Friday, September 30, 2011

Sustainability Education Symposium - October 27, 2011

The Sustainable Engineers Association is hosting the Sustainability
Education Symposium on October 27th at Hart House. It is a one day event
exploring new ways to incorporate sustainability into teaching and
research. The event is planned around the visit of Dr. Karel Mulder, a
professor at TU Delft in the Netherlands who is a world leader in
engineering education for sustainable development (EESD). He pioneered
many EESD programs in Europe and has been very involved with
helping other universities get started with EESD.

---- attachment ----

AN INVITATION TO THE
Sustainability Education Symposium
KEYNOTE BY
Dr. Karel Mulder, TU Delft

THE SYMPOSIUM

The Sustainability Education Symposium is a one day event exploring new approaches to
incorporate sustainability into teaching and research.

It provides a platform to connect researchers, educators, alumni, and students from U of T and other institutions who have an interest in sustainabilty.

The first workshop gives participants an opportunity to discuss their indiviual interests and challenges in a small group setting. After a networking lunch, a second facilitated workshop will focus on developing concrete ideas to implement in research projects and course curricula. At the end of the symposium, each group will present their conclusions.

THE SPEAKER

Dr. Karel Mulder is a Professor at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and a world leader in Engineering Education for Sustainable Development (EESD).

Since 1998, Dr. Mulder has been the project leader of the project Education for Sustainble Development. He is the initiator of the series of Engineering Education in Sustainable Development Conferences that take place biannually since 2002.

Dr. Mulder lectured at various universities abroad and cooperates with several sustainable Development units at universities throughout Europe.

THE SCHEDULE

9:30 – 10:00 Reception
10:00 – 10:45 Keynote Speech by Dr.Mulder
10:45 – 11:00 Group Forming
11:00 – 12:30 Workshop I
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch
13:30 – 15:00 Workshop II
15:00 – 15:30 Break & Presentation Preparation
15:30 – 16:30 Presentation
16:30 – 17:30 Dissolution

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO THE

Sustainability Education Symposium
HOSTED BY
Sustainable Engineers Association

Hart House Music Room
7 Hart House Circle, 2nd floor, Toronto
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
9:30 AM to 5:30 PM

Registration is Free

RSVP TO QUINCY POON BY OCTOBER 17
MANCHING.POON@SEA.SKULE.CA

[PDADC-L] Interim Program Coordinator announced for the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office

To: PDAD&C
Professional & Managerial Staff
Confidential Staff
Research Associates
President of UTFA
Presidents of Employee Unions
Presidents of Student Associations

From: Angela Hildyard
Vice-President, Human Resources & Equity

Date: September 30, 2011

Re: Interim Program Coordinator announced for the Sexual & Gender

Diversity Office

We are pleased to announce that Sara-Marni Hubbard has accepted the position of Interim Program Coordinator for the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office.

Sara-Marni brings a great combination of knowledge and U of T work experience to the role having spent several years working for, and volunteering with, the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office while she was a student at U of T. She has also worked as a staff member in the Sexual Diversity Studies Department. Sara-Marni has an undergraduate degree in Sexual Diversity Studies and History from the University of Toronto, where she received the Sexual Diversity Studies Scholarship for Academic Achievement and Student Leadership in the Sexual Diversity Studies Program. She has completed the requirements for an MA in the History of Science from Concordia and will be convocating in winter, 2012.

Sara-Marni will start her new role on October 7, 2011.

A search for permanent staff will commence shortly.

[PDADC-L] Accommodations for Students Voting in the Provincial Election

PDAD&C#15, 2011-12

To: PDAD&C

From: Jill Matus, Vice-Provost, Students

Date: September 28, 2011

Re: Accommodations for Students Voting in the Provincial Election

In the interests of encouraging civic and community engagement among our students, it is requested that whenever possible, reasonable accommodation be provided to students wishing to vote in the upcoming provincial elections.

There may be circumstances when a scheduled academic activity (such as a test or mid-term exam) may interfere with a student's ability to vote. For instance, a student who is a full-time employee and attends class in the evenings might find it difficult to find an appropriate time to vote.

If you have scheduled compulsory and/or graded academic activities on October 6th, please raise the issue with your students at the earliest opportunity.

Should instructors have an academic activity scheduled on October 6th, they should encourage students to use a method that will cause the least amount of disruption to their classes--voting by special ballot or at advance polls. But in circumstances when students have not used one of these methods, every reasonable opportunity should be given to them to make up work that they miss.

If you have any questions about election-related issues as they relate to students of the University of Toronto, please contact either Mike LeSage or Jim Delaney.

For general issues and information related to the elections: Mike LeSage, Research Analyst, Government, Institutional and Community Relations - mike.lesage@utoronto.ca, 416.948.2220.

On accommodating students who wish to vote: Jim Delaney, Director, Office of the Vice-Provost, Students - jim.delaney@utoronto.ca, 416.978.4027.

[PDADC-L] Provincial Election - October 6, 2011

HR #6, 2011-2012
PDAD&C #14, 2011-2012

September 28, 2011

To: PDAD&C
Professional and Managerial Staff
Divisional HR Offices

From: Christina Sass-Kortsak
Assistant Vice-President, Human Resources

Re: Provincial Election – October 6, 2011

In the forthcoming Ontario Provincial Election on Thursday, October 6, 2011, voting hours will run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Please ensure throughout your division that all employees whose normal work schedule would not allow them the three consecutive hours as outlined below are, upon request, excused from work at an appropriate time in order to comply with the Election Act. For the majority of employees whose normal work day ends at 5:00 p.m., no time off is required.

Under Section 6 of the Election Act:

“(3) Every employee who is qualified to vote shall, while the polls are open on polling day at an election, have three consecutive hours for the purpose of voting and, if the hours of his or her employment do not allow for three consecutive hours, the employee may request that his or her employer allow such additional time for voting as may be necessary to provide those three consecutive hours and the employer shall grant the request.

(4) No employer shall make any deduction from the pay of any employee or impose upon or exact from the employee any penalty by reason of his or her absence from work during the consecutive hours that the employer is required to allow under subsection (3).

(5) Any time off for voting as provided in subsection (3) shall be granted at the time of day that best suits the convenience of the employer.”

[PDADC-L] Appointment of Prof Bruce Kidd, Interim Warden, Hart House

PDAD&C#13, 2011-12

To: PDAD&C
Professional/Managerial Staff

From: Lucy Fromowitz, Assistant Vice-President, Student Life

Date: September 28, 2011

RE: Appointment of Prof Bruce Kidd, Interim Warden, Hart House

I am pleased to advise that the University Affairs Board of Governing Council has approved the appointment of Dr. Bruce Kidd as the Interim Warden of Hart House effective October 1, 2011.

Dr. Kidd is a Professor in the Faculty of Physical Education and Health and a former Dean of the Faculty. In this capacity and throughout his career, he has been a leader in student engagement and student leadership.

Bruce teaches and has written extensively, having authored or edited ten books and hundreds of articles, papers, lectures, plays and scripts. He is currently Chair of the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport; Chair, Maple Leaf Sport and Entertainment Team Up Foundation; and a member of the Selection Committee, Postgraduate Research Grant Program, Olympic Studies Centre, International Olympic Committee.

Throughout his life Bruce has been involved in sport and recreation, whether in the Olympic movement, or in recent years, in international development through sport as one of the founders of Commonwealth Games Canada's International Development through Sport Program.

Bruce has a long affiliation with Hart House, having participated in past Review and Advisory Committees for Hart House and the Warden and has served as a member of the Hart House Board of Stewards.

I am very pleased that Bruce has accepted this interim position. The search for the new Warden will commence shortly.

[PDADC-L] Research Alerts - Launch of New Servicefor the UofT Community

MEMORANDUM

TO: Principals, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairs

FROM: Judith Chadwick, Assistant Vice-President, Research Services

RE: Research Alerts – A New Service for the U of T Research Community

On behalf of the Research Services Office and our Information Technology Services partners at the University of Toronto Library, I am very pleased to announce the launch of Research Alerts, an important new service for the University research community.

What is Research Alerts?

Research Alerts is an e-mail and web tool for the Division of the Vice-President Research to share information with members of the U of T research community, based on members’ individual roles and interests. Research Alerts will enable staff in the Vice-President Research portfolio to customize dissemination of important, timely research-related information to better ensure that people receive only the information they want and need. Research Alerts is intended as a targeted ‘call to action’ for funding opportunities, technology transfer initiatives, workshops & events, financial management of funded research projects, honours & awards, and research-related policies & guidelines.

Research Alerts will complement other Research communications including the Research & Innovation website, Edge magazine, the soon to be launched Research e-newsletter and special messages from the Vice-President, Research. This new service will, over time, replace the use of the PDAD&C e-mail list as a “flow through” mechanism for communicating with faculty and staff involved in research and research administration.

How does it work?

Our team will create accounts for all individuals with specific roles in the University’s research enterprise (including Vice-Deans/Vice-Principals Research, Departmental Chairs/Institute Directors, Divisional Research Facilitators, Faculty CAOs and Departmental Business Officers). Individuals in these research-related roles will receive an email notification from “Research Alerts” within the next two weeks confirming the creation of an account and inviting the recipient to customize his or her account settings through simple selection of topics and categories that are of interest and relevant to his or her role. When an Alert is published that matches the selected categories, it is e-mailed directly to that individual. All other faculty and staff members of the U of T research community will be invited to visit the Research Alerts website and establish their own customized accounts. In addition, there will shortly be a permanent link to Research Alerts on the Research homepage.

Questions or Comments?

Please feel free to be in touch with me or, particularly for technical issues, with Dan Johnson at (rso.research@utoronto.ca or 978-3982).

Friday, September 23, 2011

[FASE] Welding & Machining Program

Welding & Machining Program

All U of T Engineering students can gain introductory hands-on experience at metal machining and welding at George Brown College. Such skills will be highly valuable in your academic program and engineering career.

There are three short courses available; each course is two days long and is offered on weekends. There is a fee for each course; you pay on-line using a major credit card. Receipts will be issued for tax purposes.

