Boundless / en Seven transformational things that happened at U of T over the past decade /news/seven-transformational-things-happened-u-t-over-past-decade <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Seven transformational things that happened at U of T over the past decade</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/GettyImages-545132770.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=VuBJYASQ 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/GettyImages-545132770.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=K_Pzf3X9 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/GettyImages-545132770.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=jywI7TA2 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/GettyImages-545132770.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=VuBJYASQ" alt="Aerial view of U of T downtown campus bathed in a rosy glow from the sun rising"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rahul.kalvapalle</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-12-20T16:19:44-05:00" title="Friday, December 20, 2019 - 16:19" class="datetime">Fri, 12/20/2019 - 16:19</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(photo by Wei Fang via Getty Images)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/rahul-kalvapalle" hreflang="en">Rahul Kalvapalle</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/indigenous-initiatives" hreflang="en">Indigenous Initiatives</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/schwartz-reisman-innovation-centre" hreflang="en">Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/schwartz-reisman-institute-technology-and-society" hreflang="en">Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/myhal-centre-engineering-innovation-entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation &amp; Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/black-grad" hreflang="en">Black Grad</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/school-cities" hreflang="en">School of Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/artificial-intelligence" hreflang="en">Artificial Intelligence</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/boundless" hreflang="en">Boundless</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/creative-destruction-lab" hreflang="en">Creative Destruction Lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/department-computer-science-innovation-lab" hreflang="en">Department of Computer Science Innovation Lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship-hatchery" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship Hatchery</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/factor-inwentash-faculty-social-work" hreflang="en">Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health-innovation-hub" hreflang="en">Health Innovation Hub</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/impact-centre" hreflang="en">Impact Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/indigenous" hreflang="en">Indigenous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/landmark" hreflang="en">Landmark</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lester-b-pearson-international-scholarship" hreflang="en">Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/onramp" hreflang="en">ONRamp</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research-innovation" hreflang="en">Research &amp; Innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research-and-innovation" hreflang="en">Research and Innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rotman-school-management" hreflang="en">Rotman School of Management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/toronto-pan-am-sports-centre" hreflang="en">Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/truth-and-reconciliation" hreflang="en">Truth and Reconciliation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/utest" hreflang="en">UTEST</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/vector-institute" hreflang="en">Vector Institute</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>As we prepare to usher in a new decade, <em>U of T News</em> is looking back at some of the defining and impactful things that happened at the ÖŘżÚζSM over the past 10 years.</p> <p>The U of T community has left an indelible mark on the 2010s by making groundbreaking achievements in artificial intelligence, taking strides toward Indigenous reconciliation and promoting sustainability throughout its operations – to name just a few. Many of these initiatives have set in motion ideas and actions that will pave the way for the university’s success for decades to come.</p> <p>Here’s a list&nbsp;– admittedly a non-exhaustive one&nbsp;–&nbsp;of transformational things that happened at U of T over the past 10 years:</p> <hr> <h3>Campus Transformation</h3> <p><strong>​<img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/2018-04-27-CIE_0_0.jpg" alt></strong></p> <p><em>The Myhal Centre for Innovation &amp; Entrepreneurship on the St. George campus&nbsp;(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)</em></p> <p>The past decade has seen U of T complete numerous construction and renovation projects as it continues to grow its campuses, expand the facilities available to students, faculty and staff,&nbsp;and lay the groundwork for more ambitious campus-building projects to come.</p> <p>To take one, high profile example: The Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering last year opened the <a href="/news/u-t-engineering-opens-myhal-centre-engineering-innovation-entrepreneurship">Myhal Centre for Innovation &amp; Entrepreneurship</a>, a building designed to foster multi-disciplinary partnerships, experiential learning and entrepreneurship opportunities. Named after alumnus&nbsp;<strong>George Myhal&nbsp;</strong>and his wife Rayla, the building features technology-enhanced active learning rooms, dedicated space for student clubs and state-of-the-art fabrication facilities for design projects.</p> <p>U of T also laid the groundwork for the Landmark Project, <a href="/news/u-t-landmark-project-make-st-george-campus-s-historic-core-greener-more-walkable-and-accessible">a major initiative to revitalize the historic core of the St. George campus</a> and enhance sustainability and accessibility.&nbsp;The project will feature the expansion of pedestrian-friendly areas around King’s College Circle, Hart House Circle and Tower Road, and will replace parking spots for cars with green spaces, granite paths&nbsp;and an underground parking garage.&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT11508_20160412_Landmark_MedSciPlaza_001.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>The Landmark Project will make the historic centre of St. George campus more pedestrian-friendly and add new green space (rendering courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.)