University Of Toronto Is Waiting Until Next Month To Gradually Return To In-Person Classes

The University of Toronto is preparing to return to in-person learning, and students will be back on campus in a few weeks.

So, if you haven’t missed seeing students milling around the U of T campus, don’t get too used to the quiet. The university announced in a press release on January 19 that a “gradual” and “safe” return from remote learning will start on February 7.

U of T switched to “a predominantly remote model" in December 2021 in response to the Omicron variant and rising COVID-19 cases in the province.

The school accredits its switch to in-person learning to students expressing “how important physical presence on campus is to them – both for their academic work and for their mental wellbeing.”

“U of T currently hosts thousands of students in our residences, many of whom have travelled far from home to learn and interact with their professors, classmates and friends. For these reasons, in the coming weeks, we will return to more in-person activities on all three U of T campuses,” reads the press release.

On February 7, U of T employees will be expected to be ready to return to work on campus. However, the “exact plans” for in-person learning and activities “will vary depending on local factors.”

According to the press release, U of T will be following the latest health guidelines and have enacted 12 policies to ensure a safe environment for staff and students on campus.

Some of these measures include mandatory masks in indoor spaces, rapid screening kits, proof of vaccination and more, which are continuously updated.