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In February 2025, 91��ɫ was awarded a $500,000 grant from Embark Student Corp. to help students with disabilities navigate the transition from university to the workforce.

Students with disabilities face almost double the unemployment rate of their non-disabled peers and typically earn median wages about 5.5% lower. With this new funding, 91��ɫ will increase its dedicated support for these students through career counselling, mentorship, employer networking, and accessible career resources.

As the largest award to a post-secondary institution from the Embark Student Foundation Major Grant Program this year, this investment will bring together 91��ɫ’s leadership in accessibility and equity and Embark’s bold vision for inclusive education.

91��ɫ is proud to be the institutional home of a new Black, Indigenous and Latinx Research Laboratory (BILX-Lab), supported by a $100,000 federal Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity.

Led by Professor Tameka Samuels-Jones and housed at the Centre for Research on Latin America & the Caribbean (CERLAC), the BILX-Lab fosters equity in research by supporting emerging scholars through mentorship, professional development and a dedicated research support fund.

The interdisciplinary team includes many acclaimed scholars, including Professor Carl James, the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora. In addition to federal support, the project received $50,000 from 91��ɫ’s Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation and Office of Equity, People & Culture.

The initiative reflects CERLAC’s longstanding leadership in equity and inclusion and builds on 91��ɫ’s many investments to support racialized scholars, including the Black and Indigenous Research Seed Grants.

In August 2024, 91��ɫ became one of the first universities in Canada to implement a sophisticated awards solution for its students.

With the launch of the new Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships (FAAS) App, students now have access to a centralized, streamlined platform where they can explore, apply for, and track a wide range of funding opportunities. The system also transforms behind-the-scenes processes for faculty and staff, improving the efficiency of award distribution.

The FAAS App is the first release of the Next Generation Student Information System (NextGen SIS), a project that will deliver a seamless experience across the student lifecycle, from enrollment to graduation. NextGen SIS is one of seven key projects under the Student Systems Renewal Program, which aims to modernize student services at 91��ɫ in line with the university’s commitment to access and excellence.

In May 2025, 91��ɫ opened the Taihua Wang Science Student Success Centre, made possible by a $1.6 million gift from Dr. Taihua Wang and Cell Biotechnology Co. Ltd.

The new Centre provides students in the Faculty of Science with access to world-class advising services, facilitated by new infrastructure and technology, and to a vibrant student-focused space for self-study and academic collaboration. The Centre also serves as a new location for the Faculty of Science’s community engagement events.

Dr. Wang’s gift reflects a commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientists who will tackle complex global challenges, from climate change adaptation and mitigation to biomedical innovation. By empowering students and helping them reach their full potential in science and beyond, the Centre embodies 91��ɫ’s commitment to access, excellence, and global collaboration.

91��ɫ Libraries have launched SciFree, a groundbreaking tool that transforms how researchers publish their work.

By reducing the financial barriers of article processing charges, SciFree empowers researchers to make more informed, equitable choices about where and how to publish.

The platform lets users search thousands of Gold and Hybrid Open Access journals by title, keyword, or international standard serial number, instantly showing available discounts, waivers, and licensing options through 91��ɫ’s publisher agreements.

This initiative aligns with 91��ɫ’s broader commitment to open scholarship, complementing efforts to expand access to both scholarly research and learning materials. Through initiatives like SciFree and the work of the Open Education Steering Committee, 91��ɫ supports more equitable and accessible models of knowledge sharing across research, teaching, and learning.

In 2024–25, Glendon began conducting a comprehensive accessibility audit to identify opportunities for improving campus accessibility in ways that benefit students facing specific learning or physical barriers.

In partnership with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Glendon is also bringing GoodMaps to campus — a wayfinding app that uses vocal prompts to help community members with low or no vision navigate complex spaces independently.

This app will serve current and future students as well as Glendon’s long-standing partner, Living and Learning in Retirement (LLIR), which organizes workshops, seminars and classes at Glendon every week during the academic year. LLIR’s 50-year partnership has also contributed to the creation of several student scholarships at Glendon.

In March 2025, 91��ɫ received a transformational gift from the Mirkopoulos family to support the Cinema & Media Arts Department within the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design.

The generous gift supports innovative academic initiatives that expand access to education, provide industry-standard technologies to enhance learning experiences, and create resources to help students transition into professional film careers.

The Mirkopoulos family has supported 91��ɫ since 2001, with contributions that have launched the , funded several student awards, and supported the construction of 91��ɫ’s Accolade buildings.

In recognition of the family's contributions and the legacy of Nick Mirkopoulos — the visionary behind the Cinespace Film Studios — 91��ɫ dedicated the lobby in the Centre for Film & Theatre as the Nick Mirkopoulos Plateia.