</em></p> <p>The St. George campus is also the proposed site of <a href="/news/u-t-build-academic-wood-tower-downtown-toronto-campus">a 14-storey building&nbsp;constructed from engineered wood</a>, which is prized as an innovative building material due its low carbon footprint, structural integrity, fire-resistant properties and aesthetic appeal. <a href="/news/new-u-t-building-create-cultural-and-intellectual-gateway-between-university-and-city">Another landmark building is proposed for 90 Queen's Park Crescent</a>, providing a home to U of T's School of Cities as well as numerous departments from the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science.</p> <p>At U of T Mississauga, it’s been a similarly eventful decade for campus-building.&nbsp;In 2011, the campus unveiled the&nbsp;<a href="/news/new-health-sciences-complex-opens-u-t-mississauga">Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex</a>.&nbsp;In August, U of T Mississauga&nbsp;acknowledged the Indigenous history of the land, the future of the campus and the university’s commitment to reconciliation by&nbsp;<a href="/news/maanjiwe-nendamowinan-u-t-mississauga-s-newest-building-honours-past-looks-future">revealing&nbsp;the name of its newest building</a>: Maanjiwe nendamowinan. Sitting on the site the former North Building, Maanjiwe nendamowinan&nbsp;is home to humanities and social sciences&nbsp;and features a six-storey atrium and event space, as well as 40,000 square feet of new classroom space that’s outfitted with cutting-edge technology and hundreds of new study spaces.&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT19612_UTM-Maanjiwe-nendamowinan-13.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>Maanjiwe nendamowinan&nbsp;at U of T Mississauga boasts&nbsp;40,000 square feet of new classroom space that’s outfitted with cutting-edge technology&nbsp;(photo by&nbsp;Drew Lesiuczok)</em></p> <p>At U of T Scarborough, national-level athletes, Varsity competitors and intramural sports participants alike can all take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities on offer at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.&nbsp;<a href="/news/welcome-toronto-pan-am-sports-centre">After opening to the public in 2014</a>, the facility hosted several competitions during the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. It is now home to numerous national sport organizations and high-performance centres, while also offering&nbsp;U of T Scarborough students top-notch fitness and wellness facilities.</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/GettyImages-454961636.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>Wheelchair basketball players practise inside the Toronto PanAm Sports Centre (photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images)</em></p> <p>U of T Scarborough <a href="https://utsc.utoronto.ca/news-events/our-community/five-things-you-need-know-about-utscs-newest-building">also opened the new Highland Hall building</a>, creating a striking new gateway to the campus in addition to doubling the amount of space dedicated to students and adding faculty and administration space. And it&nbsp;<a href="/news/wisdom-tettey-walks-ctv-news-through-valley-land-trail-u-t-scarborough">unveiled the 500-metre Valley Land Trail</a>, which was designed to offer accessibility and year-long enjoyment of the ravine abutting the campus.</p> <p>Finally, the university recently&nbsp;completed comprehensive&nbsp;<a href="/news/wow-factor-nearly-half-u-t-research-space-revitalized-sweeping-project">renovations of research labs</a>&nbsp;across its three campuses. Driven by nearly $190 million in funding from the university, province and federal government, the upgrades&nbsp;increased the amount of space available for research activities, improved electrical and internet connectivity and will create utility savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.</p> <hr> <h3>Sustainability and climate action</h3> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT15285_1026_UTSC009_0.jpg" alt><span style="color: rgb(72, 86, 103); font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic;"></span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(72, 86, 103); font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic;">The rooftop garden at U of T Scarborough (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</span></p> <p>Sustainability has been a central theme of U of T’s efforts to revitalize and expand its three campuses.</p> <p>One of the most ambitious initiatives is the&nbsp;planned installation of a massive geo-exchange field beneath Front Campus. The&nbsp;project, <a href="/news/u-t-accelerates-emissions-reduction-efforts-new-low-carbon-action-plan">part of&nbsp;U of T’s Low Carbon Action Plan</a>, will see boreholes drilled deep into the ground to allow for storage of surplus heat. It is projected to yield annual greenhouse gas reductions of 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2024.</p> <p>Sustainable design is also a hallmark of U of T Mississauga’s Maanjiwe nendamowinan, which has a&nbsp;20,000-gallon rainwater re-use system, energy-efficient mechanical systems, green roof spaces and a green-cleaning initiative, and&nbsp;U of T Scarborough’s Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, which boasts&nbsp;eco-friendly features including 1,854 rooftop solar panels and underground cisterns to collect rainwater.</p> <p>Physical projects aside, the university has also taken steps to <a href="/news/agent-change-u-t-moves-forward-plan-be-sustainability-leader">incorporate sustainability into all levels of academia</a> including working on developing curriculum&nbsp;pathways&nbsp;for sustainability-minded undergraduate students across the university.</p> <p>At an institutional level, U of T has played a leadership role by engaging with the challenges posed by climate change on the world stage. In 2018, U of T joined 12 other leading research universities in North America to form the University Climate Change Coalition, which aims to mobilize resources, expand research partnerships and leverage expertise to help businesses, cities and regions implement research-driven climate solutions.</p> <p>This year,&nbsp;President&nbsp;<strong>Meric Gertler </strong>attended the inaugural U7+ Alliance in Paris, <a href="/news/obligation-fill-vacuum-u-t-president-meric-gertler-leads-climate-change-discussion-paris-summit">where he briefed French President Emmanuel Macron on the alliance's commitment to sustainability</a>. U of T has also hosted numerous speeches, conferences and symposia to further dialogue on climate change.</p> <hr> <h3>Artificial intelligence</h3> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT14364_20170706_GeoffreyHinton_001-crop.