Friday, March 30, 2012

Search for Chair, Department of Civil Engineering: (a) Announcement of Advisory Committee Membership; (b) Call for Nominations

MEMORANDUM 2011/12‐07

To Members of the Department of Civil Engineering
Chairs and Directors

From: Yu‐Ling Cheng, Acting Dean on behalf of Cristina Amon, Dean

Date: March 28, 2012

Re: Search for Chair, Department of Civil Engineering
(a) Announcement of Advisory Committee Membership
(b) Call for Nominations

Professor Brenda McCabe’s first term as Chair, Department of Civil Engineering ends on December 31, 2012. In accordance with the Policy on Appointment of Academic Administrators and following a Call for Nominations on February 27, 2012 the following Advisory Committee has been established to recommend the selection of a Chair for Civil Engineering:

• Professor Robert Andrews, Civil Engineering
• Professor Cristina Amon, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering (Co‐Chair)
• Professor Evan Bentz, Civil Engineering
• Professor Yu‐Ling Cheng, Acting Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering (Co‐Chair)
• Professor Constantin Christopoulos, Civil Engineering
• Professor Brian Corman, Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice‐Provost, Graduate Education
• Professor! Elizabeth Edwards, Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
• Professor John Harrison, Civil Engineering
• Mr. Colin Kalaska, Undergraduate Student, C! ivil Engineering
• Mr. Mohamed Kamleh, Undergraduate Student, Civil Engineering
• ! Mr. Sherif Kinawy, Graduate Student, Civil Engineering
• Professor Jun Nogami, Chair, Materials Science and Engineering
• Professor Damen Panesar, Civil Engineering
• Ms. Nelly Pietropaolo, Administrative Staff, Civil Engineering

The Committee welcomes nominations for the position of Chair. Nominations, along with the justification for them, should be submitted to the attention of the Dean by email: dean.engineering@ecf.utoronto.ca by Friday, April 13, 2012.

Research Alert: 2012 Major Resource Support (MRS) Program

2012 Major Resource Support (MRS) Program
March 30, 2012 • Reply to Mike Folinas

NOTE: This Alert is being re-issued due to a technical problem yesterday. We apologize if this is a duplicate message.

The 2012 NSERC Major Resources Support (MRS) Program facilitates access to major and unique national or international (based in Canada) experimental or thematic research resources by financially assisting these resources to remain in a state of readiness for researchers to use. This is a two-stage program, with a Letter of Intent (LOI) followed by an invitation to those successful at the LOI stage to submit a Full Proposal.

Major resources supported by this program may include:
• unique specialized experimental facilities or field research stations;
• research institutes that promote and trigger interactions within the constituents of relevant communities;
• a core of highly skilled technical or professional research support staff essential to the research activities of a group;
• large specialized items of research equipment; or
• a collection of specialized samples or objects, as defined in the Framework for Researchers Working with University-Based Collections.

General Eligible Costs
• Salaries of technical and professional research support staff employed to operate and maintain the resource, and provide assistance to users;
• Operation and maintenance of the resource;
• Materials, supplies and minor equipment essential to the operation and maintenance of the resource;
• Travel expenses for resource support staff of the facility to attend conferences, as part of the resource’s plan to keep abreast of scientific and technical advances;
• Eligible costs should not differ more than 10% at the application stage

Value: No Limit

Critical Dates:
1. April 20, 2012: Internal Deadline for completed Letter of Intent.
2. May 1, 2012: NSERC's Deadline

To access a Notice of Intent, and for more details on the MRS Program, vist our website. You can read more about the program as well on the NSERC website

Research Alert: NSERC Innovation Challenge Awards - Deadline: April 17, 2012

NSERC Innovation Challenge Awards - Deadline: April 17, 2012

Please reply to: Hema Prabhu (innovations.partnerships@utoronto.ca)

The Innovation Challenge Awards honour graduate students in the natural sciences or engineering who have demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit by identifying ways in which their research thesis results can be developed into products and processes to benefit Canadians. Since 2004, these awards have recognized and rewarded Canada’s brightest minds.

There is one first prize which includes a $10,000 cheque plus access to a professionally designed logo provided by private-sector sponsor HiretheWorld.com. There are also two $5,000 runner-up prizes. Honourable mention prizes may also be awarded if applications are deemed meritorious. The winners will receive a cheque and a certificate at an event hosted by NSERC.

Applicants must submit all documentation to the Innovations & Partnerships Office (IPO) by April 17, 2012. IPO will nominate up to two eligible candidates from the University.

For more information, please visit our program page: http://www.research.utoronto.ca/research-funding-opportunities/innovation-challenge-awards/ or contact the Innovations & Partnerships Office.

"Approval Hierarchies for Automated Research Application Review & Approval”: Feedback

MEMORANDUM

TO: Principals, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairs

FROM: Judith Chadwick, Assistant Vice-President
cc: RAISE Project Leadership Group

DATE: 28 March 2012

RE: Approval Hierarchies for Automated Research Application Review &
Approval

Given that time did not permit discussion of this agenda item at the last PDAD&C meeting, I am forwarding the documentation for your review and comment.

I believe that the attached is self-explanatory. Very briefly, through the Research Administration Improvement & Systems Enhancement (RAISE) project, a number of business process improvements are being implemented. This includes, where possible, automation of certain processes to enhance service and to improve transparency and accountability. The first of the major projects to move toward implementation is automation of internal research application review and approval. In order to move forward with this project, resolution of three issues is required:

1. Escalation criteria: Under what circumstances will applications require review and approval above the level of Chair/Director?

2. Extra-departmental units (EDUs): Under the leadership of the Provost’s office, we seek clarification of which categories of EDU are eligible to administer research funds and to identify a clear “one-up” hierarchy for each EDU in cases where approval escalation criteria are met.

3. Approval flows in cases of cross appointments: What is the appropriate approval flow where the proposed administrative unit is other than the PI’s unit or primary appointment?

Our proposals regarding items 1 and 3 are provided in the attached document. Please forward your comments to Judith Chadwick, Assistant-Vice-President, Research Services, judith.chadwick@utoronto.ca, by April 13, 2012. We look forward to hearing from you.

---- attachment ----

RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENT & SYSTEMS ENHANCEMENT (RAISE)

A Request for Guidance from PDAD&C, March 2012

The Office of the Vice-President Research (OVPR) seeks to firmly establish the University of Toronto as the best practice institution in Canada in the administration of research. This requires state-of-the-art tools and processes to ensure the effective, efficient, complete, accurate and transparent management of research activities. A number of opportunities to enhance business processes through the application of technology have been identified. Collectively these enhancements are referred to as RAISE.

For implementation purposes, these enhancements have been divided into two groups:
1. Group One enhancements are sub-projects of a smaller scale where the goals can be met using existing, in-house systems and technology.

2. Group Two enhancements are sub-projects of a larger size where the goals can be met using a combination of existing technology and new approaches.
A full description of RAISE and the component projects may be found on the OVPR website at http://www.research.utoronto.ca/for-researchers-administrators/project-raise/

The RAISE project charter was signed in June 2010. Since then, major foundation work has been undertaken in team creation, current business process review and understanding, definition of the “to-be” business processes, and system data quality improvement (necessary for any automation). In parallel, highest-priority work has been defined, created, tested and deployed into the real world.

Significant deployments to date include:
• The Research Fund Summary Report – a red-light / green-light type report which allows business officers to easily identify funds which need attention for numerous issues and allows OVPR staff to automatically “close out” completed funds, compressing hours of work into minutes.
• Programs automating the correspondence, and tracking thereof, to principal investigators (PIs) related to human and animal ethics protocols. 18 letter types have been automated, improving auditability and allowing staff time to be reallocated to higher value activities.
• Protecting closed research funds from HR postings (a contract violation) by redirecting such postings to operating funds where issues can subsequently be resolved.
• Automation of overhead postings for research funds (and an new OH report for tracking)

Further deployed mid-sized projects include:
• Field auto-updates -- Ethics Human Protocol initiative (a revision of the existing RIS system to add various validations to improve data quality – necessary for automation of various functions)
• A research overhead (OH) report to allow business officers and OVPR to identify and resolve issues
• Enhancements to 3 other existing reports to allow their use for research-related activities
• Enabling mass uploads of sponsor payments to revenue to allow clean-up of Tri-Council funds

Mid-sized projects currently underway, in OVPR testing, and nearing deployment, include:
• Linking the RIS and the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) systems
• Automating the carry forward of “no post” status on funds at FY end
• Ability for Research Financial Reporting & Analysis to auto-upload sponsor cash receipts files

Larger-scale projects currently underway include three new initiatives to automate and track research-related business processes:
• The Human Protocol On-line Submission project will create an on-line approvals workflow for the PIs and OVPR ethics group.
• The Animal Protocol On-line Submission project will create an on-line approvals workflow for the PIs and OVPR ethics group.
• The RIS Application Attachment (aka “blue form”) project will take a paper-based process related to applications for funding and put it online. All PIs at the university who apply for funding will use this product.

