^{Graduate students conducting vision research.}

Innovation and Interdisciplinary Research

Pioneering Interdisciplinary Graduate Training in Vision Research
91ÑÇÉ« advanced interdisciplinary education in health and science with the launch of the Collaborative Specialization in Vision Research—the first graduate-level program of its kind at the university. Bringing together faculty from diverse disciplines, this initiative provides cutting-edge training and formal credentials in vision research, preparing students to address pressing scientific and technological challenges and contribute meaningfully to health and science innovations.

Supporting Postdoctoral Researchers to Secure Funding
Tailored guidelines were introduced to support postdoctoral researchers in preparing and submitting grant applications, enhancing external research funding at the institution. These resources provide clear guidance at a critical stage in researchers’ careers, fostering professional development and enabling impactful contributions to the broader research community.

Strengthening Systems and Academic Processes

Graduate Supervision Toolkit & Flipbook
The Graduate Supervision Toolkit and Flipbook provide accessible, practical guidance to foster equity-informed, communicative, and collaborative supervisory relationships. By centering clarity, mutual care, and co-created success, these resources strengthen trust, communication, and the well-being of both students and supervisors.

Enhancing the Systems That Support Every Graduate Journey
The Special Projects team focused on maintaining and improving the five online graduate portals—Petition, Proposal Milestone, Progress Report, Oral Exam, and Supervisor & Supervisory Committee. Through issue resolution, targeted upgrades, and new features, these platforms became more reliable, efficient, and supportive, simplifying administrative processes and enabling a smoother graduate experience for students, faculty, and staff.

^{Graduate Supervision resources support effective supervisory pedagogy and guidance.}

Introducing a More Streamlined Proposal Milestone Process
A redesigned research proposal milestone process, effective November 5, 2025, reduces approval timelines and allows students to begin research sooner. Students conducting research involving human participants or higher-risk protocols can now develop ethics applications concurrently with proposal review, creating a more efficient pathway from proposal development to research initiation.

Automating Funding Processes for Greater Accuracy and Efficiency
Advanced Excel macro automations streamlined key funding workflows, including the Annual Funding Commitment Review, monthly revenue-recognition reconciliation, and ARMS-to-FAAS data conversions for Fellowships and GIA payments. These enhancements minimized manual effort, reduced errors, and created faster, more dependable, processes for staff and students alike.

Strengthening Clarity and Integrity in Academic Policies
Restructured academic integrity policies and procedures enhanced consistency, transparency, and practicality, supporting efficient case resolution while reinforcing a culture of honesty, responsibility, and fairness. These improvements provide the graduate community with clear guidance and strengthen an environment where ethical scholarship can thrive.

Strengthening Support for Professional Graduate Programs
Updated regulations distinguishing research-focused from professional graduate degrees improved guidance for program development and reinforced partnerships with program proponents. This framework supports programs in delivering offerings that meet student needs, reflect professional standards, and enrich the graduate education landscape.

^{Incoming students meet Joseph Hafner, Dean of Libraries (left), and Alice MacLachlan, Vice-Provost & Dean of Graduate Studies (right).}

Supporting Students and Building Community

Seamless Transition of Graduate Admissions Support
The Graduate Admissions team was successfully integrated from its previous unit into FGS. This transition centralized graduate recruitment and admissions support, enhancing coordination, accessibility, and consistency for prospective students. Applicants now benefit from clearer communication, streamlined processes, and a stronger connection to the faculty guiding them throughout their graduate journey.

Providing Personalized Support for Prospective Graduate Students
Individualized 1:1 advising sessions offered dedicated time for prospective students to ask questions and gain clarity on next steps. These personalized meetings help applicants feel informed, confident, and supported as they navigate the admissions process, fostering a welcoming introduction to the graduate community.

Enhancing Connections for Incoming Graduate Students
Expanded and , led by the new Graduate Recruitment team, provided incoming students with early answers to common questions and a deeper understanding of 91ÑÇɫ’s campus, community, and research environment. Also, FGS hosted its first in-person social () since 2019. These initiatives eased transitions, fostered connection, and strengthened confidence in choosing 91ÑÇÉ«.