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>U of T University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton has been described as the “godfather of deep learning”&nbsp;(photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></p> <p>Many predict that artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize everything from transportation to medicine&nbsp;– and some of the most exciting work is taking place at&nbsp;U of T thanks to pioneers like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/university-professors/">University Professor</a>&nbsp;Emeritus&nbsp;<strong>Geoffrey Hinton</strong>, a Turing Award-winner&nbsp;who is known as the&nbsp;“godfather of deep learning.”</p> <p>In bid to build upon its early lead in the field, U of T partnered with government and industry to&nbsp;launch the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence in 2017 and is now attracting several&nbsp;of the most promising AI researchers from around&nbsp;world.&nbsp;Toronto, in turn, is benefiting from the arrival of global tech companies keen to establish an AI footprint in the city. For example,&nbsp;Google, Uber, Samsung and NVIDIA have all established or expanded&nbsp;AI labs in Toronto that are headed by U of T researchers.</p> <p>U of T is also addressing AI through a multi-disciplinary lens following the launch of the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society. Set to be housed in the new Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre, the institute&nbsp;<a href="/news/gillian-hadfield-appointed-inaugural-director-u-t-s-schwartz-reisman-institute-technology">leverages U of T's unique strengths across a wide range of fields</a>&nbsp;to explore&nbsp;the role of humanities, social sciences, public policy and law in a rapidly changing technology landscape.&nbsp;</p> <hr> <hr> <h3>A global, inclusive student experience</h3> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT13319_20170622_UofTFirstBlackGraduation_002-crop.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>Students at U of T were the first in Canada to organize a Black Grad event in 2017 (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</em></p> <p>By embracing diversity and expanding its international presence, U of T over the past decade has continued to further its reputation as an inclusive institution with a truly global outlook.</p> <p>U of T’s student body has played a proactive role in this regard. For example, in 2017, U of T students organized Black Grad, <a href="/news/uoftgrad17-u-t-s-black-graduation-first-its-kind-canada">Canada’s first ever graduation celebration for Black students</a>. Black Grad has since gone on to become one of the most highly anticipated convocation-related events on the calendar. After two years of being held at Hart House on the St. George campus, Black Grad 2019 was hosted at U of T Mississauga in June and&nbsp;organizers say the first Black Grad of the new decade could be held at U of T Scarborough.</p> <p>The year 2017 also saw the launch of the Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship, which brings some of the most talented and driven students from around the world to U of T. The <a href="/news/world-comes-u-t-meet-year-s-pearson-scholars">2019 cohort</a> comprised 36 students drawn from 27 countries.</p> <p>U of T has also continued to expand its international footprint by way of research agreements with academic and industry partners around the world. Meanwhile, the university’s&nbsp;commitment to equity and diversity has also been formalized in the&nbsp;<a href="/news/u-t-releases-new-strategic-research-plan">Institutional Strategic Research Plan</a>, which aims to ensure an inclusive environment and increase the presence of marginalized groups such as Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, LGBTQ individuals and persons with disabilities.</p> <hr> <h3>Truth and Reconciliation</h3> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT70411_087A4788.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>Skahendowaneh Swamp, a chair of Indigenous knowledge at the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent University, is flanked by U of T President Meric Gertler (right) and Kelly Hannah-Moffat, vice-president of human resources and equity&nbsp;(photo by Lisa Lightbourn)</em></p> <p>In early 2016, U of T President&nbsp;<strong>Gertler</strong>&nbsp;and Vice-President and Provost&nbsp;<strong>Cheryl Regehr</strong>&nbsp;<a href="/news/u-t-take-action-truth-and-reconciliation-commission">established U of T’s Truth and Reconciliation Steering Committee</a>&nbsp;in response to the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s call to Canadians to engage in ongoing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.</p> <p>The report produced 34 calls to action focusing on the following areas: Indigenous spaces; curriculum; students and co-curricular education; faculty and staff; research ethics and community relationships; and institutional leadership and implementation.</p> <p>Since then, U of T has moved forward with a range of initiatives including the creation of the Master in Social Work, Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency program at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work; organizing an Indigenous Mentoring Day to match Indigenous job-seekers with employers at the university; and the appointment of academic advisers for Indigenous research and Indigenous curriculum and education.</p> <p>The university is also launching an Indigenous Landscape project, to be installed on 4,500 square metres of Hart House Green, in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee's call for a&nbsp;“prominent, visible space at the very centre of the St. George campus&nbsp;be dedicated as an Indigenous space.”</p> <p>“Indigenous students will be able to walk through campus and see an outdoor space and know it was created for them, with them and with their needs in mind,” said&nbsp;<strong>Shannon Simpson</strong>, U of T’s new director of Indigenous initiatives and&nbsp;co-chair of the Indigenous Landscape project.</p> <p>The project is being planned on the basis of in-depth consultations with Indigenous groups at U of T and First Nations communities with historic ties to the area.</p> <hr> <h3>Innovation and&nbsp;entrepreneurship</h3> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT16178_20170920-0W7A4518-crop.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>U of T’s ONRamp co-working and collaboration space opened to entrepreneurs in 2017 (photo by Kenneth Cheung)</em></p> <p>Over the past decade, U of T entrepreneurs have created more than 500 startup companies that have secured over $1.5 billion in investment and helped establish the university as an engine of Toronto’s thriving innovation scene.</p> <p>U of T alone is home to more than 10 campus-linked accelerators that cater to startups at various stages of development. They include the Creative Destruction Lab, which was founded at the Rotman School of Management and has since expanded to seven other locations in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.; the Entrepreneurship Hatchery, which serves entrepreneurs in the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering; ICUBE, based in the Institute for Management and Innovation at U of T Mississauga; and U of T Scarborough’s The Hub. Others include: UTEST, DCSIL (Department of Computer Science Innovation Lab), H2i (Health Innovation Hub), Impact Centre and&nbsp;InnovED.