President

President, Office of the

sgupta — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:18 +0000

President, Office of the sgupta Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:47

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https://www.president.utoronto.ca

U of T launches new Institutional Equity Commitments website

ksoobria — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:10:33 +0000

U of T launches new Institutional Equity Commitments website ksoobria Tue, 02/13/2024 - 11:10

The University of Toronto community has a new website that enhances the way it tracks institutional progress on addressing recommendations from its equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) working groups and task force.

Launched in December 2023, the Institutional Equity Commitments website outlines the commitments U of T has made in response to recommendations from the Anti-Black Racism Task Force, Antisemitism Working Group and Anti-Asian Racism Working Group; provides status updates on each initiative; and shares articles, photos, and resources that bring this work to life. 

“The university is committed to building on the strong foundation for change laid in the reports of our EDI working groups and task force,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “It is also imperative that our actions be transparent and accessible to all members of our community. We hope that the new Institutional Equity Commitments website will foster an increased awareness of what we have achieved together so far and inspire participation in the many initiatives yet to come.” 

Developed through collaboration among the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice-President & Provost and the Office of the Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture, the Institutional Equity Commitments website is an evolution of a pilot project that began in 2021. The pilot version, known as the Commitments Dashboard, was created to track the implementation of Anti-Black Racism Task Force recommendations and later expanded to include Antisemitism Working Group recommendations. Over the years, there has been a growing need to enhance the existing site. 

“Guided by our community’s feedback, we have designed a site that is easier to navigate and clearly demonstrates institutional accountability while celebrating our shared progress,” said U of T’s Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture Kelly Hannah-Moffat.

The updated website has a redesigned look and enhanced user experience, including featured stories, progress snapshots, and status updates on the recommendations. Visitors can filter the entire page by specific report. Additionally, divisions or offices responsible for reporting progress on each commitment are now identified. 

“The nature of equity work is that it is an ongoing journey, characterized by continual growth and change,” said Jodie Glean-Mitchell, executive director, equity, diversity and inclusion.

“The newly revised Institutional Equity Commitments website provides the university with a tool to put EDI accountability into action as we engage our collective responsibility to foster an equitable and inclusive university.”    

Members of the U of T community are encouraged to explore the new site and consider how the working group recommendations might inform change in their own areas of the university. Feedback on the site and stories about local progress on EDI commitments are also welcome and can be submitted using the feedback form.  

“We are fortunate to have a very engaged community of students, faculty, librarians and staff who make important contributions to this work, and we’re glad to have their continued input,” said Trevor Young, U of T's vice-president and provost. “Our ongoing goal is to better deliver and report on the institutional commitments we've made to equity and to improve transparency and accountability.”

U of T launches new Institutional Equity Commitments website

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Melinda Mattos 

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University of Toronto President Meric Gertler appointed to second term

lanthierj — Thu, 18 May 2017 20:42:06 +0000

University of Toronto President Meric Gertler appointed to second term

lanthierj Thu, 05/18/2017 - 16:42

Topic

Professor Meric Gertler has been appointed to a second term as president of the University of Toronto, the chair of U of T’s Governing Council announced Thursday – and will lead the university until June 30, 2023.

“The University of Toronto is thriving,” said Shirley Hoy, who leads the 50-member council of faculty, staff, students, alumni and government appointees that oversees the university’s academic, business and student affairs.

“In the increasingly competitive world of higher education, U of T is fortunate to have one of the world’s leading scholars and administrators as its president,” Hoy said. “The university consistently ranks among the top 10 public universities worldwide, and Meric’s unwavering dedication to excellence in teaching and research plays a crucial role.”

A renowned urban scholar, Gertler was installed as U of T’s 16th president in November 2013. He had served as dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science – the university’s largest and most diverse academic division – since Dec. 1, 2008.

During Gertler’s first term, the university received the largest research grant in its history, celebrated 11 Rhodes Scholars, and launched the Vector Institute with a diverse array of private sector and public sector partners. The university has helped launch 48 startups in the past two years – and this year became the only Canadian institution named to the Times Higher Education list of universities working with the world’s most innovative firms.