If all goes according to plan, the technical development for these three initiatives should be complete by end of calendar year 2012.

Approval Hierarchies for Automated Research Application Review & Approval

The “Blue Form” project, noted above, is the first of the larger Group 2 projects slated for implementation. In addition to providing the mechanism by which a University approval is obtained, it will provide academic administrators with desktop access to comprehensive research application data on PIs associated with their unit. We are seeking input from PDAD&C on three aspects of the project in particular:

A) To enable cost-effective and reliable automation of the Blue form, uniform internal sign-off requirements are proposed. The proposed escalation rules, beyond the standard requirement for Chair/Director sign-off, are laid out below.

Approval required by:
Dean/Principal* or designate (e.g. Vice-Dean/Vice-Principal*, Research) associated with Administering Unit

Conditions requiring escalation:
• All matching funding initiatives, e.g. CFI
• Proposals requesting teaching release
• Proposals including renovation/construction
• Proposals requiring incremental space
• Proposals to non-Canadian sponsors
• Proposals that deviate from the University’s overhead policy
• Proposals requesting over a threshold amount
• Proposals anticipating increased utility requirements
• Proposals where the Chair/Director is the PI
• Proposals from the Vice-Dean/Vice-Principal will escalate to the Dean/Principal

Approval required by: Provost

Conditions requiring escalation:
• Proposals where the Dean/Principal* is the PI

B) In order to implement this sub-project, clarification on the ability of an EDU to administer research funds is required, as is clarification of the “one-up” Divisional authority for each EDU that is permitted to administer research funds (in order to pursue the above-noted escalation).

C) A third issue relates to the requirements for approval and administration of research where the proposed administrative unit is other than the PI’s unit or primary appointment. The following flow
is proposed:

University approval process where the Administering Unit is not the Unit of Primary Appointment

Approval of Chair/Director of Unit of Primary Appointment Required
• Application flows to Chair/Director of unit of primary appointment for review and approval
o Application rejected – application returned to PI
o Application approved as is
 Application flows to Chair/Director of proposed administrative unit (if different admin unit requested)
• Application rejected – application returned to PI
• Application approved moves forward for approval

NB: Applications escalate to the Dean/Principal (or designate) for approval if one of the criteria outlined above exist, otherwise the application flows to the University Approver. The Dean/Principal (or designate) to whom the application would escalate is determined by the unit administering the research.

For ease of review, information with budgetary/space implications will be presented in summary format to Approvers, who will have the option of reviewing all the information contained in the “Blue Form” as well as the attached research proposal prior to “Approving” or “Rejecting” an application.

The reason for the escalation to the Dean/Principal (or designate) will also be highlighted in the summary.

It has been proposed that Academic Administrators will have access to application information from all faculty members associated with their unit if the appointment is recorded in the faculty member’s HR record irrespective of the unit administering the research.

Science Rendezvous - May 12, 2012

Dear Colleagues,

On May 12, 2012, the University of Toronto will be joining universities, colleges and community organizations across the country to participate in the 5th annual Science Rendezvous event.

Started in 2008 as the brainchild of a University of Toronto professor, Science Rendezvous is a free one-day public science festival. Similar to cultural events such as Nuit Blanche and Luminato, which raise awareness and public accessibility to the arts and humanities, Science Rendezvous is a vehicle to engage children and their families and raise awareness about the research that is done at our universities and opportunities for careers in science.

Many of our departments have been strong supporters of Science Rendezvous since its inception, and I thank you for all your contributions. This year, I want to encourage all science, engineering, medicine and related departments to participate in the event, which provides a wonderful opportunity to engage and educate the public about the work that is being done in your department or division.

Should you have any more questions with regards to Science Rendezvous at the University of Toronto, please visit their website at http://sr.escalator.utoronto.ca/ and contact Nathan Ho (Nathan.ho@mail.utoronto.ca) who is the site director for UofT this year, to sign up.

Please let your friends and family know about Science Rendezvous – it’s a wonderful, free event for families, with locations across the GTA and across the country – see www.sciencerendezvous.com.

Thank you for your attention, and I know that with your help, this year’s Science Rendezvous event will be the most successful yet.

Best wishes

Paul


Professor R. Paul Young Ph.D., FRSC
Vice-President, Research
University of Toronto
Simcoe Hall, Room 109
27 King's College Circle
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1

Telephone: 416-978-4984

Email: paul.young@utoronto.ca

Web: www.research.utoronto.ca

Staff Announcement: Extension of President Naylor’s Appointment

Memorandum to: Governing Council
Members of the Academic Board
Members of the Business Board
Members of the University Affairs Board
Members of the College of Electors
Principals, Deans, Academic Directors, and Chairs
Professionals, Managers, and Confidential Staff
President, UTFA
Presidents of Employee Unions
Presidents of APUS, GSU, UTSU (SAC), UTMSU and SCSU
President, University of Toronto Alumni Association

From: Richard B. Nunn
Chair of the Governing Council

Date: March 30, 2012

Re: Extension of President Naylor’s Appointment


I am pleased to announce that, at its meeting last evening, the Executive Committee approved a six-month extension of President David Naylor’s appointment to December 31, 2013.

Two years ago, the Governing Council approved a three-year appointment, accepting the President's request for a shortened second term. Governing Council also delegated approval of a further extension of up to two years to the Executive Committee. As the term progressed, we were unanimous in our view that President Naylor be encouraged to accept an extension of his term to 2015. After much soul-searching, however, he has indicated his preference for a shorter period and, reluctantly, we have accepted his decision.

The University of Toronto continues to benefit from President Naylor’s outstanding leadership as he and his administrative team guide the institution through a consistently and increasingly challenging period. In spite of funding and other constraints, the University is making important advances in key areas articulated in Towards 2030 – and has just recently been and has just recently been ranked number three globally, after Cambridge and Oxford, in Newsweek magazine’s ranking of the top universities outside the United States. Within this context, the University has also launched an unprecedented $2-billion fundraising campaign in November and the achievement of this ambitious goal is critical to the University’s long-term success.

The proposed extension will also enable us to undertake a search for President Naylor’s successor and, in the next few days, pursuant to the Governing Council’s Policy Respecting the Appointment of a President, we will be issuing a call for nominations for membership of the Presidential Search Committee.

Staff Announcement: Research Oversight and Compliance Office (ROCO)

Dear Colleagues

It is with mixed emotion that I am writing to you that Elizabeth DiDonato will be leaving the University of Toronto. Her last day with us will be Friday May 11th, 2012 as she will be joining McCain Foods as the Vice President Global Governance and Compliance. For Elizabeth this is an outstanding acknowledgement of her capabilities and achievements that have culminated throughout her career, including the contributions she has made to the University. We congratulate Elizabeth on this exceptional opportunity.

I recruited Elizabeth to U of T just over three years ago when I established the Research Oversight and Compliance Office (ROCO). She has had a significant influence in shaping the role of this office and function, a first of its kind in the country. Other organizations have looked to this U of T model as a means to address the evolving environment of accountability and have confirmed the value and need to support the ROCO function.

On behalf of all your friends and colleagues Elizabeth, we wish you well in your next grand challenge and by the way go easy on the fries. I hear the compensation package comes with all you can eat!

Best Regards

Paul


Professor R. Paul Young Ph.D., FRSC
Vice-President, Research
University of Toronto
Simcoe Hall, Room 109
27 King's College Circle
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1

Telephone: 416-978-4984

Email: paul.young@utoronto.ca

Web: www.research.utoronto.ca

Enrolment Services Reorganization

To: PDAD&C
From: Jill Matus, Vice-Provost, Students
Date: March 29, 2012
RE: Enrolment Services Reorganization

I am pleased to share with you details related to the organization and staffing of Enrolment Services.

Under the direction of the Executive Director, Enrolment Services and University Registrar, Enrolment Services now has four functional areas. These are:
- Admissions
- Office of Student Recruitment
- Financial Aid and Awards
- Technical and Administrative Services

Merike Remmel remains Assistant University Registrar and Director of Admissions. Janet Hurd, Director of the Office of Student Recruitment, retires on June 30. A search for her successor is continuing. Jennifer Leigh is Assistant University Registrar and Director of Technical and Administrative Services; Jennifer is also 50% seconded to the NGSIS project.

I am also very pleased to announce that we will be welcoming a new Director of Financial Aid and Awards, Donna Wall, on April 30. Donna was most recently Policy Manager in the Student Financial Assistance Branch of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. She brings extensive experience with and knowledge of student financial support in Ontario.

The integration of student recruitment, admissions and financial aid and awards into the Enrolment Services function will help ensure that the university takes a strategic approach to enrolment management and will better support both divisional and central efforts to recruit and retain the best possible students.

