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Back to Mac: Start of term guides
Students
Whether in person or online, this guide gives you the most important information for the first few weeks of term.
Employees
Key checklists for coming to campus, supporting teams and getting started for the fall term.
Instructors
From reminders on fall instruction to checklists for in-person teaching, this guide has key information for start of term.
McMaster community, Welcome Back to Mac
Whether you’ve been on campus throughout the pandemic, are returning to a familiar place, arriving in Hamilton for the first time, or joining us remotely, welcome back to McMaster!
Trending topics: Fall 2021
Mandatory vaccine requirement
All university community members or visitors who wish to access a McMaster campus or facility, including faculty, staff and students, are required to provide proof of vaccination. Learn more details about the vaccination mandate.
Masks or face coverings are mandatory on campus for all indoor spaces, and in outdoor settings when 2 metre/6 feet distance cannot be maintained.
The Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities provided new direction to all universities and colleges on physical distancing requirements for the Fall. Effective September 7th:
- Physical distancing requirements will no longer be required for indoor instructional spaces. (e.g., classrooms, laboratories, libraries, in-person experiential learning etc.).
- Physical distancing continues to be required in all other indoor non-instructional spaces on campus, including offices, athletics, cafeterias, hallways, and other areas.
Fall 2021 will provide as many safe and meaningful in-person experiences for students as possible. This includes expanded opportunities for small-group learning across all Faculties, but also in-person student life activities and campus resources.
Individual study space at all libraries will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. McMaster has also introduced more outdoor seating (Adirondack chairs, picnic tables, benches, stones) with increased wireless coverage to allow for maximum utilization of green spaces on campus.
Anyone working, studying at or visiting a McMaster campus or facility is required to complete screening and training before coming to campus. See steps for students, faculty, staff and researchers outlined here.
Workplace checklists, guidelines and supervisor requirements are available on the HR website.
McMaster’s team of custodians will vigorously clean high touchpoint surfaces at an increased frequency. Teams will clean every classroom and lecture hall nightly, including treating these spaces with electrostatic disinfectant spray. Public washrooms will be cleaned twice daily at a minimum. Meeting spaces will be cleaned once per day. Offices will be cleaned once per week. Visit the Health & Safety page for more information.
McMaster’s ventilation plan involves assessing and making any required updates to the ventilation systems in buildings on campus and maximizing fresh air and keeping air recirculation at a minimum in all buildings with mechanical ventilation systems. Visit the Health & Safety page for more information.
Libraries are opening, and almost all spaces will be open for use. Masks will be required inside. Mills and Thode libraries will reopen Sept. 7. The Health Sciences Library will reopen Sept. 13. Operating hours will be posted on the libraries’ websites once finalized.
Residences will be open for the 2021-2022 academic year. For now, only people who live in the same building can visit a student’s room. No guests from outside that building may visit.
Hospitality will be opening their main locations (11 of 18 outlets) for fall 2021. La Piazza in MUSC is now open, and other locations will open in the coming weeks. Details here.