U of T Law students fully return to in-person learning on February 28
With COVID-19 conditions improving across the province, U of T Law students began returning to the halls of the Jackman Law Building on February 7 for hybrid instruction. Despite this change, most classrooms remained empty in the two weeks between February 7 and the start of the law school’s reading break given many professors’ decision to remain online.
In Dean Jutta Brunnée’s e-mail from January 19 announcing the shift to in-person learning, all faculty and students were given the opportunity to choose to teach and participate in classes remotely from February 7 to February 28. Assistant Dean Academic Sara Faherty confirmed that this decision depended on the preferences of individual faculty members who were asked to work out an arrangement with their individual classes.
The approach taken by faculty members varied from class to class. While some conducted student polls, others made the decision on their own. The proximity of February 7 to reading break also played a role. It was noted in conversations about the return to in-person classes that it would make more sense to undergo the transition after reading break. While the law school did not collect specific data on the proportion of classes that returned to in-person, Assistant Dean Faherty shared that it was her “personal observation that very few classes seem[ed] to go in-person.”
By contrast, as students return from reading break, Assistant Dean Faherty said that “Faculty and students are getting the same message: the Faculty of Law is returning to in-person classes on February 28.” A small number of individualized exceptions may be granted based on relevant personal circumstances, health, and other considerations.
Given the different pandemic conditions under which students are returning to in-person classes compared to the fall, some students have expressed concern that the flexibility offered by the school has not changed.
On February 15, Associate Dean Christopher Essert announced a number of changes to Faculty policies that address some of these concerns. First, on a trial basis, individual instructors will be allowed to record their lectures. How these recordings are distributed is the decision of each individual professor, and more information will likely be made available to individual classes. This marks a significant change from the longstanding policy of not allowing any recording. Second, the Faculty will provide each student with one pack of five KN95 masks at the Security Kiosk inside Flavelle House from February 28 to March 4 between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.
The policy around access to lectures via Zoom implemented in the Fall of 2021 will remain in place. Students will still be granted Zoom access to their classes if they receive a Red-Screen from UCheck or where unforeseen non-COVID-19 related circumstances prevent them from attending class.
