Spring 2023 Newsletter

Dear colleagues,

As we come to the end of the winter 2023 semester, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing commitment to our university and to our students. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support and collaboration as I have settled into this interim role over the past six months. Your collegiality is much appreciated. 

With the arrival of spring and summer, we look forward to pursuing our scholarly, research and creative activities. But be sure to take time to recharge and focus on what you are passionate about; push your boundaries and explore new avenues of inquiry. It is through your continued energy and creative efforts that we are able to build a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment that benefits our students and the wider community.

I’m excited to share that my office is working on a lot of great programming for the next academic year. Stay tuned to our website and your email for more information on future events.

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

Best wishes for a successful and productive spring and summer.

Patrizia Albanese
Interim Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs

Missed a session of our Let's Talk or EDIA Series this semester? You can watch all sessions on-demand below. Also check out some relevant webinars from the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (external link)  (NCFDD).

• EDIA Series Recordings
• Let's Talk... Series Recordings (external link) 
• NCFDD Webinars
  • Indigenous Time management (external link) 
  • Building a Publishing Pipeline Series (external link) 
  • Secrets to a Super Productive Semester (external link) 
  • Cultivating Your Network of Mentors, Sponsors & Collaborators (external link) 

Resources for new faculty
New to TMU? Check out our new faculty resources page for information on orientation, getting to know TMU, moving to Toronto and much more.

Inclusive excellence in academic life at TMU
Resources and tools to promote awareness, education and action in the advancement of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) in academic recruitment and evaluation at TMU.

Resources for Department Hiring Committees (DHCs)
On a DHC committee this semester, or looking to join in the future? Take a look at our DHC processes and resources webpage.

Applicant Diversity Self-ID data now available! 
Equity advocates serving on DHCs can email our office to request access to this information. Watch this video for guidance on understanding and using equity data. 

National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (external link) 

Don't forget, as part of TMU's continued mission to providing diversity information and professional development, we are an Institutional Member of the NCFDD.

How to activate your membership:

• Visit the membership activation page (external link) .
• Create a username and complete the registration process using your TMU email address.
• You will receive an email confirming your account is active and that you can access the NCFDD resources.

The free resources available with membership include:

• Weekly Monday Motivator (external link) 
• Monthly core curriculum webinars (external link) 
• Monthly guest expert webinars (external link) 
• Access to multi-week courses (external link) 
• A private discussion forum for peer-mentoring and problem-solving
• Monthly accountability buddy matches
• Access to the Member Library that includes past webinar materials, referrals, and readings

The OVPFA will be monitoring how many memberships are activated, and we will be circulating a survey at the end of the academic year to ascertain whether members find these resources to be useful. Any feedback you may have is greatly appreciated.