The report, authored by Lisa Philipps, senior policy advisor to the president, reflects input from more than 1,100 community members who have engaged with the project since September 2024.  

"The interim report highlights a widely shared view that academic reorganization is not an end in itself, but rather an enabling step that could provide the key in some areas to unlock our potential for curriculum innovation, enhanced student experience and building our scholarly excellence," said Philipps. "The participation from colleagues across the University has been tremendously valuable, bringing forward thoughtful perspectives on both the exciting opportunities and some challenges that restructuring proposals will need to overcome." 

Faculties of the Future is one of 17 projects currently underway as part of the 91亚色 U Forward Action Plan, a critical University-wide strategy that is enabling the University to advance the University Academic Plan (UAP) while ensuring financial sustainability in light of unexpected policy directions at the provincial and federal levels affecting the higher education sector.  

Faculties of the Future (Project 2) examines how 91亚色's academic unit structures might evolve to better advance the University's vision, priorities and values in a changing landscape for higher education. Extensive consultations thus far have included meetings with almost all Faculty councils; Academic Policy, Planning and Research Committee of Senate (APPRC); departmental discussions in several Faculties; engagement with student senators and student organization leaders; and helpful input from the Faculties of the Future Working Group comprising faculty, staff and students from across the University. 

Five main themes emerged from the discussions: changes should be driven primarily by a forward-looking academic vision that honours University values; meeting student learning needs for the future is the most urgent priority; any potential unit reorganization should include a plan for curricular renewal; the need for internal cross-subsidization is acknowledged but must be balanced with ensuring the highest demand programs can also invest in innovation; and, a tailored, selective approach to organizational change is needed to respect local circumstances and context.  

"The 91亚色 U Forward Action Plan, and in particular Faculties of the Future, is fundamentally about ensuring the University continues to contribute to positive change in the communities we serve," said David Peters, interim provost and vice-president academic. "By thoughtfully examining how we organize ourselves, we can enhance our ability to provide transformative learning experiences and impactful research while maintaining our commitment to access, social justice and excellence." 

The Faculties of the Future Interim Report emphasizes that local context matters, suggesting units should self-identify as candidates for reorganization in discussion with their deans. It poses questions that academic units might consider, such as whether consolidation could enhance curriculum coordination, improve student experience or provide a more secure base for vulnerable program areas.聽

"Faculties of the Future represents a critical opportunity to reimagine our academic structures in ways that strengthen 91亚色 as a leading university," said Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor. "I want to express my gratitude to Lisa Philipps for her thoughtful leadership on this project and to the many community members who have contributed their insights. This collaborative approach exemplifies 91亚色's commitment to collegial governance and demonstrates how, even in challenging times, we can adapt while staying true to our core values of student success, research excellence and community engagement.鈥� 

Next steps include continued engagement, with more than 10 additional consultation sessions planned at Markham Campus, with the Student Representative Roundtable, and with departments at the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) and the Lassonde School of Engineering. Individual units are encouraged to explore reorganization options that could benefit students and advance 91亚色's academic mission. 

Individual faculty members considering the opportunity for joining another unit are encouraged to approach their dean. The project team is also exploring how 91亚色 U might create a more dynamic platform to support experimental programming across different parts of the University. 

Final recommendations are expected by spring with implementation anticipated in the 2025-26 academic year. 

Faculty and staff are encouraged to review the interim report and share ideas by contacting fof@yorku.ca or reaching out to a working group representative from their Faculty or constituency group. Information about working group membership and details about the consultations are available to faculty and staff on the Faculties of the Future project page on the 91亚色 U Action Plan website.  

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Much of this work is being advanced through the 91亚色 U Forward Action Plan, a critical University-wide strategy consisting of 17 interconnected projects designed to position 91亚色 U for success in a changing global post-secondary education landscape by: sparking innovation; improving operations; and addressing future learning and knowledge needs.  

