May 27, 2021 – We know 2020 was a difficult year for our students, faculty, staff and their families, as they faced the many challenges brought about by COVID-19. Now, after more than a year into the pandemic and increasing rates of vaccinations, Ontario’s universities are preparing for a safe return to campus in fall 2021.

With a firm commitment to the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, our universities are planning to have in person classes this fall. While each university will develop its own unique approach to the fall term, we have great optimism and hope for a fall where we may safely increase in-person teaching, learning, research and student experience on university campuses, in accordance with local public health guidelines.

With growing optimism as the rate of vaccinations increase, our universities will remain vigilant, nimble and responsive to changing circumstances. Ontario’s universities are working closely with public health officials and the provincial government to implement provincial and local public health requirements and taking the steps necessary to provide programs and services in safe and healthy environments.

The health, safety and well-being of our university communities are our top priority and we remain united by the common goal of delivering university programs and experiences that will support student success and ensure the continued delivery of mental health, career counseling and other critical student services.

We continue to be inspired and moved by the incredible resilience, resolve and ingenuity our students, faculty and staff have and shown over the past year. We’ve seen university students serve those less fortunate in their communities, work with researchers to help develop new treatment and testing methods and support local businesses, while medical and nursing students supported patient care.

Our universities are also working with government to accelerate and support vaccine rollout on campuses throughout the province. In the months to come these contributions will remain vital to helping Ontario both now and in the future.

While many of the details are currently being finalized, we look forward to welcoming our remarkable university communities back to our campuses this fall and remain focused on the mission at the very heart of Ontario’s universities: to help create a better future for our students, communities and the province.

— The Presidents and Principals of Ontario’s Universities

For updates and information about the fall 2021 term at each Ontario university visit:

Read last year’s message from the Presidents and Principals of Ontario’s universities, here.