President's speech to the Toronto Board of Trade

For information, I am sending along the link (with PDF file embedded) to President David Naylor’s speech , “Why the Toronto Region is Canada’s Innovation Leader”, delivered at the Toronto Board of Trade last Friday.

http://www.president.utoronto.ca/speeches/why-the-toronto-region-is-canadas-innovation-leader

Regards,
Bryn




Bryn MacPherson
Executive Director, Office of the President
University of Toronto
Room 206, 27 King’s College Circle
Toronto, ON Canada M5S 1A1

Email: bryn.macpherson@utoronto.ca
Office: 416.946.5848 / Mobile: 416.566.7588 / Fax: 416.971.1360
Website: www.utoronto.ca

CAW Local 2003: Agreement ratified between U of T and Operating Engineers

HR #48, 2011-2012

March 27, 2012

To: PDAD&C
Professional & Managerial Staff

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

Re: Agreement ratified between U of T and CAW Local 2003, Operating Engineers

We are very pleased to announce that a tentative agreement between the University and CAW Local 2003, Operating Engineers, was reached on Friday, March 23, 2012, and ratified Monday, March 26, 2012, by a majority of the employees who voted in that bargaining unit.

Business Board will review the agreement at an upcoming meeting. Any changes in respect to the University Pension Plan are subject to Business Board approval.

The Memorandum of Settlement will be posted shortly.

Friday, March 23, 2012

University of Toronto Students Fighting Cancer (SFC) - International Food Festival fundraiser for Sick Kids - March 26, 2012

University of Toronto Students Fighting Cancer (SFC) is holding a fundraiser for Sick Kids on Monday, March 26th at Medical Sciences Lobby from 12-2 pm.

The fundraiser is called the International Food Festival (5-buck lunch) and a lot of international clubs are participating in this event.

To find out more about the event, or if you have any questions, you can email me or visit our website at: http://sfc.sa.utoronto.ca/2012/03/18/international-food-festival/

Sincerely,---AFSHIN
AMERICo-PresidentUniversity of Toronto Students Fighting Cancerhttp://www.facebook.com/UofTSFC

Skule's Got Talent - Finale Show, Sandford Flemming Atrium - April 5, 2012

On Thursday April 5, 2012 Skule's Got Talent will be hosting the Finale Show in Sandford Flemming Atrium and we are looking for Professors and Staff who are interested in performing an act. Some of the current acts in SGT include dance groups, instrumentalist, singers, a person with a Diabolo, and a person with a Traditional Korean Drum. There will be surprises during the night such as the LGMB and the Cannon, as well we will be supporting a charity, 1Focus. We have up to 15 minutes set aside for Profs and Staff, which provides 2-4 acts.

If you are interested please contact Nico at nicholas.valenton@mail.utoronto.ca before March 28, thank you.

Public Transit Planning and ITS - 2 Short Courses at Cities Centre, University of Toronto - May 28-30, 2012

Dear All,
I would like to invite you to two short courses offered by Cities Centre at University of Toronto this May.

(1) Public Transit Planning and ITS - May 28-29, 2012
(2) Public Transit Modelling - May 30, 2012

The attached brochure provides detailed information on the courses' programs, instructors, and fees. To register in the course, please complete the attached registration form and return it to the given address. Early registration is encouraged, since class size is limited.

Please forward this e-mail to colleagues in your organization who may be interested in the course. The information is also available on our website at:
http://www.citiescentre.utoronto.ca/about/Events/PTP2012.htm.

Thank you.
Yours sincerely,

Pat Doherty
Administrator, Public Transit Planning and ITS short courses

--
Pat Doherty
Administrative Officer
Cities Centre
University of Toronto
455 Spadina Ave., Suite 400
Toronto, ON Canada M5S 2G8
Tel. (416) 946-3688
Fax: (416) 978-7162
Email: citiescentre@utoronto.ca
www.citiescentre.utoronto.ca

NSERC Innovation Challenge Awards - Nominations open

Nominations

Do you have the best student entrepreneurs in Canada?

Nominate them for an NSERC Innovation Challenge Award.

...awarded for the best proposals for a product or service that has been developed, is currently being developed or has the potential to be developed as a result of their research.

Submission deadline: May 1, 2012

Please visit our Web site to find out more about the Innovation Challenge Awards.

Research Oversight & Compliance Office - Grantee Statement for the Tri-Council March 31, 2012

MRC/CIHR/NSERC/SSHRC/CRC Grantee

Statements for the year ended March 31, 2012

Two copies of the annual tri-council grantee statements will be sent to faculty offices for distribution to departments at the beginning of April. The researcher should review and sign the statement.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Return one signed copy of the summary page only to the following Research
Accountants addressed to Research Oversight & Compliance Office, 2nd Floor McMurrich Bldg, 12 Queen's Park Crescent West

SSHRC Sigrid Plamenco
MRCjCIHR Ruby Barker
NSERC Sandi Nguyen
CRC Alice Yu

2. Keep the other copy of the Summary page + Details of Expenses of the grantee statements for grantee's records.

NOTE: the Tri-Councils require an ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION of data and therefore
all signed statements must be received by U of T Research Services no later than
May 15, 2012 in order to meet the tri-council deadline of June 15, 2012.

If for any reason the above deadline cannot be met or you have any questions or would
like to report any statement discrepancies,please contact your Research Accountant prior to May 15, 2012.

SSHRC Sigrid Plamenco 978-7028 - s.plamenco@utoronto. ca

MRC/CIHR Ruby Barker 978-2929 - ruby.barker@utoronto.ca

NSERC Sandi Nguyen 978-4104 - sandi.nguyen@utoronto.ca

CRC Linda Liu 978-2901 - alicek.yu@utoronto.ca

IMPORTANT YEAR-END REMINDER FOR 2011-2012 FORM 300

The signature of the department's business manager/business officer is required on the form 300 under the title "Financial Officer."

- Please note that the TRI-COUNCIL (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) will not accept overspent balances on all final form 300.
- If there are overspent balances on tl1e final statements, please adjust them accordingly and revise the statement manually. Please initial all the changes.

President’s Advisory Committee on the Appointment of a Vice-President, Research - Call for Submissions

Memorandum to: Governing Council
Academic Board
Business Board
University Affairs Board
Principals, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairs
Professionals, Managers and Confidential Staff
President of UTFA
Presidents of Employee Unions
Presidents of APUS, GSU, SAC/UTSU, SCSU and UTMSU

From: David Naylor
President

Date: March 19, 2012

Re: President’s Advisory Committee on the Appointment of a
Vice-President, Research – Call for Submissions


On June 30, Professor Paul Young will complete a five-year term as Vice-President Research and is eligible to be re-appointed.

Following consultation with colleagues and governors, I have now struck a committee to advise me on the appointment. The Committee’s first priority will be to provide advice on whether a search should be undertaken or re-appointment offered. Thereafter, the Committee will consider the scope of any search to be undertaken and provide advice on candidates for my consideration in making a recommendation to Governing Council.

The Advisory Committee, which I will chair, comprises the following individuals:

Professor Robert Baker (Vice-Dean, Research and Graduate Programs, Faculty of Arts and Science)
Professor Malcolm Campbell (Vice-Dean, Research, University of Toronto Scarborough) UTSC
Professor Robert Gibbs (Director, Jackman Humanities Institute, Faculty of Arts and Science)
Professor David Mock (Dean, Faculty of Dentistry)
Professor Mayo Moran (Dean, Faculty of Law)
Professor Kumar Murty (Chair, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Arts and Science)
Professor Arthur Slutsky (Vice-President, Research, St. Michael’s Hospital)
Professor Elizabeth Smyth (Governor; Vice-Dean, Programs, School of Graduate Studies)
Mr. Keith Thomas (Governor; President and CEO, Vive Nano Inc.)
Ms. Morgan Vanek (Governor; Doctoral Student Department of English, Faculty of Arts and Science)
Mr. Chirag Variawa (Governor; Doctoral Student, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering)

Louis Charpentier, Secretary of the Governing Council, will serve as secretary.

The Committee welcomes your input. Submissions should be sent in confidence by Friday, April 6, 2012 to:

Secretary
President’s Advisory Committee on the Appointment of a
Vice-President, Research
Room 106, Simcoe Hall
University of Toronto

They may also be sent by e-mail to: l.charpentier@utoronto.ca.