1/ Basic Machining (lathe, mill, drill press)
2/ Advanced Machining (pre-requisite: Basic Machining)
3/ Introduction to Welding

Learn more and register online at: www.mie.utoronto.ca/news/events.php


Courses are offered four times per year, starting in September, October, November, and January. Students who complete both machining courses may use George Brown College machining facilities for their on projects on specified days

[PDADC-L] Review of Grading Practices Policies

PDAD&C#12, 2011-12
MEMORANDUM

PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY

To: PDAD&C
President of UTFA
Presidents of APUS, GSU, SCSU, UTMSU and UTSU

From: Cheryl Regehr, Vice-Provost, Academic Programs
Brian Corman, Vice-Provost, Graduate Education

Date: September 23, 2011

Re: Review of Grading Practices Policies

The 2009-10 report by the University's Ombudsperson to Governing Council raised concerns about the University's Grading Practices Policies. Specifically the report drew attention to the problematic relationship between the current University Grading Practices Policy [UGPP] and the Graduate Grading Practices Policy [GGPP]. It called upon the Office of the Provost to review the matter.

As a consequence, a working group was established in the Office of the Provost. This working group is reviewing, harmonizing, and updating the existing policies. The current policies cover three distinct issues: Grading Practices, Transcript Notations, and Academic Disruption. In the interest of greater clarity and simplicity, the Working Group has created three draft policies:
1. The Policy on Assessment and Grading Practices
2. The Policy on Academic Transcripts
3. The Policy on Academic Continuity

The draft policies on Assessment and Grading Practices, Academic Transcripts, Academic Continuity can be found at http://www.vpacademic.utoronto.ca/Initiatives.htm.

The Working Group welcomes comments and suggestions on these draft policies from all interested members of the University community at grading.policy@utoronto.ca.

[PDADC-L] Call for applications to the Energy and Resource Management Fund

Call for project applications to the Energy & Resource Management Fund!

NOTE: Application deadline is Friday, November 4, 2011.

The University of Toronto’s Department of Facilities and Services is pleased to provide an exciting opportunity for students*, staff and faculty to put their environmental ideas into action. While the Department of Facilities and Services has always taken strides to invest in sustainability projects on campus, this fund seeks to promote environmental leadership within U of T and to build on the ideas of campus community members.

The Energy & Resource Management Fund promotes the implementation of projects that achieve a reduction in utilities consumption resulting in greenhouse gas emission reductions. Because of the source of funds, only projects with measurable energy and water savings will be considered.

Interested parties are invited to submit a Statement of Intent (SOI) to the fund that defines the scope of work. The overall application process will occur over two stages and approved SOIs will be invited to submit more detailed applications for the second round. Projects applying for fund monies will have to meet general criteria, and a Dean or Designate from the applicant’s division must approve the SOIs before they are submitted. The deadline for submitting a Statement of Intent is Friday, November 4.

*Interested students must work with a department, division or unit to be eligible for funding. Because of restrictions on the source of funds, applications from University of Toronto Mississauga, University of Toronto Scarborough, Ancillary Groups (residences, parking, food and beverage services) or Federated Colleges are not eligible. Furthermore, some types of equipment or facilities are not eligible for funding. For example, the fund will not support non-fixed equipment, research equipment, or equipment that does not become part of the building infrastructure.
Please spread the word about the Energy & Resource Management Fund to your colleagues and peers!

Visit http://uoft.me/ermfund for complete details about the fund, sample project descriptions and associated documentation and forms.

Questions? Please contact Tyler Hunt at the Sustainability Office by phone at 416-978-6792 or by email at t.hunt@utoronto.ca

[PDADC-L] Communications on UTFA's Proposals

Please note that the recent ‘Communications on UTFA’s Proposals’ from the Provost’s Office are available on-line at http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/office/Communications_on_UTFAs_Proposals.htm

Any subsequent communications on this matter will also be posted to this site.

[PDADC-L] Laurie Harrison appointed as Director, Online Learning Strategies

MEMORANDUM

To: PDAD&C
Professionals / Managers

From: Robert Cook, Chief Information Officer

Date: September 20, 2011

Re: Laurie Harrison appointed as Director, Online Learning Strategies


I am pleased to announce the appointment, of Laurie Harrison as Director, Online Learning Strategies effective October 17, 2011. In this new role Laurie will provide leadership in the development and implementation of the university's online learning strategy. She will identify, recommend and support the coherent provision of online learning solutions, services, processes and related infrastructure required to serve the academic and administrative needs of the university. Located within the CIO portfolio, Laurie will receive direction from the Vice-Provost Academic Programs, and work in close collaboration with the Director, Academic & Collaborative Technologies in Information + Technology Services, and the Director of the Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation (CTSI), as well as other senior academic and administrative leaders across all three campuses.

Laurie is currently the Director of Information Technology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). A graduate of the University of Guelph and OISE's Master of Education program, she first joined the university's central learning technology staff in 1997 as a specialist in online learning and inclusive design, coordinating a range of academic technology initiatives. After a short period managing Ryerson's Digital Projects Office, Laurie returned to OISE in 2006 to manage Education Commons' services and partnership projects with government and other institutions.

Laurie is well known in the university IT community through her committee work, collaborative initiatives and advocacy in the area of accessible and inclusive design. Most recently she has undertaken a one-year part time secondment to the Office of the Vice-Provost Academic Programs to support development of online learning strategies and the university's participation in the Ontario Online Institute initiative.

Laurie will be a welcome addition to the CIO's leadership team.

[PDADC-L] Workshops for Mid-Career Faculty

PDAD&C#11, 2011-12

Date: 20th September 2011

To: PDAD&C

From: Edith Hillan, Vice Provost, Faculty & Academic Life

Re: Workshops for Mid-Career Faculty

The "Next For U" event series are for Associate Professors and Senior Lecturers who started at the University anytime since 2003. These luncheon workshops are designed to provide mid-career faculty with the opportunity to meet key people at the University in an informal setting to discuss aspects of career development.
Please encourage your mid-career faculty to join us for these luncheon workshops.
* Promotion to Full Professor
12pm-2pm - October 5, 2011

* Teaching Awards
12pm-2pm - November 14, 2011

* Academic Leadership
12pm-2pm - February 9, 2012

* Grow Your Research Career
12pm-2pm - March 22, 2012
Faculty may register at: http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/link/events/mcfevents/next_for_u_11-12.htm

If you would like any further information on events or workshops for new or mid-career faculty, please contact academic.hr@utoronto.ca

[PDADC-L] Workshops for New Faculty Members, 2011-12

PDAD&C#10, 2011-12

Date: 19th Sept 2011

To: PDAD&C

From: Edith Hillan, Vice Provost, Faculty & Academic Life

Re: Workshops for New Faculty Members

Each year my office holds a number of workshops and seminars for new faculty. Please ensure that all new tenure-stream, teaching-stream and CLTA appointments (i.e. who have started from January 1, 2009 onwards) in your unit are made aware of these sessions.
New To U: New Faculty Integration Series

These informal luncheons are designed to introduce new faculty (those starting since January 1 2009) to the University and offer them an opportunity to meet colleagues, hear the advice and reflections of experienced faculty and speak to senior academic administrators. The workshops are held on all three campuses; St. George, Mississauga and Scarborough. The specific time and location for each workshop is provided below.

ST. GEORGE CAMPUS:
▪ Balancing Teaching and Research
October 18, 2011 – 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

▪ Pathway to Promotion in the Teaching Stream January 11, 2012 – 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

▪ 3rd Year Review & Tenure
January 18, 2012 – 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

▪ Surviving the Pre-Tenure Years
March 5, 2012 – 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
UTM CAMPUS:
▪ Pathway to Promotion in the Teaching Stream January 10, 2012 – 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

▪ 3rd Year Review & Tenure
January 10, 2012 – 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

UTSC CAMPUS:
▪ Pathway to Promotion in the Teaching Stream January 17, 2012 – 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

▪ 3rd Year Review & Tenure
January 17, 2012 – 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Registration and additional information can be found at:- http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/link/events/nfevents/new_to_u_11-12.htm


Orientation for New Faculty and Staff
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
New faculty members are invited to attend an orientation meeting designed to provide an understanding of the University’s organization and environment. Held at the Faculty Club located at 41 Wilcocks Street, the session runs from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m..
Topics will include:
• The history, structure and governance of the University
• Understanding Stepping UP
• Equity, diversity and inclusivity
• Career development
• Employee services and web resources
• A safe and healthy workplace
Registration and additional information about these orientation sessions can be found at:-http://www.odlc.utoronto.ca/hr/orientation

An Introduction to Canadian Taxes
Wednesday February 15, 2012, 8:45 a.m. – 12 noon, Faculty Club.
The Provost’s Office in conjunction with the Family Care Office and the Faculty Relocation Service hosts a workshop for new faculty members from outside Canada entitled Filing for the First Time: An Introduction to Canadian Taxes. Previous workshops have been very highly rated by participants.

Ruth Reimer from Green, Chencinski, Starkman and Eles (GCSE) will provide a workshop session which will introduce the process of filing taxes in Canada and discuss some of the details of filing in both Canada and the US. A concurrent session will answer questions for those completing forms for countries other than the US. Time will also be allowed for discussion, questions and answers. Some faculty members may also wish to arrange more individualized consultation with GCSE at their own expense.

Registration and additional information about this session can be found at:- http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/link/events/nfevents/taxes1112.htm

[PDADC-L] Nominations for the Advisory Search Committee for Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry

PDAD&C#9, 2011-12
MEMORANDUM

To: Faculty, Staff and Students, Faculty of Dentistry
PDAD&C
From: Cheryl Misak, Vice-President and Provost
CC: President David Naylor
The Bulletin
Date: September 16, 2011
Re: Nominations for the Advisory Search Committee for Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry

On June 30, 2012, Professor David Mock will complete his second term as Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry. Professor Mock is not eligible for re-appointment.

