Dalla Lana School of Public Health

DLSPH Open: Fall Decision

August 6/2021

Dear DLSPH community,

I would like to provide you with a brief update on the Fall term at our School. As you know, in May we made the difficult decision to continue delivering the majority of DLSPH classes online for the Fall term.  We made the decision early to allow all members of our community — many of whom were already working or studying remotely — adequate time to plan for the Fall. Nothing has changed in this respect. With few exceptions, courses will continue to be delivered remotely.

However, this Fall will look different than the last school year, with more opportunities for students to gather in small groups, following all public health guidelines, for community and relationship-building activities and to meet with instructors in person.  We welcome all in-person co-curricular activities that follow public health guidelines.

We’re planning lots of fun activities for new students in particular, including pop-up zoom icebreakers, meet-and-greets with your favourite DLSPH professors, and ways to win DLSPH swag!  You’ll want to make sure you’re following us on Twitter, Instagram @UofT_DLSPH) and Facebook so you don’t miss out on the fun. And stay tuned by email for orientation activities from your divisions.

We will also continue all digital offerings from last year, including the 8^th Floor Lounge (a great place to meet other students and chat!), and the casual group chats after classes that have proven popular.

For the Fall term, the University of Toronto will require proof of full vaccination status of all faculty members, staff members, librarians and students to participate in higher-risk activities this Fall. So far, these activities include student placements, varsity sports and music instruction, but this list could change. Individuals may apply for an exemption.

As well, the University is requiring every student, staff member, librarian and faculty member attending or working at U of T this Fall to self-declare your vaccination status anonymously using the University’s UCheck platform. I am confident that members of the DLSPH community will participate in this effort to keep our campuses safer during the pandemic. Learn more about U of T’s vaccination requirements this Fall.

Lastly, we anticipate being able to resume in-person education in the Winter term, so please do plan to be in Toronto starting January 2022!

I am very much looking forward to the Fall term, and would like to extend a special welcome to our incoming students. You are coming to our School at a critical time for public health, when we urgently need new energy and ideas. Online or in person, when I teach a class, I’m greatly inspired by the commitment and enthusiasm of the next generation of public health and health systems leaders. Thank you for choosing the Dalla Lana School of Public Health!

All my best,

Steini
Dean and Professor
DLSPH