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many entrepreneurs from U of T and partner universities work out of U of T’s ONRamp,&nbsp;<a href="/news/space-startups-u-t-s-onramp-connect-ontario-entrepreneurs">a 15,000-square-foot space that opened in 2017&nbsp;</a>and offers co-working and collaboration spaces – not to mention ready access to downtown Toronto’s vibrant business community.</p> <hr> <h3>Unprecedented community support</h3> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT17626_c03.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>The soon-to-be-built Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre will accelerate innovation in Toronto and Canada by creating the country’s largest university-based innovation node (rendering by WEISS/MANFREDI)</em></p> <p>In March, U of T received $100 million from&nbsp;<strong>Gerald Schwartz</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Heather Reisman&nbsp;</strong>–<a href="/news/landmark-100-million-gift-university-toronto-gerald-schwartz-and-heather-reisman-will-power">&nbsp;the largest single donation in its history</a>.&nbsp;The funds are being used to support construction of the new Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre that&nbsp;will anchor U of T's growing cluster of AI scientists, biomedical experts and entrepreneurs.&nbsp;</p> <p>But that was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to supporting the university over the past decade.</p> <p>Spanning a period of seven years, U of T’s Boundless campaign raised $2.6-billion from more than 104,000 donors in nearly 100 countries. The generous contributions from individuals, families, corporations and charitable organizations will go towards an array of initiatives aimed at accelerating research and educational opportunities, enriching the student experience and transforming the university’s three campuses to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.</p> <p>What's more, the campaign saw endowments for student aid and student support cross the $1-billion mark for the first time in the university's history.</p> <p>In an&nbsp;<a href="/news/david-palmer-vice-president-advancement-how-u-t-harnessed-generosity-donors-raise-26-billion">interview with&nbsp;<em>U of T News</em></a>&nbsp;this past summer,&nbsp;<strong>David Palmer</strong>, U of T's vice-president, advancement, said the Boundless campaign’s success suggests the best is yet to come.</p> <p>"People ask me all the time: 'Have we exhausted the capacity of our donors and the time and efforts of our volunteers?' And I have to say we all feel we’ve barely begun to scratch the surface of what we are capable of together, and what our donors and volunteers are so generously willing to do for us," Palmer said.</p> <p>"We think there’s a very, very exciting future ahead of us right now."</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 20 Dec 2019 21:19:44 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 161271 at David Palmer, vice-president of advancement, on how U of T harnessed the generosity of donors to raise $2.6 billion /news/david-palmer-vice-president-advancement-how-u-t-harnessed-generosity-donors-raise-26-billion <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">David Palmer, vice-president of advancement, on how U of T harnessed the generosity of donors to raise $2.6 billion</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0612DavidPalmer001.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=_oUa8YtD 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/0612DavidPalmer001.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=5SBADqhu 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/0612DavidPalmer001.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=6mxgvlu6 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0612DavidPalmer001.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=_oUa8YtD" alt="Photo of David Palmer"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-06-25T14:40:55-04:00" title="Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 14:40" class="datetime">Tue, 06/25/2019 - 14:40</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">David Palmer, who has led U of T’s fundraising and alumni relations efforts since 2007, was recently re-appointed for a fourth term as vice-president of advancement (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn) </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/romi-levine" hreflang="en">Romi Levine</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/schwartz-reisman-institute-technology-and-society" hreflang="en">Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/boundless" hreflang="en">Boundless</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/centre-addiction-and-mental-health" hreflang="en">Centre for Addiction and Mental Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/division-university-advancement" hreflang="en">Division of University Advancement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hospital-sick-children" hreflang="en">Hospital for Sick Children</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institute-biomaterials-and-biomedical-engineering-0" hreflang="en">Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/ted-rogers-centre-heart-research" hreflang="en">Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-health-network" hreflang="en">University Health Network</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>At this year’s spring convocation, nearly 15,000 grads joined a 600,000-strong network of ÖŘżÚζSM alumni around the world – many of whom maintain strong ties with the university through the alumni relations departments across U of T’s advancement offices.</p> <p>But most students feel the impact of U of T Advancement long before they graduate. Many would have entered a building or a lab funded in part by a donor. Some might have received a scholarship. Others may have taken advantage of a donor-supported research opportunity or been mentored by an alumni leader in their field.</p> <p>As the vice-president of advancement,<strong> David Palmer </strong>has led U of T’s fundraising and alumni relations efforts since 2007. He was recently re-appointed to the position for a fourth term that begins in January 2020.</p> <p>Under Palmer’s leadership, U of T set a new standard for philanthropy in Canada through its successful <a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/the-campaign/">Boundless campaign</a>. The campaign, publicly launched in 2011, harnessed the generosity of 104,000 unique donors to raise $2.6 billion by its conclusion last December – far surpassing its original $2 billion goal.