As a part of Program Sustainability Review (project 4), the University recently introduced a temporary pause in admissions to 18 undergraduate programs with very small numbers of applications for Fall 2025. The temporary pause in admissions is to allow time for faculty members to reimagine curriculum and develop strategies to attract new students and enhance their experience once at 91亚色. 

"This temporary pause creates needed space for our academic community to strengthen offerings in ways that respond to student needs while maintaining our unwavering commitment to social justice, equity, inclusion and decolonization," said David Peters, interim provost and vice-president academic. "These institutional values remain at the core of 91亚色's mission, and we are dedicated to supporting the scholars and scholarship that advance these crucial areas." 

The pause will not affect course offerings. Many of the programs, while having relatively few majors, offer courses that enjoy robust enrolment as electives. These courses will remain available and current students enrolled in the identified programs will be fully supported to complete their degrees. Faculty members and program Chairs will have an opportunity to reflect on their course offerings relative to majors in reimagining their curriculum and credential options.  

The provost affirms that the temporary pause in undergraduate admissions also does not represent a withdrawal of support for the fields of study, and notes the many supports available 鈥� in addition to others to be provided as part of this project 鈥� including, for example, Indigenous-centred research, teaching, learning, creative work and communities. Progress toward the goals set out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada鈥檚 Calls to Action, the and the Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (DEDI) include efforts to grow and support the complement of Indigenous faculty members at 91亚色, the formation of a first-in-Canada Indigenous Ethics Research Board (IREB) and the intellectual community created by the Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages.聽

Similarly, 91亚色's groundbreaking work in gender and sexuality studies continues. As one of the first Canadian universities to establish a Women's Studies Program, 91亚色 will maintain its leadership in presenting cutting-edge sex, gender and feminist studies curriculum as well as research through its interdisciplinary Centre for Feminist Studies. 

Robust research and teaching will also continue in Jewish studies. Popular electives will continue to be offered and the Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies. Canada鈥檚 first interdisciplinary research centre in Jewish studies will maintain its vibrant academic and cultural community.  

These actions align with recommendations from the 2023 Auditor General's report while responding to provincial and federal policy changes affecting higher education funding. The goal is to ensure long-term program sustainability and create enriched learning experiences that will attract more students to these important fields of study. 

鈥淭his temporary pause presents 91亚色 with an opportunity to reimagine what types of programs would appeal to more students as a major while preserving the teaching and learning in these areas over the long term,鈥� said Peters. Building on past discussions, deans and the provost will be launching further facilitated discussions next month to develop innovative approaches to curriculum design, delivery and program renewal. 鈥淲e invite faculty to participate in these important conversations,鈥� Peters added.  

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An annual award established in 2021, the Provost鈥檚 Postdoctoral Fellowship Program seeks to attract outstanding scholars who will push the boundaries of knowledge in necessary ways. The fellowship includes a salary of $70,000 provided each year for a two-year term. Award recipients can dedicate their time to pursuing a proposed project while working alongside a supervisor and other mentors.

鈥淭hese extraordinary scholars represent the next generation of cutting-edge research at 91亚色. They are tackling deep and demanding problems in their postdoctoral research projects, from Indigenous sociocultural resurgence to sustainable solutions for drinking water management,鈥� Alice MacLachlan, vice-provost and dean Graduate Studies said. 鈥淏oth fellows represent the scholarly excellence and social engagement we aim to foster in our graduate and postdoctoral research community. It is an honour to host them at 91亚色, and to witness the next chapter in their research trajectories.鈥�

The Provost鈥檚 fellowship program seeks to address the under-representation of Black and Indigenous scholars in many disciplines and fields of research and associated careers. The initiative aims to enchance supportive mentorship and network-building opportunities for under-represented scholars. Recipients of the fellowship are provided with collegial resources, supervision, mentorship and funded time to help them achieve their chosen career goals. The fellowships promote the inclusion, integration and nurturing of diverse backgrounds, pieces of knowledges and ways of researching, thinking, communicating and relating to providing equitable access to opportunities for emerging scholars.