-------------------------------------------------
Louis R. Charpentier
Secretary of the Governing Council
University of Toronto
27 King's College Circle, Room 106
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1
www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca
Tel: +1 416 978-2118 Fax: +1 416 978-8182

Governing Council and Academic Board Elections - 2012 Results

Memorandum

To: Governing Council Academic Board
Business Board University Affairs Board
College of Electors Principals, Deans, Academic Directors, and Chairs
Professional/Managerial and Confidential Staff Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students
Graduate Students’ Union Scarborough Campus Students’ Union
University of Toronto Students’ Union University of Toronto Faculty Association
United Steelworkers of America University of Toronto Alumni Association – Board of Directors

From: Anwar Kazimi, Chief Returning Officer

Date: March 21, 2012

Subject: Results of the 2012 Governing Council and Academic Board Elections

Governing Council Elections

It is with pleasure that I provide below the list of successful candidates who will serve on the Governing Council in 2012-2013:

Administrative Staff
Ms Alexis Archbold

Students
Graduate Students, Constituency I: Mr. Michael Donnelly
Graduate Students, Constituency II: Mr. Chirag Variawa
Full-time Undergraduate Students (Arts and Science, UTM, UTSC and TYP): Mr. Aidan Fishman and Ms Nana Zhou
Full-time Undergraduate Students (Professional Faculties): Mr. James Bateman and Mr. Andrew Girgis
Part-time Undergraduate Students: Ms Arlen Orellana and Ms Mainawati Rambali

Teaching Staff
Constituency IA: Professor Elizabeth Cowper
Constituency VA: Professor Avrum Gotlieb
Constituency III: Professor William Gough
Constituency VI: Professor Ellen Hodnett
Constituency IB: Professor Janice Gross Stein
Constituency IV: Professor Steven J. Thorpe

Academic Board Elections

I am also pleased to announce that Professor Vincent Tropepe was elected to represent the teaching staff in the Faculty of Arts and Science on the Academic Board. Ms Bonnie Horne was re-elected to represent the librarian staff.

All other teaching staff seats on the Academic Board were filled by acclamation.

Details of the election results, including the names of all candidates, are available at:

http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/elections.htm

Please join me in thanking all of the candidates who participated in this year’s elections.

I would like to offer my congratulations to those who have been elected or acclaimed in their respective constituencies, and I thank everyone who participated in the elections process.

Thank you for your ongoing interest in University governance.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Audit of teaching quality at Ontario universities

The Office of the Auditor General of Ontario is currently conducting an audit of teaching quality at Ontario universities. An audit team is currently at the University of Toronto. The key contacts on this matter are Edith Hillan (Vice-Provost, Faculty and Academic Life), Cheryl Regehr (Vice-Provost, Academic Programs) and Sheree Drummond (Assistant Provost), who may be in contact with you over the next weeks for information and input.

Research Alerts: Toronto Atmospheric Fund Competition

Please reply to: Mike Folinas (m.folinas@utoronto.ca)

The City of Toronto established Toronto Atmospheric Fund in 1991 to focus on reducing local greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions. TAF deploys three programs — Incubating Climate Solutions, Mobilizing Financial Capital, and Mobilizing Social Capital — to address Toronto's major emissions sources: buildings and transportation. Based on a careful study of Toronto's emissions profile, TAF has a strong interest in energy efficiency retrofits in buildings, electric vehicles for fleets, efficient transportation of goods, natural gas alternatives like geothermal, and social innovation to support emission reduction strategies.

TAF focuses on those projects that will, directly or indirectly, make a significant contribution to improving local air quality and/or result in significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the City of Toronto.

TAF's grants program goals:
1. To catalyze action on the highest impact, most cost-effective opportunities for greenhouse gas emissions and/or air pollution reductions in Toronto.
2. To use TAF's grants, loans and investments to leverage additional funding for greenhouse gas emissions and/or air pollution reduction initiatives.
3. To transfer the knowledge developed by grant recipients to key decision-makers and stakeholders.

Critical Dates:

April 11, 2012: Internal Deadline for completed application. Please submit the following to Mike Folinas, m.folinas@utoronto.ca.
• 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.
• Completed application (PDF)
April 13, 2012: Sponsor Deadline

Note: the next competition will be in the fall (October)

Value: $10,000 for Concept Development, up to $100,000 per year for multi-year program incubation projects.

For additional Information, please visit our website or the TAF website

Research Alerts: MITACS launches a new program – MITACS enterprise

Please reply to: Hema Prabhu (innovations.partnerships@utoronto.ca)

Mitacs Enterprise is a competitive 6-month internship and business mentorship program that gives graduates of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines an opportunity to work with small to medium-sized companies (SME) operating in a STEM sector throughout Southern Ontario.

The program matches high-potential participants to SMEs and provides interns with three days of business and management training, a peer support network and progress monitoring to encourage business and skill development of the intern and knowledge transfer to the SME.

The interns receive experience working with a company that can benefit from their technical and business management training. The SMEs get access to a highly-talented and trained workforce who can help them meet the demands of their business environment immediately and in the years to come. SMEs will not only find that they have qualified, motivated interns who are eager to make a difference, it will also provide an excellent opportunity to evaluate future potential talent for their business.

For more information or to apply:
Visit: www.mitacs.ca/enterprise
If you have questions, please e-mail: enterprise@mitacs.ca

Compensation, Benefits and Policy Changes for the Professional & Managerial (PM) and Confidential Staff groups

HR #44, 2011-12

March 15, 2012

To: PDAD&C
Professional & Managerial Staff
Confidential Staff

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

Re: Compensation, Benefits and Policy Changes for the Professional & Managerial (PM) and Confidential Staff groups

I am very pleased to report that Business Board has approved a number of compensation increases, and some policy changes, for the Professional & Managerial Staff and Confidential Staff groups, for the period April 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014.

Although Professional & Managerial and Confidential staff received merit increases in 2009, 2010 and 2011, in contrast to their University of Toronto colleagues they received no other increases to compensation, including no Across-The-Board (ATB) increases. We have, therefore, sought approval from Business Board for an ATB increase to these employees as soon as The Public Sector Compensation Restraint Act ends on March 31, 2012. Business Board has also approved a number of small benefit improvements. Complete details of all changes, including policy changes, are outlined on our HR & Equity website as follows:

Summary of Compensation, Benefits and Policy Changes for Professional & Managerial Staff

Revised Professional & Managerial Staff Policies (effective April 1, 2012)

Summary of Compensation, Benefits and Policy Changes for Confidential Staff

Revised Confidential Policies (effective April 1, 2012)

The Compensation Restraint legislation makes it very clear that there is to be no "catch-up" following the end of the two-year period of restraint. With this in mind, the proposed ATBs are comparable to those negotiated with unionized employees and also take into account the need for employee pension contributions to increase over the next two years.

As noted above, PMs and Confidentials also received no ATB for the 2009-10 year, since the compensation restraint legislation froze salaries as of the date of enactment, thereby precluding us from implementing a retroactive increase. Accordingly, Business Board approved adding a small enhancement to the July 1, 2012 and July 1, 2013 merit pools.

The University understands that the need for compensation restraint in the broader public sector may mean that the upcoming Provincial Budget will contain further compensation restraint measures. The University believes that the increases approved for the PM and Confidential groups are consistent with the restraint's objectives and hopes that we will be able to implement these well-deserved increases, consistent with those being provided to other groups for this same period.

In meeting with the PM and Confidential Advisory Committees, I have been asked whether the University would still require PMs and Confidentials to pay increased pension contributions in the event that the government imposes further compensation restraint. The Government has made it clear, through very specific metrics, that we are expected to increase employee contributions in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of our pension plan and to provide the University with solvency relief. We will, therefore, implement the pension contribution increases even if there is further compensation restraint imposed by legislation.

I am sure you, like me, will pay very close attention to the Provincial Budget when it is released towards the end of this month. I sincerely hope that nothing in the budget will prevent us from implementing the full range of changes approved by the Business Board.

Fiscal Year-end Closing: April 30, 2012

PDAD&C#47, 2011-12

To: Principals, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairs
Divisional Business Officers via AMS listserv
Divisional Financial Officers via DFO listserv

From: Pierre Piché, Controller and Director of Financial Services

Date: March 16, 2012

Re: April 30, 2012 Fiscal Year-end Closing

As we approach the end of the 2012 fiscal year, it is important to ensure that all financial activity for the year is accurately recorded in your accounts prior to closing the accounts. In order to assist you, please refer to the following pages on the Financial Services website:

The following link provides a detailed explanation of year-end accounting guidelines, reporting requirements (including the divisional carryforward), AMS system availability and available training sessions. Please note that AMS will close for year-end processing on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 8pm:
http://www.finance.utoronto.ca/gtfm/fm/reporting/fyclose.htm

For a detailed listing of submission deadlines and contact information:
http://www.finance.utoronto.ca/gtfm/fm/reporting/fyclose/yedeadlines.htm

Instructions for special processing and reporting after year-end closing (April 27 to April 30, 2012) will be available using the following link after April 1, 2012:
http://www.finance.utoronto.ca/Assets/Finance+Digital+Assets/gtfm/fm/amsmatrix.pdf

Specific questions may be referred to the following individuals:

Accounting Services Lou Ranalli 978-8185
Restricted Funds Helen Choy 978-2981
Training Sessions Angela Namaro 978-4675
AMS Availability Lorena Gaudio 978-2802
High Value Purchases Leemor Fersht 946-3219
UShop Fengli Qiu 978-2990

Governing Council: Call for Applications

Memorandum to: Governing Council
Academic Board
Business Board
University Affairs Board
Alumni Council of Presidents
Alumni Development Officers
College of Electors
President of the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students
Presidents of the Employee Unions
President of the Graduate Students’ Union
President of the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union
President of the University of Toronto Students’ Union
President of the University of Toronto Faculty Association
Principals, Deans, Academic Directors, and Chairs
Professional, Managerial, and Confidential Staff
Senior Development Officers
University of Toronto Alumni Association Board of Directors

From: Louis R. Charpentier, Secretary of the Governing Council

Date: March 14, 2012

Re: 2012 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - Members of Boards and Committees of the
Governing Council and the University Tribunal


Introduction

I am writing to ask for your assistance in identifying well-qualified individuals in the University community who would be interested in applying to serve as appointed non-Governing Council members on a Governing Council Board or Committee or on the University Tribunal. Administrative staff, alumni, teaching staff, and students – full-time undergraduate, part-time undergraduate, and graduate - are invited to apply. Applications are encouraged from a wide variety of individuals so that the diversity of the University may be reflected in the membership of Governing Council bodies.