In accordance with Section 60 of the Policy on Appointment of Academic Administrators, I am writing to call for nominations for the advisory committee that will advise the President on the appointment of a Dean. The Policy mandates the potential composition of the advisory committee as follows:

* The Vice-President and Provost or representative (Chair);
* Three to five members of the teaching staff of the Faculty;
* One to three students of the Faculty;
* The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies or representative;
* A librarian, where appropriate;
* Two or three other qualified scholars from within or outside this University, but outside the Faculty;
* In addition, the committee may include an alumnus/a, a member of the administrative staff, and a senior member of the appropriate professional community.

The advisory committee will begin meeting this fall.

Nominations for the committee should be sent by September 28, 2011, via the Vice-President and Provost's web site online form at http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/committees/advisory/Nominations_for_the_Advisory_Search_Committee_for_Dean_of_the_Faculty_of_Dentistry.htm

Questions should be directed to Sheree Drummond, Assistant Provost, by phone at 416-978-6194 or sheree.drummond@utoronto.ca

Friday, September 16, 2011

Water Institute Seminar - Masaki Hayashi - September 26, 2011

The Water Institute is pleased to host a seminar by Dr. Masaki Hayashi on the topic of:

Alpine hydrogeology: Groundwater flow and storage in moraine and talus sediments

Masaki Hayashi
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Physical Hydrology
Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary

Monday September 26, 2011
10:30 am
Davis Centre, Room 1304
University of Waterloo

All are welcome.

Abstract: Understanding groundwater processes in alpine watersheds is critical to understanding the timing of water release and late-season stream flow for both headwater and downstream environments. Previous studies have indicated potential importance of moraine and talus units as groundwater reservoirs based on chemical and isotopic composition of stream water. However, mechanistic understanding of groundwater processes is limited due to a small number of hydrogeological studies in alpine environments. I will present the results of detailed hydrological and geophysical studies in a partially glaciated watershed of in the Canadian Rockies. Seismic refraction, electrical resistivity imaging, and ground penetrating radar have been used to delineate the internal structure of moraine and talus deposits, and to identify groundwater reservoirs and pathways. Hydrological monitoring and data analysis have been used to examine connectivity between surface water and groundwater, and to estimate hydraulic properties of sediments. The key findings are: 1) proglacial moraine has significant capacity to store groundwater, but talus appears to have limited storage capacity, 2) the topography of bedrock surface underlying coarse sediments has a strong influence on groundwater flow, and 3) ground ice and buried ice may have important hydrological functions that require further investigation.

Mary Anne Hardy
The Water Institute
University of Waterloo
mahardy@uwaterloo.ca
www.water.uwaterloo.ca

Maclean’s Professional Schools issue: "Canadians aren’t keen on graduate engineering"

Canadians aren’t keen on graduate engineering
By Josh Dehaas | September 13th, 2011 | 1:55 pm

Filed Under: Campus Jobs • Campus News • Top StoriesTags: Brain Drain • Engineering • Graduate Engineering • innovation • Malgosia Pakulska • McMaster University • Sebastien Gauthier-Perron • Sedra • stephen harper • University of Waterloo • Vanier Scholarship

But deans have a plan. Cornish hen, anyone?

“Canada has gone from brain drain to brain gain,” Stephen Harper told a crowd at McMaster University on Aug. 3. He was speaking at a ceremony to announce the 167 recipients of the 2011 Vanier Scholarships, awards that were launched in 2007 to provide whiz-kid graduate students from around the world with $150,000 in funding over three years. The Prime Minister made the goal of the big cheques clear. Research leads to innovations, which creates Canadian jobs, he said.

But wait a minute. Has the brain drain that sucked south 488 members of the graduating engineering class of 1995 before the ink dried on their degrees really been plugged? Look more closely at the 167 Vanier Scholarships awarded this year. Only eight will fund engineering research. Only five of those went to Canadian citizens or residents.

The shortage of Canadians in our graduate engineering programs is masked by another phenomenon: international enrolments in graduate engineering programs grew by 36.6 per cent between 2006 and 2009, allowing for a modest 3.5 per cent growth overall at a time when Canadian enrolments declined 2.5 per cent, according to Engineers Canada.

Now talk of “brain gain” is drowning out the whispers between engineering deans: how can they convince more Canadians to do advanced engineering research? And how can we keep them from going south when they do?

“We have always been getting a good number of students applying from outside Canada, but it’s difficult to get on the radar screen of our own students,” says Adel Sedra, the outgoing dean of engineering at the University of Waterloo. International students are welcome and encouraged, but the school pays their tuition, making them expensive to take on. More important than the relative cost, says the dean, is that the school is failing in its mission to train Canadians who want to stay here and contribute to the economy. “I haven’t done as well as I would have liked,” he says. Indeed, a report conducted for Engineers Canada shows that by 2012, in most provinces and in most specialties, there will be a shortage of engineers with five years or more experience.

But Sedra has a plan. For the first time ever, this fall Waterloo is inviting 50 high-performing bachelor’s students from across Canada on a three-day visit to the university. Those who accept will be flown to Kitchener-Waterloo, where they’ll tour Google’s Canadian offices, peer inside the Perimeter Institute, where Stephen Hawking is distinguished research chair, and spend an afternoon in the village of St. Jacob’s. They’ll dine at restaurants in Waterloo’s revitalized downtown and then settle into a hotel room, all paid for by the university. The trips are one part of a revamped recruitment effort that includes a new communications officer, advertisements online and in newspapers across the country, plus a social media strategy.

Waterloo has reason to believe its efforts could pay off. The University of Toronto’s graduate engineering programs pioneered recruitment weekend trips in Canada and are getting decent results.

Malgosia Pakulska, who was presented with one of the five Vanier Scholarships that went to Canadian engineers in August, had an all-expenses-paid trip to the University of Toronto in February, which helped her settle on chemical engineering at U of T. It bought her train tickets from and to Ottawa, put her up in a hotel for three nights, fed her Cornish hen and a chocolate torte under the imposing candelabras of the campus’s Hart House and gave her $100 cash to see the city—all while being doted on by current students and potential research supervisors.

Toronto’s graduate weekends came about for essentially the same reasons Sedra is planning one at Waterloo. “The best students also get offers from the U.S.,” says Markus Bussman, the associate chair of graduate studies in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering, whose department has twice now provided its own graduate recruitment trips for potential students. “We realized it’s not good enough just to be the University of Toronto.”

Like Waterloo, they have plenty of international applicants, but have trouble enticing Canadians. “Before the graduate weekend I could count on two hands the number of Canadian students who had signed on to do a research master’s in a given year,” says Bussman. That was out of the 50 to 70 offers of admission chosen from a pool of roughly 500 or so mostly international applicants. This fall he’ll need two hands just to count the number of Canadian recruits who attended the graduate weekend and then enrolled at U of T—10 so far this year.

But the flow south can’t be staunched by recruitment tactics alone. Prestige and connections matter, says Sebastien Gauthier-Perron, a second-year student in aerospace engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) near Boston. The 27-year-old Chicoutimi, Que., native had always dreamed of walking the same campus where famous astronauts had peered up in awe at the sky after night classes, and where entrepreneurs met venture capitalists to start companies. And he’s not the only Canadian who feels that way. There are 212 Canadians doing graduate work at MIT. Canadians make up nearly as big a share of the MIT graduate engineering class as students from India or China and about four times the number who originated in Japan or the U.K.

Gauthier-Perron also chose an American school because he anticipates better jobs after he graduates, suggesting Canadian industry needs to step up with better salaries. “In the long term I see myself coming back to Canada,” says Gauthier-Perron, because his family is mostly in Quebec. “But in the short term, if I get good opportunities in the States I will stay.” The reason: “The salaries are much more attractive in the States.”

Indeed, aerospace engineers make much less in Canada. In Ontario, they were paid an average of $79,497 last year. Those working in Massachusetts averaged $107,280.

Sedra, the Waterloo dean, is certain that once prospective engineering grads visit, he can convince them that Canadian schools are world class—and better than before.

“In professor salaries, we’re competitive,” says Sedra. “We didn’t used to be.” Expensive professors are an indicator of a better school, he argues, and it’s true that relative professor salaries are much better than they were at the height of the brain drain. In 1999, Tom Harris, then dean of engineering at Queen’s University, lamented that American universities paid engineering profs between US$140,000 and $180,000, while salaries for “outstanding professors in Canada” were US$60,000 to $80,000. Last year, there were more than 100 professors in Ontario alone who took home more than $150,000.

More than the pay has improved. The recession-era Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a $2-billion spending spree, prioritized projects at universities that “improved the quality of research and development.” That meant that between 2009 and 2011, engineering buildings across Canada got the wrecking ball, while cranes and cement trucks worked overtime to build new labs and classrooms as the stimulus funding flowed.

Gauthier-Perron hasn’t witnessed that type of renaissance south of the border. When he arrived at MIT one year ago, he was expecting bright new labs and lecture halls like he was used to at Polytechnique Montréal, his undergraduate alma mater. “I was surprised when I got to MIT because the classrooms were kind of old,” he says.

Perhaps he would have attended MIT regardless. But schools like Toronto and Waterloo think that if he had spent a weekend at their schools, he would have been impressed.

And if he had enrolled in Canada, instead of the U.S., he may have, late one night in the design lab, realized how to make a plane part more efficiently and then met a venture capitalist for coffee at a Second Cup to plan the next Bombardier supplier. In other words, he may have done what Stephen Harper spoke of when he handed out the Vanier Scholarships at McMaster in August. He may have used his Canadian brain for Canadian innovation.

This story originally appeared in the Maclean’s Professional Schools issue, on newsstands now.

Call for members of U of T's Aboriginal Program Committee

THE U OF T ABORIGINAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE

is looking for Aboriginal community members to join our committee!

Would you be interested?

Working closely with the Employment Equity Office, the Aboriginal Program Committee develops projects and programming to support Aboriginal staff and faculty at the University.

For more information, please contact:
Andrea Carter, Employment Equity Officer
andrea.carter@utoronto.ca
416-978-5456

http://www.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/equity/employmentequity.htm

[PDADC-L] USW Local 1998 Memorandum of Settlement Posted

The Memorandum of Settlement is now available online. The document is currently the top news headline on www.hrandequity.utoronto.ca.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Labour Relations team at labour.relations@utoronto.ca.