Connecting International Students Through Insightful, Targeted Panels
A new international student recruitment panel series connected prospective and admitted students with current graduate students. With a focus on engagement from the , , these panels provided first-hand insights, helping students feel confident in choosing 91ÑÇÉ« and Canada as a study destination while fostering a welcoming global graduate community.

Graduate Student Support Group
Launched in 2025, the Graduate Student Support Group provides a safe space for students to connect, share experiences, and access peer support. The group allows participants to gain perspective on common graduate challenges, exchange wisdom and resources, and realize they are not alone in their academic journey. Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive, and the drop-in, year-round format ensures ongoing accessibility and support throughout the graduate experience.

Equipping Graduate Students through GradForward Series
The inaugural GradForward series, a new approach to graduate orientation, offered 30-minute virtual sessions covering scholarships, graduate funding, academic integrity, professional skills, student affairs, and portal use. Accessible via Zoom, these sessions equipped students with practical knowledge and resources to navigate graduate studies successfully and build a strong foundation for academic and professional growth.

Celebrating Achievement and Inclusion

Associate Director honoured with 91ÑÇɫ’s Excellence in DEDI Award
Richolette Freckleton received the Excellence in DEDI Award from 91ÑÇÉ« in recognition of her exceptional commitment to advancing decolonization, equity, diversity, and inclusion across the graduate community. Her leadership led to the creation and funding of a new scholarship for BIPOC part-time students and the launch of a workshop that connects Black graduate students with faculty mentors — concrete actions that expand access, promote representation, and foster a stronger sense of belonging and support for equity-seeking scholars at 91ÑÇÉ«.

Looking Ahead…

Our achievements in 2025 reflect a shared commitment to innovation, equity, and student success. By strengthening systems, supporting research, and building inclusive communities, FGS continues to create an environment where graduate students and researchers can thrive today—and shape the breakthroughs of tomorrow.

^{President & Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton with Richolette Freckleton.}

In addition to the financial support, FGS also recognized the need for a broader conversation around the experiences of graduate supervisors and students. That’s why, in partnership with Memorial University (MUN) and the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS), FGS organized a national conference on best practices for Graduate Supervision in Canada. This event attracted hundreds of graduate supervisors and administrators from across the country, making it a pivotal moment for sharing knowledge, resources, and strategies to improve graduate education and mentorship.

FGS has also taken bold steps to integrate the values of DEDI into academic practice and policy. The FGS Faculty Council, alongside various standing committees, has begun implementing decolonizing frameworks and promoting inclusive academic resources for both students and staff. This work was essential in confronting the systemic inequities embedded in graduate education.

As part of their ongoing efforts to attract exceptional scholars and researchers from underrepresented groups, FGS proudly announced the recipients of the 2024 Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars. This prestigious fellowship program, offering a $70,000 salary for two years, gives talented Black and Indigenous scholars the opportunity to delve into groundbreaking research projects while receiving mentorship and support from leading academic figures. These fellows were at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of knowledge, tackling crucial problems from Indigenous sociocultural resurgence to sustainable solutions for drinking water management.

Meanwhile, FGS had also made important strides in sustainability. As part of 91ÑÇÉ«'s broader Sustainability Strategy, the Faculty of Graduate Studies revised its thesis and dissertation defence practices. By reducing the need for long-distance travel, FGS contributed significantly to the university’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint.

Another significant milestone in FGS’ 60th year was the overhaul of Intellectual Property Policy for Graduate Programs. This update emphasizes clear and transparent guidelines for intellectual property rights, while also addressing the unique considerations of Indigenous knowledge, knowledge keepers and communities. The Faculty of Graduate Studies took an active role in decolonizing approaches to intellectual property, recognizing the importance of protecting Indigenous intellectual contributions and ensuring that those contributions were respected within academic and research contexts.

FGS is making strides in outreach and recruitment. In response to the growing global demand for graduate education, FGS ramped up its efforts to attract students from diverse backgrounds. Our recruitment team hosted over 40 information sessions, nearly 100 office hour drop-ins, and numerous other events designed to engage prospective students. From Experience Grad 91ÑÇÉ« (our institutional open house) to virtual sessions for Markham-bound students, FGS committed to helping students navigate the application process, with special attention to those who needed additional support. By partnering with internal groups like 91ÑÇÉ« International, ACMAPS, and the Career Centre, FGS ensured that prospective students had the resources they needed to succeed.

