Ryerson University president and vice president Mohamed Lachemi outlined the university’s plans for fully capacity in-person classes and extra cirricular activities and programs in the winter semester this week.

He said the gradual return to campus in this fall semester has a success and that there will be a broadened return with increased classes, programming, services and supports on campus in January.

He cites the increase in COVID-19 vaccination rates, the number of fully vaccinated individuals who have returned to campus already, and the re-opening of Ontario as indicators for a safe in-person return.

Prior to September, Lachemi said that the fall semester would be transistional and a trial run of slowly bringing staff and students back to in-person routines.

The university will continue to adhere to all protocols outlined by Toronto Public Health, including mandatory masks indoors, daily health screenings for all community members, enhanced cleaning, ventilation and air purification and maintaining the school’s vaccination policy.

All individuals coming to campus must show proof of full vaccination or a valid medical exemption for not being fully vaccinated.

Ryerson’s safety mobile app will continue to be how individuals submit their vaccination statuses. Nov. 1 is the deadline for these submissions.

These submissions include individuals who are not currently fully vaccinated and who believe that they may be mostly virtual in the winter term.

Lachemi believes the majority of classes will be in-person, as well as extracurricular activities and facilities like the Mattamy Athletic Centre and other campus gyms.

Lachemi wrote to staff, students and workers this week, thanking staff and workers for their patience and adherence to Public Health's guidelines throughout the pandemic.

"Thank you, as always, for your resilience, patience and commitment. Regardless of your role at our university, there is no doubt you have been presented with challenges and changes that none of us could have imagined. Please remember that supports continue to be available for all of our community members.

Your dedication to your studies, your work, your students and your colleagues has not gone unnoticed. I am so proud of the way this community has navigated this time and I look forward to seeing many of you back on campus in January."

Ryerson’s winter semester is expected to begin on January 10, 2022.

Some programs introduced hybrid classes, mixing digital learning with in-person classes in the fall.

The 2020-2021 school year was entirely through digital learning.

More details to follow.

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