This week: Snow closures, an acting VPP and love languages

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University Updates

Welcome to 2024 at U of T Mississauga

UTM's new Acting Vice-President and Principal Ian Orchard is "excited for all we can accomplish together in the year ahead." Read more

Find what you need on the Brand Portal

U of T has launched the new Brand Portal—an official resource for the entire university community. From the latest reputational stats and rankings to comprehensive guidelines on things like inclusive language and the U of T signature to all new PowerPoint and Word templates, this resource will help users develop engaging content that advances their division’s objectives and strengthens the university brand at large. Learn more

Stay in the know with UTAlert app

Be ready for bad weather and other need-to-know news. Download the UTAlert Alertable app to learn about snow closures, safety messages and more from all three U of T campuses. Learn more

Do you work with someone excellent?

Jan. 20 is the deadline to nominate staff or faculty members for the following Awards of Excellence:

In The News

My favourite fictional academic: Opinion

From satirical novels to sitcoms and cop shows, academics have proved to be rich source material across many genres. Four writers argue the case for who can claim to be fiction’s greatest scholar. Read more

U of T Stories

Changing the conversation around love languages and positive relationships

UTM psychologist Emily Impett and research partners found that assumptions around love languages, such as physical touch and gifts, don't hold up to scientific study. Read more

Media Mentions

Jay Olson shares his findings on global smartphone addiction, with comments from Taryn Grieder of Psychology. (Toronto Star) (Global TV)
Carolan Wood and Tracy Rogers share their pet cemetery excavation project with the Oakville & Milton Humane Society. (Toronto Star front page) (Toronto Star online)

Announcements

Ian Orchard returns as acting VPP

Professor Emeritus Ian Orchard has been appointed as acting vice-president and principal, U of T Mississauga until June 30 while Alexandra Gillespie takes research leave.
Orchard was vice-president and principal, UTM, from 2002–2010, and acting vice-president and principal, UTM, from September 2019-June 2020.
He is an experienced academic administrator, having served as UTM's first vice-provost, students, and vice-dean and associate dean in the Faculty of Arts & Science.
From 2014-2017 he served as vice-president, academic and provost at the University of Waterloo.
Most recently, from 2017-2021 he served as senior director, academic, quality assurance for the Council on Quality Assurance.

Events

Black@UTM
Jan. 10: Black Opportunities Fund, 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 10: Black Opportunities Fund, 2-3 p.m.

Experiential Education Unit
Jan. 10 and 31: Research Opportunity Program information sessions for Faculty and Staff

Alumni
Jan. 17: Canada's homelessness crisis
Jan. 23: Black career pathways in law

Family Care Office:
Jan. 17 and 24: Worrying? Anxiety in children
Jan. 18: Parenting a child with a learning disability — What’s available and what’s possible
Jan. 25: Elder Care: Communication for care partners (for those dealing with dementia)
Jan. 30: Why do I keep spinning my wheels since my divorce?
Jan. 31: Answering Frequently Asked Questions about wills and powers of attorney

The Blackwood Gallery
Jan. 18-21: Weathering

International Education Centre
Jan. 19: Taste of Home: East Asia
Jan. 22: Cultural Carnival

Department of Language Studies
Jan. 25: Hearing employability, hearing race

Department of Historical Studies
Jan. 25: Environmental feminist care
Jan. 26: The dynamics of violence in the late Roman republic: From the periphery to the centre, and back again
Jan. 29: Blood: Mothers and martyrs of the Iran-Iraq War (online)

Share your stories and photos

We want to hear about what our UTM community is doing, whether it's finding creative ways to work and play, rallying to support the community or taking time to snuggle with your pup. You can send your story tips and photos to UTM's Office of Communications by emailing kate.martin@utoronto.ca