding vaccine clinics and resources, please see the UTogether COVID-19 vaccines page.  

The University’s Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) staff will have access to proof of vaccination documentation for verification, which will be disclosed through a secure database that is approved to hold the most confidential data assets at the University, including health information. It requires the highest level of confidentiality and has rigorous security requirements to safeguard data protection. The vaccine status of faculty, staff and librarians may also be accessed by a limited number of University human resources personnel and administrators on a need-to-know basis. This process complies with all provincial privacy standards for health information. 

Yes! The University has supported the province’s vaccination efforts by supplying space and volunteers for COVID-19 vaccine clinics on its three campuses, in partnership with local hospitals. So far, more than 400,000 doses have been administered at the U of T-hosted vaccination sites and pop-ups.  

More information on how to book a vaccination on campus is available via the Discovery Pharmacy.