Adedapo is completing his PhD in chemistry at the University of Pretoria. His research project is an investigation of nanoplastic accumulation in drinking water supplies with a lens on risk assessment and sustainable development. He will be supervised by Stephanie Gora in the Civil Engineering Department of the Lassonde School of Engineering.

鈥淚t is an honour to receive the Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship for Black and Indigenous Scholars at 91亚色,鈥� Adedapo said.

鈥淢y gratitude goes to 91亚色 for its commitment to fostering diversity and excellence, and to my host supervisor, Prof. Stephanie Gora, for her unwavering support. This unique opportunity will allow me to contribute to advancing sustainable solutions for drinking water management while mentoring the next generation of scientists/engineers. I am excited to embark on this journey of impactful research and intellectual growth as a Black scholar.鈥�

Blayone completed his PhD in digital media studies at the Technology University of Dublin. His research area of interest is Indigenous-AI relations. He will be supervised by Sean Hillier, of the Faculty of Health and Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages (CIKL).

鈥淚 am honoured to join 91亚色 as the 2025-26 Provost's Indigenous Postdoctoral Fellow (M茅tis Nation of Ontario) with the supervisory support of Professor Sean Hillier,鈥� Blayone said.

鈥淢y two-year plan of work features several integrated projects positioned at the intersection of machine intelligence and Indigenous sociocultural resurgence. The foundations are interdisciplinary, incorporating social psychology, computer science, Indigenous studies and hands-on technical exploration. Importantly, I adopt a pragmatic 鈥榦pportunity perspective鈥� catalyzed by human agency, open-source ecosystems and hacktivist culture. The guiding question is: how is (and how might) emerging intelligent systems (e.g., human + GenAI) be used to facilitate and investigate Indigenous sociocultural resurgence at the level of individuals and small groups?鈥�

Learn more about the Provost鈥檚 Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars at 91亚色 by visiting the Faculty of Graduate Studies鈥� website.

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Through the program, Fellows have traditionally engaged the community to take action on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Challenge 鈥� a key commitment of the University Academic Plan.

Eberlein's project, 鈥淎dvancing Carbon Neutrality at 91亚色: Reimagining Mobility,鈥� took aim at reducing emissions from commuting and travel to studying, research and carrying out University business activities.

In 2022, Eberlein surveyed 91亚色 community members about their travel and commuting routines, and this year he released a highlighting the University鈥檚 current carbon footprint with a call to action suggesting how community members can help reduce it.

Here鈥檚 a look at the inspiration behind his work.

Q: What was the thinking behind creating this video and what did you hope to achieve?
A: I was looking for engaging and fun ways to communicate my findings to the wider community. I wanted this to be something we could all relate to and that would work as a call to action.

I worked with Alexandre Magnin, a francophone illustrator, who produced this animated video (available in English and French). Alex has a YouTube channel called "" and he does excellent videos on sustainability that I have used before in my teaching. I provided the script and Alex produced this fantastic work to engage the community in thinking about ways they can help 91亚色 achieve its net zero before 2040 target.

Q: What are some concrete ways community members can make an impact?
A: First thing, just be more mindful of the choices that you make when it comes to commuting and travel. Many of us have habits and routines that we can examine more closely. For example, if you鈥檙e driving to campus regularly, are there ways you can set up a car pool with colleagues or classmates? This would be a small but meaningful, positive change.

Below are some concrete steps that people can take, along with advocating to get more community members involved:

• Taking the bus or the subway can reduce emissions by around six (bus) and 30 (subway) times compared to driving alone. 
• Walking and biking generate virtually no emissions and 91亚色 is investing in bike share programs. 
• Driving an electric car typically generates a third of the emissions compared to fossil fuel vehicles. 
• When driving a car, the more people in it the more efficient it becomes. 
• Make your business travel count and consider whether you can deliver a presentation remotely or think about conference travel sustainably. 

