The newly launched 2026-30 University Academic Plan (UAP) offers a set of shared principles to guide academic planning, decision-making and institutional priorities across the University for the duration of the plan.

Interim Provost and Vice-President Academic Laina Bay-Cheng sees the UAP鈥檚 principles as a foundation for shaping the University's future development.

"The University Academic Plan reflects where we want to go as a university and what principles will guide us in getting there," says Bay-Cheng. 鈥淚t reflects values that have been part of 91亚色 since its founding: an openness to ideas and possibilities and an investment in using those ideas and possibilities to contribute to the communities and world around us."

The UAP was developed through extensive consultation with students, faculty, instructors and staff. It builds on the significant achievements of the 2020-25 University Academic Plan and looks forward to future progress, including the launch of 91亚色鈥檚 School of Medicine, expanded experiential learning opportunities, stronger support for research and innovation, enhanced career readiness for students, responsible engagement with emerging technologies and continued leadership advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UAP is organized around six guiding principles designed to provide both direction and flexibility.

Translating the plan into actions and results will require a collective effort from across the University, says Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps.

"The UAP belongs to the entire 91亚色 community," says Philipps. "Its success depends on how we bring these principles to life through our teaching, learning, research, service, partnerships and everyday interactions. Every member of the community has a role to play."

For faculty, staff, students and instructors, that begins with sharing their experiences and perspectives. Upcoming drop-in engagement sessions will give community members an opportunity to connect with each other about the purpose and potential of the UAP. The UAP is meant to be broad and inclusive enough that all 91亚色 community members can see a role for it in their work and a role for themselves in supporting 91亚色鈥檚 progress.

All 91亚色 community members are invited to attend the drop-in engagement sessions at the Keele, Glendon and Markham campuses over the coming weeks. Learn more about the sessions and what participants can expect.

For more information about the plan, visit the UAP website.

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Dear 91亚色 community, 

Today we launch 91亚色's new 2026-30 University Academic Plan (UAP). The UAP sets our academic direction for the next four years, built on six principles that will guide how we teach, learn, research and engage with each other and the world beyond 91亚色.  

The UAP is a plan for the entire 91亚色 community, and we all have a role to play in bringing it to life.  

Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps and I will host drop-in engagement sessions on each campus. Join us to learn more about the plan's principles, ask questions and share your hopes for where the UAP can lead us. You can also explore the new UAP website and read YFile to learn more about the plan.

听
Monday, Oct. 26, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.听
Vari Hall Rotunda听

听
Monday, Nov. 2, 9 to 11 a.m.听
Atrium听

听
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1 to 3 p.m.听
Centre of Excellence (COE) Atrium听

Bring your ideas. At the events, you can write your hopes for the plan on seed paper and post them under the principle that speaks to you. The seed paper will later be planted on our campuses, allowing those ideas to grow both symbolically and literally. 

Faculty, staff, students and instructors are all welcome and no registration is required. Stay a while or drop by for 15 minutes. Light refreshments will be served. 

I hope to see you there. 

Laina Bay-Cheng 
Interim Provost & Vice-President Academic 

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WWF-Canada named 91亚色 as one of seven Canadian post-secondary institutions recognized for translating environmental commitments into conservation initiatives, learning opportunities and community action.

During the 2025-26 academic year, 91亚色's Office of Sustainability, Facilities Services, Biodiversity Working Group, faculty, student organizations and community partners worked collaboratively to advance initiatives spanning ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, sustainable food systems and environmental leadership.

91亚色 is transforming its campuses into places where environmental action is not only studied but put into practice, says Nicole Arsenault, director, Office of Sustainability. Students, staff, faculty and community members participated in biodiversity monitoring, pollinator garden stewardship, sustainable food programming at the Maloca Garden and Earth Month activities.

Those efforts translated into hands-on sustainability learning and measurable action across 91亚色鈥檚 campuses, including the planting of close to 400 trees and campus cleanups that collected 36 bags of litter.

鈥淥ur campuses are important places for both learning and biodiversity,鈥� says Arsenault. 鈥淓arning the Living Campus certification for a third consecutive year reflects 91亚色鈥檚 ongoing approach to sustainability as something we put into practice across our campuses."

