Fall 2025 Newsletter
Message from the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
Dear colleagues,
Welcome to the 2025-2026 academic year! I hope you had a wonderful, restful and productive summer. Between long days in the office and supervising MA and PhD students, I made time for new adventures in the sweltering heat (I’m not complaining. I know what awaits us in a few short months) and enjoyed a few days of down time.
Not much slowed down in our office as we wrapped up the last academic year and prepared for this fall. On top of bargaining, labour relations, and the day-to-day work of our office, we welcomed fourty-one new faculty and librarians at New Faculty and Librarian Orientation on August 5. We held a Welcome Session for new and returning academic leaders on September 8, and prepared dozens of new workshops and training sessions for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please check our website for this year’s offerings.
For those of you sitting on hiring and evaluation committees, including DHCs, SHC, LAC, CAC, DECs, SEC, FTCs, FPCs and LPC, please be sure to attend our required joint TFA-OVPFA committee training sessions. We will have new training modules for Equity Advocates and all interested committee members engaged in hiring and evaluation. In the meantime you may access the resources on our website as well as the recordings from last year. We’ve worked with CUPE 3904 to update this year’s CLAC training to reflect the newly ratified CUPE Collective Agreement. If you are serving on a CLAC this year, please ensure that you attend one of the training sessions for CLACs. Please note that any committee member who requires training and has not completed it, will not be eligible to serve on the committee.
We have worked closely with the hardworking folks at the School of Medicine, ahead of their exciting launch in summer (PGME) and fall (UGME) and worked with two DHCs and an ACHC to post ads for new CERCs. It has been an honour and a privilege to witness colleagues coming together to collaborate, for the greater good of our TMU community. I hope you agree, these are truly exciting times at TMU!
In closing, I want to wish you the very best as you begin the fall semester. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself and others as we get drawn into the busy-ness ahead.
Patrizia Albanese
Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
In Conversation with Catherine Jenkins: Insights on CUPE 3904 and the Power of Experience in Higher Education
Catherine Jenkins, veteran lecturer and CUPE 3904 President, shares how contract lecturers shape TMU classrooms, the strengths they bring, and the challenges and opportunities facing higher education today.
From the First Day Forward:
Esther Ignagni on Access, Justice and Inclusive Teaching—Q&A
In this Q&A, CELT executive director and Disability Studies professor Dr. Esther Ignagni shares her insights on teaching, mentoring, and building classrooms that prioritize access, justice and inclusion.
Bargaining updates
Over the past year, we successfully completed collective bargaining with CUPE Local 3904 Unit 1 (day credit contract lecturers), and Unit 3 (academic assistants, invigilators and lab monitors), and we are pleased to share that we have also reached a tentative settlement with CUPE Local 3904 Unit 2 (continuing education contract lecturers) who will hold its ratification vote in September. A big thank you to bargaining team members for the University for the Unit 1, 2 and 3 rounds, Brad Walters, Kate Reade, Lena Patterson, Fred Anger, Britt Tuer, Debbie Wilk, Linda Koechli, Anthony Francescucci, Amy Peng, Virginia Clark, and Miljana Horvat and the members of the union bargaining teams for the same rounds, Kelly Train, Rob Denning, Catherine Jenkins, Valentina Capurri, Ross Fair, Lisa Pena Sabanal, Claude Sam-Foh, Anne Moorhouse, Sina Rahimi, Karen Penaranda Valdivia, Emma Dennis and Jay Berberick (from CUPE National/CUPE Ontario). We look forward to sharing updates in our next newsletter.
Upcoming events and learning and development opportunities
Academic Leadership @ TMU workshop series (for academic leaders)
Join us for events and workshops throughout the year to support you in your role and network with colleagues from across TMU.
This event is for academic leaders at TMU.
Thriving in Academia workshop series (for all faculty and contract lecturers)
Join us for conversations on teaching and SRC at Toronto Metropolitan University. Learn about the supports available, have your questions answered and meet colleagues from across the university. This series is open to all faculty and contract lecturers.
Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Recruitment and Evaluation (for hiring, tenure and promotion committees)
Explore important issues and concepts related to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the recruitment, tenure and promotion processes in these workshops offered by the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs in collaboration with partners from across the university.
Committee Training
Explore training materials, guides and schedule of training sessions for hiring, evaluation and promotion committees.
News and updates
Amy Peng appointed dean, Faculty of Arts
Amy Peng has been appointed Dean of the Faculty of Arts, effective August 16, 2025. With more than 20 years of experience and a collaborative leadership style, she will guide the faculty through its next chapter of growth and innovation. Congratulations Amy!
Natalie Álvarez appointed dean, The Creative School
Natalie Álvarez has been appointed Dean of The Creative School, effective September 1, 2025. An internationally recognized artist-scholar and transformational leader, Natalie brings over two decades of academic leadership and a strong commitment to equity and student success. Congratulations Natalie!
Resources
2025-2030 Strategic Plans
TMU has launched its new International Plan, Academic Plan and Strategic Research Plan, setting the course for the next five years. These plans will guide our growth and impact across global engagement, academic excellence, and research innovation.
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.
Hiring / appointments committee resources
On a hiring committee this semester, or looking to join in the future? Take a look at our hiring committee processes and resources webpage.
Resources for new faculty, librarians and counsellors
New to TMU? Check out our new faculty, librarians and counsellors resources page for information on orientation, getting to know TMU, moving to Toronto and much more.