COVID-19 FAQ for Staff & Faculty Working on Campus

All employees should review the Ryerson COVID-19 Information and Updates page for Employees, opens in new window before they plan to work regularly on campus. On August 13, the university announced that all faculty, staff and students coming to campus will be required to submit proof of vaccination this fall. Submitting proof will be done via the RyersonSafe app or on desktop. More information about this new requirement will become available in the coming weeks.

All staff members can expect that for each day they work on campus, they will be required to fill out the health screening questionnaire, opens in new window through the Ryerson App called “RyersonSafe”. You will also need to indicate which rooms/areas you expect to visit, while on campus. This must be completed prior to entering the campus. Once cleared, the mobile app will show a code similar to a QR code that is either green or red; green means that the person – staff or faculty member, student or visitor, has met the criteria to be able to come onto campus. You may be asked to show this code when you enter different areas or offices at the university, and conversely, should ask to see another’s code before allowing them entry to your office.

You must also complete the google formFaculty of Arts Access Log, external link, opens in new window each day you visit campus. This form is required for contact tracing purposes. We require you to complete this form so that we can contact you in the event of an outbreak or to determine if you were a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case on campus.

Working with the Environmental Health & Safety Unit, and the Facilities, Management and Development Department, the Faculty of Arts has taken the following steps to prepare for a safe return to working on campus:

• Implemented physical distancing strategies
• Posted signage indicating room capacities; health & hygiene practices; mask policies; and directional signage
• Adjusted processes to minimize risk
• Installed disinfecting wipes in common areas
• Improved ventilation, including the installation of MERV 13 filters in Jorgensen Hall

All buildings will be accessible by OneCard access only. If you do not have a OneCard, please visit the OneCard website, opens in new window for instructions on how to obtain and pick-up your OneCard. If you have a physical card but it is not granting you access to buildings on campus, please email onecard@torontomu.ca. In many cases, issues related to building and door access can be resolved remotely and do not require you to visit the OneCard Office. For immediate assistance, you can contact Campus Safety & Security at 416-979-5040.

All faculty and staff working on campus will be required to follow Ryerson’s policies regarding PPE, opens in new window and the university’s Face Mask policy, opens in new window.

Ryerson University is providing all full-time staff and faculty with two reusable cloth masks, for those returning to work on campus. These will be placed in your department mailbox.

If you are in a role that will require you to be unable to maintain two metres physical distance while working with others, a face shield will also be provided to you. In some work areas, plexi-glass has been installed for additional protection. If you do not have a face shield and will be engaged in work where you cannot maintain two metres physical distance from others, please contact Melissa Wong, Director, Operations & Strategic Projects; melissawong@torontomu.ca.

The Faculty of Arts IT team will continue to provide support remotely, but will also be on campus regularly to support in-person activity.  They can be reached via phone or email:

Arts I.T. Support Team:
416-979-5000, ext. 552723
artshelp@torontomu.ca

You are required to limit the number of occupants in common areas such as kitchenettes and copy rooms to one (1) person at a time so that two metres of physical distance can be maintained. If the room is occupied, please return when it is vacant. Follow Ryerson’s Employee Cleaning Guidelines, opens in new window and be sure to tidy up after yourself, to help keep spaces clean and safe for all using them. Disinfecting wipes will be available in common spaces.

Please note that most food services on campus, such as the Hub Cafe are currently not in operation.

Virtual meetings and appointments continue to be encouraged at this time to eliminate the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and/or its variants, and we recommend all appointments be scheduled. In order to prevent line-ups and crowding, appointments should be staggered. In order to control access to each department, the suite doors for each department will be locked at all times during the fall term. An information bulletin containing contact numbers and a directory will be posted outside of the main doors to each department, directing visitors to call when they arrive for a scheduled appointment. You should meet students and visitors at the suite entrance of your department and escort them to your office. A phone and directory will be available for visitors outside of JOR-100 to contact the person they are scheduled to meet, or to speak with a staff member who may assist them with their inquiries. Students should be instructed to show up no earlier than five minutes prior to their allotted appointments, when possible. Signage asking individuals to maintain physical distance while they wait have been placed in the hallways outside of department suites.   

