Message Centre

Annual fire alarm testing will take place March 12 to 27 at ACE, the Business and Information and Technology Building, Energy Research Centre, North Oshawa Library, Ontario Power Generation Engineering Building, and Science Building.

During testing, fire alarm panels near the main entrances of each building will beep intermittently.

Buildings will remain open during this time. Elevators will not be affected and building alarm bells will not sound.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Starting as early as Monday, January 12, Metrolinx will begin work on the Bowmanville Extension, which will extend Lakeshore East GO rail service east to Bowmanville. As part of this project, the Simcoe Street Bridge over the CPKC rail tracks will be demolished and replaced. This will require a full closure of Simcoe Street between Avenue Street and Albany Street for approximately two years.

During this time, vehicle traffic will be detoured via Stevenson Road, and pedestrians will be redirected to the Michael Starr Trail. GO Transit routes 52, 56, and 92, as well as Durham Region Transit routes 92 and N2, will also be detoured. Signage will be installed to assist drivers and pedestrians.

Construction will take place Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those traveling near the work zone should expect noise from trucks and heavy equipment, lights directed toward the site, and vibration monitoring to ensure safety.

For more details and updates, visit metrolinx.com/bowmanville.

Ontario Tech University has leased a portion of its Windfields Farm lands for the North of Nowhere music festival, scheduled for July 17 to 19, 2026.

The festival is an independently operated event.

All event operations, including security, crowd management, parking, transit co-ordination, noise control, cleanup and site restoration, are the responsibility of the festival organizers.

Campus operations are expected to remain unaffected.

Questions about the festival should be directed to its organizers.

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

Business and Health Sciences students, it’s your turn to rep your program in style! Pre-order your program hoodie for only $59.99 + tax.

To get yours, complete the sign-up form by Friday, March 20.

Stay tuned to see which program is next!

Black Ontario Tech students and allies are invited to attend a virtual event hosted by the Black Youth Visionary Program on Thursday, March 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Hear from Black professionals — including Ontario Tech alumni — as they share practical advice on career pathways, leadership and overcoming barriers.

Help improve the Student Portal by completing a brief survey for a chance to win an Ontario Tech swag bag or virtual gift card. The survey closes on Tuesday, March 24.

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.

Help shape a more inclusive Ontario Tech! Here’s a quick (under five minutes), confidential and voluntary way to help us better understand our community and improve programs, services, and policies for all students. Complete the EDI Survey.

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

Monday, January 12

• Winter semester fees are due in full.
• Last day to submit any program changes.

Friday, January 23

• 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.

Friday, March 20

• 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’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.

Parking permit sales for January 2026 will be available on the Interactive Parking Access Subscriber System website (IPASS) on Monday, December 8 at 10 a.m.

If you already have an annual parking permit valid September 2025 through to August 2026, no action is required.

Please note: Third-party providers manage all our parking. The purchasing process will depend on your lot location and availability. Once a lot is full, please select another option if available based on location. A waitlist will be created based on the time of registration and the chosen lot.

Winter semester passes - current permit holder gated lot:

• If you’re a current fall semester permit holder, you can request a winter semester pass through IPASS and enter the existing access card number for continued use upon approval. Otherwise, the fall semester pass expires on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

• If you’re purchasing a winter semester parking permit, you must ensure the activation date on the IPASS application indicates Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Winter semester passes - current permit holder hang-tag lot: 

• Existing fall semester hang-tag holders can obtain a winter semester permit through IPASS. Upon approval, visit the Parking office with your existing hang tag (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to have a new permit sticker applied to the hang-tag. Otherwise, the fall semester pass expires on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

• If you’re purchasing a winter semester parking permit, you must ensure the activation date on the IPASS application indicates Thursday, January 1, 2026.

New users: 

• First time purchasers who require a winter semester or annual parking pass are required to register online through IPASS.

• If you’re purchasing a winter semester parking permit, you must ensure the activation date on the IPASS application indicates Thursday, January 1, 2026.

• Payment for parking permits can be made through the IPASS registration website by credit card or pre-authorized payment.

• You must use your student (ontariotechu.net) email address when registering.

• After completing the registration, an email will be sent within 48 hours from IPASS.

• The email response from IPASS will be:

  • An approval email with follow-up instructions.

  • A disapproval email due to non-institutional email on the application.

  • A disapproval email due to incorrect credit card or banking information.

  • A disapproval email due to full capacity reached in the requested lot. 

• In the instance of a disapproval email, re-submit your parking request through IPASS, making the appropriate correction.

• You should pick up your access card or hang tag prior to Friday, January 9 at the north Oshawa campus Parking office.

• Initial access cards will be provided at no charge. Replacement cards can be requested for $25.

Daily parking:

• Daily parking is available in two lots—pay-and-display or gated.

• The cost for daily parking is $5 per hour with a maximum of $18 per day.

• Tap debit and credit card payment is available at exit gates.

• Pay Stations accept cash, coins, debit and credit cards, and are located in the Founders 2 Lot (south-east corner) and Commencement Lot at the north Oshawa campus.

• Downtown daily and short-term parking is available for purchase through the Honk app or by scanning the QR code located in the lot at the designated parking areas.

Lots and rates - semester | year: 

• Charles Hall (downtown): $350 | $700

• Founders 2: $325 | $650

• Founders 4 (Campus Ice Centre): $300 | $600

• Founders 5 (north Campus Ice Centre): $200 | $400

• Commencement: $325 | $650

• Simcoe Village: $325 | $650

• Ball Diamond: $300 | $600

Contact:

• For information specific to the IPASS registration website, see the IPASS frequently asked questions or contact them directly. IPASS will respond to all questions submitted through this portal within 48 business hours.

• For general inquiries, contact Parking Services.