Please note that the positions listed below are all unpaid; members of the Governing Council, its Boards and Committees, and the University Tribunal serve as volunteers.

Application for Membership

The 2012 online application form for membership is available on the website listed below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012App

Completed application forms must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, 2012.

In general, successful applicants will be invited to serve for one-year terms from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013; successful applicants of the University Tribunal will be asked to serve two-year terms. Meetings of Governing Council Boards and Committees are not normally held in July and August. However, panels of the University Tribunal do meet over the summer. Please note that a member must resign if, at any time during his or her term, he or she ceases to be a member of the constituency in which he or she was appointed (i.e. administrative staff member, full-time undergraduate student, part-time undergraduate student, or graduate student). Students currently in their final year who expect to graduate in June, 2012 are not eligible to apply. Such students may wish to consider applying as alumni representatives in the 2013 application process. Non-degree students and those registered in the Toronto School of Theology are also ineligible to serve on Governing Council bodies.

Detailed information about Board and Committee membership and the appointment process is provided below.

Membership of the Boards and Committees of Governing Council

Websites containing comprehensive information about the Governing Council and its Boards and Committees are listed below. Prospective applicants are encouraged to browse through the sites in order to gain an understanding of the scope, responsibilities, and composition of the governance bodies. With the exception of the Elections Committee and the Executive Committee, all Boards and Committees of the Governing Council include non-members of the Governing Council.

Positions Available

The precise number of appointed seats available for each constituency varies from year to year, depending on the number of seats that are filled by members of the Governing Council. The numbers below are provided as estimates only.

Potential Vacancies for 2012-2013
Administrative Staff Alumni Students Teaching Staff
Academic Board 1-2 1-3 12 N/A
Business Board 0-1 0 0-1* 0-1*
University Affairs Board 3 0 5 0
University Tribunal 0 0 20 N/A
*Please see Item 2 below.

1. Academic Board:

Members are expected to attend all or almost all of the six meetings held per year.

12 students:
4 full-time undergraduates - Arts and Science
2 full-time undergraduates - professional faculties
3 part-time undergraduates
3 graduate students
1 to 2 administrative staff
1 to 3 alumni (who are not registered as students and who are not members of the administrative or teaching staff)
Further information about the Academic Board and its standing Committees is available from the website below.

http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Governing_Council/bac/ab.htm

Please note that elections for teaching staff and librarian seats on the Academic Board are conducted through a separate process.

2. Business Board
Members are expected to attend all or almost all of the seven or eight meetings held per year.

Although the Business Board Terms of Reference provides for up to 1 student, 1 teaching staff, and 1 administrative staff co-opted member, those seats are usually filled by members of the Governing Council. The administrative staff seat does become available from time to time.

Further information about the Business Board is available from the website below.

http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Governing_Council/bac/bb_1.htm

3. University Affairs Board

Members are expected to attend all or almost all of the six meetings held per year.

5 students
3 administrative staff

Further information about the University Affairs Board is available from the website below.

http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Governing_Council/bac/ua.htm

4. University Tribunal Hearing Panels

Members are expected to sit on at least three hearings per year.

20 students

The University Tribunal hears cases involving allegations of academic misconduct. A panel adjudicates each hearing at the Trial Division of the Tribunal. A Tribunal panel is composed of three people, consisting of a legally qualified Chair, one student member, and one faculty member. At the hearing, members of the panel will hear evidence and decide whether the University has proven that the student is guilty of the charges that have been laid against them. Panel members act as impartial adjudicators who weigh the evidence presented by the University and the student and/or his/her representative. If the panel finds the student guilty, it will then determine the appropriate penalty.

Further information about the Tribunal is available from the website below.

http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/AppealsDisciplineAndFacultyGrievances/acaddiscipline.htm

Selection Process and Criteria

Each of the three Boards has a Striking (Nominating) Committee that reviews the applications received and recommends appointments to the Board. The Striking Committee normally meets in mid-May and appointments are approved at the final meeting of the Board in June. In May, the Secretary of the University Tribunal will review the applications of students who have indicated an interest in serving on that body. From those submissions, suitable individuals will be selected to assist with Tribunal hearings.

As part of the selection process, Striking Committees consider the knowledge, skills, and experience of each applicant. The Committees will be guided by the Report of the Task Force on Governance, approved by the Governing Council on October 28, 2010, which is available from the website below.

http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Governing_Council/taskforce/reportTFOG.htm

Efforts are made to achieve an appropriate balance of continuity and renewal on the Boards or Committees, as well as representation from a variety of academic and administrative units, academic programs, the three campuses, and full-time and part-time undergraduate students and graduate students.

The criteria used by the Striking Committee for the selection of members include the following.
• Experience in governance of organizations or groups.
• Demonstrated involvement in and contribution to the University community.
• Demonstrated engagement in co-curricular or community activities.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise informed judgement.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate logically and persuasively at meetings.
• Demonstrated commitment to participate actively, to prepare thoroughly, and to attend regularly most scheduled meetings.

All members of the Boards and Committees of the Governing Council and the University Tribunal are subject to the same expectations as those of members of the Governing Council. The Expectations and Attributes of Governors and Key Principles of Ethical Conduct may be viewed from the website below.

http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Assets/Governing+Council+Digital+Assets/Task+Force+on+Governance/2010-2011+Documentation/Expectations+and+Attributes+of+Governors+and+Key+Principles+of+Ethical+Conduct.pdf

If you have any questions, please contact:
Office of the Governing Council,
Simcoe Hall, Room 106
University of Toronto
27 King’s College Circle
(phone) 416-978-6576
(fax) 416-978-8182
email governing.council@utoronto.ca
Thank you for your interest in participating in governance at the University of Toronto.

Call for Nominations for the Advisory Committee for Dean of the Faculty of Forestry

PDAD&C#46, 2011-12

To: Staff and Students of the Faculty of Forestry
Principals, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairs

From: Cheryl Misak, Vice-President and Provost

Date: March 14, 2012

Re: Call for Nominations for the Advisory Committee for Dean of the Faculty of Forestry

On June 30, 2012, Professor Sandy Smith will complete her term as Dean of the Faculty of Forestry.

In accordance with Section 60 of the Policy on Appointment of Academic Administrators, I am writing to call for nominations of individuals to serve on the advisory committee that will advise the President on the appointment of a Dean.

The Policy on Appointment of Academic Administrators 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.

Nominations for the committee should be sent by Thursday, April 5, 2012, via the Vice-President and Provost's web site online form at http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/committees/advisory/Call_for_Nominations_for_the_Advisory_Committee_for_Dean_of_the_Faculty_of_Forestry.htm

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

Appointment: Sexual and Gender Diversity Officer

HR #42, 2011-12
Date: March 12, 2012
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 and Equity

Christina Sass-Kortsak
Assistant Vice-President Human Resources

Re: Announcement - Sexual and Gender Diversity Officer
We are very pleased to announce that effective Tuesday, March 13, Allison Burgess will join U of T as our new Sexual and Gender Diversity Officer.
Allison has a deep knowledge and understanding of issues related to sexual and gender diversity, both within the University context and in the broader community. She has a PhD from the Department of Sociology and Equity Studies in Education and the Graduate Collaborative Program in Women and Gender Studies at OISE/UT. Allison’s research examined queer histories, activisms and organizing in Toronto. Allison has been teaching at Brock University and U of T as well as working as an Advisor in the Academic and Cultural Support Centre at OISE/UT. She has been highly engaged in working with student organizations and other groups within the University community on issues related to Sexual and Gender Diversity. She was a founding member of the Positive Space Committee at Brock University.

