Academic Updates for Summer 2023

For the Summer term, KPE undergraduate academic courses are being delivered online.  

When indoors in our facilities and in other health sciences buildings at the University of Toronto, you are strongly urged to wear a mask. 

Those who are lecturing or speaking publicly may opt to remove their masks while talking. But otherwise, please mask while you are indoors in our facilities, unless you are actively eating or drinking. 

COVID-19 border restrictions, including testing and quarantine/isolation requirements, vaccination, and mandatory use of the ArriveCAN travel app are no longer necessary for many travelers entering Canada whether by land, air or sea. 

Detailed information for international students (both returning and incoming) can be found in the FAQ for international students on the website of the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students. 

The University has paused the requirement to be fully vaccinated (with the exception of students living in residence). This requirement may be reinstated on short notice should public health conditions or guidance change.

Students living in residence are required to have a primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine and at least one booster dose. More information on this measure is available on the University's UTogether website.

Please visit the University's COVID-19 FAQ page for students for additional information regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education encourages you to wear a high-quality, tight-fitting mask when indoors in our facilities and in other health sciences buildings at the University of Toronto. 

Those who are lecturing or speaking publicly may opt to remove their masks while talking. But otherwise, please mask while you are indoors in our facilities, unless you are actively eating or drinking. We thank everyone in advance for taking this step to help our health-system and community partners.    

Please refer to the University's UTogether site for additional information on masks.

Please note that mask requirements may be reinstated on short notice should public health conditions or guidance change.

As of Jan. 31, 2023, the UCheck portal is no longer active.

The University may reinstate the requirement to complete health screenings via UCheck and/or mandatory vaccination status reporting with little notice in the event that public health guidance or recommendations change. At such time, additional information will be provided to the U of T community.

This summer, the Faculty will undertake a renovation project in the 2nd and 3rd floor corridors of the Clara Benson building. The renovations will create brighter, refreshed spaces through the removal of non- drywall ceilings, asbestos abatement, installation of new LED lighting system and installation of new flooring.

Renovations are anticipated to begin May 8 and last for up to 8 weeks.

As a result, corridors and rooms in the affected area will be unavailable for use, including the undergraduate computer lab. Graduate students whose spaces will be affected by these changes have been informed of alternate spaces available for use by their PIs. 

Any student requiring use of the undergraduate computer lab is asked to use the computers at the U of T Libraries while the renovations are underway.

The Benson Lounge (BN 202) and Benson Pool Gallery (also called the Gallery Lounge) are available as multi-functional student spaces for studying, group work and socializing. The Benson Pool Gallery is located in the second floor corridor that connects the Warren Stevens Building to the Clara Benson Building. 

Case-by-case accommodations have always existed and will continue to be provided for students through regular support and accommodation processes, including for students with a disability or those with personal extenuating circumstances (e.g. medical, bereavement).

If you have questions, please reach out early. Academic advisors are available to assist students in developing individual learning plans, including advising on course selection in light of course delivery modes and personal student circumstances, as well as supporting application for accommodation supports. All accommodation requests must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

Please email undergrad.kpe@utoronto.ca (undergraduate students) or grad.kpe@utoronto.ca (graduate students). 

Students registered with Accessibility Services should continue to contact Accessibility Services to receive accommodations and supports.

Libraries are open to current University of Toronto students, faculty and staff. 
For details on operating hours and access guidelines, please visit the University of Toronto Libraries website.

Please use the Absence Declaration tool on ACORN (found in the Profile and Settings menu) to formally declare an absence from academic participation. Record each day of your absence as soon as it begins, up until the day before you return to classes or other academic activities. The University will use this information for academic considerations and to monitor the overall health of our community.

Global Affairs Canada lifted the worldwide advisory to avoid non-essential travel anywhere outside of Canada as of February 28, 2022.  As a result, all students are now able to travel internationally on University sanctioned activities. 

Please visit the University's COVID-19 FAQ page for students for the latest updates and frequently asked questions.

Please connect directly with your supervisor for all research-related questions and planning for how you can continue to make research progress in consideration of any COVID-19 health and safety requirements.