As part of its commitment to continuous service improvement, embarked on a comprehensive project to transform five pan-university graduate processes: 1) Graduate Petition Portal 2.0, 2) Proposal Milestone, 3) Supervisor & Supervisory Committee, 4) Oral Exam, and 5) Progress Report. This initiative, powered by Flowable technology, sought to move graduate processes online, making them more transparent and streamlined. Processes were digitized, allowing for easier access and improved service delivery for students and faculty alike.

FGS is equally proud of new and exciting development from the graduate programs themselves – including, this year, the announcement of a new PhD program in Disaster and Emergency Management (DEM), slated for commence in Fall 2025. 91ÑÇÉ« is extremely proud to be able to offer Canada’s first-ever doctoral program in DEM. Disaster studies has become an expanding academic and professional field that is sure to experience increased relevancy for the foreseeable future.

Our Faculty’s legacy of excellence has only just begun. With its unwavering commitment to research excellence and knowledge creation, DEDI, sustainability, and transformative graduate education, FGS is setting the stage for a future where exceptional academic opportunities are accessible to all, and where diverse scholars can thrive and contribute to socially engaged research and problem-solving. The next 60 years promise even greater possibilities, as we continue to push the boundaries of what higher education could be, for everyone.

Graduate Student Wellness Services welcomed their first clinical practicum student. The addition to the Wellness Consultation & Counselling team during the 2021-22 academic year provides greater access to grad-specific counselling at 91ÑÇÉ«. This initiative promotes good health and well-being (SDG #3) through the easily accessible wellness consultations, which can provide a starting point for students seeking to enhance their personal mental health.

Meta endowed a prestigious $250k fellowship. This endowment establishes the first-ever corporate-sponsored graduate fund for sustaining vision research at 91ÑÇÉ«, which the University has dedicated to its Centre for Vision Research. SDG #9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure) emphasizes how important it is to promote innovation in order to enable positive change and foster a successful community. 91ÑÇÉ« has been producing cutting-edge work in vision research for decades and now has further support to continue this globally impactful work.

Four outstanding scholars were named recipients of the 2022 Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars. Sylvester Aboagye, Landing Badji, Leora Gansworth and Graeme Reed are this year’s recipients of the fellowship. This important initiative sets individuals up for a successful career by providing four scholars annually with a salary of $70,000 per year for a two-year term and supporting their research and collaboration endevours.

FGS partnered with the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) and the Indigenous Council to build an Indigenous Queue in Grad Adjudication. This new feature enables the review and contextualization of Indigenous applications by Indigenous Faculty members and responds to the Indigenous Framework's call to increase the recruitment and admission of Indigenous applicants. This initiative acts as a key opportunity area for 91ÑÇÉ« to facilitate greater access to higher education and is reflective of SDG #10 (Reduced Inequality). 91ÑÇÉ« aims to promote an inclusive research culture by creating policies and initiatives that encourage equality and hopes that other institutions follow suit.

The number of Indigenous Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Awards increased annually for Indigenous graduate scholars. The additional resource will enable Indigenous researchers to access much needed funding, promote culturally responsive research and engage in collaborative initiatives.

Academic integrity training becomes mandatory for incoming Graduate students. FGS’ commitment to academic honesty is at the forefront of this initiative. By establishing a mandatory academic integrity training requirement for incoming graduate students effective 2023, 91ÑÇÉ« is committed to academic honesty.

FGS standardized program-level guidelines for Graduate Milestone Examinations. To enhance the graduate student experience and support timely completion of studies, FGS supported the creation of Standardized program-level guidelines for Graduate Milestone Examinations such as the comprehensive examinations and research evaluations.

Postdoctoral researchers now have access to the Individualized Development Plan (IDP). The IDP is employed to structure conversations with one’s supervisor concerning professional skills development and to provide a framework for navigating various opportunities at the institution. This resource acts as a valuable tool for postdocs that can enable them to build a successful career.