Read about Beyond Divestment

Read about U of T’s response to TRC

Read about sexual violence prevention and support

Read about student mental health

When he accepted the appointment in 2013, Gertler acknowledged he was assuming the presidency at a time of great change in the higher education sector. As he accepted a second term, he observed that political and economic changes on a global scale have made the role of the university more important than ever.

“In some parts of the globe, we have seen a movement away from international engagement, mutual trust and sharing of information and expertise,” Gertler said. “Yet the international community is increasingly facing challenges – from climate change to the international migration of refugees − that are global in nature, and whose solutions require cooperation.

“As one of the world’s leading research universities, we have a crucial role to play in fostering that collaboration – and in generating the knowledge that stimulates the production of new ideas, new technologies, new products and solutions.”

The author, co-author or co-editor of more than 90 scholarly publications and nine books, Gertler’s academic work focuses on the economies of cities, the urban foundations of innovation, and the role of creativity, culture and diversity in urban life. That deep, research-based understanding of the importance of the city in a global economy – and the importance of the university as both a source of stability and dynamism for the city – are seen as driving forces in Gertler’s presidency.

“In a world where some are turning inward, our university – located in one of the most diverse urban regions of the globe, in a country that is emerging as a beacon of stability and inclusion – has a vital role to play,” Gertler said. “We will continue to open up our campuses to the city around us, convening public discussions of the most pressing issues of the day.

“And we will continue to reach across borders to connect with scholars and create opportunities for our researchers and our students to circulate ideas, solve problems and shape our understanding of the world.”

At the start of his first term, Gertler outlined three strategic priorities: deepening U of T’s international engagement; leveraging U of T’s three locations in the most diverse urban region in the world; and enriching undergraduate education.

“I look forward to working with our students, alumni, faculty and friends to continue to pursue those priorities,” Gertler said. “Our city-region is evermore significant as an economic, political and cultural centre. Our global networks and engagement are increasingly central to our success as an institution – and to the success of our community. To continue developing a truly excellent, distinctive undergraduate learning experience, we need to take full advantage of these strengths.”

Open letter from U of T president in support of Central European University

lanthierj — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 16:07:27 +0000

Open letter from U of T president in support of Central European University

lanthierj Sun, 04/09/2017 - 12:07

Topic

Global Lens

President

Global

University of Toronto President Meric Gertler has released the text of his letter to Hungary's minister of human capacities, opposing a recent vote in the Hungarian parliament that threatens to close the renowned Central European University – one of that country's smallest and most prestigious educational institutions.

Below is the complete text of the president's letter:

April 5, 2017

Mr. Zoltán Balog
Minister of Human Capacities
1054 Budapest, Akadémia utca 3.
Hungary

Dear Minister Balog:

I write as President of the University of Toronto to express our community’s alarm and dismay at the recent vote in the Hungarian parliament supporting legislation that would, in effect, shut down Central European University in Budapest.”

Knowledge production, innovation and democracy depend upon the unfettered work of independent academic institutions and the free flow of ideas they foster. Academic freedom, and the freedoms of inquiry and expression, underpin the success of these institutions and in doing so, contribute to open, dynamic, and prosperous societies.

CEU’s influence is most strongly felt at home. It contributes enormously to the prosperity and success of Budapest and Hungary, bringing talent, social and cultural vibrancy, economic opportunity and resiliency to its host region. CEU’s reach also extends globally. Academic communities around the world, including the one here in Toronto, benefit from their partnerships with CEU and Hungary more generally. It is utterly dismaying that the government of Hungary would contemplate forcing its closure.

Hungary has a proud tradition of excellence and leadership in education, research, and innovation dating back centuries. For more than 25 years, Central European University has played an outsized role in that esteemed history. It is my sincere hope, both for Hungary and the broader international community, that it be permitted to continue.

