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Suspension Extended through Spring/Summer for Student and Staff University-Sanctioned International Travel

Category:To: All faculty and contract lecturers, as well as affected staff team leaders
March 03, 2021

I hope you are still keeping safe and well. As we continue to review and adjust university programming to align with the Government of Canada’s Global Travel advisory (external link) , as well as local and global COVID-19 protocols, we have made the careful decision to extend the current suspension of all university-sanctioned international travel and in-person activities abroad for students and staff through August 31, 2021.

Activities Affected

As a reminder, this includes – but is not limited to – university-sanctioned international travel and in-person activity abroad connected to faculty-led trips, study tours, academic exchanges, internships, placements, co-op, student research, conferences, competitions, student group travel and Letters of Permission (LOPs) that entail travel. It also includes incoming short-term international student visitors to Ryerson, such as exchange students and international visiting research students.

Further, experiential learning activities are still subject to restrictions for in-person activities, as outlined in the EL framework, but can be fulfilled remotely. All considerations and decisions for experiential learning activities must align with the framework and broader directives from the Experiential Learning Office.

Faculty and Contract Lecturer Travel

Though the travel suspension does not currently apply to faculty members and contract lecturers, we are urging you to please review any upcoming travel plans you may have very carefully. Where possible, please consider postponing or cancelling travel plans entirely, and delaying financial commitments if there is an opportunity to do so. Please note that international activity that does not require travel or compensation/payment from Ryerson (e.g. remote/virtual activity with international partners/collaborations), is not affected by the suspension.

For more information and future travel updates for faculty and staff, please visit Ryerson International's International Risk Management website.

Fall 2021 Term

Ryerson continues to look further ahead to the fall 2021 term. We understand that planning for international fall activities is due to begin within the next couple of months, and we will follow up as soon as possible with our decisions as they relate to international travel and programs. We appreciate your patience.

In the meantime, please note that the university’s semester-based academic exchange program is advising students to consider participation for the winter 2022 term to avoid logistical and financial complications should we need to extend the suspension again.

For More Information

Ryerson International is available to work with faculty and staff members to support the transition of in-person global learning student activities to remote options, and is available to support initiatives for virtual semester-based academic exchange.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Emma Wright, Manager of Global Learning and Engagement. For faculty and staff international activities, please connect with Sara Berman, Director of Ryerson International. For information about experiential learning, please contact Anita Abraham, Director of Experiential Learning. We also encourage you to reference Ryerson International’s FAQs for additional details.

We trust that all units, departments and Faculties will share this information with students as relevant or appropriate. Please see Ryerson International’s student Safety Abroad website for more information.

Finally, thank you for your ongoing flexibility as we continue to monitor this situation and to make adjustments to our programming. As always, the health and safety of our community, as well as our partners in Canada and abroad, remains our top priority.

Saeed Zolfaghari
Interim Provost and Vice-President, Academic