In the case where office hours will be held in person, the following guidelines should be followed when considering the health & safety of both parties. Both the student and yourself are required to wear a mask when meeting indoors (some conditions may apply, opens in new window). The mask must be worn in a manner that covers the mouth, nose, and chin. If two metres of physical distance cannot be maintained during the meeting, it is recommended that faculty or staff wear a mask and a face shield. Face shields will be provided to faculty and staff if they expect to meet with students or other visitors and physical distancing cannot be maintained. If you require a face shield to be ordered, please contact Melissa Wong, melissawong@torontomu.ca.  

All students and visitors are required to complete the Ryerson Health Screening, opens in new window and the Faculty of Arts Visitor Log, external link, opens in new window. Once cleared, the mobile app will show a code similar to a QR code that is either green or red; green means that the person – has met the criteria to be able to come onto campus. You should ask for students and visitors to show you their green code before entering your office. You can refuse to meet with a student if they have either not completed the questionnaire, or not passed their health screening and/or are not wearing a mask. Please see below for guidance on how to respond to this situation.

Office doors are encouraged to remain open to aid in the ventilation of air flow. This is at the discretion of staff/faculty, however, to create a safe space for students and ensure privacy, and under similar circumstances, the door may be closed if all other protocols are properly followed. Prior to and after meeting with a student, staff and faculty are advised to wipe down any communal equipment or surfaces with disinfectant wipes. Wipes are are available in common areas in each department.

No, you may safely remove your mask and then put it on when you open your door or move about on the floor.

Yes, you can eat in your office with your door closed without needing to wear your mask.

Virtual appointments are encouraged to eliminate the risk of transmission. In order to prevent line-ups and crowding, we recommend all appointments be scheduled in advance, and be staggered. In order to control access to each department, the suite doors for each department will be locked at all times during the fall term. An information bulletin containing contact numbers and a directory will be posted outside of the main doors to each department, directing visitors to call when they arrive for a scheduled appointment. A phone and directory will be available for visitors outside of JOR-100 to contact the person they are scheduled to meet or speak with, and if they are unsure, a staff member may assist with scheduling an appointment or redirecting their inquiries.

We value the health & safety of all students/staff/faculty/community members at Ryerson, and have established appropriate safety processes and policies to aid in the protection of all persons on campus. If you have found yourself in a situation where another individual may be displaying non-compliance with the COVID-19 protocols you are permitted to deny service. If an individual is unmasked you may advise them to wear a mask covering immediately, and/or supply them with a mask covering. If the individual refuses to comply, you may refuse service, and report the instance at your own discretion. If the situation escalates and you do not feel safe or equipped to continue advising, you may contact Ryerson Community Safety and Security, opens in new window. All administrative office desks have an emergency button, which when pushed will contact and summon security.  

Please note: exemptions to mask wearing do exist in some cases where an individual may have an accomodation (e.g. can not wear a mask due to medical reasons). In these instances, you may need to make alternative arrangements to provide service. These can include requesting to schedule a virtual meeting, utilizing a larger office space that allows for additional distancing from the student, and the use of a face mask and eye protection (such as a face shield).

If you have visited campus in the past 14 days and have tested positive for COVID-19, or you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, please refer to the University’s protocol, opens in new window for reporting positive or suspected cases of COVID-19.

If a student has reported to you that they have been on campus within the past 14 days and has tested positive for COVID-19, or is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, please refer them to the Student COVID-19 reporting page, opens in new window.

Please also notify Melissa Wong, Director of Operations and Strategic Projects (melissawong@torontomu.ca) or Manuela Lefranc, Manager, Departmental Administration (lefrancm@torontomu.ca). Please note that you may be asked to assist in the contact tracing process.