</p> <p>Another achievement: U of T’s endowments for student support and student aid surpassed the $1 billion-mark for the first time in the university’s history.</p> <p>Yet, according to Palmer, “We've barely begun to scratch the surface of what we are capable of with the help of our alumni, friends, and donors.”</p> <p><em>U of T News</em> recently spoke with Palmer about the Boundless campaign and what’s next for university advancement.</p> <p><strong>Looking back at the incredibly successful Boundless campaign – what have been some of your highlights?</strong></p> <p>The work we've done on large scale, complex, collaborative initiatives brought together multiple strengths at the university across faculties and departments. We also made connections with institutions outside the university.</p> <p>For example, the Rogers family’s extraordinary gift of $130 million to create the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, brought together the ÖŘżÚζSM, SickKids hospital and the University Health Network (UHN)/Toronto General to tackle the challenge of heart failure across the life span. That was a tremendously exciting project that drew on the strengths within medicine and engineering at U of T, primarily through the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, and on strengths within SickKids and UHN. We were able to look at the entire span of research from genetics, stem cells and biomarkers of disease to regenerative tissue engineering, new therapies, technologies and innovative product development.</p> <p>More recently, the Labatt family gift of $20 million to create the <a href="/news/new-labatt-family-network-u-t-provides-hope-understanding-biology-depression">Labatt Family Network for Research on the Biology of Depression</a> has a foothold at CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) and at SickKids hospital. That was a wonderful example of funding that supports basic research into something that we know very little about: the actual biology of depression.</p> <p>These types of highly interdisciplinary and collaborative projects can have a deeply meaningful impact on some of today’s most pressing global or societal challenges. We’ve seen institutions across Canada and the U.S. take note of our ability to frame such exciting visions and mount them across departments, faculties, and institutions. There's something in the water here, I think, that allows us to dream big like this.</p> <p>I think the immense variety and the number of donors – and where they come from and what they represent – is also something that's been a highlight for me. We had more than 104,000 unique donors to the (Boundless) campaign from 99 countries around the world. We also had over 16,000 donors under the age of 40 give to the campaign, which, I think, is an extraordinarily generous thing for people to prioritize at that stage of their lives. It shows how important the university is to them.</p> <p>Another highlight for me would be the fact that our endowments for student support and student aid have now passed the $1 billion threshold for the first time in our history. That is just a tremendous reflection of our fundamental values of excellence and accessibility for our students.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Receiving a $100 million donation from Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman was a record-breaking milestone for the university. What did it feel like to work on this donation and what went into it?</strong></p> <p>We were all inspired by the enormous generosity of Heather Reisman and Gerry Schwartz and the very strategic and thoughtful way they went about their consideration of this enormous gift. It's just astoundingly generous and it is a real game-changer for the university and for Canada.</p> <p>Pulling the various threads of this ambitious project together was very much a collaborative initiative between my colleagues <strong>Scott Mabury</strong>, the vice-president of university operations and real estate partnerships, and <strong>Vivek Goel</strong>, the vice-president of research and innovation, working with U of T President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong> and me on every aspect of the development of the project, the proposal, the solicitation and the conversations with Heather and Gerry.</p> <p>There were also a number of leading scholars brought into the conversation whose work connected with the themes of this initiative, and a small group of deans who were consulted at pivotal moments in the project’s development.</p> <p>For me, it was exciting to see this extraordinary group of leaders come together with a common vision and drive it forward so quickly and effectively. I think it was done at a scale and at a sophistication that was inspiring to all of us who were involved, and that clearly made an impression on the donors. It enabled the gift discussion to move ahead at an unusually fast pace. It was wonderful to see how a conversation that began with an October story in the newspaper led to a gift announcement in March.</p> <p><strong>I hear you carry a little black book with you. What’s the significance of it? </strong></p> <p>These books are my short-term memory. I have such a huge volume of interactions with people that I feel it's important to ensure that there is prompt and accurate follow-up to those encounters.</p> <p>These little books, for me, ensure there is integrity and consistency in follow up to that vast amount of interaction. I do anywhere from 140 to 160 personal interactions per year with donors, volunteers and alumni – and many times that in terms of phone and email and other types of meetings. That's the kind of volume of activity we all have to do in this advancement business, across all of front-line fundraising roles in all of our faculties, colleges and campuses.</p> <p><strong>Going into the next advancement campaign – what are some of your goals? </strong></p> <p>The agenda for the university going forward is perhaps more exciting than it's ever been. I see that no matter where I go – no matter what department or faculty I encounter. The ideas that animate this place are extraordinary. In service to those ideas, I think we have to envision an even more ambitious plan.</p> <p>People ask me all the time: “Have we exhausted the capacity of our donors and the time and efforts of our volunteers?” And I have to say we all feel we've barely begun to scratch the surface of what we are capable of together, and what our donors and volunteers are so generously willing to do for us.</p> <p>We think there's a very, very exciting future ahead of us right now.</p> <p><strong>You’ve said that most of the money raised at U of T comes from meeting people face to face. What makes that kind of fundraising so important?