Updates

Diversity and equity initiatives, improving the undergraduate experience, recruiting a diverse range of  international students, and expanding partnerships and opportunities around the world – those are some of the priorities in University of Toronto’s proposed spending plan for next year. Governing Council will vote on the $2.68 billion proposed operating budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year on April 5. The balanced budget, which is expected to increase by 8.2 per cent from this year, follows months of consultations with academic divisions and departments, as well as offices responsible for university-wide services. “This is a collaborative effort to understand and support [...]

U of T will combine the new funding with $15.3 million already earmarked for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction projects across all three campuses 'This will allow us to double down on investments we've been making for the past decade' The University of Toronto, long a sustainability leader, plans to leverage $26.7 million in new provincial innovation funding to launch several major “green” projects across its three campuses as part of a program to reduce current and future greenhouse gas emissions. The new funding, announced on Monday by the province, will be combined with $15.3 million U of T [...]

With cold temperatures back in full swing, we've got a newsletter hot off the press to warm you up!

A $17-million renovation project has overhauled the infrastructure serving the Davis Building's “wet” scientific laboratories, sweeping away outdated technology and setting the stage for energy-efficient, modern and future-ready lab space. The funding of the laboratories at U of T Missisauga is part of the Lab Innovation for Toronto (LIFT) project, announced in July of 2016, that will see nearly half of the University of Toronto's research labs upgraded over two years. The Davis Building renovations, which affect 63 laboratories and almost 7,000 square metres of space, will benefit up to 95 researchers in both the departments of chemical and physical sciences, [...]

A rendering of the new labs at the Faculty of Dentistry: “The new space will allow for sharing of research and cross-pollination of ideas between researchers," says Dean Daniel Haas (courtesy of Stantec Consulting Ltd.) More than a year after the announcement of what University of Toronto President Meric Gertlercalled “an historic investment in Canadian science and innovation,” U of T’s revamped research labs are beginning to take shape. The announcement of the Lab Innovation for Toronto (LIFT) project was made in July of 2016, with nearly $190 million in funding to upgrade nearly half of U of T’s research labs over [...]

While college approaches differ, efforts are strong across U of T  By Josie Kao (The Varsity) Published: 7:38 am, 30 October 2017 under News MAX XI/THE VARSITY The majority of colleges at U of T, as well as the university as a whole, operate successful composting programs. However, the extent of their operations differ and there is no unified approach. But as Ron Swail, Chief Operations Officer, Property Services & Sustainability — a role specific to UTSG ­— said, “We’re always looking to improve our program, we’re always looking to improve and expand composting.” Innis College, New College, St. Michael’s College (SMC), [...]

New online learning hub expected to be implemented by September By Keith Cheng Published: 7:41 am, 30 October 2017 under News JING TEY/THE VARSITY Following a comprehensive consultation, U of T has selected Canvas as its next online learning management system (LMS), replacing Portal. Canvas will undergo quality testing in the coming months and is expected to be completely implemented by September 2018. The project was undertaken by the Academic Toolbox Renewal Initiative that, as its website states, sought to find a LMS that was less “clunky and out of date,” a critique people often have of U of T’s current system, Portal, which has [...]

CAMH will remain on land until 2038 with option for additional 20-year renewal From The Varsity By Pranav Srikanth Published: 7:35 pm, 4 October 2017 Modified: 9:31 pm, 4 October 2017 under News STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY In August, U of T purchased the property that houses the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at the corner of College Street and Spadina Avenue. The four acre property consists of three buildings: the main 15-storey CAMH building at 250 College Street, and two buildings on Russell Street, all built in 1968, in addition to a parking garage and a house used as an office [...]