As Sexual & Gender Diversity Officer Allison will provide education, programming, consultation and resources to students, staff and faculty to promote an environment that is free from biases based on sexual orientation and gender identity and to support members of the LGBTQ community on campus. She will work as part of the broader team of Equity Officers, Student Life professionals and many others across the University to promote equity, diversity and inclusion.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Research Alerts: 2012 NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE)

Please reply to: Mike Folinas (m.folinas@utoronto.ca)

The Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program supports the training of teams of outstanding students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that encourage collaborative and integrative approaches, address significant scientific challenges associated to Canada's research priorities, and facilitate the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce.

This program involves a two step process. The first step involves the submission of Letter of Intent (LOI) and the second step involves the submission of an application, for projects invited. Please note that there is maximum number of LOI’s that can be submitted. In the past, the University has been able to submit 6 LOI’s, but we are awaiting confirmation from the sponsor. If more than 6 LOI’s are submitted, we will conduct an internal peer review to select the top rated projects. This process will mirror the NSERC evaluation criteria.

NEW: This year, the CREATE Program will offer two new opportunities within its current budget envelope. These include an Industrial Stream and an International Collaboration.

VALUE: $1,650,000 over six years.

INFORMATION SESSION: An information session will be held on Monday, March 19, 2012, from 3 pm to 5 pm in Room 6 (Imperial Oil Lecture Theatre), Tanz Neuroscience Building, 6 Queen’s Park Cres. W.

DEADLINES: Internal Deadline - Wednesday, April 11, 2012 (FIRM), Sponsor Deadline - Tuesday, May 1, 2012.

Additional Information on the Strategic Projects Grants Program can be found on our website or the NSERC website (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/Grants-Subs/CREATE-FONCER_eng.asp)

Research Alerts: Killam Research Fellowship

Please reply to: Jessica Keating (jessica.keating@utoronto.ca)

The Canada Council for the Arts has announced a call for the 2013 Killam Research Fellowship. The Killam Research Fellowships are awarded annually, on a competitive basis, to support scholars doing research in any of the following fields: humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, engineering, or studies linking any of the disciplines within these fields.

Killam Research Fellowships provide two full years of release time from teaching and administrative duties to individual scholars who wish to pursue independent research. They are intended for established scholars who have demonstrated outstanding research ability, have published the results of their research in substantial publications in their field and are expected to continue contributing to the Canadian research community after they have completed their fellowship project.
These awards are valued at $70,000 per year. Fellowship recipients must obtain support for research and laboratory costs from other sources. Applicants who are retired are not eligible.

Information Session:

St. George Campus on Thursday, March 22, 2012 from 2-4pm in the Governing Council Chamber Boardroom, Simcoe Hall (2nd Floor) 27 King's College Circle.
Please RSVP by March 19th to Martina Simmonds, martina.simmonds@utoronto.ca

Deadlines:

Thursday, May 3, 2012: Internal Deadline
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 (9:00am): Sponsor Deadline

Additional information about the Killam Reasearch Fellowship can be found on our website or the CCA website (http://www.canadacouncil.ca/prizes/killam)

Research Alerts: University of Toronto Research Completion Award Program

Please reply to: Melissa Tetley (melissa.tetley@utoronto.ca)

Under certain SSHRC and NSERC programs (e.g. SSHRC Standard Research Grant and NSERC Discovery Programs), grantees receive an automatic one-year no-cost extension following the original funding expiry date to complete their research using unspent funds. After the automatic extension year, SSHRC and NSERC allow unspent funds to be transferred to the University’s General Research Fund (GRF) which supports critical research initiatives at the discretion of the Vice-President Research. The GRF funds the University of Toronto Excellence Award, the University of Toronto Research Completion Award, and other research initiatives. The Vice President, Research establishes annual allocations from the GRF for these initiatives.

The University of Toronto Research Completion Award is a program where under exceptional circumstances and subject to review conducted under the auspices of the Vice-President Research, access to a portion of a grantee’s remaining balance in an expired SSHRC or NSERC grant may be approved. UT-RCA applications are considered on the justification for the request and the merit of the proposed use of funds relative to other applications in the context of the annual allocation. It is important to note that due to limited funds available in the GRF pool and to competing demands for funding to support a range of research initiatives as mentioned above, successful UT-RCA requests may receive partial funding only.

The UT-RCA competition deadline is April 16, 2012. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. For complete program details and the 2012 UT-RCA application form, please refer to http://www.research.utoronto.ca/research-funding-opportunities/university-of-toronto-research-completion-award/

Questions about the UT-RCA program may be directed to Melissa Tetley, Research Funding Manager, Internal Programs at melissa.tetley@utoronto.cautoronto.ca or 416-946-7848.

SUM 2012: Symposium on Urban Mining – May 21-23, 2012, Italy

Call for Papers - SUM 2012
Dear All,

We are pleased to inform you that we are currently organising SUM 2012 - Symposium on Urban Mining, scheduled to be held in Bergamo, Italy from 21-23 May 2012.

The first announcement and official call for papers for the Symposium is now available on the Symposium website or for download by clickinghere .

Please note that the deadline for receipt of full papers is April 23rd 2012.

Accepted papers will undergo a peer-review process for publication on a special thematic issue of Waste Management Journal edited by Elsevier.

Papers received by the end of March 2012 will also be taken into consideration for inclusion in a special Monograph on Urban Mining.

Please do not hesitate to contact us on papers@urbanmining.it for any queries regarding submission of your paper.


Kind regards

________________________________________
SUM 2012 Organising Secretariat
Eurowaste Srl . via Beato Pellegrino, 23 - 35137 - Padova
tel: +39 049 8726986 . fax: +39 049 8726987 . email: info@eurowaste.it

CUPE 3902 Unit 1 Agreement

HR #41, 2011-12
PDAD&C #45, 2011-12

To: PDAD&C
Professional and Managerial Staff

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

Cheryl Misak
Vice-President and Provost

Date: March 7, 2012
Re: Agreement with CUPE 3902 Unit 1

The past few weeks have been difficult and tense for our entire community – faculty, undergraduate students, and graduate students. We are extremely pleased that we can now continue the term without the threat of a strike by CUPE 3902 Unit 1.
The ratified agreement (http://www.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/site3.aspx) addresses all of the issues raised by the Union during negotiations. This summary will focus on the key issues.

Working Group on Undergraduate Tutorials

The University is committed to the educational experiences of our undergraduate students, including their experience in “tutorials”. The term “tutorial” covers a vast range of instructional activities, including intensive small group discussion of complex issues, large group demonstrations, online discussion groups, and exam preparation classes. To date we have not attempted to categorize the range of activities subsumed under the heading of “tutorial”, nor have we systematically thought about best practices for such activities.

The newly established Working Group will make recommendations to the Provost on best practices, including more finely individuating and more accurately labelling the range of activities currently conducted under the rubric “tutorial” and the relationship between pedagogical goals, size, and mode of instructional delivery. We think that the recommendations from the Working Group will lead to positive changes for our undergraduates as well as our Teaching Assistants.

Financial Assistance

There are a number of improvements in the renewal collective agreement with respect to financial support for graduate students who are members of CUPE 3902.

(a) We have agreed to increase the Union’s Financial Assistance Fund by $100,000 in year 1 and an additional $125,000 in each of the next two years. This will raise the fund to $902,000 annually. In addition to these base funds, we will provide $150,000 in years 2 and 3 on a one-time-only basis. These funds are distributed by the Union to assist with child care expenses, increases in education-related expenses, and to meet other needs.

(b) We have agreed to provide a total of $500,000 one-time-only funding in support of senior students (those beyond the funded cohort). We have noted to the Union that the need for these specifically targeted funds will decrease as the Boundless Campaign for student support moves forward. That is, we expect the new funding put in place earlier this year by the Provost’s Office ($6M) and the existing Doctoral Completion monies ($4M) to be matched through philanthropy, adding $16M of new money into PhD fellowship funding, including funding for international students and funding in support of senior students beyond the funded cohort. It is also important to note that, no doctoral completion monies were “eliminated” and that academic divisions are committed to raising significant funds to enhance them.
Guaranteed Appointments

Many Teaching Assistants who have received the current maximum number of guaranteed appointments already receive 5th and 6th year appointments, if they have yet to finish their PhD. The new agreement provides a guarantee that as of May 2012, a fifth and sixth half-appointment (that is, half of the first appointment) will be guaranteed if needed. We have also committed to increase the fifth year guarantee to a full appointment as of the last day of the contract ( April 30, 2014).
We also agreed to reduce the number of hours of TA work that can be counted towards the funding package from 210 to 205.

Financial Support for Graduate Students

As we have noted in previous communications, CUPE 3902 does not represent all graduate students and therefore the University is not prepared to bargain matters pertaining to overall financial support - in particular the total amount of non-TA work that a graduate student within the funded cohort might be required to work for his or her funding package. We did, however, agree to establish a Standing Committee, which would include CUPE representatives, to discuss matters relating to graduate student funding.

