Fall 2026 Newsletter
Message from the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
Dear colleagues,
Welcome back to a new academic year. I hope you had a chance to enjoy a productive and restful summer and are feeling energized for the months ahead. I’d like to especially extend a warm welcome to TMU to all our new faculty, librarians, professional counsellors and contract lecturers.
As we begin the fall term, this issue highlights the ways in which connection, collaboration and continued learning strengthen our academic community. You will find reflections on teaching and the student experience, along with updates, upcoming events and resources to support academic leaders, faculty, librarians, professional counsellors, and contract lecturers across TMU.
I encourage all of you who are on hiring, evaluation, tenure and/or promotion committees to review this year’s required training sessions. I am pleased to share that the Equity Advocate modules will continue to be available online and that a new online module for Contract Lecturer Appointment Committee (CLAC) will be available as of this Fall.
I invite you to explore this issue and resources designed to support your work in the year ahead. As always, my office welcomes your ideas and suggestions for future newsletters through our (google form) “Share your thoughts” feature (external link) .
Wishing you a successful start to the fall term.
Patrizia Albanese
Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
“They knew my name:” how trust and rapport shape the student learning journey
Recently recognized with the 2025–2026 OCUFA Award of Distinction for Teaching Excellence, Dr. Alyssa Counsell, Associate Professor in Psychology, reflects on how trust, rapport and human connection can transform the student learning experience.
Have ideas for future newsletters?
Bargaining updates
TFA Collective Agreement - We had a positive and productive round of bargaining. We had 23 bargaining sessions from the end of March to the end of June and reached a settlement early in the morning of June 30.
While recent rounds have often involved a mediation and arbitration phase to reach a renewal collective agreement, in this round, the parties were successful in reaching a negotiated settlement prior to the expiry of the contract.
The tentative agreement is pending ratification by TFA members in the coming weeks, followed by approval by the Board of Governors.
Upcoming events and learning and development opportunities
Thriving in Academia workshop series (for all faculty, librarian and contract lecturers)
Whether you are an early, mid or late career faculty, librarian or contract lecturer, the Thriving in Academia series likely has something for you – covering a broad range of topics in teaching, SRC activities and service with a focus on TMU’s values of equity, diversity and inclusion and its commitment to wellbeing. We invite you to access recordings from prior sessions. Share your suggestions for future topics at vpfa@torontomu.ca.
Academic Leadership @ TMU workshop series (for all academic leaders)
Academic leadership requires us to be aware of legal, policy and collective agreement obligations as well as internal procedures that govern academic life at TMU. This workshop series provides information, guidance and opportunities to ask questions on a number of topics that will assist you in your leadership roles. Click on the list of previous sessions to explore the recordings available from past sessions and contact us at vpfa@torontomu.ca to access any of them. Suggestions for future topics are invited at vpfa@torontomu.ca.
Committee Training
If you are serving on a hiring, tenure and/or promotion committee this year, you are required to complete mandatory training jointly delivered with the TFA. Training sessions have been scheduled for the Fall and you must ensure that you have registered via the link above and attended the sessions, prior to assuming your duties on the committee. If you believe you may be exempt from the training due to prior completion, please confirm this in advance of the scheduled sessions, with the OVPFA by contacting us at vpfa@torontomu.ca.
News and updates
TMU receives $1.28M through Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards
TMU has received six doctoral and four postdoctoral awards totalling $1.28M from the federal government’s new Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards (CIRTA) program. Meet the 10 international researchers joining TMU and learn more about the innovative research they are bringing to the university.
Resources
Resources for new faculty, librarians and professional counsellors
New to TMU? Check out our faculty, librarians and professional counsellors resources page for information on orientation, getting to know TMU, moving to Toronto and much more. You may contact us at vpfa@torontomu.ca to access the recording and material from the most recent orientation.
Inclusive excellence in academic life at TMU
Resources and tools to promote awareness, education and action in the advancement of equity, diversity and inclusion in recruitment and evaluation of TFA and CUPE colleagues 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.
Equity Advocacy Training
Available in D2L, this mandatory training for Equity Advocates (and strongly encouraged for all committee members) provides practical tools and strategies to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in hiring, tenure, and promotion processes at TMU.
NEW Contract Lecturer Appointment Committee (CLAC) Training
(external link) Available in TMU’s Employee Learning Portal, this mandatory training for CLAC members provides guidance on the recruitment and selection process, committee roles, responsibilities and obligations under the Collective Agreement, TMU policies and legal requirements.
New resources from Academic Accommodation Support
Start the semester with accessibility in mind. Explore AAS's new microlearning, Six Quick Wins for Accessible Teaching at Semester Start (external link) , for practical strategies you can use now to reduce common barriers for students with disabilities.
A refreshed version of AAS's Academic Accommodations Training for Faculty will be available by the end of September. Whether you are new to academic accommodations or have completed the previous training, this updated version offers a shorter and more practical guide to understanding accommodation plans, implementing accommodations in your course, and responding to common questions and challenges.
Additional resources to support teaching at TMU