Message Centre

Each winter in Ontario, weather conditions such as heavy snow, freezing rain and/or ice pellets can make basic travel difficult. During such situations, questions often arise about whether campus operations will change.

During most winter weather, the campus remains open and activities remain unaffected.

It’s important to keep in mind that different organizations—public and private—follow their own protocols and best practices. When they make the decision to cancel operations or to close, university operations and activities may remain scheduled as normal.

How the university communicates weather-related operational changes

If operational changes are implemented due to a winter storm warning or inclement conditions, the university will issue information as soon as possible using MyOntarioTech, the mobile app and the service disruptions page.

Depending on the situation, the university will also:

• Communicate via other means as needed, including messages sent to Ontario Tech student, faculty and staff email addresses, social media, and on-campus digital signage.

• Forward official university messages to regional newspapers and radio/television stations.

• Post full information about our campus status on our home page.

Travelling to campus

Monitor your email, the university’s mobile app, MyOntarioTech, and our website for late-evening and early-morning updates on severe winter weather days, or for class cancellations.

If you’re travelling to or from campus, allow for plenty of time, and travel with due caution and care, especially if you are in an area heavily affected by the weather. If you are in an area heavily affected by the weather and cannot get to campus, contact your supervisor or professor regarding your absence. 

Students, faculty and staff are reminded they are responsible for determining when weather conditions make their travel unsafe.

If you observe a snow or ice hazard on campus, report it to Campus Security at ext. 2400 or 905.721.3211, and provide the exact location and situation.

Helpful internal links:

• Emergency Closure Policy
• Emergency Closure Procedures
• Winter safety on campus

Helpful external links:

• Durham Region Transit service alerts and detours
• Environment Canada weather forecasts for Ontario
• GO Transit service updates
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation winter driving information

A phishing email impersonating an Ontario Tech University professor is circulating, inviting students to participate in an interdisciplinary research project with a promise of $300 per week. This is a scam—do not respond or provide personal or financial information.

Tips to stay safe:

• Be cautious of unexpected offers of money.
• Communicate with faculty and staff using their official Ontario Tech email address.
• Do not click links, reply or share personal information if an email seems suspicious.
• The university will never ask for banking details via email.

Ontario Tech is set to expand its varsity offerings, as the Ridgebacks introduce volleyball to their Ontario University Athletics (OUA) lineup, beginning in the 2027-2028 season. 

The addition was officially approved by the OUA on March 17, marking an important milestone in the continued growth of Ridgebacks athletics. 

Read the full announcement

If you identify as a woman, you’re invited to participate in TechHER Forward: The AI Empowerment Journey, a four-week workshop exploring artificial intelligence, leadership development and mentorship opportunities in the digital economy. Register on eventbrite.

Students are invited to participate in an optional research study led by Dr. JoAnne Arcand, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences.

The study, Examining Nutrition Behaviours Among Students, Staff and Faculty in the Ontario Tech Community, includes an anonymous online survey about Ontario Tech’s campus food environment, nutrition behaviours, food literacy, food insecurity and disordered eating.

The survey is voluntary and there is no need to participate if you do not wish to do so. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

No personal identifiers will be collected or linked to survey responses, and the likelihood of identifying individual participants is extremely low.

Participants will be entered into a draw for the chance to win 1 of 50 $20 Amazon gift cards.

Complete the survey

Questions about the study can be directed to Dr. Arcand at joanne.arcand@ontariotechu.ca or 905.721.8668 ext. 3796. Alternatively, you may contact Dr. Arcand’s lab at nutrition.research@ontariotechu.ca.

If you have any questions regarding your rights as a participant or have any concerns about this study, please contact the Research Ethics Office at researchethics@ontariotechu.ca or 905.721.8668 ext. 3693.

This study has been reviewed by the Ontario Tech University Research Ethics Board (REB FILE #19890) on January 21, 2026.

Your 2025 tax forms are now available

You can access all of your Canadian tax forms including your T4, T4A or T2202A, by following the instructions below:

1. Go to MyOntarioTech.
2. Select either the Undergraduate box or the Graduate box.
3. Under the My Finances section, navigate to the Canadian Tax Forms box.
4. Enter your login credentials, if necessary.

For more details on tax forms, visit the Tax Slips page on the Ontario Tech website.

If you’re registered in Winter 2026 semester courses, here are some important dates to remember:

Friday, January 23

• Winter semester fees are due in full.
• Last day to add courses for the winter semester.
• Last day to drop winter semester courses for a full 100 per cent refund.

Friday, February 6

• Last day to withdraw from winter semester classes without receiving a grade. Courses dropped after this date will be recorded with a grade of W to indicate withdrawal.
• Last day to drop courses for a 50 per cent refund of tuition fees.

Monday, April 13

• Last day to withdraw from winter semester courses. Active courses will be graded.

Check out the 2025/2026 Academic Calendar to keep track of other important dates not mentioned above.

If you received full-time OSAP at Ontario Tech in Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 and plan to study full-time this spring/summer and would like to receive OSAP funding for the spring/summer term, you will need to submit an OSAP Extension Form after you have fully registered for your courses.

The OSAP Extension Form will be available beginning in the first week of April.

Full-time status for the spring/summer term is at least nine credit hours (or six credit hours for students with a disability).

To find this form:

Go to MyOntarioTech.

Click on the Undergraduate/Graduate box.

Select the My Finances box.

Select OSAP forms, then select OSAP Extension Form.

Please note: Bachelor of Education (Concurrent or Consecutive) students will be emailed directly with the link to the OSAP Extension Form.

Check our Important dates and deadlines page for key Student Awards and Financial Aid updates.

Course preview will become available on MyOntarioTech on Thursday, March 26. Spring/summer registration begins on Monday, March 30.

Check our course registration guide for details on:

• Registration start times
• Previewing available courses
• Confirming your earned hours
• Important dates and deadlines, and more