Other Issues

There are, of course, many other changes to the agreement – including wage increases of 1.5%, 1.75% and 2.0%; improved parental and sick leave; and an increase to the CUPE administered Health Care Spending Account Fund of $230,000.
Labour Relations will forward detailed information on the various administrative changes, along with timelines for implementation of the various provisions.
These negotiations were not easy and it would be fair to say that there were strongly held views from both sides of the bargaining table. We believe the outcome, however, is good for the University and its students.

USW General Membership Meetings 2012

HR #40, 2011-12

March 6, 2012

To: PDAD&C
Professional and Managerial Staff

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

Re: Dates for 2012 USW General Membership Meetings

I am writing to inform you in advance that the United Steelworkers Local 1998 has scheduled General Membership meetings on the following dates for 2012. In accordance with the terms of the collective agreement, employees are to be released for up to two (2) hours with no loss of straight time pay in order to attend these meetings.

1. APRIL 12 FROM 12PM TO 2PM

Location: Bahen Centre, 40 St. George St., Room 1200 (members at UTM and UTSC participate via video conference)

This meeting includes the employee's lunch period if it would normally occur at or about this time.

2. SEPTEMBER 10 FROM 12PM to 2PM

Location: St. George Campus (members at UTM and UTSC participate via video conference)

This meeting includes the employee's lunch period if it would normally occur at or about this time.

3. DECEMBER 12 AT 3:30pm

Location: Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil Street (no video conferencing for this meeting)

Employees are required to notify their manager, at least one week in advance of each meeting date, if they are going to attend the meeting.

Note: For the December meeting ONLY, we ask that those staff-appointed employees wishing to participate in the meeting who are represented by USW on the St. George Campus be permitted to leave at 3:15 p.m. and those employees at the University of Toronto at Scarborough and Mississauga and the Institute for Aerospace Studies be permitted to leave at 2:45 p.m. in order to participate in the meeting.

There is no comparable clause in the non-appointed (casual) collective agreement. However, such employees may attend on their own time if they are not scheduled to work.

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:

FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE
Professor Michael Baker
Acting Director, School of Public Policy and Governance
July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES
Professor Pascal Michelucci
Chair, Graduate Department of French
July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2017

ONTARIO INSTITUTE FOR STUDIES IN EDUCATION
Professor Karen Mundy
Interim Chair, Department of Adult Education and Counseling Psychology
February 6, 2012 to June 30, 2012

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

Governing Council: Election of Alumni Members

Memorandum to: Governing Council
Academic Board
Business Board
University Affairs Board
College of Electors
Principals, Deans, Academic Directors, and Chairs
Alumni Council of Presidents
Alumni Development Officers
President of the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students
President of the Graduate Students’ Union
President of the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union
President of the University of Toronto Students’ Union
President of the University of Toronto Faculty Association
Presidents of the Employee Unions
Professional, Managerial, and Confidential Staff
Senior Development Officers
University of Toronto Alumni Association Board of Directors

From: Dr. Françoise Ko, Chair, College of Electors

Date: March 9, 2012

Re: Election of Alumni Members of Governing Council

The College of Electors is pleased to announce that, at its meeting yesterday afternoon, the following individuals were elected to serve as alumni members of the Governing Council:
Mr. W. John Switzer, re-elected for a second term from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015. Bachelor of Arts, University of Toronto (Erindale College), 1970; Master of Business Administration, York University, 1974.

Mr. Andrew Szende, term from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015. Bachelor of Arts, University of Toronto (University College), 1967; Master of Social Science, National University of Singapore, 1985.

Please join me in congratulating Mr. Switzer and Mr Szende.

Thank you.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Draft Intro for midterm evaluations

Dear Instructors,

We have received requests for a basic electronic system to allow instructors to collect informal midterm feedback on their teaching. Many instructors use paper surveys or a Blackboard survey for this purpose, but this is another option that is simple to implement. Below is the on-line link for an informal midterm evaluation. Please share this link with your students if you would like to collect feedback on your teaching methods for the Winter 2012 term.

The results of the on-line data for each individual course are considered to be private and will *only* be shared with you. You will receive the results by email. The data will be deleted at the end of the term. Informal midterm evaluations are a tool for formative assessment to allow you to adjust your teaching during the term. Students generally appreciate the opportunity to provide this type of feedback.

Please note the data collected will be strictly confidential and will NOT be shared with departmental for Faculty administrators or the students.
All students providing feedback regarding the course will remain anonymous.

http://uoft.me/midterm2012

SGS: GradSchool e-News :: March 2012

need-to-know

March graduands: Diplomas ready March 16
Congratulations to all graduands who chose to convocate in absentia in March. Diplomas will be available for pick up in person at the Office of Convocation as of March 16. You may also authorize someone to pick it up on your behalf or arrange to have your diploma delivered.

June graduands: Check how your name will appear on your Diploma
Your will appear on your diploma exactly as it appears in ROSI. If your name is missing accents, download and complete the Name on Diploma form and return it to the address provided before March 22. For any other changes to your name, please visit SGS Student Services at 63 St. George St., first floor counter. Contact SGS Student Services if you have questions. The deadline for making any name changes is March 22.

Nominations for student reps on Graduate Education Council
Nominations for student representatives to serve on Graduate Education Council are currently being accepted. Nominations close at 5:00pm on Monday, March 12. As of July 1, seven seats will be available for student representatives: two in Humanities, two in Social Sciences, two in Physical Sciences, and one in Life Sciences.

money matters

Conference Grant
The School of Graduate Studies will be announcing the Winter 2012 Conference Grant program this month. The program helps eligible students in good standing present their research at a conference or other academic meeting. The online application is available from March 26 to April 6 and will fund conferences that occur between March 1 and September 30.

Tuition tax receipts
T2202A forms are tuition and education receipts issued for income tax purposes to all students who paid tuition in the previous calendar year. The forms are available on the Student Web Service. Forms are not mailed but can be viewed online and printed.

Need help with your taxes?
The Graduate Student's Union is announcing a free income tax clinic for residents of Canada with income below $20,000 single/$30,000 family at the Cecil Community Centre (College/Spadina), March 3, 8, 15 and 31. Register for an appointment by calling 416-392-1090.

New online payment for thesis submission fee
Thesis submission is about to get easier. In March, SGS will launch online payment for your thesis submission fee. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to send an email - and use "Fee Payment" in the subject line.

news

ROSI naming contest
The University is getting ready to make your life easier and save you time! A new ROSI is coming! It will have so many features. What it doesn't have is a name! Enter the Name the New ROSI contest for U of T students until March 30, 2012 and win a prize!

U of T's scientific heritage
Two Ph.D. students have collected hundreds of the university's 19th- and early 20th-century scientific instruments.

Flood control
As New Orleans rebuilds, U of T master of landscape architecture students are helping the city rethink its approach to water management.

upcoming events

Thinking about starting a family?
Many graduate students wonder if they can have both - a career in academia and children. Join the Family Care Office for "Can I Have Both?", a panel discussion featuring a faculty member and graduate students who are currently integrating their studies/career with raising children. Tuesday, March 6, 2:00-4:00pm. Registration is required.

Equity and Diversity in the Classroom
Join this interactive workshop on integrating equity and diversity throughout your teaching. You'll examine contemporary issues in higher education and learn about teaching for inclusion and working in diverse classrooms. More details can be found in the News section of the SGS home page. March 8, 12:00-1:30pm. To register, please email gradroom@utoronto.ca.

Miss Representation: You can't be what you can't see
Miss Representation argues that in a society where media is the most persuasive shaper of cultural norms, the collective message is that women's value and power lies in her youth, beauty and sexuality rather than her capacity as a leader. Get a new perspective on an old problem on March 8 at 5:00pm in the Hart House Library.

Resuscitation in Motion
Interested in Advancing Resuscitation Science in New Directions? The Collaborative Program in Resuscitation Sciences welcomes you to join a meeting of minds in pursuit of cutting-edge science, collaborative networks and unusual scientific partnerships at Resuscitation in Motion 2012 - Inaugural Scientific Meeting on May 3. An amazing cadre of international panelists and provocateurs is being assembled to help take our science to the next level.

supports & resources

International student advisor now at SGS
SGS is pleased to announce that Erika Bailey, International Transition Advisor, from the Centre for International Experience will be on site weekly at Grad Room and SGS Student Services to help international graduate students with their transition to academic and cultural life at U of T. On Thursdays Erika is at Grad Room (66 Harbord St.) 3:00-5:30pm and Grad House (60 Harbord St.) 5:30-8:00 pm. On Fridays, she is SGS Student Services (63 St. George St., Room 111) 1:00-3:00pm. You can make an appointment with Erika by email: e.bailey@utoronto.ca.