Sincerely,

Meric S. Gertler
President

How can universities build a better future for Ontario?

lanthierj — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 13:05:25 +0000

How can universities build a better future for Ontario?

lanthierj Wed, 02/15/2017 - 08:05

Topic

If you have ideas about how Ontario’s universities can help ensure a bright future for the province, the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) wants to hear from you.

The COU, the voice of the province’s 21 universities, says it wants to see how universities can work with others to help build stronger industries, strengthen growing service sectors, support artists, protect Ontario’s natural heritage and promote good health.

To get the conversation started and the ideas flowing, the COU has created a quick and simple online survey to tap ideas of students, parents and others.

Along with the survey, the COU is also holding one-on-one meetings and roundtables across Ontario with business and cultural leaders, public sector service providers, researchers and municipal leaders.

“We’re asking people ‘what keeps you up at night?’” says David Lindsay, president and CEO of the COU. “Disruptive technology, demographic shifts and globalization bring tremendous opportunities but all that uncertainty can also make people anxious.”

The campaign has the support of university presidents across Ontario, including U of T president Meric Gertler.

“Universities are vitally important to this province and this country,” President Gertler said. “They produce well-educated graduates and prepare them for a lifetime of success. They connect their host cities with the world, and enable these places to reinvent themselves over time. At the same time, they’re an important stabilizing force within their local economies.

“To build on these strengths, and to help us excel nationally and internationally, I’m encouraging all members of the U of T community to get involved. Take the survey or start a discussion on these important issues. We need to know what you think.”

The survey and province-wide discussions will continue until the end of the 2016-17 academic year. The findings will be made public later in the year through online postings, blogs and reports, culminating in a summit on Ontario’s future and how universities can partner to help Ontarians succeed.

Take the survey

U of T President Meric Gertler joins the Waterfront Toronto board

lanthierj — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 17:54:43 +0000

U of T President Meric Gertler joins the Waterfront Toronto board

lanthierj Fri, 01/20/2017 - 12:54

Cutline

Sugar Beach (photo by Still The Oldie via flickr)

Romi Levine

Author legacy

Romi Levine

Topic

Subheadline

“Our success as an institution rests very heavily on the quality of life in this region – and the waterfront is a huge part of that quality of life”

Toronto’s waterfront is experiencing a renaissance and University of Toronto President Meric Gertler wants the university to be a part of it.

He has been appointed by the Province to the board of Waterfront Toronto, a public agency created by the federal, provincial and municipal governments that aims to enhance community engagement, boost economic activity, and provide more public and inclusive spaces along Toronto’s waterfront.

“We know that a successful waterfront can become a huge asset for a city, helping to attract and retain talented people, helping to attract inward investment, both residential and commercial-industrial,” says President Gertler. “If we are able to get the waterfront right, Toronto will be that much more successful in achieving these goals.”

Truth and reconciliation at U of T

lanthierj — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 17:21:50 +0000

Truth and reconciliation at U of T

lanthierj Mon, 01/16/2017 - 12:21

Cutline

Elder Andrew Wesley (left) presents U of T’s Truth and Reconciliation Steering Committee's final report to Provost Cheryl Regehr (centre) and President Meric Gertler (right) at Hart House Jan. 13 (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Rachel Halpern

Author legacy

Rachel Halpern

Topic

Truth and Reconciliation

Subheadline

President Meric Gertler: U of T embraces opportunity to work toward reconciliation

The University of Toronto’s Truth and Reconciliation Steering Committee has released its final report, calling on the University to take action in six key areas.

Entitled Wecheehetowin, which means “working together” in Cree, the report highlights that the work to be done at U of T will be a collective journey.

“Creating this report was a process focused on inclusivity and engagement,” said Jonathan Hamilton-Diabo, coordinator of U of T’s Council of Aboriginal Initiatives and co-chair of the committee. “There was a strong emphasis on incorporating a wide range of voices from both the University and broader community.”

Five working groups informed and shaped the steering committee’s final report and each group identified similar themes in its findings, Hamilton-Diabo said.