Q: What is your biggest takeaway or lesson learned from this project?
A: Change is hard and it requires both passion and perseverance. Begin with small steps and make sure to involve all of your fellow community members and partners. By coming together, we can show what is possible to right the future.

Eberlein is co-chair of the Transportation Working Group that will develop proposals in this area (e.g. 91亚色 business travel policy), in the context of 91亚色鈥檚 new sustainability framework. He is also looking forward to sharing his comprehensive slide deck and report on how 91亚色 can reduce carbon emissions from commuting and business travel when it is officially released.

Learn more about Eberlein鈥檚 work as a curricular champion to support the UN SDGs and his work to  in reducing 91亚色鈥檚 carbon footprint. 

Watch the video here:

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The Provost鈥檚 Postdoctoral Fellowship program seeks to attract outstanding scholars who will push the boundaries of knowledge in necessary ways. With a salary of $70,000 provided each year for a two-year term, award recipients will be able to dedicate their time to pursuing a proposed project, working alongside a supervisor and other mentors.

鈥淭his program allows 91亚色 to promote and develop some of the most exciting, cutting-edge research that will shape the next generation of scholarship, by supporting the remarkable scholars who are producing it,鈥� says Alice MacLachlan, vice-provost and dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. 鈥淥ne theme that emerges from the innovative research being produced by this year鈥檚 scholars is connection 鈥� whether between learners and the land, or in artificial neural networks 鈥� and we are delighted by the connections they will be able to nurture among our dynamic community of researchers.鈥�

While gaining a foothold to begin a career can be difficult in itself, Black and Indigenous scholars face the additional challenges of racism and systems structured to protect others鈥� privilege. This fellowship begins to address this issue by providing collegial resources, supervision, mentorship and funded time to successful applicants to help them become successful in their chosen careers.

Doug Anderson

Anderson is completing his PhD in education at 91亚色. His project, "Inaakonigewin Akinomaagegamig," addresses how Indigenous principles can begin to define and orient the resources in education systems in ways that benefit the work of sovereign Indigenous learning and resurgence in the land.

鈥淚 will bring my emerging academic focus under the direction of the Memtigwaake Kinomaage Mawnjiding Advisory Circle, now managing over 20 acres of land in Toronto as a learning space grounded in Indigenous ceremony, sovereignty and laws. This land hosts cyclical, perennial culture and language learning for Indigenous students in ways that are at the core of how learning and site management proceed,鈥� shares Anderson. 鈥淚 will work to support Indigenous students and partners to have this culture-based learning recognized by Toronto school boards and focus on how the learning can be supported through post-secondary institutions, all in ways defined by Indigenous people and principles. I am grateful for the support of doctors Deb Danard, Steve Alsop, Kate Tilleczek and Deborah McGregor in this work.鈥�

Jean de Dieu Uwisengeyimana

Uwisengeyimana holds a PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Science & Technology of China. His cutting-edge project will focus on developing video-based, biologically inspired, artificial neural networks for dynamic scene understanding. Uwisengeyimana will be affiliated with 91亚色's program, which aims to advance vision and produce applications that generate positive health, societal, technological and economic impacts for Canada and the world.

鈥淚 express my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to pursue a Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship at 91亚色, which will allow me to conduct cutting-edge research to develop computational models of visuocognitive tasks,鈥� says Uwisengeyimana. 鈥淚 will work on this project under the guidance of Dr. Kohitij Kar, a VISTA program core member and faculty member. I appreciate that Dr. Kar is actively interacting with industrial (e.g. Google Brain Toronto) and academic (e.g. the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard) partners to provide me with high-quality networking opportunities to help me advance my career.鈥�

Learn more about the Provost鈥檚 Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars at 91亚色 by visiting the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.

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The Canadian news magazine鈥檚 annual rankings are considered to be one of the most influential sources for prospective university students when choosing their school, and boosts reputation in higher education.  

The annual reputational survey is part of the 惭补肠濒别补苍鈥檚 ranking methodology, which aims to gather the opinions of university faculty, senior administration and businesspeople from across Canada.  