FGS partnered with UIT to build an online portal for graduate petitions. Digitizing the petition process eliminates a paper based and manual process, allowing submission tracking and online access for ease of file review. This initiative is a key opportunity to support the graduate student experience and improves the quality and efficiency of services. Introducing online platforms into the community and eliminating paper use also promotes sustainable lifestyles, which is an important part of SDG #12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Future students can find out more about 91ÑÇÉ« and everything the university is undertaking for the success of the community through the newly Launched Choose Grad 91ÑÇÉ« initiative– the first ever graduate conversion event. These events include: 1) a breakdown of the different parts of an offer of admission, which may include different types of funding; 2) a networking opportunity with alumni who have translated their studies into successful careers; 3) a chance to compare admissions offers and learn how to navigate the degree once the applicants have accepted their offer from 91ÑÇÉ«.

91ÑÇɫ’s SDG Challenge is ongoing, and the new year will welcome a number of other important initiatives, inspiring members of the 91ÑÇÉ« community to act as agents of positive change.

New Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars at 91ÑÇÉ«: The important initiative, which helps promote diverse perspectives and tackle complex societal challenges, creates opportunities and career support for the next generation of Indigenous and Black scholars. The initiative offers 2-year postdocs with an individualized, career-developmental focus and an innovative pre-doc program to enable PhD completion en route to a postdoctoral fellowship or full-time employment.

Enhancing graduate student recruitment through Experience Grad 91ÑÇÉ« (EGY): The multi-day, virtual event presented a range of learning options and meaningful career pathways that 91ÑÇÉ« has to offer. The sessions were a success, attracting over 2,000 potential graduate students, with a demonstrated increase in domestic applications. FGS is excited to welcome new members to the 91ÑÇÉ« community! Learn more about our upcoming EGY event.

Launching Knowledge Now: Graduate Research @ 91ÑÇÉ«: This innovative showcase of all the diverse graduate scholars, brought to life the unique and socially engaging research happening at the university. Discover Grad Research @ 91ÑÇÉ« Videos, which present collections of new ideas while embracing collaboration within and outside our community.

Increased participation in our Personal Wellness & Learning Skills certificate program: FGS partnered with Learning Skills Services to arm graduate students with proactive tools to protect and improve their personal wellness. This year, there was a 200% increase in participation as graduate students connected with their peers and became familiar with the support network available at 91ÑÇÉ«. Check out FGS’ to hear what past participants have to say about their experience in the program.

Continuing to offer Cost-Free Completion: Graduate studies is already stressful without the additional administrative issues. FGS wants all its students to enjoy the educational experience without that added stress. In partnership with all Faculties, FGS is proud to now offer cost-free completion for those graduate students who are over their program time limit.

Announcing Indigenous Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Awards: FGS declared six OGS Awards annually for Indigenous graduate scholars! By empowering students with the support they need, our community creates positive change and prepares students for a successful future. We take pride in being a part of a diverse community of scholars presenting cutting-edge research.

Launching the Individualized Development Plans (IDP): Through this initiative, FGS was able to create meaningful opportunities for graduate students to enhance their professional skills development. With the help of the IDP, students can now design the types of professionalization and knowledge transfer skills that they need for success after graduation by taking advantage of an enhanced range of workshops both in-program and 91ÑÇÉ«-wide.

Broadening Formats of Theses and Dissertations: 91ÑÇÉ« strives to ensure that students have the ability to pursue the scholarly work and research that will foster ground-breaking results. By ensuring that thesis and dissertation formats align with new disciplines and pioneering types of research, including multi-modal formats, FGS is motivated to promote experiential education opportunities.

Modernizing the policies and procedures of FGS: Student-focused changes have been introduced to make graduate education more accessible. FGS is pioneering innovative concepts and practices including principled approaches to micro-credentials, non-degree studies and life-long learning.

Engaging in the Student System Renewal Program (SSRP): The SSRP initiative focuses on creating a seamless experience for students to easily plan and manage their learning journey, with personalized academic and financial supports. From Steering to Fit/Gap evaluation work, FGS has been an energetic partner in making 91ÑÇÉ« a truly future-oriented, student-centric and program-supportive place to study and work.

Through the support of the graduate community and the tolls provided by the University, 2022 will see an expansion on the vital work already performed. FGS is dedicated to continuously fostering collaboration and inclusivity while tackling any challenges along the way.