The report includes 34 calls to action for U of T in the following areas:

Indigenous spaces
Indigenous faculty and staff
Indigenous curriculum
Indigenous research ethics and community relationships
Indigenous students and co-curricular education
Institutional leadership and implementation

The committee was established by University of Toronto President Meric Gertler and Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr in early 2016 in response to the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s challenge to Canadians to engage in an ongoing process of reconciliation.

During a ceremony at Hart House Jan. 13, the final report was presented to the president and provost by Elder Andrew Wesley, one of two elders who advised the committee in its deliberations.

“The University of Toronto acknowledges its responsibility in contributing to the plight of Indigenous peoples, and we embrace the opportunity to engage with Indigenous communities and, together, lead the process of reconciliation,” said President Gertler, who noted that this work is particularly important as the University and the country mark the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation.

“On behalf of our entire community, I would like to express our most sincere appreciation to all members of the committee, its working groups, and contributors.”

Elder Andrew Wesley (left) and steering committee member James Bird (right) lighting sage at the entrustment ceremony (photo by Johnny Guatto)

“I am deeply moved by the collective efforts of this Committee – and acknowledge our shared responsibility to address the historical and indeed present day injustices and exclusion that affect Indigenous peoples in Canada,” said Regehr. “We have the opportunity and imperative to work collaboratively towards change.”

Read the full report

“I was really encouraged and inspired by the reports of our working groups, and by the contributions of individuals and groups from across the University community,” said Professor Stephen Toope. “They presented thoughtful analysis and potentially fruitful ideas.”

The director of U of T’s Munk School of Global Affairs, Toope also served as co-chair of the committee.

“I hope that the final report will prompt serious, continuing reflection at the University on its relationships with Indigenous people and how U of T can contribute to both truth and reconciliation across the country.”

Hamilton-Diabo, who is also director of Aboriginal student services at First Nations House, said that this will continue to be an evolving process.

“Now we have the opportunity to engage a larger audience, expand available resources and focus on involving the Indigenous community in developing plans, as we grow the Indigenous presence on campus.”

Steering committee member James Bird (left) and committee co-chair Jonathan Hamilton-Diabo (right) at the Hart House ceremony (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Keeping the momentum going is important, Hamilton-Diabo said.

“Presenting the report is a key milestone and the next steps will inevitably take time. While there is a lot of work to be done, there is also the opportunity for tremendous growth. And as we continue to move through this journey, there is a great sense of hope and a positive energy of what’s to come.”

Wesley said he hoped the report “will help our university community to understand the history of residential schools and how the TRC came about. I think this will open a dialogue, create more awareness and engage the aboriginal university community.”

Members of the steering committee also include:

Lee Maracle, Indigenous Elder and traditional teacher
Brian Gettler, assistant professor, department of historical studies, University of Toronto Mississauga
Bruce Kidd, vice-president and principal, University of Toronto Scarborough
Keren Rice, University Professor and chair of the department of linguistics, interim director of the Centre for Indigenous Initiatives, Faculty of Arts and Science
Dr. Lisa Richardson, assistant professor, department of general internal medicine, co-lead of Indigenous health education, Faculty of Medicine
Eve Tuck, associate professor, department of social justice education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Megan Bertasson, doctoral candidate, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
James Bird, an undergraduate student who is an Aboriginal Studies major
Diane Hill, an undergraduate student at U of T Scarborough
Jackie Esquimaux-Hamlin, resource centre coordinator at U of T's First Nations House
John Monahan, warden of Hart House
Sandy Welsh, vice-provost students
Sioban Nelson, vice-provost academic programs and vice-provost, Faculty and Academic Life

In memoriam: U of T's David Strangway

ullahnor — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 16:23:45 +0000

In memoriam: U of T's David Strangway

ullahnor Wed, 12/14/2016 - 11:23

Cutline

David Strangway (second from left) with Irving Spiegel, Tuzo Wilson and E.A. Robinson (left to right) at Erindale College's first showing of moon rock samples in Canada (photo by Robert Lansdale Photography, U of T Archives)

Topic

The University of Toronto’s David Strangway, who led U of T as president from 1983-1984, died yesterday. He was 82.