For the most up-to-date guidelines on face-to-face human participant research and on-campus research activities, please carefully review the website of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI). ​​​​​

University of Toronto grants assist students with unmet need with respect to their educational expenses (ex., tuition, books and supplies, living costs). University of Toronto grants are not intended to fund non-educational expenses or to repay your debts.  

It is expected that prior to applying for this grant, students will have explored all sources of funding such as family support, savings, study period income, OSAP or other government assistance programs, daycare subsidies, and bank lines of credit as appropriate.   

Learn more about Undergraduate Grants

For the Summer term, most KPE undergraduate academic courses are being delivered online.  

When indoors in our facilities and in other health sciences buildings at the University of Toronto, you are strongly urged to wear a mask. 

Those who are lecturing or speaking publicly may opt to remove their masks while talking. But otherwise, please mask while you are indoors in our facilities, unless you are actively eating or drinking. 

University of Toronto grants assist students with unmet need with respect to their educational expenses (ex., tuition, books and supplies, living costs). University of Toronto grants are not intended to fund non-educational expenses or to repay your debts.  

It is expected that prior to applying for this grant, students will have explored all sources of funding such as family support, savings, study period income, OSAP or other government assistance programs, daycare subsidies, and bank lines of credit as appropriate.   

Learn more about Undergraduate Grants

The SGS Emergency Grant program aims to assist currently registered, full-time graduate students who encounter an unanticipated serious financial emergency. The grant is intended to help provide immediate short-term relief of such financial need and is not intended as a source of long-term funding.

The SGS Emergency Loan alleviates temporary cash flow problems for students who are expecting the release of funds in the near future (i.e., 30 to 120 days) from employment, a major award instalment, OSAP (Ontario Students’ Assistance Program), teaching assistantship, or research assistantship payment, etc. All graduate students who encounter an unanticipated serious financial emergency are encouraged to meet with the SGS Graduate Student Financial Advisor to discuss options.

This summer, the Faculty will undertake a renovation project in the 2nd and 3rd floor corridors of the Clara Benson building. The renovations will create brighter, refreshed spaces through the removal of non- drywall ceilings, asbestos abatement, installation of new LED lighting system and installation of new flooring.

Renovations are anticipated to begin May 8 and last for up to 8 weeks.
As a result, corridors and rooms in the affected area will be unavailable for use, including the undergraduate computer lab.

Graduate students whose spaces will be affected by these changes have been informed of alternate spaces available for use by their PIs. 

Any student requiring use of the computer lab is asked to use the computers at the U of T Libraries while the renovations are underway.

All other graduate student spaces in labs and offices are fully available for use. 

In the event that a scheduled graduate defence or committee meeting cannot be held in person, an online option will be made available. Most departmental examinations (e.g. qualifying, comprehensive and/or general examinations) can take place virtually. Please contact grad.kpe@utoronto.ca for assistance with facilitating this option.

For doctoral students with scheduled final oral examinations, SGS will continue to make accommodations to allow these examinations to proceed as scheduled without physical presence.

For those who have been working remotely: the decision to return to in-person activities is ideally a joint decision with your supervisor, but ultimately the decision to re-enter in-person research rests with the student. To support your return to in-person University research activities either at a university research site or at an off-campus research site, a form may be submitted by graduate students to their supervisor/Principal Investigator.

Your access to these research sites is conditional upon your compliance with public health guidelines and local policies. 

The SGS Emergency Grant program aims to assist currently registered, full-time graduate students who encounter an unanticipated serious financial emergency. The grant is intended to help provide immediate short-term relief of such financial need and is not intended as a source of long-term funding.

The SGS Emergency Loan alleviates temporary cash flow problems for students who are expecting the release of funds in the near future (i.e., 30 to 120 days) from employment, a major award instalment, OSAP (Ontario Students’ Assistance Program), teaching assistantship, or research assistantship payment, etc. All graduate students who encounter an unanticipated serious financial emergency are encouraged to meet with the SGS Graduate Student Financial Advisor to discuss options.