The Reputational Survey is now available for 91亚色 faculty and senior administrators to complete until early September 2023, when the survey closes. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. 

罢丑别鈥�惭补肠濒别补苍鈥檚鈥疪eputational Survey for Faculty (English version) is available at: .鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

The French-language version of the Reputational Survey is available at:鈥� . 

鈥淭he 惭补肠濒别补苍鈥檚 University ranking is an important signal for prospective students. Strong rankings for 91亚色 improves awareness about our leadership in higher education, attracting students as well as research funding and strategic partnerships to our academic community. It also supports the University鈥檚 efforts to recruit talented future faculty and staff,鈥� says Lisa Philipps, provost and vice-president academic.   

鈥淚 encourage faculty colleagues and senior administrators to complete the reputational survey to highlight 91亚色鈥檚 academic excellence and the advantages of choosing 91亚色,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he University is truly a driving force for positive change.鈥� 

惭补肠濒别补苍鈥檚 has made two major changes this year: there is no student satisfaction survey; and, they are asking universities to distribute their reputational survey to participants on their behalf, instead of sending directly to participants.  

惭补肠濒别补苍鈥檚 has advised that when completing the survey, participants should choose the job title that most closely describes their role. For example, 鈥渁ssistant professors鈥� and 鈥渁ssociate professors,鈥� will need to choose the 鈥減rofessor鈥� option. Also, any staff member who teaches at 91亚色 qualifies to complete the survey as an academic.  

鈥疉ny eligible faculty and senior administration member who encounters issues while completing the survey is encouraged to contact the Office of Institutional Planning and Analysis at鈥�oipa@yorku.ca.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

From a research perspective, 91亚色 has much to be proud of: 

• 91亚色 leads Connected Minds, a $318.4-million, first-of-its-kind AI research initiative examining how technology is transforming society, drawing on the expertise of core researchers from the Faculty of Health, the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, the Lassonde School of Engineering, Osgoode Hall Law School and Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.鈥�� 
• 91亚色鈥檚 total sponsored research income continues to increase amounting to $112 million in 2022-23, the highest in the history of the University.鈥�� 
• 91亚色 successfully hosted 10,310 global scholars at , showcasing leadership on social justice and sustainability and the Faculty of Graduate Studies ensured all graduate students were supported to attend through the Academic Excellence Fund, including equity-deserving groups.鈥�� 

鈥淔rom our historic Connected Minds initiative to accelerating research in AI and health to the transformative work of more than 30 Organized Research Units that draw on expertise from STEM, social sciences and humanities, and other various fields, 91亚色 is an interdisciplinary powerhouse for research excellence,鈥� said Amir Asif, vice-president, research and innovation. 鈥淯niversity ranks like 惭补肠濒别补苍鈥檚 help us demonstrate the significant reach and impact of our research faculty.鈥� 

Other points of institutional pride that highlight excellence happening at 91亚色 include: 

• The School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) and the Schulich School of Business Executive Education partnered with Cinespace Studios to create the for professionals in the film and television industry. 
• 91亚色 ranked in the Top 40 globally out of 1,500-plus institutions participating in this year鈥檚 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, once again demonstrating the University鈥檚 leadership on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• The Faculty of Science strengthened its training and research capacity by creating a program to train the next generation of technologically advanced graduates for the pharmaceutical industry and secured major research awards including $7.25 million from the International Development Research Centre.  
• Glendon College launched a first-of-its-kind Certificate in Indigenous Cultural Competency and Trauma-Informed Training, in partnership with Nokiiwin Tribal Council, and funded in part by the Donner Canadian Foundation.  
• 91亚色 Libraries Accessibility Services have been recognized as an international leader for those requiring alternate formats of texts or access to the Libraries鈥� adaptive lab to conduct research, course work and studies.  
• Faculty of Education Professor Celia Haig-Brown was one of six 91亚色 faculty members to be elected by The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) as part of the Class of 2022 and Professor Carl James was one of five recipients of the , honouring his research on identity, race, class, gender, immigration and creating more equitable societies.  
• The School of Continuing Studies opened a new and increased the number of internationally educated baccalaureate graduates by 64 per cent. These students received post-graduate certificates in programs designed in partnership with industry, focusing on in-demand skills that enable students to launch careers in Canada.
• The University approved the 2023-2028 Strategic Research Plan 鈥� Knowledge for the Future: From Creation and Discovery to Application, laying out a vision for accelerating the growth and supporting the development of our research, scholarship and creative activity over the next five years. 