The only person to serve as president of both U of T and the University of British Columbia, Strangway was also the chief geophysicist for NASA in the 1970s, leading the analysis of moon rocks collected by Apollo astronauts.

“David was an extraordinary human being whose inspired leadership made a profound and lasting impact in Canada and around the world,” President Meric Gertler said. “We join our colleagues at UBC in mourning the loss of this remarkable man, and we extend our condolences to David’s wife, Alice, his daughters, Susan and Trish, and his son, Richard.”

Former President David Strangway (right) with U of T President Meric Gertler (middle) and Chancellor Michael Wilson (left)

At U of T, Strangway served in many key academic leadership roles. He was chair of the geology department, academic vice-president and provost before eventually becoming president.

His family connections with the university were also deep and enduring. Strangway earned his bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees at the University of Toronto and his parents, Walter Strangway and Alice (Skinner) Strangway, also graduated from U of T – as his did his wife and son. Today, Strangway's grandson, Tyrone, already a U of T alumnus, is pursuing a PhD at the university.

“David Strangway was an outstanding scientist, excellent academic leader and relentless innovator,” said President Emeritus David Naylor, who served as U of T president from 2005 to 2013. “Few if any alumni of the university have worn as many hats or made such diverse contributions to research and education.

“He never stopped trying to make Canada and the world better.”

Bob Birgeneau, who also served as president of U of T from 2000 to 2004 and as chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley from 2004 to 2013, described Strangway as a “wonderful man.”

Strangway with former U of T presidents Robert Prichard, John Evans, Robert Birgeneau and George Connell (photo by Heather Monroe-Blum)

While president of U of T, Strangway appointed the university’s first status of women officer and provided funding for research on the history of women at the university.

“David was a fabulously good scholar and leader,” said President Emeritus Robert Prichard, who served as U of T president from 1990 to 2000. “He was an outstanding provost at U of T and then president for a one-year term before going to UBC.”

Prichard said Strangway did an amazing job, “pushing UBC into the very top ranks in Canada and towards global recognition as an outstanding research university with a Pacific orientation. ‎UBC has never looked back since. He was a great force for good and among our university's most accomplished graduates.”

It was while Strangway was at U of T's Erindale College, now U of T Mississauga, that he headed geophysical research for NASA. As an expert in the magnetic properties of minerals, he analyzed moon rocks for NASA, which were on display for the public. On one occasion, 3,000 people lined up to see the samples of moon rocks.

In 1972, he was awarded the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for his scientific contribution to NASA.

He also served as president of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure from 1998 to 2004.

Read the CBC's tribute to Strangway

Universities are gateways to opportunity and knowledge, Gertler tells international forum in Japan

lavende4 — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 15:31:39 +0000

Universities are gateways to opportunity and knowledge, Gertler tells international forum in Japan

lavende4 Tue, 10/04/2016 - 11:31

Cutline

University of Tokyo President Makoto Gonokami and University of Toronto President Meric Gertler after signing a Memoradum of Understanding between the two institutions

Terry Lavender

Author legacy

Terry Lavender

Topic

International Relations

President

Alumni

Universities are gateways – gateways of opportunity for young people, gateways to new knowledge, and gateways to their local regions and to the world, University of Toronto President Meric Gertler told delegates at a forum on science and technology in society this week.

The forum, which was also attended by U of T vice-president international Ted Sargent, was held in Kyoto, Japan. President Gertler participated in a panel on the role of universities, alongside Japan’s minister of education, culture, sport, science and technology. Sargent took part in a panel on the development of nano-industry.

Besides attending the science and technology forum in Kyoto, President Gertler also travelled to Tokyo where he met with U of T alumni and students.

He also signed collaboration and student exchange agreements with the president of the University of Tokyo and met with Ian Burney, the Canadian ambassador to Japan. The president was scheduled to arrive in Singapore on Oct. 5.