</strong></p> <p>When people are considering a gift, whether investing time or resources, they want to get to know what they’re investing in. Fundamentally, the process of getting to know somebody across the table, face to face, is a process of forming a relationship. It is through understanding that person and what their goals and aims are, and how they might align with the goals and aims of your institution, that you find that kind of special connection that will cause someone to come forward in a very generous way.</p> <p>At the heart of every gift is a deeply personal and motivating story. Fundraising is all about narrative. It's about finding the connection and alignments between a donor’s individual story – his or her passions, cause, motivations, or focus – and the story behind the initiative that you're bringing to their attention. Donors give to create change and they give generously to create change at scale. That’s the business we're in together: making this a better world for current and future generations.</p> <p>At the end of the day, people will choose to support – give their time, their mentorship or their resources – because they care deeply about the place.</p> <p>Our job is to look for ways to cause them to care and to care more deeply over time.</p> <p><strong>You earned an MFA from Princeton in musicology. Is music still a part of your life?</strong></p> <p>My performing days are long behind me, but I did enjoy teaching music history as an adjunct professor at Western University for many years. Those days are long behind me as well. But yes, music is still a very big part of our family's life. We enjoy attending concerts of every imaginable type of music, from ultra-contemporary Canadian composition to opera, to jazz and popular music and world music.</p> <p>One of the greatest, fondest memories I have is being a player-coach for my daughter as she was growing up, seeing her blossom as a singer, and now seeing her develop into a brilliant young professional.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 25 Jun 2019 18:40:55 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 157112 at Business leader and alumnus William Troost receives honorary degree for philanthropy, support of students /news/business-leader-and-alumnus-william-troost-receives-honorary-degree-philanthropy-support <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Business leader and alumnus William Troost receives honorary degree for philanthropy, support of students</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/thumbnail_DFF_7063-Crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=TDuxnpJh 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/thumbnail_DFF_7063-Crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=hsw-x24n 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/thumbnail_DFF_7063-Crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=xj9byRaX 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/thumbnail_DFF_7063-Crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=TDuxnpJh" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>perry.king</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-06-18T10:00:36-04:00" title="Tuesday, June 18, 2019 - 10:00" class="datetime">Tue, 06/18/2019 - 10:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(photo by Steve Frost)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/perry-king" hreflang="en">Perry King</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/myhal-centre-engineering-innovation-entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation &amp; Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/boundless" hreflang="en">Boundless</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/chemical-engineering" hreflang="en">Chemical Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/honorary-degree" hreflang="en">Honorary Degree</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The son of a Dutch farm labourer, <strong>William Troost</strong> didn’t have much money when he was growing up – which is why he speaks so highly of the scholarship he received to study engineering at the ÖŘżÚζSM.</p> <p>“Without that award, I probably couldn’t have gone to university,” Troost <a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/impact/who-will-support-the-next-generation-of-engineering-leaders/">has said of the J. Edgar McAllister Foundation Student Awards Program</a>.</p> <p>“So it had a tremendous impact on my life.”</p> <p>Decades later, Troost – who founded Peel Plastics, an innovative Ontario packaging company – and his wife,&nbsp;<strong>Kathleen Troost</strong>, have sought to have a similar impact on current and future students by giving generously to the university, particularly to the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering.</p> <p>For his “outstanding service to the University, as a dedicated and transformative volunteer, mentor, and philanthropist,” U of T will recognize Troost on Wednesday with a Doctor of Laws,&nbsp;<em>honoris causa</em>.</p> <h4>Watch William Troost deliver his remarks:</h4> <h4><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bYvXEwdGTfA" width="750"></iframe></h4> <p>Since 2005, Troost has served on the advisory board for the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry – the same department where he earned his degree. He supported the construction of the Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation &amp; Entrepreneurship and helped establish the Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering (ILead), which launched in 2010. Built upon on a previous summer leadership program, the institute provides leadership learning and professional&nbsp;opportunities, industry outreach and leadership research.</p> <p>In 2018, Troost’s $3-million gift to ILead allowed the institute “to dig deeper into complex research questions about engineering leadership in the workplace and the classroom, and reach out further to engineering leadership educators and engineering-intensive enterprises,”&nbsp;<strong>Doug Reeve</strong>, a professor of chemical engineering and ILead’s inaugural director told&nbsp;<em>U of T Engineering News</em>.</p> <p>The donation was matched by the engineering faculty and, in recognition of the Troosts’ longstanding support, the institute was renamed the Troost Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering.</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/DSC_0420-Edit_0.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>Kathleen and William Troost (photo by&nbsp;Lisa Sakulensky)</em></p> <p>The Troosts contributed nearly $10 million to U of T’s engineering faculty during the Boundless campaign. That includes a $1 million gift for student support – endowed funds meant to generate annual scholarships – and the establishment of the J. Edgar McAllister Foundation-Troost Family Award for Engineering, named for the same award that once gave Troost the opportunity to study at U of T.