September 2021 Newsletter
A Message from the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
Dear colleagues,
I am delighted to welcome everyone who is joining us for the first time and those who are returning for another exciting (albeit somewhat unusual) academic year!
As Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs, it is very important to me that academic staff find Ryerson a rewarding and satisfying place to build their career as teachers, scholars and colleagues. The Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs (OVPFA) is here to offer academic staff at Ryerson a range of supports related to work-life balance, professional development, teaching, mental health and well-being, among others.
Our University contributes to many areas of our society, and to our local, national and global communities. Ryerson is immensely proud of you and the work you do within and outside of the University. The OVPFA is here to support you.
The OVPFA provides oversight on all aspects directly related to the life cycle of academic employees, from hiring to tenure and promotion, sabbaticals, leaves, retirement, academic administrative appointments, transfers, cross-appointments, faculty development and academic leadership support, salary anomalies, grievances, and the interpretation and application of academic collective agreements.
As a diverse and inclusive community of engaged and innovative scholars, students, staff, alumni and community partners, Ryerson’s commitment to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are embedded in all our initiatives and activities. Embracing diverse perspectives, offering campus spaces and services in which community members feel safe and supported and embedding EDI into hiring and tenure and promotion practices, are top priorities reflective of this commitment.
This past year, I was honoured and privileged to be one of the co-chairs for the Anti-Black Racism (ABR) Faculty Working Group, a sub-group of the ABR Presidential Committee tasked with implementing the recommendations set out in the Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report (released in July 2020) based on consultations with Black faculty, staff and students who spoke about their experiences on our campus and their interactions with the institution. For the coming year, I see my work, both on this committee and as VPFA as interconnected in that both play a very critical role in dismantling systemic anti-Black racism at the University.
My office is committed to developing a holistic and overarching strategy that supports the recruitment, development and retention of excellent academic staff from diverse disciplines and backgrounds, particularly from the equity seeking groups recognized at Ryerson and in the objectives laid out in the ABR and TRC reports. Here are some of the ways in which this work is occurring from the OVPFA in close collaboration with colleagues:
- Negotiating and implementing a new RFA Collective Agreement with enhanced provisions to support the recruitment and retention of Indigenous faculty, librarians and Professional Counsellors as well as the establishment of equity advocate roles on hiring (DHC and LAC) and evaluation committees (DEC, FTC, FPC, LAC) to further the work of recruiting and retaining diverse excellence.
- Offering new training on inclusive hiring and evaluation practices.
- Making information based on department specific Diversity Self ID data available for the equity advocates in guiding the work of their committees.
- Integrating the Diversity Self ID at the point of application within our current faculty recruitment portal.
- Exploring next steps for special programs allowing for cluster/targeted hiring.
- Development of online tools on recruitment, including templates for various stages of the recruitment process and guidance on virtual recruitment that incorporate EDI considerations; partnering with the Indigenous HR Lead and the Black Faculty & Staff Network to support Black and Indigenous candidates.
- Introducing flexibility into various aspects of academic life affecting recruitment, tenure, promotion, etc. in light of COVID-19 and in consideration of the needs of our diverse academic staff. Further information can be found on our Information for RFA and CUPE during the COVID-19 Pandemic webpage.
- Embedding EDI into development plans for faculty and academic leaders in order to cultivate and foster a more inclusive work environment.
As a member of our academic staff, you are a valued member of the Ryerson community and we want you to have the opportunity to be engaged and involved. I invite you to browse through our revamped website for news and information related to faculty life at Ryerson, including the different programs and initiatives our office is offering in partnership with colleagues from across the institution, towards supporting academic life at Ryerson and furthering the important work on equity, diversity and inclusion.
Follow us on Twitter @RyersonVPFA (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.
Wishing everyone much health and success for the 2021-2022 academic year!
Stay safe and take care of yourself and each other!
Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Ph.D.
Professor and Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
September 2021 Events
National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity
Ryerson is an Institutional Member of the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (external link) (NCFDD). We have had great feedback from colleagues who participated in the Faculty Success Program offered by the NCFDD. Connect with our team if you want to learn more about participating in this great opportunity.
Let’s Talk….Series
As part of the professional development initiatives our office has planned for the 2021-22 academic year, I am particularly excited about our Let’s Talk learning series aimed at new faculty but open to all faculty. Our line-up includes workshops on academic integrity, grant-writing, library resources, embedding EDI in SRC activities, experiential learning, knowledge mobilization and personal well-being. As spaces are limited, be sure to register as soon as possible!
Schedule and Registration for the Let's Talk....Series
Registration for 2021 sessions is closed
Programs for Academic Leaders
Our programming has been developed with the recognition that the University is founded on collegial self-governance and it is through such processes that we should continue to carve out our University's collective purpose, as well as protect and defend it.
Provost’s Academic Leadership Program
I am also pleased to announce that we are moving forward with the 2021-22 edition of the Provost’s Academic Leadership Program with a group of faculty and librarian members from across the University. The program will begin in a remote environment with the hope of being able to connect in person in the Winter term.
Chair/Director Leadership Series
I am thrilled to announce our brand-new Leadership series for Chairs and Directors aimed not only at networking with colleagues and discussing the core skills for the role but also at developing long-term leadership competencies to better support colleagues and students. We are working on the details and will publish them shortly on our website, but they will include workshops and webinars on conflict and dispute resolution, inclusive leadership, unconscious bias, team-building, mental health and much more! Our program in support of Chairs and Directors will launch with a welcome session on September 8!
Schedule and Registration for the Chair/Director Leadership Series
Registration for 2021 sessions is closed
Communities
We know that building a sense of community has always been important but even more so during the pandemic. In addition to the opportunities, you will have to interact with colleagues through the virtual development events, I am optimistic and excited about bringing our academic colleagues together for in-person events once it is safe and feasible to do so, so please stay tuned for more information on that from our office.
For our new colleagues, we have a welcome team consisting of wonderful and well accomplished colleagues from around the University who are generously giving of their time to meet for (virtual) coffee, etc. to help you as you navigate your first year at Ryerson.
Committee Training
The hiring of new faculty and librarians and assessment of pre-tenure faculty members are extremely important functions carried out by Ryerson faculty members.
Schedule and Registration for Committee Training
Registration for 2021 sessions is closed
The Collective Agreement requires that training workshops be held each year to provide instruction with regard to DHCs and DECs/ FTCs’ legal obligations and duties under the Agreement and University policies.