We would like to ensure that your safety needs are met and that you feel safe on campus. You are encouraged to download the RyersonSafe mobile app, which is free and available to download on Android or iOS devices that can connect to a wireless network. All alerts that are pushed to the RyersonSafe mobile app travel over both the WiFi and the cellular network and have the potential to reach users faster than other communications channels. 

Android devices:
Download the RyersonSafe mobile app on Google Play, external link, opens in new window

IOS device:
Download the RyersonSafe mobile app on the App Store, external link, opens in new window

In an emergency or if you have immediate safety or security concerns, call 911. Connect directly at emergency stations or blue poles located across campus. For locations of emergency phones on campus, visit the campus map, opens in new window. For more information on responding to emergency situations, please visit the Campus Safety and Security webpage, opens in new window.

You can obtain your new OneCard by scheduling an appointment for pick-up. Ryerson employees who require a new or replacement OneCard to access campus buildings or access on-campus services during the fall 2021 semester may request to pick up their OneCard by scheduling an appointment through the QLess appointment management system., external link Dates and pick-up windows will be calculated for you so that you may drop-by and pick-up your new card

If you share an office space, discuss with your manager a strategy to schedule or stagger shifts and to implement physical distancing in your workspace. If you have shared equipment, employees should wipe down communal equipment and frequently-touched surfaces with disinfectant wipes before and after use.

We recommend that when possible meetings be held virtually, however in situations where some individuals are meeting on campus it is encouraged to propose the option of virtual communication for those persons who are not required to be on campus. The number of persons within a meeting space must be restricted to the recommended capacity indicated by signage. Furniture may be removed or rearranged to accommodate social distancing guidelines, and enforce two metres of distance between persons. All persons should be wearing a mask at all times within the shared space and maintain two metres physical distance. All high-touch surfaces and equipment should be wiped with disinfectant wipes prior to and after the meeting (i.e. door handles, light switches, desk). Signage in meeting rooms will be installed to direct the flow of traffic.

Meetings should be scheduled to allow a minimum of 30 minutes between each meeting so that the air can be recirculated through the ventilation system.

All in-person meeting attendees should be logged/tracked for contact tracing purposes. If the meeting attendees are members of the Faculty of Arts, they should complete the google formFaculty of Arts Access Log, external link, opens in new window. If they are students or visitors, they should complete the google formFaculty of Arts Visitors log, external link, opens in new window. All meeting attendees are required to complete the health screening, opens in new window before entering campus.

Whether it be to conduct formal interviews or casual drop-ins, it is highly recommended to limit the number of persons that enter your office space and avoid coming into close contact with other staff/faculty members. When possible, it is encouraged to hold virtual meetings or find alternate space for meetings which can accommodate the two metres of social distance requirement and provide better air circulation.

All visitors are required to complete the Ryerson Health Screening, opens in new window and the Faculty of Arts Visitor Log, external link, opens in new window. If you are meeting with either an internal or external visitor, please ensure you both properly follow the masking guidelines and ensure shared surfaces are cleaned with a disinfectant wipe. When meeting with a visitor, verify they are logged so that all interactions may be tracked for traceability purposes.  

If two metres of physical distance cannot be maintained during the meeting, it is recommended that faculty or staff wear a mask and a face shield. Face shields will be provided to faculty and staff if they expect to meet with students or other visitors and physical distancing cannot be maintained. If you require a face shield, please contact Melissa Wong, melissawong@torontomu.ca.

Ryerson is currently upgrading to a new Cisco-based phone system, which allows calling capabilities to and from your Ryerson extension via a computer or mobile phone; and the option of receiving a copy of voice messages in your Ryerson Gmail account. For instructions on how to use your new phone, please view the user guides on the CCS Webpage., opens in new window

The Facilities Help Desk (“Fixit”), opens in new window is the Ryerson community’s one-stop service hub for all facilities-related questions, concerns and requests for service. 

Telephone: 416-979-5091
Internal phones: x555091
fixit@torontomu.ca
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.