</p> <p>Troost told U of T he wanted to give other students the same leg up that he once received. It helped pave the way to a bachelor’s degree from U of T in 1967 and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario (now Western University) in 1975. He founded Peel Plastics in 1978, which has since grown into a vital regional employer.</p> <p>“I was fortunate,” Troost told the Boundless campaign. “And whatever success I’ve had in business, I certainly wouldn’t have gotten there without that kind of financial support.”</p> <hr> <h4>William Troost’s message to the Class of 2019:</h4> <h4><strong><em>Technical mastery by itself does not make you an effective and efficient engineer.</em></strong><em> <strong>To be effective and efficient, you must be able to translate your technical knowledge into positive change. You must be able to quickly identify problems and opportunities, and you must be able to make right decisions based on incomplete information, leading to conclusions, recommendations and action.</strong></em></h4> <h4><strong><em>Thus leadership is a core component of an engineer’s ability to translate technical skills into practice.</em></strong></h4> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 18 Jun 2019 14:00:36 +0000 perry.king 156856 at Boundless campaign exceeds expanded fundraising goal and creates lasting impact /news/boundless-campaign-exceeds-expanded-fundraising-goal-and-creates-lasting-impact <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Boundless campaign exceeds expanded fundraising goal and creates lasting impact</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/utc-transition-news-story%20%28004%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=jw2_iepe 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/utc-transition-news-story%20%28004%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=YaZLTHmd 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/utc-transition-news-story%20%28004%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=-binfbrl 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/utc-transition-news-story%20%28004%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=jw2_iepe" alt="Thank You from Meric Gertler"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-03-19T00:00:00-04:00" title="Tuesday, March 19, 2019 - 00:00" class="datetime">Tue, 03/19/2019 - 00:00</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/boundless" hreflang="en">Boundless</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/division-university-advancement" hreflang="en">Division of University Advancement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">More than 100,000 donors in 99 countries came together to raise $2.641 billion for U of T</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>More than a decade in the making, and supported by more than 104,000 people around the globe, Boundless: the Campaign for the ÖŘżÚζSM closed on Dec. 31, setting a record for Canadian philanthropy.</p> <p>Speaking at a special Presidents’ Circle Lecture event, ÖŘżÚζSM President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong> announced that Boundless has raised $2,641,331,307, opening doors of opportunity for students through scholarships and bursaries; building major facilities to enhance undergraduate education for future generations; fuelling innovative and award-winning research, faculty and programs; and increasing engagement with alumni around the world.</p> <p>“What our great global community of alumni and friends have achieved together throughout this campaign is extraordinary,” President Gertler said. “Boundless has not only established a new standard in Canadian philanthropy, but it has also provided incredible new opportunities for students, reinforced the ÖŘżÚζSM’s ties with its city and province, and strengthened U of T’s critical partnerships around the world. On behalf of everyone at the ÖŘżÚζSM, I want to thank our donors, alumni, volunteers and supporters for your continued support.”</p> <p>“The success of the Boundless campaign reflects our donors’ steadfast commitment to the important work accomplished here every day at the ÖŘżÚζSM,” added U of T Chancellor <strong>Rose Patten</strong>. “This record achievement underlines how so many of our friends and alumni see U of T as a place where their generosity can make a lasting impact on the lives of students and on research across many different fields.”</p> <p>The impact and scope of Boundless: the Campaign for the ÖŘżÚζSM comes to life through so many different stories, such as a student from an underprivileged family who was able to become a doctor, a pair of engineering grads who received funding for a startup that is giving children with disabilities a chance to walk and research that could one day prevent the need for invasive surgeries following a heart attack.</p> <p>All this was made possible through the generosity of U of T's many supporters, including thousands of donations from young alumni and first-time donors, and <a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/impact/visionary-philanthropy/">transformative gifts from U of T’s visionary benefactors</a>.</p> <p>Kenyan student <strong>Emmanuela Alimlim</strong> is just one example of how donor support is transforming lives. Thanks to the Mastercard Foundation&nbsp;Scholars Program, Alimlim was able to leave her rural village <a href="/news/family-12-kids-kenyan-village-u-t-grad-working-help-other-women-get-education">to pursue her dream of getting a university education</a>. “For [my community] to have somebody who has broken the cycle of poverty, who has gone outside to study and embrace education, they see that as something they should also aspire to do. I’m just so grateful for the opportunity,” she said.</p> <p>“When we publicly launched this campaign in 2011, we could not have imagined how transformational Boundless would truly be,” said <strong>David Palmer</strong>, vice-president, advancement.&nbsp; “Even today, we are still learning about the many different ways Boundless has brought together a community of supporters, students, faculty and staff, united by a desire to support innovative teaching and groundbreaking research and help U of T’s students tackle some of the most challenging problems facing us today and advance U&nbsp;of&nbsp;T's global leadership and impact.</p> <p>“And though it has set a benchmark record for Canadian philanthropy, I believe Boundless is just the beginning of what we can achieve together.”</p> <p><em>Explore the legacy of the campaign and read stories from donors, students, faculty and alumni <a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/the-campaign/?utm_source=DUA&amp;utm_medium=Print&amp;utm_campaign=Boundless-campaign-rep">about&nbsp;transformative giving at uoft.me/boundlesscampaign.</a>&nbsp; </em></p> <hr> <h3>The Boundless campaign: By the numbers</h3> <p>The success of Boundless <a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/our-visionary-donors/">was a true community effort</a>, and its donors are as diverse as the causes they support.