Great event & speech tonight in #tokyo with @UofT President Gertler and a fine bunch of @uoftalumni! #UofT pic.twitter.com/Vh1kYXEzjW
— Darren Menabney (@Darmenab) October 4, 2016

Universities are gateways of opportunity because they give students the tools and experience they need to succeed and thrive, President Gertler said at the forum, noting that a quarter of U of T’s domestic undergraduate students come from families with a household income under $50,000.

They’re gateways to new knowledge because they generate and collaborate on the research and innovation that drives the world, the president said. “Taken together, our institutions generate a vast amount of new knowledge, most of which finds its way into goods and services and ideas that improve and enrich the lives of the globe’s population.”

Finally, universities are geographical gateways – gateways to their local regions and to global knowledge networks.

“Our prosperity depends not only on the knowledge, know-how, and experience found at home, but also the knowledge originating in other leading centres of research and innovation around the world,” he said. “The new ideas, fresh perspectives, and novel approaches we encounter when crossing geopolitical and cultural borders help create new knowledge and solutions – by testing our assumptions, shifting the frame of reference, and offering new concepts.”

For Sargent, it was his first major international address since being appointed vice-president international early this year. A renowned researcher in nanotechnology, Sargent argued that the world should use low-cost, abundant renewable energies such as wind and solar to synthesize chemical fuels for energy storage, especially liquid carbon-based transportation fuels.

New technologies are emerging in university labs around the world – including the University of Toronto and the University of Tokyo – that can do this efficiently and effectively, Sargent said.

The result is renewable fuels that close the carbon cycle and reduce CO2 in the atmosphere, he said.

University of Toronto statement on Orlando shooting

lanthierj — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 20:49:38 +0000

University of Toronto statement on Orlando shooting lanthierj Mon, 06/13/2016 - 16:49

Cutline

(photo of U.S. embassy in Warsaw on June 13, 2016 by Krystian Dobuszynski/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Topic

Global Lens

President

The University of Toronto community has reacted with horror and grief at the news of the mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all those who are mourning the loss of family and friends, and those who have been injured in this immense tragedy.

Our thoughts are also with our LGBTQ community here at U of T and with the greater community across Canada and around the world.

This institution believes, unreservedly and without exception, that targeting individuals or groups based on their religion, ethnic or cultural heritage, country of origin, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, age, or any other identity is reprehensible and intolerable. We reaffirm our commitment to be a safe and welcoming place for the widest breadth of communities and we stand with our LGBTQ colleagues – faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends – in the wake of this despicable event.

There has been a strong outpouring of support across our three campuses. Plans are underway for a vigil in support of the LGBTQ community with leadership from individuals and groups being joined by the Multi-Faith Centre, the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, and the Equity and Diversity Offices at UTM and UTSC.

As always, we encourage anyone in need of personal support, including counseling or chaplaincy services, to take advantage of our local resources. Students can visit their campus student services websites for information (St. George Campus, U of T Scarborough, U of T Mississauga, Campus Chaplains Association).

For staff and faculty, free and confidential counseling is available through the University’s Employee Assistance Program.

It remains a great privilege to serve this remarkable institution in all of its diversity and vibrancy.

Professor Meric Gertler, president
Professor Cheryl Regehr, vice-president & provost
Professor Angela Hildyard, vice-president, human resources & equity

President

President, Office of the

Tags

U of T launches new Institutional Equity Commitments website

University of Toronto President Meric Gertler appointed to second term

Read more about the Vector Institute

Read about Beyond Divestment

Read about U of T’s response to TRC

Read about sexual violence prevention and support

Read about student mental health

Open letter from U of T president in support of Central European University

How can universities build a better future for Ontario?

Take the survey

U of T President Meric Gertler joins the Waterfront Toronto board

Read more at The Varsity

Truth and reconciliation at U of T

Read the full report

In memoriam: U of T's David Strangway

Read the CBC's tribute to Strangway

Universities are gateways to opportunity and knowledge, Gertler tells international forum in Japan

University of Toronto statement on Orlando shooting