In an email to the U of T community, Cheryl Regehr — vice-president and provost — and Kelly Hannah-Moffat — vice-president, people strategy, equity & culture — announced that students living in residences this fall must be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Students living on campus must have received the “primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine and at least one booster dose” prior to moving in, for a total of three doses of the vaccine. This requirement is also in place for any U of T employees that may be living on campus.

In the same email, Regehr and Hannah-Moffat confirmed that the university continues to plan for a largely in-person fall semester, despite rising concerns of a seventh wave of COVID-19 infections in Ontario. 

Encouraging masks on-campus

The university had paused its vaccine mandate for all students on May 1 and lifted its mask mandate on July 1. 

However, the administration continues to encourage students to wear masks indoors if maintaining physical distancing measures is not possible. 

The university requests that everyone respect each other’s decisions and remain mindful of each other’s health requirements and comfort levels. 

While they had no changes to announce on the general mask and vaccine policies, Regehr and Hannah-Moffat affirmed that the university is monitoring public health conditions and will consider adjustments to its current plans if the need arises. 

Encouraging booster shots

Ontario has recently expanded eligibility for second COVID-19 booster shots to Ontarians aged 18 and over. 

U of T recommends that eligible students stay up to date on their vaccinations and that students upload their vaccination documents to UCheck.  

Although unvaccinated students are able to enroll in courses with in-person components and attend other in-person activities on campus, the university cautions that vaccination requirements are subject to change. The university may reestablish vaccination requirements at any time. Accordingly, unvaccinated students would be disenrolled from their in-person classes. 

More information on this measure is available in the Vaccines FAQs on the UTogether website.