[PDADC-L] Announcement of Senior Appointment on behalf of Judith Wolfson

To: Principals, Deans, Academic Directors, and Chairs
Professionals, Managers and Confidential Staff
Governing Council
Academic Board
Business Board
University Affairs Board

From: Judith Wolfson, Vice President, University Relations

Date: Friday, September 16, 2011

Re: Announcement of Senior Appointment:
Ms. Marny Scully, Assistant Vice President,
Government, Institutional and Community Relations

I am very pleased to advise you that the Senior Appointments and Compensation Committee of the Governing Council has approved the appointment of Ms. Marny Scully as Assistant Vice President, Government, Institutional and Community Relations effective September 19, 2011.

Ms. Scully has held related positions in the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Council of Ontario Universities and the University of Toronto. At the University of Toronto, she held the position of Director, Enrolment Planning and Statistics in the Planning and Budget Office before becoming the Executive Director, Policy and Analysis in Government, Institutional and Community Relations. Her extensive knowledge of the University of Toronto and key government priorities, combined with policy and analytical expertise makes her an excellent candidate for this position. Ms. Scully holds a BA(Hons) in Political Science and a Masters in Public Policy and Administration from McMaster University.

Ms. Scully has a track record of successful advocacy efforts and expertise in institutional research. Her strong relationships with government officials and with colleagues at peer institutions, and her exceptional leadership skills will be a significant asset as the University moves forward in its government, institutional and community relations.

I am very pleased that Marny has accepted this position and am confident that she will continue to make a major contribution to the University in her new capacity.

***

Office of the Vice President
University Relations
27 King's College Circle
Suite 216
Toronto, ON M5S 1A1

Phone: 416.978.5401
Fax: 416.978.4431

[PDADC-L] 2011/12 Connaught Application Deadlines

MEMORANDUM

TO: PDAD&C

FROM: Professor R. Paul Young, Vice President, Research

DATE: September 16, 2011

RE: 2011-12 Connaught Program Application Deadlines
________________________________________

I am writing to inform you of the upcoming application deadlines for the 2011-12 Connaught programs. This will be the second year of a three-year trial period for new programs arising from the most recent Connaught Fund review. Please distribute this information widely and encourage eligible faculty members within your unit to participate in these unique opportunities.

Connaught Summer Institute – deadline: October 3, 2011
Approximately $150,000 allocated annually for up to three awards to bring together international graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, other scholars in order to foster rich interdivisional collaboration and creative new methods for research and innovation.

Connaught Innovation Award – deadlines: (LOI) October 14, 2011; (Full Proposal) November 1, 2011
Approximately $500,000 allocated annually for awards of up to $100,000 to accelerate the development of promising technology and promote commercialization and/or knowledge transfer.

Connaught Global Challenge Award – deadlines: (LOI) November 1, 2011; (Full Proposal) April 2, 2012
Approximately $1M annually to support one award that encompasses an International Symposium, a Distinguished Visiting Scholar and a Research Cluster. The successful proposal will bring together the University’s leading researchers from multiple disciplines with innovators and thought leaders from other sectors to heighten the University’s contribution to important issues facing society.

Connaught New Researcher Award – deadline: December 1, 2011
Approximately $1M annual allocation for a majority of awards at the $10,000 level and a limited number of awards at the $50,000 level to help new tenure stream faculty members establish competitive research programs. No matching required.

McLean Award– deadline: January 16, 2012
One $100,000 award annually to support an emerging research leader conducting basic research in physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, engineering sciences, and the theory and methods of statistics.

Full program details and application materials can be found on the Connaught website: http://www.research.utoronto.ca/connaught/

Questions may be addressed to connaught.secretariat@utoronto.ca or 416-978-7577.

[PDADC-L] 2012 CFI LEF-NIF Competition Process - Update

MEMORANDUM

TO: Principals & Deans, Vice-Deans & Vice-Principals Research or Equivalent
cc: Affiliated Hospital Vice-Presidents Research (for information only)

FROM: Professor Paul Young, Vice-President Research
cc: Judith Chadwick, Assistant Vice-President, Research Services

DATE: 15 September 2011

RE: 2012 CFI LEF-NIF Competition Process

Further to my email of August 10th, I am writing to provide additional information regarding the 2012 CFI Leading Edge/New Initiatives Fund (LEF/NIF) national competition.

Thank you to those of you who provided commentary on the CFI draft Call for this competition. Our feedback has been forwarded to CFI. The final version of the call has been released on the CFI website: http://www.innovation.ca/en/news?news_id=265 Also of note, CFI has now announced the dates of their information sessions. The Toronto Information Session will be held on Friday, October 14, 1-3 p.m. in the Sheraton Centre Toronto, Civic Ballroom & Foyer, 123 Queen Street West. Those wishing to attend must register by contacting tricia.ho@innovation.ca by September 23, 2011. RSO staff will attend the session and will produce a summary of highlights for circulation.

The Ontario Ministry of Research & Innovation (MRI) has now released its process/plan for this competition (see attachment). This “Ontario First” process is the result of consultation with a working group of the Ontario Council on University Research (OCUR, aka Vice-Presidents, Research of Ontario universities) and promises to achieve the shared objectives of the Province, CFI and eligible Ontario institutions without imposing significant additional work on applicants.

It is now possible for us to more closely define the process that UofT will follow for this competition. Proposed key dates for our process are set out below. We welcome your comments/suggestions on these timelines over the next few days. The pace of this competition compels us to move forward without much delay.

Date Action/Deadline
10 August 2011 VPR communication to P&D re UofT timelines & strategy
29 August 2011 MRI issues competition process & Call for NOIs
31 August 2011 Deadline for UofT feedback to VPR re CFI draft call
7 September 2011 Deadline for feedback to CFI on draft call
15 September 2011 2nd VPR Communication to P&D re competition process
15 September 2011 CFI releases final call for proposals; online notice of intent (NOI) forms and guidelines available
30 September 2011 Internal deadline for UofT NOIs; potential expert reviewers to be identified; feedback by 15 October
X October 2011 MRI releases Call for Applications and competition guidelines
14 October 2011 CFI Information Session - 1-3 p.m., Sheraton Centre Toronto, Civic Ballroom & Foyer, 123 Queen Street W.
15 October 2011 Feedback to Divisions from internal assessment of NOIs; invitations for Pre-proposals
30 November 2011 Internal deadline for "Pre-proposals" including involvement in non-UofT-led projects that affect our envelope
7 December 2011 MRI NOIs due
early December 2011 full proposal application forms and guidelines available on-line
mid-January 2012 Decisions communicated to Principals & Deans regarding UofT projects to go forward
20 January 2012 NOIs due at CFI
Feb 18 2012 MRI feedback to institutions on NOI strategic alignment with Ontario priorities
15 March 2012 Internal deadline for draft full proposals
16 April 2012 Internal deadline for final version of full proposals
26 April 2012 Full proposals due at CFI
7 May 2012 Internal deadline for draft MRI proposals
21 May 2012 Internal deadline for final version of full MRI proposals
25 May 2012 Full proposals due at MRI
13 November 2012 CFI Board decisions
mid-January 2012 MRI decisions
Key: CFI, MRI, UofT

The next important step in the process is the submission of internal NOIs by September 30th. Our internal NOI template and additional information are available at: http://www.research.utoronto.ca/research-funding-opportunities/leading-edge-new-initiatives-funds-notice-of-intent/ Once again, in selecting projects to bring forward, I ask that you read the CFI Call for Proposals carefully and bear in mind the limited funds available in this competition and the emphasis on “Leading Edge” proposals that build on previous CFI investments. The total CFI ask associated with UofT campus-based submissions is limited to $37.18M, approximately one-third the amount available to us in the last national competition. We must balance the desire to consider all powerful proposals with the desire to focus time, energy and resources on a few that reflect our institutional strengths and will have maximum scholarly and strategic resonance at the national and international levels.

Further Information
We continue to welcome your comments and questions on the approach to this competition. You are welcome to be in touch with me, Judith Chadwick, Assistant Vice-President, Research Services or MayLiza Baak, Director, Institutional Initiatives.


Professor R. Paul Young Ph.D., FRSC
Vice-President, Research
University of Toronto

Web: www.research.utoronto.ca

[PDADC-L] Congratulations to our faculty honoured by the Royal Society of Canada

Congratulations to our faculty honoured by the Royal Society of Canada


Dear Colleagues,

Please join me in wishing our warmest congratulations to our Professors who have recently been honoured by the Royal Society of Canada:

• Cristina Amon, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering - Fellow
• Alan Brudner, Law - Fellow
• Michael Collins, Civil Engineering - Fellow
• Lloyd Gerson, Philosophy - Fellow
• Thomas Keymer, English - Fellow
• Stephen Kudla, Mathematics - Fellow
• Anthony Lang, Medicine - Fellow
• Scott Mabury, Chemistry - Fellow
• Renée Miller, Computer Science - Fellow
• Dwayne Miller, Chemistry - McNeil Medal
• David Novak, Religion - Fellow
• Chul Park, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering - Fellow
• Louis Pauly, Political Science - Fellow
• Derek Penslar, History - Fellow
• James Retallack, History - Fellow
• James Rutka, Surgery - Fellow
• Frank Sicheri, Molecular Genetics - Fellow
• Peter Stangeby, UTIAS - Fellow
• James Thomson, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology - Fellow

The citations for this year’s list of new Fellows can be found here (http://www.rsc.ca/documents/media/Class_of_2011_Citations_ENG.pdf).


Our 18 new Fellows represent the largest class of inductees that the University of Toronto has achieved in one year, and this accomplishment is even more striking when we compare ourselves to the number of new Fellows named at our peer institutions.

Congratulations once more to all those who have been honoured this year for this well-deserved recognition of your accomplishments. I also want to thank all those across the institution and beyond that nominate of colleagues; we sincerely appreciate your promotion of research excellence. THANK YOU.

