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茄子直播 provides support to students who must stay in residence during COVID-19 outbreak

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Roughly 30 per cent of students have asked to stay on in residence at Innis College, where staff members are committed to taking care of their needs (photo by Diana Tyszko)

The University of Toronto is supporting and caring for students who must stay in residence during the COVID-19 outbreak, while鈥痑ctively assisting students who are trying to make arrangements to go home. 

The university last week requested students who live in residence and are able to return home to do so, taking with them essential items such as laptops, textbooks and material needed to complete their coursework. 

However, students have been told they鈥檙e鈥痺elcome to remain in residence if they are unable to return home 鈥 as is the case for some international students, students whose family members are in self-isolation and out-of-province students who need more time to make travel arrangements. 

鈥淭he university has asked students to move out of residence where possible to support the public health distancing measures being imposed in the province,鈥 said鈥Sandy Welsh, 茄子直播's vice-provost, students. 鈥淗owever, we understand that many students have exceptional circumstances that require them to continue to call our residences home.  

We want those students who need to stay here to be with us during this challenging time.鈥

At Innis College Residence, one of nearly a dozen residences on the St. George鈥痗ampus, roughly 30 per cent of students have asked to stay in residence, according to鈥Steve Masse, the college鈥檚 dean of students. He says鈥痵taff are committed to taking care of students' needs. 

鈥淲e want students to continue to feel supported throughout these uncertain times,鈥 said Masse.鈥淲e continue to make decisions informed by consultations with public health institutions and what we genuinely believe is in students鈥 best interests.鈥 

Masse added that students at Innis can continue to rely on critical services such as the building鈥檚 24-hour front desk. 鈥淲e have had to make some changes with respect to some of the amenities in residence such as our common room and gym facilities,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hose decisions were aligned with the university鈥檚 decision to take spaces offline in order to encourage social distancing.鈥濃 

At 茄子直播 Scarborough, meanwhile, Student Life is moving first-year programs such as socials and learning opportunities online for the benefit of first-year students living in residence.鈥疎xam Jam, a popular event that helps students prepare for final exams and address academic anxiety, could also be moved online.鈥疶here are opportunities to move recreational events online as well. This Friday, for example, 茄子直播 Scarborough鈥檚 residence will organize a movie night using鈥痑 Google Chrome extension that allows people to watch Netflix 鈥渢ogether鈥 from the comfort of their own rooms.鈥 

Facilities such as 茄子直播 Scarborough鈥檚 Health & Wellness Centre, library and International Student Centre continue to operate to support the student body and international students, with social distancing measures and online delivery of services where appropriate. 

At 茄子直播 Mississauga, residence don teams are preparing to host community gatherings online to discuss wellness supports and field students' questions and concerns, and are dispensing resources and handouts to help students staying on in residence. 

茄子直播 Mississauga's peer academic leaders (or PALs) 鈥 upper-year students who live near first-year residences and are tasked with mentoring students in their academic transition 鈥 already held an online workshop last week geared towards computer science students.鈥疧n Thursday night, the PALs were set to host an online workshop devoted to helping all students stay motivated and create schedules for themselves now that in-person classes have been suspended. 

Kim Cuozzo, residence education co-ordinator at 茄子直播 Mississauga, says upper-year student staffers are stepping up to set an example when it comes to coping with the stress and uncertainty brought about by the outbreak. 

鈥淥ur student staff are definitely excited at the prospect of still being able to support students,鈥 Cuozzo said. 鈥淭hey're keeping in good spirits to keep others up, modelling calm while also showing that they're ready to take on their classes so that their students can feel that as well.鈥

Back at Innis, Masse said students have been understanding of the measures, spawned by the extraordinary circumstances brought about by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. 

鈥淭he sentiment that I鈥檓 hearing from students is that they understand the rationale for the decisions that have been made by the university in the last week or so, and that while they鈥檙e inconvenient, they appreciate that they鈥檙e in the best interest of the community.鈥 

Masse added that full-time and student staff alike, whether they鈥檙e telecommuting or working in the residence building and office, are determined to help students in their hour of need. 

鈥淎 common sentiment regardless of folks鈥 working arrangements is their commitment and support of students,鈥 said Masse. 鈥淓ach and every one of us wants to continue to be available to students to support them, particularly as they鈥檙e navigating what is admittedly quite a challenging time.鈥 

Staff are also ready to help Innis students who are departing campus, according to Masse. 

鈥淲e鈥檝e been on the phone constantly, engaged in conversations with our residents, talking through travel plans and how we can support them as they鈥檙e negotiating what can sometimes be challenging travel arrangements with family, or in terms of co-ordinating pick-ups and acquiring moving equipment and so on,鈥 Masse said.鈥 

Students who leave their residences before their projected departure date are being provided partial refunds, as the university looks to alleviate the financial burden for students already grappling with logistical and emotional challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.鈥 

The university is also鈥鈥痜or undergraduate and graduate domestic and international students who need short-term financial relief as a result of unexpected expenses, and is working on ways to support students who will not be able to return home when the term ends. 

Students who experience symptoms while living in residence are asked to self-quarantine themselves and phone their respective residence front desk, who will inform the Dean of Students/Residence Office. Students should also call Telehealth Ontario toll-free at鈥1-866-797-0000 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007).

UTC