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The three-day event was attended by 30 science and associate deans from universities across Canada, and featured talks by experts on topics including: research data storage and security; the emergence of AI (artificial intelligence) and its effect on academic integrity; student and employee mental health and well-being; equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) in science education; an update on NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) funding mechanisms; and internationalization strategy.

鈥淥ur CCDS AGM presented a critical opportunity to build relationships with deans and associate deans in science education across our country,鈥� says Rui Wang, dean of 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Science and CCDS president.

Several 91亚色 community members played a role in guiding the AGM鈥檚 conversations. Provost & Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps provided opening remarks, highlighting the rapid pace of change in academia, the need for administrators to be nimble and responsive and to promote ample dialogue with colleagues about a shared vision. Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation, addressed attendees at the conference banquet, highlighting the recent successes of 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Science, including its prowess in infectious disease modelling, spectroscopy, and astronomical exploration, and calling for continued collaboration amongst CCDS member institutions.

The event also included a networking reception and tour of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory.

As a result of the AGM, moving forward the CCDS has committed to several united initiatives that will bolster the advocacy of science education, including:

• strengthening its effort to present an organized and united voice for science education and research across the nation, raising public awareness of the critical importance of science education and research, positioning science and research as a national priority, and working together with tri-council and other funding mechanisms to increase funding to science research program and the training of highly qualified personnel;
• continuing to facilitate institutional collaboration and communication via multiple channels for science education and research among all Faculties of Science in Canada;
• exploring channels to enhance its organizational functions to include leadership training possibilities for deans and associate deans of science; and
• promoting best practices and strategies, including but not limited to EDI, accessibility, student and employee well-being and mental health, international collaboration, emerging AI challenges on academic integrity, and research data storage and security among membership Faculties of Science of CCDS.

鈥淲e were successful in our objectives: to learn from each other, share knowledge about pressing issues and challenges in science education, and further our collective voice to help drive positive change by advocating for science education and research as a national priority,鈥� says Wang.

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Applications are due by May 4 and the call is open to all tenured faculty members who are interested in future leadership opportunities at the University. Indigenous faculty and those from equity-deserving groups are encouraged to apply.

The program offers a unique opportunity for tenured faculty to advance the University鈥檚 commitment to building a better future and creating positive change.

In 2022, four Fellows were selected to that advanced the priorities of 91亚色鈥檚 University Academic Plan (UAP) alongside United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These projects are focussed on reducing the University鈥檚 carbon footprint by changing transportation patterns, to ensuring that 2SLGBTQIA+ students can access support to successfully launch their careers, among other key areas.

Now in its third year, the program aims to keep advancing 91亚色鈥檚 position as world-class teaching institute through projects that directly address University Academic Plan priorities. Academic career development is also a key feature, as Fellows have the opportunity to create, collaborate and receive mentorship directly from University leaders.

Those interested in applying or who have a particular project in mind should consider the following: 

• There will be an opportunity to work with the provost and relevant members of senior leadership on an innovative project or initiative that advances one of the UAP priority areas at an institutional or faculty level.
• Projects do not need to be limited to a Fellow鈥檚 home Faculty.
• Projects must seek to enhance and intersect with, the University-wide challenge to elevate 91亚色鈥檚 contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• The proposed project should also seek to create an opportunity for personal professional growth and learning, and the exploration of leadership at the Faculty or institutional level.