Best Regards

Paul

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Professor R. Paul Young Ph.D., FRSC
Vice President, Research
University of Toronto

[PDADC-L] The U of T Assesses its Progress Towards 2030: The View from 2012

The University of Toronto Assesses its Progress Towards 2030: The View from 2012

Over a two year period, from 2007-09, the University of Toronto community engaged in an intense and highly productive planning exercise. This process was initiated by President David Naylor’s Towards 2030: Planning for a Third Century of Excellence at the University of Toronto. That document gave rise to a series of over 100 Town Hall meetings, consultation sessions, submissions, and deliberations involving the University’s faculty, students, staff, alumni, and governors. All this work culminated in five Task Force reports and then a Synthesis Report from the President, in which he brought together conclusions and recommendations from the Task Forces along with reflections and insights of his own. (http://www.towards2030.utoronto.ca/synth.html)

The Synthesis Report was presented to the Governing Council in October 2008, where it received overwhelming support and stimulated productive discussion. The Council approved in principle Towards 2030: A Long-term Planning Framework for the University of Toronto (http://www.towards2030.utoronto.ca/files/Long-Term_Planning_Framework_Oct_2008.pdf).

The Towards 2030 process had a number of positive results, not least of which is a clear reaffirmation of the University of Toronto’s vital mission. The Framework put it thus: ‘The University of Toronto will continue to be distinguished by a research-intensive culture, the academic rigour of its educational offerings at all levels, and the excellence of its faculty, staff and students across three distinctive campuses and in many partner institutions’.

The Synthesis Report set out a plan for how we can build on our achievements of excellence in research and teaching. It stands as the University of Toronto's vision and guide for the next two decades. It is a summary of, and elaboration on, a large number of directions where a strong consensus emerged from the Task Force reports.

Three years on, much has happened, both at the University of Toronto and in the world. It is time to see what progress we have made in the directions set for us in Towards 2030 and what new and ongoing challenges and opportunities lie before us. It is time to provide an update on Towards 2030.

Over the next six months, we will engage the community in discussion on how well we are following though on Towards 2030. These conversations will be conducted in Town Halls on each of the three campuses
(for dates and times see http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/academic_planning/the_view_from_2012/The_View_from_2012_-_Town_Halls.htm), in governance bodies, in small group sessions, in meetings with deans, chairs, college principals, and directors of programs, and through a dedicated website which will collect written input. The aim is to produce Towards 2030: The View from 2012 in February and to take it to Governing Council for approval in principle in the spring of 2012.

We will ask, and try to answer, a broad range of questions, including, but not restricted to, the following:

The Fiscal Context: Problems and Solutions

We, with every other publicly-assisted University, find ourselves in economic circumstances that are much worse than those we inhabited a mere three years ago. Are we doing the things that will enable us to continue on our trajectory, despite the 2008 market losses and ensuing difficulties for public-sector defined benefit pension plans? Is our new budget model enabling us to rise to the serious challenges that face us?

Research Excellence

The University of Toronto is Canada’s most highly ranked research-intensive university. Are we maintaining and improving our research strength? How can we continue to attract and retain excellent faculty?

Our Undergraduate Mission

The education of undergraduates is a core part of the University of Toronto’s mission. Are we providing our undergraduate students with an excellent education and student experience? What have we done to improve it and what can we do better? Here we will need to examine how we are doing with respect to our recruitment and admissions practices, our enrolment planning, and our commitment to access. We will also want to address matters such as quality of teaching, small learning communities, first year programs, online education, student space, athletics and recreational facilities, the way we communicate with our students, counseling and health services, orientation and transition programming, and residence capacity.

Our Graduate Mission

We are in the midst of an unprecedented graduate student expansion. Are we managing that well? Are we putting structures in place to address issues of graduate education and graduate student funding and, more specifically, the funding of international graduate students?

Institutional Organization

The University of Toronto is a large and highly complex organization, with three campuses, 18 faculties, and approximately 70 centres and institutes. One of the topics for discussion here will be the advantages and challenges of our tri-campus structure and how to best strike the balance between the growing autonomy of the campuses and the unity of the University.

Academic Planning

Academic planning is always important, but it is especially important during perilous economic times. We have had some contention over divisional academic planning over the last three years and the Guidelines for Academic Planning that will soon arise from the Provost’s Advisory Group on Academic Planning will bring some clear principles to these difficult matters. We will be eager to hear from the community whether these principles and guidelines are on the right track.

Differentiating the University of Toronto

Towards 2030 noted that the University of Toronto occupies a special place amongst Canadian institutions of higher education.

The question of what the consequences are of holding this special place is a pressing one for both the University of Toronto, for government, and for our partners and benefactors. It would be good to hear what our students, faculty, staff, and alumni have to say about the role their University plays in the greater Toronto area, nationally, and internationally.

I am pleased to invite you to participate in one of the face-to-face discussions or to contribute a written submission - http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/academic_planning/the_view_from_2012/The_View_from_2012_-_Comments.htm.

I look forward to the discussion.

Cheryl Misak
Vice-President and Provost
University of Toronto

[PDADC-L] Reminder - Special Retirement Program Deadline September 30

PDAD&C#7, 2011-12

Date: September 12, 2011

To: PDAD&C

From: Angela Hildyard, Vice-President, Human Resources & Equity
Edith Hillan, Vice Provost, Faculty & Academic Life

Re: Reminder - Special Retirement Program Deadline September 30

This is a reminder that eligible faculty members and librarians who wish to enter the Special Retirement Program as of December 31, 2011 must submit a completed Notice of Intention form by September 30, 2011.

As stated in PDAD&C #46 (2010-11), this program is offered on a one-time-only basis as a financial incentive to eligible faculty members and librarians who opt to retire as of June 30, 2011 or December 31, 2011. The final date for applications is September 30, 2011.

Please find a Special Retirement Description of Program (http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/Assets/Provost+Digital+Assets/Provost/Decription+of+Program.pdf) and the Application Form (http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/Assets/Provost+Digital+Assets/Provost/publication/memo/Application+form.pdf) here.

[PDADC-L] University of Toronto, USW Local 1998 Agreement Ratified

HR #5, 2011-12
September 11, 2011
To: PDAD&C
Professional and Managerial Staff

From: Angela Hildyard
Vice-President Human Resources and Equity
We are very pleased to announce that the tentative agreement reached between the University and the USW Local 1998 bargaining teams on Saturday, September 3, 2011, has now been ratified by USW Local 1998 members.
Business Board will be reviewing the agreement when it meets on September 26, 2011, and any changes in respect of the University Pension Plan are subject to Business Board approval. The Memorandum of Settlement will be posted shortly and the Labour Relations team will begin scheduling information meetings to discuss the details of the agreement.

Friday, September 9, 2011

[NSERC] G8 Research Councils Initiative on Multilateral Research Funding

G8 Research Councils Initiative on Multilateral Research Funding

The Heads of the Research Councils of the G8 states (G8-HORCs) have established a multilateral funding initiative to create a new framework for conducting international research. The initiative aims at supporting excellent research on topics of global relevance which can best be tackled by a multinational approach. Participating agencies are:
• Canada – Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
• France – Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)
• Germany – German Research Foundation (DFG)
• Japan – Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
• Russia – Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR)
• United Kingdom – Research Councils of the United Kingdom (RCUK)
• United States – National Science Foundation (NSF)

This initiative is aimed at supporting excellent research on topics of global relevance which can best be tackled by a multinational approach. Funding should help researchers to cooperate in consortia consisting of at least three partners from three of the participating countries.

For the Funding Agencies, this gives an unprecedented opportunity to work together across a broad range of disciplines and practice joint funding activities, hoping for increasing compatibility in their funding instruments to allow this kind of science-driven funding without burdening researchers with too much bureaucracy. Finding optimal ways for the Funding Agencies to fund excellent research multilaterally will be of primary importance for this initiative.

Research Priority Area:

Interdisciplinary Program on Material Efficiency – A first step towards sustainable manufacturing

This call for proposals aims to support collaborations between experts in research areas related to the global challenge of materials efficiency to address one or more of the following seven potential strategies for reducing material demand through material efficiency:
• longer-lasting products;
• modularization and re-manufacturing;
• component re-use and re-cycling;
• designing products with less material
• rethinking products and their use(s);
• redesigning the manufacturing processes; and/or
• replacement of scarce and expensive elements, notably those critical for energy applications.

The call will support interdisciplinary projects with the potential of creating a step change in the approach taken towards the sustainable use of material resources and the contribution and impact that this will have upon the wider cradle-to-cradle design and manufacturing principles.

Within its scope, the call includes the entirety of the industrial system – from material extraction to supply chains, logistics, manufacturing, and distribution – and recognizes the global nature of that system. Proposals are expected to show how they address this global approach in a synergistic way and to justify the need for the international collaboration proposed. The call emphasizes the potential future role of manufacturing in supporting a sustainable global economy, and encompasses all parts of the materials hierarchy.

The collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the call is expected to encourage proposals that bring different sets of knowledge together in a concerted effort toward solving a problem. Proposals that focus on basic materials science or current manufacturing processes in isolation are unlikely to meet the requirements.

Requirements:
• Each consortium must consist of at least one academic participant (Partner Principal Investigator or Applicant) from a minimum of three different countries represented by the participating Funding Agencies.
• Consortium partners should identify a Leading Principal Investigator (LPI) for each proposal for application, management and communication purposes. The LPI is officially responsible for all communications with the Call Secretariat, including the submission of the Pre-proposal and, if invited to do so, the Full Proposal.
• All Applicants must fulfill national eligibility rules for research grant applications as set by their respective Funding Agencies. At NSERC, refer to the Eligibility Criteria – For Faculty and the List of Eligible Institutions – Canadian Universities section.
• More than one partner from each country is possible in each consortium. However, consortia should aim for a balanced geographical contribution to the research project.
• Researchers from countries not represented by any of the Funding Agencies can participate in the research project at their own expense.

Value of Funding:

The total budget for this call is approximately 10 million € over three years (each partner Principal Investigators can receive approximately 100,000 €, or equivalent, per year). Funding can be provided for projects lasting for two or three years. It is expected that 8-10 research consortia will be funded in this call. It is anticipated that awards will be made by May 2012.
Critical Dates and Information:

Application to this program involves a two-step process. The first step will require the consortia to submit a Pre-Proposal using the forms provided by the Call Secretariat. If invited forward to the final step, submission of a Full Proposal,

September 23, 2011: Internal Deadline for completed Pre-Proposals. Please submit the following to Mike Folinas, m.folinas@utoronto.ca.

