Spring 2026 Newsletter
Message from the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
Dear colleagues,
As the winter term comes to a close, and we turn our minds to the summer days ahead, my office is pleased to share tools, insights, and resources designed to support and strengthen your research and scholarly activities.
You will find information on open access publishing, commercialization and intellectual property, research security in international collaborations, and protecting personal information in your SRC work. You will also find details on upcoming Department Evaluation Committee (DEC)/ Faculty Tenure Committee (FTC) training sessions this spring—an important (and required) step for those preparing to serve in these roles in the coming year.
We’re pleased to introduce Faculty in Focus, a new short-form video series featuring brief spotlights showcasing the teaching and SRC activities of diverse TMU faculty, contract lecturers, and librarians.
I invite you to explore this issue and hope you find something here that supports and inspires your work in the months ahead. We also welcome your input—access our new “Share your thoughts” feature to provide ideas and suggestions for future newsletters.
We hope you have a wonderful, restful and productive summer!
Patrizia Albanese
Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
Faculty in focus
⸺Bringing faculty impact into view⸺
Decolonial approaches to global health
Dr. Uchechukwu Ngwaba, Associate Professor, Lincoln Alexander School of Law, shares how his research explores decolonial approaches to global health, advancing equity through regional governance and amplifying voice and agency for impacted communities.
From invention to impact: why commercialization and IP matter
Commercialization and intellectual property aren’t just paperwork—they’re pathways to real-world impact. In this piece, Dr. Souzan Armstrong, Director, Innovation & Commercialization, and Dr. Michelle Chrétien, AVP, Research Partnerships & Commercialization, explain how these processes help TMU researchers extend the reach of their work, engage partners and create meaningful change.
Maximize your research impact with Open Access
Looking to publish open access without APC costs? Learn how TMU Libraries’ Read and Publish agreements can increase your visibility, support grant compliance and expand your research impact.
International collaborations
Safeguarding your research
Collaborating internationally? From assessing collaborators to managing personnel risks, here’s what TMU faculty need to know to safeguard their research and funding eligibility.
Guidance from TMU’s OVPRI and Research Security team.
Protect personal information in your research
Working with sensitive data? Review practical tips to help safeguard personal information, secure your devices and reduce privacy risks in your SRC work.
Have ideas for future newsletters?
Bargaining updates
As many of you know, we are in the midst of bargaining a new collective agreement with the TFA. We have been meeting twice weekly since March 30.
We will share updates when they are available.
Upcoming events and learning and development opportunities
Department Evaluation Committee (DEC) / Faculty Tenure Committee (FTC) Training
Serving on a DEC/FTC for next year? DEC/FTC members are required to complete a mandatory workshop offered in partnership with the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA). Take advantage of the sessions that are offered this spring, so that you are trained and prepared to carry out your work in the fall.
This training is mandatory for all DEC/FTC members who have not completed it during the effective period of the current Collective Agreement. If you are unsure as to whether you are required to complete the training this year, please contact the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs at vpfa@torontomu.ca.
New Faculty, Librarian and Professional Counsellor Orientation
Welcoming new faculty, librarian or professional counsellor this summer? Encourage them to attend the Orientation during the summer to connect with colleagues and learn more about various offices, services and TMU policies, as well as teaching, research and life at TMU. Details are available on the New Faculty, Librarian and Professional Counsellors page of the OVPFA website.
August 11 | 9 am-4 pm
The First Monograph: Faculty Reflections and Insights
As part of TMU Libraries’ Ink to Impact series, this panel brings together a diverse group of humanities and social science scholars who have recently published their first monograph to share candid insights, practical advice, and personal strategies that helped them navigate the academic publishing journey. Open to early-career researchers and faculty across disciplines.
May 4 | 1-2:30 pm | Virtual
Tenure Review Process key dates
If you are a pre-tenure faculty or an academic leader supporting pre-tenure colleagues, please note the following important upcoming dates:
Instructions for pre-tenure faculty:
By May 1
Consult with your Chair/Director regarding the completeness of your dossier.
By May 17
- Submit your SRC dossier via our google drive. Instructions found here.
- Email vpfa@torontomu.ca to inform us that your SRC dossier is complete and ready for submission. The date of this email will be considered your official submission date.
- Submit five potential names of external referees via the Google Form.
By August 1
- Submit your final/full dossier, including the June 2026 year-end assessment (YEA) and any response to the YEA you may wish to include, via google drive (above).
- Email vpfa@torontomu.ca to inform us that your final/full dossier is complete and uploaded. The date of this email will be considered your official submission date.
News and updates
Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano announced as TMU’s 10th president and vice-chancellor
Congratulations to Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano who has been appointed TMU’s 10th president and vice-chancellor – the first woman to hold the role. Currently serving at TMU as provost and vice-president, academic, Iannacito-Provenzano will begin her five-year term as president in January 2027.
TMU community members honoured for advancing equity, accessibility and inclusion
Congratulations to the five TMU community members recognized with the 2026 Alan Shepard EDI Awards for their work advancing equity, accessibility and inclusion across campus.
TMU community members appointed to the Order of Ontario
Congratulations to the members of the TMU community who were recently appointed to the Order of Ontario– one of the province’s highest honours. Learn more about the recipients, their contributions and their impact.
Meet the 17th annual Viola Desmond Awards recipients
We are proud to celebrate the recipients of the 17th annual Viola Desmond Awards, recognized for their leadership and contributions to social justice, equity and community impact.
Resources
Thriving in Academia workshop series (for all faculty and contract lecturers)
Presented in partnership with offices from across campus, the Thriving in Academia workshop series offered workshops on a wide range of topics this year related to teaching, SRC activities and wellness. Recordings of these workshops are available on the OVPFA website and you are encouraged to share these with your new colleagues as part of their onboarding. If you are interested in any particular topics, please reach out to our office with suggestions at vpfa@torontomu.ca.
Academic Leadership @ TMU workshop recordings (for all academic leaders)
From budgets to senate policies and more, recordings from this year’s workshop series for academic leaders are available by contacting our office (vpfa@torontomu.ca).
Ink to Impact series: Demystifying Academic Publishing: Insights from the Publisher's Perspective
Ink to Impact is a TMU Libraries series on academic publishing offering insights into crafting successful academic book proposals, navigating the monograph publication process, and building productive relationships with editors and publishers. Watch the session recording for their most recent session on Demystifying Academic Publishing: Insights from the Publisher's Perspective.
TMU Mental Health Community of Practice
In the TMU community and beyond, everyone experiences periods of flourishing, languishing, and just about everything in between. We know that mental health and wellbeing are of utmost importance for our staff, faculty, and students alike.
TMU’s Mental Health Community of Practice, which is led by the Campus Mental Health Specialist, is intended to be an inclusive and accessible group for TMU employees who are interested in learning more and getting involved in conversations related to campus mental health. The community of practice typically meets on a quarterly basis.
For those who are currently members of the MH Community of Practice, we look forward to seeing you at our next meeting, which will be taking place in late May (date to be confirmed).
We would encourage anyone interested in joining to complete the (google form) registration form (external link) . If you have questions about the Community of Practice, please feel free to contact Trevor Heida at theida@torontomuca.