It is with mixed emotions that I am writing to let you know the Department has taken the difficult decision to cancel CME358 (a.k.a. Survey Camp) for the summer of 2020.
I know this may come as a disappointment, but in light of the accommodations and facilities at camp, the unknown trajectory of this public health crisis, and an unwavering commitment to the health and safety of our students and instructors, we feel it would not be responsible to proceed with Camp this year.
Though Camp is usually scheduled in August, four months from now, our Department is making this decision now because it takes many months to prepare the site for Civil and Mineral Practicals (CAMP), including: opening the site after the winter, scheduling faculty/instructor availability, booking catering/meal service, acquiring adequate survey equipment, and ensuring a clean and safe water supply.
What does this mean for you?
CME358 is a requirement for Civil and Mineral Engineering students. It is a core component of the curriculum and we are committed to ensuring you will be able to complete this requirement prior to graduation.
CME358 gets much of its value from being an in-person, field-based course, so alternate delivery methods (including online delivery) are not an option for this course. As a result, we are looking into rescheduling the course. We are exploring all options. The option currently being considered is the following:
- the class of 2T2 would attend camp in the summer of 2021 with half of the class of 2T3
- any 2T2s that go on PEY would have the option of deferring to summer 2022 if they wish
- the other half the 2T3 class would go to camp in summer 2022 with the class of 2T4
We will consult with students and in particular the classes of 2T2 & 2T3 before making a final decision, which will hopefully happen in the fall after we return to campus.
We want to hear from you. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please reach out to myself (chair.civil@utoronto.ca) or Shayni (shayni.curtis@utoronto.ca).
I wish you and your families good health during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Brent Sleep
Chair, Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering
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Be sure to check the U of T, Engineering and CivMin website for the most up to date information related to COVID-19