Indigenous Landscape design draws on community input, consultations
Knowledge House, a central feature of U of T's Indigenous Landscape project, is a gathering space supported by 13 columns that symbolize the 13 moons of the year (rendering by Brook McIlroy and Mat Winter) The design proposal for a prominent Indigenous space at the heart of the University of Toronto’s St. George campus reveals a place that celebrates Indigenous culture, fosters community and educates visitors about the history of the land and the Indigenous nations who have lived and gathered there for millennia. Read more at UofT News and in a related story at BlogTO.
IT@UofT Strategic Plan Annual Report (2020) Released
Despite COVID-19’s significant challenges, Information Technology Services (ITS) , in partnership with your faculty IT units, was able to embrace the opportunity to drive and deliver transformative work needed to provide technology-enabled services and support University-wide throughout 2020. Now, University of Toronto (U of T) staff and faculty can look back on and review this progress and other updates in the IT@UofT Strategic Plan Annual Report (2020), released by ITS on Nov. 26. The report highlights — selected from more than 300 initiatives currently in progress —align with the strategic plan thematic pillars: People, Solutions and Collaboration. Quick facts: Quercus help [...]
‘In this together’: U of T’s Isaac Straley named to Ontario’s cybersecurity expert panel
Isaac Straley, U of T's chief information security officer, says the scope of the cybersecurity threat faced by universities is unique because they operate in so many different areas, from research labs to bookstores (photo by Lisa Sakulensky) Isaac Straley, a cybersecurity expert and the University of Toronto's chief information security officer, was recently appointed to a new expert panel established by the Ontario government to improve cybersecurity and digital resilience among broader public sector organizations. You can read more here.
Robert Street Field updates
Rendering, Community Play Area / Credit: STUDIO tla Important updates about the project’s progress are available here.
A new oculus for a new era: U of T’s historic Convocation Hall fitted with replacement skylight
Convocation Hall, the historic centrepiece of the University of Toronto’s St. George campus, is being fitted with a new glass skylight – a once-in-a-century renewal that helps ensure the longevity and grandeur of the 114-year-old building. Read more here.
“We treat them like our family”: Food Services staff on feeding students who couldn’t go home
From left to right: Chef Jaco Lokker, Danita Seenarine, Chef Edward Low There’s no recipe to follow when providing food to students on campus during a pandemic. Staff at the University of Toronto’s Food Services had to add a heavy dose of agility to processes and policies overnight to ensure students who relied on them were staying fed. Read more here about what our fabulous Food Services team has been doing to take care of our student residents.
Landmark Update: August 19, 2020
In April, the University of Toronto began its historic Landmark Project, one of the most significant open-space projects at the University in the past 100 years. Since then, we’ve made significant headway in transforming our downtown campus, most notably preparing the lawn at King’s College Circle for the planned geothermal project. All major capital projects – especially ones of this size and scope – require some flexibility and problem solving when moving from blueprint to construction. The Landmark project has the added complication of being impacted by the pandemic in ways that are still evolving. Due to unexpected cost increases, the University has decided [...]
U of T inspects, upgrades ventilation equipment in preparation for gradual return to campuses this fall
All University of Toronto buildings with classrooms and offices will meet or exceed industry and public health standards for combatting COVID-19 as community members continue their gradual return to the university’s three campuses this fall. Read more here.
MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY ON THE RECENT BLACKBAUD DATA BREACH
This notice is to inform the University of Toronto community of a recent cyber attack involving one of our database vendors, Blackbaud. U of T uses a database system purchased from Blackbaud to record engagement with our community members. Blackbaud has assured us that no personal information of any kind from U of T was involved in the attack and there is no need for you to take any action as a result. What we know On July 16, Blackbaud informed us that it had been the victim of a cyber attack in May, in which client data of several universities were taken. Blackbaud paid a ransom and advises that an investigation by law enforcement and third-party cyber security experts concluded the data that had been taken was destroyed. Blackbaud also informed us that their investigators found no U of T personal information, such as names [...]
U of T once again recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers
The GGRP team pose after winning the Outstanding Staff Team Award at the Operations & Real Estate Partnerships Annual Staff Achievement Awards in July 2019, which recognizes exceptional staff contributions to the success of their particular unit. The University of Toronto has been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2020, for the seventh time. This designation, issued by editors of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project at Mediacorp Canada Inc., recognizes employers who are leaders in developing exceptional sustainability initiatives that reduce the organization’s environmental footprint, create a culture of environmental awareness that empowers employees to contribute unique skills, [...]