• Completed electronic application package, which includes an Application form for Pre-Proposal 2011 and Form 100 – Personal Data Form.
• An RIS Application Form, signed by your Chair and/or Dean (as your unit’s policies determine) is required before your application can be approved by Research Services.

September 30, 2011: NSERC’s Deadline
• Firm and Final Deadline: Your Pre-Proposal MUST be submitted online no later than 12 pm JST on September 30, 2011 (sooner if possible)
Contact Information:

Your OVPR Contact for the G8 Research Councils Initiative is Mike Folinas, Research Services Office (Tel. 416-978-7118, Email. m.folinas@utoronto.ca)

Your NSERC Contact for the G8 Research Councils Initiatives is the Call Secretariat and can be reached by email (G8initiative@nserc-crsng.gc.ca)

Additional information on this initiative can be found on the NSERC website.

Mike Folinas
Research Funding Manager
Natural Science and Engineering
Agency & Foundation Funding
Office of the Vice President, Research
University of Toronto
McMurrich Building - 3rd floor
12 Queen's Park Crescent West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1S8
Tel. 416-978-7118 Fax. 416-971-2010
Website: http://www.research.utoronto.ca/

[NSERC] 2012 Shiptime Competition-Funding Opportunity

Hello Everyone,
Please find below the funding announcement for the NSERC Shiptime Program. Please forward this information to all Researchers that you feel would be interested in applying for this opportunity.
Thank you in advance.
Best,
Jessica

Ship Time Program

The Ship Time (ST) Program allows NSERC Discovery Grant holders to apply for additional funds to access vessels in support of their research programs.

Important Dates

Internal Deadline: September 28, 2011
Sponsor Deadline: October 1, 2011

Who Can Apply

Generally, those eligible to apply for NSERC funding hold (or have a firm offer of) an academic appointment such as: tenured, tenure-track or lifetime professor emeritus, or a term/contract position of no less than three years. If you have questions about NSERC’s or UofT’s eligibility rules, please contact us. If you have questions about your appointment, please contact your department chair.

Applicants must hold a Discovery Grant to be eligible to receive a Ship Time grant, and intend to use a vessel for their research in the coming years. It applies to: the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) vessels, undersea vehicles operated by the Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility or other similar research platforms, and any other Canadian or foreign vessels crewed in conformance with the Canada Shipping Act.

Value of Funding

The normal duration of the grant is one year, although two-year grants will be considered in exceptional circumstances, where the project completion requires a firm commitment of funding for more than one year. Applicants may apply for more than one vessel at a time. Should the two vessels be part of the same project (e.g., a remotely operated vehicle and a support vessel), only one application is to be submitted.

Funds are to be used as described in the application submitted to NSERC.

How to Apply

For each project requiring access to a vessel, please submit one original of the following documents (except in cases where the vessel is combined with a remotely operated vehicle):
 Application for a Grant (Form 101), Ship Time;
 Personal Data Form (Form 100) for the applicant and co-applicants. If the chief scientist is not the applicant or co-applicant, he/she should be identified and the Form 100 for the chief scientist must also be included;
 Quotation for all vessels to be used (including DFO and non-DFO);
 Additional material, as required.

Successful applicants will be required to submit a short report immediately following the completion of the expedition, highlighting specific accomplishments in relation to the original objectives, which will be a factor in the evaluation of your next Ship Time proposal. The cruise report should outline and address the following:
 Vessel used;
 Type of cruise (i.e., dedicated, joint, opportunity, shared);
 Cruise start/end dates;
 Cruise location (a cruise track or map would be helpful);
 Cruise objectives;
 Objectives and/or other work accomplished;
 Time lost due to weather;
 Problems encountered (e.g., degree of satisfaction with research platform);
 Amount and type of data collected; and
 Plans for scientific analysis and publication.

How Applications are Reviewed

Applications are evaluated by the Ship Time Allocation Committee according to the following criteria
• Need for ship time
• Scientific excellence
• Urgency/opportunity
• Need for funds (cost)
• Effective use of previous ship time allocations (if applicable)

What Does Research Services Require

The following documents must be submitted to Research Services on or before September 28, 2011 as these will be the basis for e-approving the online application:
• A completed RIS form with all required signatures from the department and division (i.e., unit head or one-up, Vice Principal-Research (UTM/UTSC), Vice Dean-Research and/or Dean, as applicable).
• Any additional documentation required to support your NSERC eligibility (e.g., letter of appointment, and, where applicable, Form 100 Appendices B and/or C) and that of your UofT co-applicants who hold irregular appointments (such as non-tenured, status-only).
Please visit Research Services website for additional information

Additional Information

Further details regarding application procedures and requirements can be found on NSERC’s website and the Research Services website
For information on applying to this program please contact Jessica Keating at Research Services by email at jessica.keating@utoronto.ca


Jessica Keating
Research Funding Officer, Natural Sciences & Engineering
Agency & Foundation Funding
Office of Research Services
University of Toronto
McMurrich Building, 3rd floor
12 Queen's Park Crescent West
Toronto, ON M5S 1S8
Tel: 416.946.7517
Fax: 416.946.3707
Email: jessica.keating@utoronto.ca

[FASE] Announcement of Engineering's Chief Financial Officer

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Terry Rubenstein as the Chief Financial Officer for the Faculty. Terry has been with the University of Toronto since 1994. He began his U of T career in the Internal Audit Department, progressed to the position of Director of Financial Services and Information Technology in the Faculty of Physical Education and Health in 1998-2008 and is currently the Chief Administrative Officer in the Office of Student Life. Terry's 13 years of experience leading budget planning processes, and his experience in developing and implementing the new university budget, financial management monitoring, and control systems at both the Faculty of Physical Education and Health, and the Division of Student Life will be an asset to his responsibilities in this new role for the Faculty.

Terry completed his BA and MBA at York University. He joins the Faculty on September 19th. Please join me in welcoming Terry to the Faculty.

I would also like to thank the members of the advisory hiring committee Karen Lewis, Austra Ozolins, and Professors Brenda McCabe, Farid Najm and Safwat Zaky.

Cristina

[FASE] Appointment of Chair First Year

MEMORANDUM 2011/12 - 02

To: Members of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering

From: Cristina Amon, Dean

Date: September 8, 2011

Re: Appointment of Chair First Year

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Kim Pressnail as Chair First Year for a three-year term beginning October 1, 2011.

Kim joined the Department of Civil Engineering in 1990 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1995. He obtained his BASc, MASc and PhD in Civil Engineering, in addition to a law degree from the University of Toronto.

Kim’s primary research focus is in the area of building science and sustainability, and he was instrumental in redesigning the curriculum in Civil Engineering to integrate sustainability concepts. He developed a new course “Sustainable Building Design”, which focuses on reducing the environmental impact of buildings. For his efforts in this area he was awarded the 2009 Excellence in Education Award for the Promotion of Sustainable Practices by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Kim has an excellent record of service in the Faculty, having served on numerous standing committees of Faculty Council as well as Associate Chair of Engineering Science where he helped to implement major revisions to the EngSci curriculum.

Please join me in congratulating Kim on his appointment and wishing him all the best in this endeavour.

I extend my deep appreciation to the following members of the Advisory Committee in this search for their time and thoughtful input:

Professor Grant Allen, Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
Professor Bryan Karney, Associate Dean, Cross-Disciplinary Programs
Professor Mark Kortschot, Chair, Division of Engineering Science
Ms. Barbara McCann, Registrar

[SGS] Joint Educational Placement Agreement for Doctoral Students

SGS #02, 2011-2012

TO: Graduate Chairs, Graduate Directors and Graduate Coordinators

FROM: Brian Corman, Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice-Provost, Graduate Education

CC: Council of Graduate Deans, School of Graduate Studies Staff

Date: September 6, 2011

RE: Joint Educational Placement Agreement for Doctoral Students

I am pleased to announce a new program option for doctoral students, the Joint Educational Placement Agreement for full time study towards the earning of a doctorate at the University of Toronto and a recognized collaborator institution (hereafter Joint Placement). A student must designate one institution as the lead institution and the second as the collaborator institution. This decision must be made at the time of the signing of this agreement and is binding for its duration.

The University has endorsed the individual agreement model (“cotutelle”) for establishing Joint Placements. The academic and research program of a student enrolled in a Joint Placement should be based on ongoing or developing research collaboration between supervisors and/or research groups in the two participating institutions. A Joint Placement student’s application, enrolment and academic program must meet the doctoral requirements of both institutions as well as the following:

• Admission: The student must be deemed admissible by the School of Graduate Studies and apply in the same fashion as other standard degree-seeking students. Where the UofT is the lead institution, a student must complete this application prior to achieving candidacy. Joint Placement applications for admission will come to SGS as non-standard Admission requests to be assessed case-by-case. The non-standard admission case must include a completed Joint Placement Agreement (see attached form) which outlines the unique nature of the research collaboration and issues such as intellectual property, stipends and benefits, travel costs, access to research equipment and supplies, research ethics, space etc. and must be approved by the student, collaborator institutions and the identified supervisor/s of each collaborator institution.

• Registration: The Joint Placement student is registered at both institutions for the duration of the agreement.

• Fees: Tuition is paid at the lead institution according to that institution’s policies throughout the program. Where UofT is the collaborator institution, incoming students will be assessed incidental & ancillary fees as well as UHIP during their residency at UofT.

• Coursework: Regardless of whether the University of Toronto is the lead or collaborator institution, all UofT course requirements for the doctoral degree must be met as defined in the graduate unit entry in the SGS Calendar.

• Dissertation: The dissertation is jointly supervised by two thesis supervisors, one from each institution; the dissertation must meet the thesis requirements of both the lead and the collaborator institutions.

• Oral Defence: A single Final Oral Examination (FOE) is expected. The FOE is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the lead institution. Where the UofT is the lead institution, all SGS policies and regulations for Final Oral Examinations govern the defence, regardless of where the defence takes place.

