Following the announcement that Ontario will be moving back to phase two of COVID-19 restrictions on October 9, Dean Melanie Woodin of the Faculty of Arts & Science announced in an email that all hybrid courses — taught with online sections and in-person sections — within the Faculty of Arts & Science will be moved entirely online for the rest of the fall semester.
Course delivery for fully in-person classes will remain unchanged. A recent U of T News article wrote that “lab courses, music and practical instruction, learning that requires hands-on activity and health professions’ practical training” are deemed as essential instruction and will also remain in-person.
The decision follows recent announcements of the closure and modification of on-campus activities across U of T, beginning on October 10. Changes include the closing of indoor fitness facilities, the movement of food services to take-out only, and limits on indoor activities to 10 people.
Though changes to in-person instruction and teaching were not included in the U of T-wide restrictions, the administration asked principals and deans to reconsider their in-person teaching practices.
The Varsity has reached out to U of T Media Relations for comment.
This story is developing, more to come.