Details on program eligibility, how to apply and relevant timelines can be found on the Provost Office website. Fellows will be selected by a panel that includes the provost and vice-president academic (Chair), and representatives from the Offices of the VP Research & Innovation; the VP Equity, People & Culture; Vice-Provost Students; and others as appropriate.

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The task force 鈥� announced in February by the Senate Academic Policy, Planning & Research (APPRC) and Academic Standards, Curriculum & Pedagogy (ASCP) Committees together with the Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs 鈥� includes senior and junior tenure-stream faculty members from across Faculties and campuses. It will draw on the expertise of contract course directors, a teaching and learning librarian, an undergraduate and graduate student and non-academic staff from the Teaching Commons and University Information Technology units.

This year, the task force will host a number of community-wide consultations to get a sense of what the University can prioritize to scale up successful innovations that enhance quality learning experiences.

91亚色 Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps said 鈥淭here is a need in this moment for the University to take stock of how to scale up approaches to teaching and learning that prepare students to navigate a world where change is the only constant. Quality must remain at the core of the innovation that is taking place and the task force is really championing this.鈥�

Task force co-chair Anita Lam, associate dean, teaching and learning, says she is delighted to serve alongside Michael Moir, Chair of APPRC.

鈥淕iven the ambitious timeline, the task force will be reviewing various environmental scans and literature reviews, as well as gathering key insights from collegial discussions with faculty members and through consultations with students,鈥� says Lam. 鈥淢y hope is that we will be able to provide empirically grounded, pedagogically sound recommendations to help the university prioritize its actions to facilitate and support 21st century learning across a diverse range of teaching and learning contexts.鈥�

The task force will examine the role of in-person learning as a core part of what 91亚色 offers along with how the University can support the growth of high-quality technology-enhanced learning to create added flexibility for students, while protecting instructor time for pedagogically valuable activities.

It will also prioritize advancing decolonization, equity, diversity and inclusion in the design of future pedagogy along with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Finally, it will examine ways to grow experiential learning and work-integrated learning opportunities for students and maintain academic integrity in an era of technological disruption.

The group will convene in the coming weeks. Its success in meeting the goal to deliver a strong set of recommendations will depend on the individual and collective contributions from faculty members, course directors, staff and students. The community will be invited to share their ideas in planned focus group consultations led by the task force when dates are announced.

Everyone is invited to watch for announcements on opportunities to collaborate on an initiative that will help shape the University鈥檚 teaching and learning plans at this critical juncture for the University. To support the feedback gathered by the group, progress reports from Senate committees will also be shared with the community at appropriate intervals.

When the work is complete, the task force will issue a final report that includes key recommendations to support the achievement of the 2020-2025 University Academic Plan priority 21st Century Learning: Diversifying Whom, What, and How We Teach.  

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The mandate of the task force is to re-examine the 2020-2025 University Academic Plan priority on 鈥�21st Century Learning: Diversifying Whom, What, and How We Teach鈥� in light of learnings from the shift to online delivery of programming during the COVID-19 pandemic and pedagogical reform initiatives currently underway in academic units. The task force will make high-level recommendations on teaching and learning plans for the University moving forward. 

Universities across Ontario are engaging in the exercise of redefining their pedagogy plans and 91亚色 needs to articulate a teaching and learning agenda that will advance its distinctive vision, core values and academic goals.

Full information about the task force mandate, deliverables and composition is posted on a dedicated Task Force webpage. The task force will launch in early March and continue until its final report is issued in December 2023.

The Senate committees are issuing a call for expressions of interest for its faculty and student positions. Interested candidates are asked to complete this . The deadline for submission of completed forms is Friday, Feb. 17. The submissions will be reviewed by the Chairs of APPRC and ASCP together with the provost who will confirm a representative membership for the task force by the end of February to enable its start in March.

Questions about this initiative can be directed to Cheryl Underhill, secretary of Academic Policy, Planning & Research committee.

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