Winter 2026 Newsletter
Message from the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
Dear colleagues,
Welcome back! I hope you had a restful and rejuvenating break.
As the winter term gets underway, it can feel like we return at full speed– back to teaching, SRC, service, mentorship and leadership, and to the many meetings, town halls, events and moments of connection that shape our academic community. While the pace can be demanding, it is also in these shared spaces that much of the meaning and satisfaction of our work is found.
Some of that joy comes from working collaboratively with others, something John Shiga reflects on in his piece, Community Express: A Service and Leadership Lesson My Six-Year-Old Taught Me. Other positive energy comes from the creative aspects of our work and from our students, which Kris Alexander highlights in the video featured below. Together, these reflections remind us of the relationships, creativity and curiosity at the heart of university life.
This edition of the OVPFA newsletter also includes information, updates and resources intended to support you throughout the semester, and I encourage you to explore both this issue and past editions. I also look forward to seeing you at some of the events and workshops that we offer.
As the mid-winter break fades into the rearview, I hope you’re able to keep sight of the work and connections that refill and energize you. The weeks ahead will no doubt be busy, but the winter semester moves quickly—and before we know it, spring will be here.
Patrizia Albanese
Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
‘Community Express’: A Service and Leadership Lesson My Six-Year-Old Taught Me
– by John Shiga
Discover how a surprising moment with his six-year-old inspired John Shiga, a seasoned leader who has served in several leadership roles including as Chair of the School of Professional Communication, to reflect on how service and leadership at TMU are fundamentally about creating the conditions for community—especially when connection matters most.
The secret to engaging, connected classrooms
– with Dr. Kris Alexander
Experience the energy of Kris Alexander’s teaching – Professor of Video Games at TMU. In this video, he shares how he builds engaging, inclusive, community-driven classrooms—and gives a dynamic demo of the tech tools that power his students’ success.
Bargaining updates
We will begin bargaining with the TFA this spring. We look forward to fruitful dialogue.
Upcoming events and learning and development opportunities
Academic Leadership @ TMU workshop series
Join the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs for workshops and events delivered with partners from across the university. These sessions explore relevant topics and offer meaningful opportunities to conect and network in your role as academic leader.
(for academic leaders)
Thriving in Academia workshop series
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.
(for all faculty and contract lecturers)
AI town hall sessions
The Leadership Task Force on Generative AI is engaging the TMU community to gather diverse perspectives, identify risks and key challenges, and explore opportunities related to AI. Faculty, contract lecturers and librarians are invited to share their feedback and help shape how TMU uses AI to learn, create and work.
(for faculty, contract lecturers and librarians)
Budget Town Halls
The Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and the University Planning Office are hosting budget town halls to support an open and consultative process for the 2026–27 academic year. Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a session to learn more about the current budget context and share input.
Empowering Women in Academia
Embodying dignity: growing stories of hope in the soil/soul of our dis-ease
Join the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic’s Empowering Women in Academia series with this session featuring Danielle Denichaud, Lecturer, School of Performance, exploring dis-ease as more than an individual struggle and how whole-being approaches can support healing our bodies, communities and ecosystems. Register by February 6, 2026.
February 9 | 12-2 pm | TRS Commons
Share your feedback on generative AI tools
The Leadership Task Force on Generative AI invites the community to complete an online survey on principles, guidelines and use cases of generative AI tools across the university. Data collected from the survey will provide metrics to complement the qualitative feedback received from the AI town hall sessions. The survey takes 10–15 minutes to complete and will remain open until March 31, 2026.
News and updates
TMU profs receive prestigious fellowships at Massey College
Three TMU professors have been named 2025-26 Massey College fellows – a prestigious honour that gives them a year to dive deep into research that matters.
Congratulations to Jane Griffith, professor at The Creative School, Lia Langworthy professor at The Creative School, and Hyacinth Simpson, professor in the Faculty of Arts, who will join an elite community of scholars at the University of Toronto’s postgraduate residential college.
Shari Hodges appointed university registrar and executive director, strategic enrolment management
Following a comprehensive search process, Shari Hodges has been appointed as the new university registrar and executive director, strategic enrolment management. Shari has been interim registrar since March 2024 and began in the role permanently on January 1, 2026. Congratulations Shari!
Interested in spreading the word to your students about completing the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS)?
This month, TMU students will be invited to participate in the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS) - a national survey that gathers essential insights about students’ holistic mental health, wellbeing, academics and campus experiences. The survey will run from January 12 to 30, 2026.
CCWS helps universities across Canada better understand student needs, and informs policies, programs, and campus-wide strategies that support health and wellbeing. TMU uses CCWS data to inform approaches and initiatives to better support our students. Survey results are shared through presentations with stakeholders across TMU. The winter 2026 CCWS includes a large cohort of Ontario post-secondary institutions, giving us a unique picture of provincial post-secondary student wellbeing.
How faculty and contract lecturers can support
Faculty and contract lecturers play a valuable role in helping students engage with the survey. If you are interested in promoting the completion of the CCWS in your courses, the Community Wellbeing team can provide:
- Ready-to-use slides or graphics
- Short in-class visits
- Social Media assets
- Messaging for D2L or course shells
If you have questions or would like promotional materials or support in sharing information about the survey with your students, you may reach the Community Wellbeing team at TMU at cwstaff@torontomu.ca.
To learn more about the surveys Community Wellbeing administers, and how data is managed, visit the Community Wellbeing website data tab.
For more information about CCWS, visit the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey Website. (external link)
Resources
Inclusive excellence in academic life at TMU
Explore resources and tools to promote awareness, education and action in the advancement of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the recruitment and evaluation of colleagues at TMU.
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.
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.