• Funding: Financial arrangements must be outlined in the Joint Placement Agreement.

• Degree Conferment: The diploma will be awarded by the lead institution. The UofT diploma and transcript will note that degree was awarded under a Joint Doctorate agreement (e.g. “Awarded as a single degree under a Joint Placement arrangement with the (collaborator) institution”.)

The Joint Placement is intended for exceptional doctoral students to pursue research opportunities and acquire research experience in two countries at an early stage in their careers.

In addition to Joint Placements, I would remind you that there are many other opportunities for doctoral students at U of T to gain international experience, including, but not limited to:

• Exchange Opportunities (Transfer Credit)
Graduate students can receive up to 50% of their course requirements through transfer credit by studying at any institution approved as a UofT Graduate Exchange partner. Graduate students can also pursue language courses and engage in field-research/ graduate research at a partner institution.

• Internships
Graduate students can complete an international internship through the CIE administered Students for Development program or through internships arranged through programs or graduate units.

• International Scholar as Supervisory Committee Member(s)
Graduate units can arrange for SGS Graduate Faculty membership in order to appoint an international scholar to serve as a supervisory committee member.

• Conference Grant
SGS offers a Conference Grant to assist registered, full-time doctoral-stream students in good standing to present their research at a conference or other academic meeting. Preference will be given to students early in their career who are presenting their research for the first time.

• Travel Grant
SGS offers a Travel Grant program to help fund travel for doctoral students within Divisions I and II for whom travel is essential for the completion of their research and doctoral program.

If you have any questions about Joint Placements or other opportunities for international engagement for doctoral students at U of T, please contact the Director of Student Services, Heather Kelly at heather.kelly@utoronto.ca

-------

The placement form and checklist can be found at: http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/adminsupport/memos/2011-12_Decanal_Memos/Joint_Educational_Placement_Agreement_for_Doctoral_Students.htm.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Green Courses: Calling all TAs, instructors and course coordinators!

Calling all TAs, instructors and course coordinators!

Making efforts to save paper in your classes? The Sustainability Office has recognized 106 courses as “green” so far, and the deadline for 2011-12 recognition is fast approaching: Friday, Sept 16.

For anyone not yet familiar with the program, Green Courses was launched to recognize instructors and coordinators who have taken steps to reduce environmental impacts of their operations (e.g. double-siding course documents). The focus is currently on reducing paper waste, not on going paperless. Courses scoring enough points get a shiny logo to display on their website, as well as a slide to present to students in class.

All details, including the application form, can be found at uoft.me/greencourses.

EcoEnergy Innovation Initiative

EcoEnergy Innovation Initiative

The ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative (ecoEII) is a new program led by Natural Resources Canada that is aimed at supporting innovation in cleaner and more efficient energy production and energy use. The Federal Government has allocated $97 million to ecoEII for two streams of funding: Demonstration Projects, and Research and Development (R&D) projects, either of which must fall under one (or more) of five priority areas.

ecoEII Clean Energy Technology Priority Areas:
• Energy Efficiency
• Clean Electricity and Renewables
• Bioenergy
• Electrification of Transportation
• Unconventional Oil and Gas

Canada has enormous energy resources across the country for both thermal and power generation. Communities in the North and remote regions face different challenges from urban communities, but all must deal with integration of energy into complex systems, dealing with technical, economic, social and environmental challenges.

Value of Funding:
Demonstration Projects

Projects must have a minimum ecoEII contribution of $1.5 million. ecoEII funding per project will not exceed $20 million. Please note that the maximum ecoEII funding per project will not exceed 50% of total project costs. Total Canadian government assistance (federal, provincial/territorial and municipal governments, not including investment or funding from Crown or municipally-owned utilities) will not exceed 75% of total project costs.

Research and Development (R&D) Projects

Projects must have a minimum ecoEII contribution of $500,000. ecoEII funding per project will not exceed $5 million. Please note the Initiative ecoEII will provide up to 75% of total project costs, the balance of the project costs must be provided by the applicant and its partners. Also note the duration of the projects cannot exceed 5 years and must terminate no later than March 31, 2016.

Who Can Apply:

Natural Resources Canada invites short LOIs for R&D and Demonstration projects in the five strategic areas from the following entities, which must be validly incorporated or registered in Canada:
• Canadian companies
• electricity and gas utilities
• industry associations
• research associations
• standards organizations
• academic institutions
• provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies
• aboriginal and community groups

Streams of Funding:

1) Demonstration Projects:
The focus of the ecoEII demonstration projects is on the integration of clean and renewable electricity into the grid and the built environment. Successful proposals will be those that are focused on the overall system into which they are being integrated, and address broader systems issues and barriers to the deployment of clean and renewable energy technologies.

Demonstration projects must be located in Canada and should not be just standalone technology demonstrations but must focus on system demonstrations that deal with issues such as code, permit and regulatory and other institutional issues in addition to technology capital cost reduction and reliability. It is expected that this will require the engagement and support of multiple stakeholders and receptors, including utilities and/or system operators.

A list of eligible technologies can be found listed in detail on the Natural Resources Canada website.

Contact Information:

Your OVPR Contact for Demonstration Projects program is Irina Bogatch, Innovations & Partnerships Office (Tel. 416-978-5730, Email. irina.bogatch@utoronto.ca)
2) Research and Development Projects:
The focus of the ecoEII R&D projects is on the development of new technologies and∕or the improvement of existing process to produce and use energy more cleanly and efficiently.

A list of eligible technologies can be found at the Natural Resource Canada website.

Contact Information:
Your OVPR Contact for R&D Projects program is Mike Folinas, Research Services Office (Tel. 416-978-7118, Email. m.folinas@utoronto.ca)

Information Session for Demonstration and R&D Projects:
Wednesday September 14, 2011 – 9:30am – 12:15pm
Royal York Hotel – Library Room
100 Front Street West
Toronto, ON
M5J 1E3

Important Application Information for BOTH FUNDING TYPES:

1) Whether applying for Demonstration Project funding or R&D Funding, applicants MUST complete the on-line expression of interest now by going to the following website:
Demonstration Project Funding R & D Funding
2) Once submitted, applicants will receive an Application Guide and a Letter of Intent form which must be submitted by:
• Demonstration Projects:

Internal Deadline: Friday, September 23, 2011 by 9:00am
o Please submit a copy of your LOI and a completed RIS form (with all required signatures from your department/division) to your OVPR contact
Sponsor Deadline: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 by 11:59 pm EDT
• Research and Development (R&D) Projects:

Internal Deadline: Monday, October 3, 2011 by 9:00am
o Please submit a copy of your LOI and a completed RIS form (with all required signatures from your department/division) to your OVPR contact
Sponsor Deadline: Friday, October 7, 2011 by 11:59 pm EDT
Results from the LOI will be released within 3 weeks of the LOI closing date.
A committee of experts will review Letters of Intent and will notify those who are selected to submit a Full Proposal with all necessary information, including an application guide, on preparing and submitting the full proposal. The deadline for the full application is November 21, 2011.

Mike Folinas
Research Funding Manager
Natural Science and Engineering
Agency & Foundation Funding
Office of the Vice President, Research
University of Toronto
McMurrich Building - 3rd floor
12 Queen's Park Crescent West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1S8
Tel. 416-978-7118 Fax. 416-971-2010
Website: http://www.research.utoronto.ca/

[SGS] Award Announcement: 2011-12 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program

SGS Award Announcement

To: Chairs, Graduate Coordinators and Graduate Administrators
Cc: Berry Smith, Vice Dean Students, School of Graduate Studies
From: Laura Stathopoulos, Senior Awards Officer, Graduate Awards Office
Date: August 29, 2011
Re: 2011-12 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program

The objective of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program is to attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally; develop their leadership potential; and position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow, positively contributing to Canada's economic, social and research-based growth through a research-intensive career.

The fellowships are administered by Canada's three research granting agencies – the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

There are several significant changes to the Banting program this year which have been attached for your review.

Complete program information including eligibility requirements, host institution responsibilities, step-by-step application instructions and access to the e-submission platform on ResearchNet is now available on the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships website.

2011-2012 Competition Timelines
• August 2011: Posting of updated program literature on the Banting website and activation of ResearchNet (electronic application system)
• October 14th 2011: Deadline for supervisors to request the Institutional Synergy and Letter of Endorsement on behalf of applicant. See SGS website for instructions
• October 14th 2011: Deadline for applicants to request Fulfillment of Degree Requirements Form from UofT. See SGS website for instructions
• October 28th, 2011: Institutional Synergy and Letter of Endorsement provided by email to endorsed candidates
• November 2nd, 2011 (8pm EDT): Deadline for submitting ResearchNet applications to the Banting competition
• March 30th, 2012: Communication of results to applicants

Value and Duration
$70,000 per year (taxable) for two years.

70 new two-year awards offered annually with a total of 140 awards active at any one time. The fellowships will be distributed equally across Canada's three federal granting agencies (SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR)

Eligibility Criteria (compete details are provided on the Banting website)

1. Citizenship
Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada and foreign citizens are eligible to apply to the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program.

2. Eligibility Window for Degree Completion

Applicants for the 2011/12 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program must fulfill or have fulfilled all degree requirements for a PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree:
a. on a date within the eligibility window of November 2nd, 2008 through December 31, 2011. Applicants who have not fulfilled all requirements for their degree at the time of application must do so no later than December 31, 2011 and submit related proof to the Banting program accordingly no later than January 15, 2012. Applicants who do not submit such proof will be automatically withdrawn from the competition; or
b. no earlier than November 2, 2006 if they have had their career interrupted or delayed for the purpose of childrearing, illness, or health-related family responsibilities or, for health professionals only, have engaged in post-degree non-research related clinical training (residency, etc).
Applicants must document any interruptions, delays, or post-degree clinical training in the Special Circumstances attachment.