WWF-Canada highlighted 91亚色鈥檚 biodiversity work, including the planting of native vegetation to restore an area of Glendon Campus affected by a water main break.

The University鈥檚 wider habitat enhancement work included naturalization, invasive species management, biodiversity monitoring and stewardship of campus green spaces.

As well, students and staff recorded more than 200 species observations during two inventories of plants, wildlife and other biodiversity on campus.

The Sheila Colla Pollinator Garden 鈥� a memorial garden celebrating the late 91亚色 Professor Sheila Colla 鈥� provides another example of biodiversity in action, bringing together research, remembrance, community participation and conservation to create habitat for pollinators at 91亚色.

Through these initiatives, Arsenault says 91亚色 community members developed knowledge and skills related to ecological restoration, waste reduction, biodiversity conservation and sustainable food systems.

鈥淏y bringing together students, faculty, staff and community partners, we鈥檙e creating opportunities for hands-on learning while restoring habitat, supporting biodiversity and advancing the goals of 91亚色鈥檚 Sustainability Strategy 2030," she says.

The work advances priorities identified in 91亚色鈥檚 Sustainability Strategy 2030, Sustainability Policy, University Academic Plan and Well-being Strategy, as well as its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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Dear 91亚色 community, 

Welcome to the 2026-27 academic year!  

I have been a part of this community as a student, a faculty member and an administrator. And September at 91亚色 has always felt special to me. 

So this year I asked around: "What are you most excited about?" Here is what your fellow students, faculty and staff had to say: 

There is a lot to look forward to. We are climbing in the global rankings, growing co-op and experiential learning, breaking new ground in research, advancing sustainability and equity, backing innovators on and beyond our campuses, and building a first-of-its-kind medical school. This fall, we will be launching our University Academic Plan for 2026-30, a living framework for where we go next and for a future that each of you has a role in shaping. 

Whatever brings you here, I hope you will take every chance to collaborate, to enrich your learning, teaching and research, and to connect with the people around you. Start with Spirit Day on Oct. 20, when we celebrate 91亚色 pride across our three campuses. 

Students, remember that you do not have to navigate the year alone. The and well-being websites are there to connect you with academic advising, counselling and other supports whenever you need them. 

Here is to an inspiring year. I look forward to seeing you on our campuses. 

Lisa Philipps
Interim President and Vice-Chancellor

The post What are you excited about for this year at 91亚色? appeared first on YFile.

Hosted by Senate鈥檚 Academic Policy, Planning & Research Committee (APPRC), the forum aims to spark dialogue on development of the University Academic Plan (UAP) 2025-30.

The forum takes place on Nov. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Dr. Robert Everett Senate Chamber, N940 Ross Building on Keele Campus. Online participation is an option for those who cannot attend in person.

The forum takes place at a pivotal stage in the development of the 2025-30 UAP, which will be finalized by Senate approval. Designed to be interactive, through real-time audience polling and feedback technology, participants are encouraged to bring computers, tablets or phones if possible, to facilitate participation.

Participants will be invited to offer feedback on APPRC鈥檚 recommendation to update the current UAP while retaining its core priorities and creating space for bold strategies that reinforce 91亚色鈥檚 relevance locally and globally as a leading institution of higher learning.

Discussion questions will explore:

• What aspects of the current UAP are outdated and need updating?
• What work on priorities is progressing well and indicates potential for continuity?
• What are the most important opportunities for the University to seize over the next five years?
• What role should the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework play going forward in defining 91亚色鈥檚 University Academic Plan?

APPRC Chair, Professor Monique Herbert, will moderate the event and will provide an overview of the UAP and the process for developing the next iteration. Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps will offer brief remarks on the current academic planning landscape.

Information on the UAP renewal process, options for engagement in the consultation and background documentation, including the 2020-2025 UAP Retrospective Report, are available on APPRC鈥檚 UAP Renewal website.

Participants are asked to confirm attendance and mode of attendance through the

There are several ways to contribute to the University Academic Plan: attend the open forum, join a Faculty Council discussion or email input to Senate.

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