A memo distributed March 17, 2020 to all University of Toronto employees contains updated details on supporting critical operations at the university during the COVID-19 outbreak. The university remains open but encourages employees who are able to work from home to do so.
Human Resources & Equity (HRE) has developed a temporary special guideline to telecommuting for employees who can work from home. More HR information, such as pay continuity, can be found on HRE’s COVID-19 information page.
U of T is committed to the health, safety and well-being of its community. New measures have been implemented to track the confirmed cases of COVID-19 among members in our community. The university is asking any employee who tests positive for COVID-19 to immediately report this result directly to U of T’s Occupational Health Nurse by email at ehs.occhealth@utoronto.ca.
COVID-19 FAQ, resources and more
- With the COVID-19 situation changing rapidly, the University of Toronto has created a central information hub for important messages and commonly asked questions about the coronavirus and its impact on the university. Here, you’ll also find links to faculty-specific information and health and travel resources.
- U of T’s research community is encouraged to visit this page created by the Division of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation for guidance on how to proceed during the COVID-19 outbreak. All lab-based research is advised to shut down by March 20 at 5 p.m. Exceptions will be made for approved COVID-19 projects or time-sensitive research. Please follow the approval protocols. Other commonly asked questions related to research operations are answered on this page.
- U of T staff have free access to LinkedIn Learning. The Centre for Learning, Leadership and Culture has identified some helpful courses to support you as you work remotely. These include tips on how to use Microsoft Teams and how to manage your time when working from home.
- U of T Libraries has made changes to their hours of operation and services. Most libraries are closed while the locations that remain open are operating on a reduced schedule. Visit this page regularly for the most up-to-date information.
- Modifications are being made to the tenure committee meeting protocols for 2019-2020. Please read this memo on the changes.
- Updated information relevant to the graduate community during the COVID-19 outbreak can be found on this School of Graduate Studies website. Information on academic activities, final oral examinations and more can be found this site.
- If your question was not answered in any of the resources above, you may also submit questions through this online form. Questions will be routed to the appropriate office and staff will respond as soon as possible.
Events listing - on hold
The university recommends cancelling or postponing all discretionary events that are not required as part of courses and academic requirements.
Coping with stress
Please know that supports continue to be available to you, including the university’s Employee & Family Assistance Program. Human Resources & Equity has compiled a list of other resources available to the community on their website; this list will be updated frequently. As a reminder, students have access to My SSP and other resources.
A final reminder that the University of Toronto continually updates our frequently asked questions related to COVID-19 and our community.