Fall 2022 Newsletter

Message from the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs

Dear colleagues,

As the summer comes to a close and we settle into a new academic year, I want to take this opportunity to welcome you all back to Toronto Metropolitan University.

As you know, we are returning to in-person learning and teaching this fall semester. While it will be an adjustment for everyone, it is an exciting time and I am looking forward to working face-to-face with you all and experiencing the vibrancy of our university again.

The start of the year is always a special time – our campus will come alive with new students and faculty, new scholarship, new relationships and collaborations, and inspiring conversations. I had the pleasure of meeting and welcoming to campus our over 60 new faculty members joining us this year, whose diverse areas of expertise will build upon the remarkable dedication to excellence in scholarly, research and creative activity of our community. I know the first few months will be full of information and change, but please know you are not alone. Lean on your fellow colleagues and don’t be afraid to ask questions. We are all here to support you.

This semester also marks our first academic year as Toronto Metropolitan University. For me, our new name represents a sense of belonging with respect to the city that continues to help shape us and where we have grown and flourished. It is truly a reflection of our relationship with Toronto as a global, multicultural and diverse city. The idea of a metropolitan university in a metropolitan city reinforces our commitment to diverse perspectives, cultures and ideas.

Whether you are a new faculty member, or have been with the university for many years, I sincerely hope that you embrace this change, find your own sense of belonging at Toronto Met and find that it is a rewarding and satisfying place to build your careers as educators, scholars and colleagues.

This year, I am most looking forward to meeting you on campus either for an informal chat over coffee or at all the workshops and events our office is organizing, along with community and external partners, to support your success at Toronto Met.

Please follow us on Twitter, @VPFAtorontomet (external link) , for regular updates, announcements and tips for our academic community.

If there is any way the OVPFA can support you, please be in touch with me directly via email, roberta@torontomu.ca, or contact any of our team members.

I wish you all a successful 2022-2023 academic year!

Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, PhD
Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs

Welcome from Elder Joanne Dallaire

A welcome from Joanne Okimawininew Dallaire (iskwao/woman), Elder (Ke Shay Hayo) and Senior Advisor, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and a teaching on self-care.

Hello, from Cairo!

Robert Ott, Vice Dean at The Creative School in Cairo discusses what motivated him to take on a leadership role at TMU, how his previous roles prepared him for his current position as Associate Dean, and what advice he has for aspiring Chairs/Associate Deans.

Plus, see a sneak peek of The Creative School campus in Cairo!

Deans and Associate Deans Retreat Highlights

In April, Deans and Associate Deans met in Blue Mountain for our senior leadership retreat. The days were filled with engaging presentations and discussions around EDI and innovative ideas! Check out some photos below.

More photos

Events and important dates

Wed., Sept. 14	Let's Talk... Trauma-informed practice at the workplace
Mon., Sept. 19	Chair/Director Series: Resilience at Work
Thur., Sept. 29	Let's Talk... Knowledge Mobilization Tools
Fri., Sept. 30	Promotion dossiers due for tenure members
Tue., Oct. 4	Chair/Director Series: Understanding Financial Reports and Tips on Managing Budgets with your DA and Financial Services
Tue., Oct. 11	Let's Talk... Research Ethics and Compliance
Wed., Oct. 12	Chair/Director Core Skills Series: Budgeting and Financial Management
Tues., Oct. 18	Let's Talk... Research, Innovation and Impact
Wed., Oct. 19	Chair/Director Core Skills Series: Emerging issues in academic integrity

All events & deadlines

Resources

Renaming

We encourage all faculty to utilize the resources provided on the Next Chapter website such as language, logos, social media and web guidelines and much more.

For consistency, it is important to use the approved resources and terminology with the internal and external community.

Student Wellbeing

As we begin another academic year, we remind faculty and contract lecturers of the health, wellbeing, and accommodation supports and services for students available at TMU via Student Wellbeing. All services and support will be available in person this semester and virtual options will be offered where feasible in order to meet student needs. We encourage you to share this information with your colleagues and students.

NCFDD

Don't forget, as part of TMU's continued mission to providing diversity information and professional development, we are an Institutional Member of the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (external link) (NCFDD).

To activate your membership, visit the Membership Activation Page (external link) , create a username and complete the registration process using your Ryerson email address. You will receive an email confirming your account is active and that you can access the NCFDD resources.

Webinars