March Break Camps 2012
The Family Care Office at the University of Toronto has compiled a list of community centres and organizations that offer camps and other activities in the GTA and the surrounding area during March break. For questions or further information about a specifc activity, please contact the camp provider directly.

Support group for students with disordered eating
Health and Wellness and Accessibility Services will be running a support group for students with disordered eating. Connect with others, have an opportunity to express and identify feelings and explore some of the underlying issues. This is not a treatment or intervention group but rather an opportunity to meet others and share coping strategies that do not include food. Contact the Counselling and Psychological Services office for information on signing up for the group.

Completion of Graduate Professional Skills Program
Do you expect to successfully complete the Graduate Professional Skills Program this Winter session? If so, submit your GPS Tracking & Completion Form no later than Friday April 20, 2012 to ensure you receive your GPS transcript notation this Spring. Please direct any questions related to GPS completion to gps@sgs.utoronto.ca. Students are expected to track their own progress in the Graduate Professional Skills program. Download the GPS Tracking and Completion Form from the "Completing GPS" content area of the GPS Portal Community, and list all GPS offerings you successfully complete. Once you have completed all program requirements submit the Completion Form as per the instructions.

Research Alerts: Ontario Ministry of Transportation - Highway Infrastructure Innovation Funding Program (HIIFP)

Ontario Ministry of Transportation - Highway Infrastructure Innovation Funding Program (HIIFP)

Please reply to: Mike Folinas (m.folinas@utoronto.ca)

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario has announced the 2012 competition for the Highway Infrastructure Innovation Funding Program (HIIFP). The purpose of the initiative is to encourage basic and applied research in transportation infrastructure in Ontario.

This program solicits innovations from Institutions to assist the Ministry in meeting selected challenges, and to encourage undergraduate and graduate research in transportation and infrastructure engineering.

The award provides up to $500,000 for direct and indirect (up to 25%) costs. The ultimate goal of the program is to challenge Ontario's academic community to contribute to transportation infrastructure solutions in a number of areas including traffic operations, intelligent transportation systems, engineering materials, highway design, environmental, geomatics, bridges, construction and maintenance.

Deadlines:
April 9, 2012: Internal Deadline for completed applications
April 18, 2012 (2:30pm): Sponsor Deadline

Additional Information on the HIIFP program can be found on our website or the MTO website.

Research Alerts: SDTC Announces Call for Applications for Clean Technology Funding

SDTC Announces Call for Applications for Clean Technology Funding

Please reply to: Hema Prabhu (innovations.partnerships@utoronto.ca)

Canada is a global leader in developing clean technologies. To maintain this momentum, SDTC announced today its 21st call for applications, which will be open until April 18th, 2012.

SDTC is a not-for-profit corporation created and funded by the Government of Canada to finance and support the late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of clean technologies. Through its SD Tech Fund™, SDTC helps companies through the critical juncture when capital and scaling costs become challenges and the risk profile deters other investors.

SDTC supports technologies that address the challenges of Climate Change, Clean Air, Soil and Water.

For more information, please visit our program page.

Research Alerts: Invitation: March 8th Open Forum on CIHR Strategic Initiatives and Proposed Reforms to the Open Suite of Programs & Peer Review

Invitation: March 8th Open Forum on CIHR Strategic Initiatives and Proposed Reforms to the Open Suite of Programs & Peer Review Process

Please reply to: Agatha Yim (agatha.yim@utoronto.ca)

Vice-President, Research, Paul Young invites interested members of the U of T research community, as well as colleagues from York and Ryerson Universities, to attend a Panel Discussion & Open Forum on CIHR Institutes & Strategic Initiatives and Proposed Reforms to the Open Suite of Programs & Peer Review. This event will take place on Thursday, March 8th, 9:00 am -1:00 pm in Room 3154 Medical Sciences Buidling (1 King's College Circle). Panel members will include CIHR CSO & V-P Jane Aubin and Scientific Directors of CIHR Institutes. The session will be moderated by Professor Reinhart Reithmeier, U of T's CIHR Delegate.

This session will provide information and enable discussion on the topic of balance between open programs and strategic initiatives. In addition, the CIHR has recently released a Design Discussion Document on Proposed Changes to CIHR's Open Suite of Programs and Peer Review. The changes proposed are dramatic and will affect the way research grants are formulated, reviewed and funded. Key proposals include:

• longer term program funding (7 years, @ an average of $300K p.a., 5 years for new investigators) based largely on an applicant's track record and comprising ~45% of the open grants budget;
• shorter term project funding (3-5 years @ an average of $125K p.a.) based largely on new ideas and comprising ~55% of the open grants budget;
• a review process that is application-focused and multi-staged (5-8 reviewers from the College of Reviewers at each of the first two stages) with a final face-to-face interdisciplinary committee meeting to make the final ranking.

Everyone interested in the future of the CIHR is urged to review the discussion document and attend the Open Forum to offer feedback to CIHR.

IEEE ITS Society Call for Nomination of Awards Deadline Extended to March 31, 2012

Purpose and Selection Criteria


The IEEE ITS Outstanding Research Award, IEEE ITS Outstanding Application Award, and IEEE ITS Lead Award are given annually for ITS researchers, practitioners, and research/development teams who have made significant contributions to research in ITS related fields (ITS Research Award), developed and deployed successful ITS systems or implementations (ITS Application Award), and demonstrated leadership in promoting ITS technologies (ITS Institutional Lead Award). These awards are established to recognize, promote, and publicize major research contribution, application innovations with real-world impact, and ITS institutional leadership.

Application Materials

Each application must consist of the following materials:

(1) A 5-page summary statement providing sufficient detail for evaluation of the innovations and impacts of the work.

(2) At least 3 letters of recommendation from the recognized peer researchers, customers or users of the developed application, and organizations attesting to its significance and impact.


Please email applications before March 31, 2012 to ITSS Vice President of Membership: jason.geng@ieee.org.

Dedicated selection committees will evaluate the applications for the IEEE ITS Awards and propose candidates for final approval by the ITSS Board of Governors.

Research Alerts: CIDA-Canada Fund for African Resilience (Canada Fund)

CIDA-Canada Fund for African Resilience (Canada Fund)

Please reply to: Krista Montgomery (krista.montgomery@utoronto.ca)

The aim of this call for proposals is to support projects that will significantly improve and increase food security and/or economic growth in an African country through the reduction of the impact of climate change. Proposals must be large scale, self-sustaining once implemented, and achieve demonstrable results and outcomes.

Eligibility

Those wishing to be the Lead Applicant on a proposal from UofT must hold a faculty appointment at UofT.

Program Highlights
• CIDA will only consider projects with a budget of $2 million or greater.
• CIDA will contribute up to 85 percent of the total project cost, meaning the applicant must arrange for 15% contributions from other sources. Higher contributions by applicants will factor into the proposal assessment.
• Each applicant must have a local partner in a CIDA Africian country of focus.
• Given the short time frame of CIDA's call, proposals requiring environmental assessment will not considered.
• Local partner(s) in Africa must be able to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UofT.

Important Note to all who are interested in this call:
UofT can submit two applications. As a result, those wishing to apply must notify Research Services no later than March 1, 2012 of their intention to submit an application.

(If there are more than two notices received by this date, an internal review panel will be established to select the two applications that will move forward in which case a preliminary draft will be required by March 16, 2012.

First Steps
• Applicants must complete the Internal Notification of Intent Form which can be downloaded here and submit to Krista Montgomery by March 1, 2012. We will advise all applicants, if more than two expressions of interest are received.

For further information and to download the NOI Form, please click here

Governing Council: 2012 Governing Council Election - Administrative Staff Seat

Dear Administrative Staff Members,

An election for one administrative staff seat on the Governing Council will be held between Monday, February 27 at 9:00 a.m. and Friday, March 9, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. The successful candidate will serve a three-year term from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015 on the Governing Council, which oversees the academic, business, and student affairs of the University of Toronto.

The candidates’ campaign statements are now available at:
http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Assets/Governing+Council+Digital+Assets/Elections/2012+Elections/gcAdminCandStatements2012.pdf

Online voting instructions will be made available at the Governing Council website at http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/home.htm during the voting period highlighted above.

Please contact me (416-978-8427; anwar.kazimi@utoronto.ca) or the Deputy Returning Officer, Ms Mae-Yu Tan (416-978-8794; maeyu.tan@utoronto.ca) if you have any questions about the elections process.

We look forward to your participation in the Governing Council elections.

Sincerely,

Anwar Kazimi
Chief Returning Officer
Office of the Governing Council
University of Toronto
Simcoe Hall, Room 106
27 King's College Circle
Toronto, ON M5S 1A1
Tel: 416-978-8427
Fax: 416-978-8182

Academic Retiree Centre: Newsletter link

Good afternoon,

ARC News is now available on the web at
http://www.faculty.utoronto.ca/arc/Newsletter__ARC_News.htm

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.