The University of Toronto is committed to fulfilling its core academic mission of educating students.  It recognizes that events such as pandemic health emergencies, natural disasters, prolonged service interruptions, and ongoing labour disputes are potential threats to academic continuity.  Good stewardship requires that the University undertake appropriate planning and preparation to promote continuity.  An important component of this is resilient course and program design intended to minimize the potential for disruption of the University’s academic mission.

All instructors are responsible for preparing course syllabi in a manner that supports academic continuity.  This is understood to be a normal aspect of good teaching practice.  The following recommendations, prepared by the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (CTSI), in consultation with colleagues from across the University, are intended to support the development of resilient courses.  CTSI is available to help Instructors with any aspect of course design and delivery.

PRE-COURSE PLANNING
THE FIRST CLASS: LOOKING AHEAD
ONLINE LEARNING SYSTEMS AND TOOLS
POSSIBLE ONLINE TEACHING STRATEGIES
OTHER TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS TO ASSIST INSTRUCTORS

RESOURCES
Quercus information:
https://q.utoronto.ca/courses/46670

CTSI Online Instructor Tool Kit:
https://teaching.utoronto.ca/ed-tech/online-learning/toolkit/

Educational Technologies:
https://teaching.utoronto.ca/ed-tech/

University of Toronto Policy on Academic Continuity (PDF):
http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Assets/Governing+Council+Digital+Assets/Policies/PDF/continu.pdf

CTSI Services and Support:
Faculty are welcome to contact CTSI for assistance with any of the following (contact information provided below):

• Quercus account and set-up or the use of tools
• Pedagogical advice
• Advice on assignment design, syllabus content and the establishment of course procedures
• Advice on  appropriate technological alternatives for class delivery or communication with students
• Information on relevant academic policies
• The development of online teaching resources

Phone: 416-946-3139
Email: ctsi.teaching@utoronto.ca

Additional support is available through:

Centre for Teaching & Learning, UTSC
Clare Hasenkampf, Director
Phone:  416-287-7680
Email: hasenkampf@utsc.utoronto.ca
Web: ctl.utsc.utoronto.ca

Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre, UTM
Phone:  905-828-3858
Email: academicskills.utm@utoronto.ca
Web:  www.utm.utoronto.ca/~w3asc/