3. Eligibility Requirements Related to Host Institution

4. Eligibility Restrictions Related to Prior Agency-Specific Postdoctoral Funding (CIHR/NSERC/SSHRC)

5. Other Eligibility Restrictions

Application Process
1. Applicants should contact the supervisor of the host research institution whose endorsement they wish to receive to request and obtain the four institutional support documents.
2. Supervisors endorsing an applicant must request the Institutional Synergy and Letter of Endorsement from the SGS Graduate Awards Office on behalf of the applicant. Supervisors are limited to endorsing one applicant; see SGS website for instructions and institutional letter requirements
3. Applicants must obtain and upload a Fulfillment of Degree Requirements Form that has been completed by the institution that conferred their degree. Applicants who require this form from UofT must request it by Nov 14th; see SGS website to request this form.
4. The Banting application is initiated by the applicant through the ResearchNet Application System with the CV data components created using the Common CV system.
5. Applicants must complete, obtain and upload all attachments, submitting the application package via ResearchNet by the application deadline of November 2, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. (EDT).
Further information and questions may be directed to: banting@sgs.utoronto.ca attention Arianna Capotorto, Financial Counsellor, School of Graduate Studies or to Banting@researchnet-recherchenet.ca


Laura Stathopoulos
Sr. Awards Officer | Graduate Awards Office
School of Graduate Studies | University of Toronto
Voice: 416-978-2150 | www.sgs.utoronto.ca
SGS Award opportunities are now available on Ulife

-----attachment-----

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Chairs, Graduate Coordinators and Graduate Administrators
Cc: Berry Smith, Vice Dean Students, School of Graduate Studies
From: Laura Stathopoulos, Senior Awards Officer, Graduate Awards Office
Date: August 29, 2011
Re: Changes to 2011-12 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program
________________________________________

This memo is to inform you of upcoming changes for the 2011-2012 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships competition. I have summarized these changes below for your information:

REVISED—Institutional Endorsement
In light of the number of applications received in the first year (716) and the number of annual awards that are available (only 70 in total), institutions have been instructed by the tri-agencies to endorse only the very best potential postdoctoral candidates for a Banting award. In addition, more detail must be provided in the institutional support letters about the process by which the institution chose to endorse the applicant and the specific reasons why they were endorsed. Therefore, each supervisor may nominate only one candidate for a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. For more details on the four documents applicants required from host institutions as part of the endorsement process, please refer to the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships website and the SGS

REMINDER—International Recruitment
In keeping with the program’s aim to attract postdoctoral fellows to Canada, Institutions are encouraged to continue to strengthen their efforts to endorse new foreign candidates. If an applicant applies for a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship in collaboration with the same institution (or its affiliated hospitals, research centres and other laboratories) at which they obtained their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree, a solid justification will be an absolute requirement. The more similar the proposed research environment is to that which existed during the applicant's PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree, the stronger the required justification. Such special circumstances, however, are expected to be exceptionally rare in the context of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program.

REVISED—Adjudication Process
For future competitions, the adjudication of the Banting PDF applications will be done in a single step. The “synergy” aspect of the nominations will no longer be evaluated by the Selection Board, however, the Board will maintain its role in program and review oversight and provide important policy and strategic advice to the Steering Committee. The agency-specific Banting PDF Selection Committees will continue to score and rank the applications against all three selection criteria (research excellence and leadership, proposed research program, and institutional commitment and synergy). Each selection committee will recommend to the Selection Board, for endorsement, the top 23 or 24 most meritorious candidates (for a total of 70 candidates among all three granting agencies). The Steering Committee, to be made up of the Presidents of the three federal granting agencies, and the Deputy Ministers of Industry Canada and Health Canada, will then make the final decisions about the recommendations for Banting PDF awards.

I hope you find this information helpful, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions at laura.stathopoulos@sgs.utoronto.ca.

[SGS] Administrative Appointments

To: Graduate Chairs/Directors, Coordinators, Administrators and SGS Staff
From: Brian Corman, Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice-Provost, Graduate Education

Dear Colleagues:

Consistent with the Policy on Appointment of Academic Administrators, and approved by the Provost and the Academic Board, I am pleased to announce the following appointments:

LESLIE DAN FACULTY OF PHARMACY

Professor Heather Boon
Associate Dean, Graduate Education
August 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016

ONTARIO INSTITUTE FOR STUDIES IN EDUCATION

Professor Nancy Jackson
Interim Chair
Adult Education and Counselling Psychology
August 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011

I thank these Academic Administrators for their willingness to serve the University in the furtherance of graduate education. I am sure that you will join me in congratulating them.

With my best wishes,
Brian

[SGS] School of Graduate Studies E-News: September 2011

need-to-know

Deadline to register: September 16
The deadline for fall session registration is September 16. After that date, enrolment in and access to courses via the Student Web Service will be cancelled for students not registered. As well, late charges of $44 plus $5 per day (to a maximum of $94) are applied and registration can only be done in person at SGS. Proof of payment of tuition fees is required.

Course enrolment deadline: September 26
The final date to add a September session or full-year graduate course is September 26. After the deadline, you will need written permission of the course lecturer, your graduate coordinator and SGS approval.

The deadline to drop a September session or full-year graduate course, without academic penalty, is October 31. Refund timelines differ from academic timelines. See Student Fees for the applicable refund schedule, if any. An Add/Drop Course form is required.

Rules for undergraduate course enrolment
Graduate students may enrol in undergraduate courses through your graduate home unit, but only with approval of your supervisor and graduate coordinator, the undergraduate unit and course lecturer. Graduate students are graded under the graduate grading scale. Undergraduate deadlines to drop without academic penalty apply.

Keep your student record up to date
Don't forget to check your contact information on the Student Web Service to make sure that your mailing and permanent address and emergency contact information are up to date and won't expire during the year. Also, make sure that your “utoronto” email address is recorded. Your graduate unit, SGS and the university will contact you by email throughout the year but only to a university-issued email address.

GSU health insurance
The Graduate Students Union offers Health and Dental Insurance benefits not provided by OHIP. All grads are covered by the Dental Plan, though only full-time grads are covered by the Health Plan. You can opt out until the end of September if you have equivalent insurance, or purchase family coverage and a one-year extension upon graduation.

money matters

Financial arrangements to register without payment
September 16 is the deadline for eligible students to make a financial arrangement to register without payment through your home unit. After the deadline, only SGS can process a financial arrangement for eligible students. See the August issue of the Gradschool e-News for details on eligibility. Contact your home unit for further information.

SGS Award Workshops
Workshops are scheduled in September by SGS Graduate Awards for students interested in applying for federal and provincial scholarships/fellowships. Workshops will be held on all three campuses and are highly recommended for anyone interested in applying for funding from these programs. Federal programs require that applicants be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Visit the SGS homepage for dates and details.

Award payments by instalment
SGS award payments are made three times a year in September, January and May. September award payments (for both internal and external awards) are refunded directly to you. Fees are not deducted from your September award instalment unless you have arrears. You are still responsible for ensuring your fees are paid.

Work-Study Positions go live September 1
The Work-Study Program provides eligible students with an opportunity to meet financial needs and gain practical experience during the school year. To view these opportunities, log in to your Career Centre account after September 1 and select 'Job Search' from the left-hand menu, then select 'Work-Study'.

One meal plan, 40 locations, thousands of meal options
The new UeaT Meal Plan allows you to eat at any cafeteria or dining hall on campus. Save time and money by purchasing one of these flexible and refundable plans.

news

U of T to phase out bottled water sales
As the academic year gets underway, bottled water will no longer be available at the majority of locations on the St. George campus. Sales at U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough will be phased out over the next three years.

Nominations open for student representation on GEC
Four seats are currently available for student representatives on the Graduate Education Council (GEC): one in Humanities, one in Physical Sciences, and two in Life Sciences. The nomination period starts on Friday, September 2 and ends at 5:00pm Friday, September 16.

Say the Right Thing
Some medical conditions - including some types of autism, strokes or Lou Gehrig's disease - can rob people of their ability to talk. A U of T alum and two students aim to help patients express themselves again with a new technology called MyVoice.

upcoming events

U of T to phase out bottled water sales
As the academic year gets underway, bottled water will no longer be available at the majority of locations on the St. George campus. Sales at U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough will be phased out over the next three years.

Nominations open for student representation on GEC
Four seats are currently available for student representatives on the Graduate Education Council (GEC): one in Humanities, one in Physical Sciences, and two in Life Sciences. The nomination period starts on Friday, September 2 and ends at 5:00pm Friday, September 16.

Say the Right Thing
Some medical conditions - including some types of autism, strokes or Lou Gehrig's disease - can rob people of their ability to talk. A U of T alum and two students aim to help patients express themselves again with a new technology called MyVoice.

supports & resources

Do you have Aboriginal ancestry?
First Nations House provides a wide range of services and programs such as scholarships, financial aid, events, and academic and cultural supports. First Nations House is a "home away from home" for many Aboriginal students, where you can eat, talk to an Elder, study, visit the library, learn about your culture, relax and socialize. Contact First Nations House today and indicate your program of study to get connected with the appropriate resources and information.

New to the St. George Campus? Look for the AskMe ambassadors
During your first couple of weeks on the St. George campus, you may notice staff and faculty wearing buttons badges that say "ASKme" - these are ambassadors that are happy to help you if you get lost or have any questions about the university.

Office of the University Ombudsperson
The University of Toronto is committed to fairness in its dealings with its individual members and to ensuring that their rights are protected. In support of this commitment, the Office of the Ombudsperson offers confidential advice and assistance to students, faculty and staff on all three U of T campuses.

English Language Writing and Support (ELWS)
Registration for September ELWS courses opens Thursday, September 1 at 10:00am ELWS courses are non-credit, free and available exclusively to U of T graduate students. Students may take a maximum of two courses during the September session. Courses fill quickly so register on September 1 to avoid disappointment.

One-on-one writing consultations will resume the week of September 12 and you may start booking appointments online on September 6. ELWS is also offering several series of free workshops this fall - No registration is required.

Welcome to the CIV-MIN Blog

This is where we compile all the announcements, postings and non-urgent alerts that used to clog up your email inbox. Feel free to scroll through the latest postings organized by date below, or check our categorized listings on the right for the information you want.