</p> <ul> <li><strong>104,059 </strong>unique donors gave to the campaign.</li> <li>Donors live in <strong>99</strong> countries.</li> <li>Close to <strong>50,000</strong> donors made their first gift to U of T during the campaign.</li> <li><strong>52,198</strong> donors have given two or more gifts to the campaign.</li> <li>More than<strong> 16,000</strong> donors under the age of 40 gave to the campaign.</li> <li><strong>68 per cent</strong> of donors are alumni.</li> </ul> <p>Boundless also had a major impact on <a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/enriching-student-experience/">student</a> and <a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/accelerating-research-and-education/">faculty support, research and programs,</a> and major <a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/transforming-our-campus/">campus infrastructure projects and improvements.</a></p> <ul> <li>Boundless raised <strong>$406 million for student scholarships and programs</strong>, supporting nearly <strong>4,000 scholarships</strong>, more than <strong>220</strong> <strong>student-focused initiatives, </strong>and pushing our endowment earmarked for student support past <strong>$1 billion</strong>. &nbsp;</li> <li>The campaign raised <strong>$263 million in faculty support</strong> including <strong>82 chairs and professorship</strong>s, which ensures we can attract and retain the very best people for key research initiatives across our three campuses.</li> <li>Boundless raised more than <strong>$856 million </strong>for more than <strong>600 groundbreaking research centres, initiatives and programs</strong>.</li> <li>The campaign raised <strong>$600 million</strong> to support <strong>41 major infrastructure projects</strong> across all three campuses, bringing together leading thinkers and offering vital, new spaces for student education, research, innovation and discovery.</li> </ul> <p>Boundless also saw a significant increase in overall <a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/engaging-our-alumni/">alumni engagement,</a> leveraging our global network of nearly 600,000 graduates.</p> <ul> <li>More than <strong>8,800 alumni and friends now serve as volunteers at the university</strong>, an eight-fold increase since the public launch of the campaign<strong>.</strong></li> <li>U of T now has <strong>75 alumni networks </strong>in<strong> 30 countries</strong> around the world<strong>.</strong></li> <li><strong>Alumni event registrations have tripled</strong> since the public launch of the campaign.</li> <li>More than <strong>30,000</strong> <strong>young alumni were engaged during the campaign</strong>, through unique event offerings such as the Next Steps Conference and the Shaker program.</li> </ul> <p>“The scope and impact of this historic campaign reveal what can be achieved when our community comes together to provide life-changing student support, advance leading-edge research and programs, build magnificent facilities and engage even greater numbers of alumni in the life of the university,” said Palmer.</p> <p>“Together, the future is truly boundless.”</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 19 Mar 2019 04:00:00 +0000 noreen.rasbach 155589 at New $6 million gift to support students at John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design /news/new-6-million-gift-support-students-john-h-daniels-faculty-architecture-landscape-and-design <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">New $6 million gift to support students at John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-11-15-architecture-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=hjW5sW0p 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2018-11-15-architecture-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=xntHhsIH 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2018-11-15-architecture-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=koLnzpmP 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-11-15-architecture-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=hjW5sW0p" alt="Photo of architecture students"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2018-11-15T16:34:34-05:00" title="Thursday, November 15, 2018 - 16:34" class="datetime">Thu, 11/15/2018 - 16:34</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">From left: Architecture students Isabel Amos, Avery Clarke and Zoona Aamir. The model is by Raymond Garrioch</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/boundless" hreflang="en">Boundless</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">John and Myrna Daniels Foundation Opportunity Awards will help students who demonstrate both financial need and academic merit </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>John </strong>and <strong>Myrna Daniels</strong>’ philanthropy has been&nbsp;<a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/the-campaign/daniels-campaign-volunteer/john-and-myrna-daniels-2/">a game-changer for architecture education</a>&nbsp;in Canada.</p> <p>This week, the John and Myrna Daniels Foundation gave an additional $6 million to help students who might not otherwise have the chance to pursue studies at the ÖŘżÚζSM,&nbsp;adding to an already impressive legacy of support for the&nbsp;<a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/divisions/john-h-daniels-faculty-of-architecture-landscape-and-design/">John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design</a>&nbsp;and for its students.</p> <p>This latest gift brings the couple's support to $30&nbsp;million.</p> <p>“Like John Daniels, creative people across the Daniels Faculty are thinking of ways to design better communities that reflect a commitment to social uplift,” says ÖŘżÚζSM President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong>. “Today the Daniels Faculty is a globally recognized school and at the forefront of city-building.</p> <p>"This is due primarily to the transformative philanthropy of John and Myrna Daniels, whose most recent support will ensure that qualified students will have the means to pursue an excellent education.”</p> <p>The new gift adds to the Daniels Faculty’s&nbsp;endowment and will benefit students far into the future. It will also help ensure that the faculty can attract, and remain accessible to, high-ranking, deserving candidates. Recognizing the importance of this gift, U of T will match the annual payout on the endowment for students, thus doubling the impact. The John and Myrna Daniels Foundation Opportunity Awards will support students who demonstrate both financial need and academic merit.</p> <p><strong>John H. Daniels </strong>is an architect and veteran developer with a keen passion and track record for building socially sustainable and livable urban environments. He is the former chairman and CEO of Cadillac Fairview Development Corporation, and founder of The Daniels Corporation, one of Canada’s pre-eminent builders and developers. Some of the corporation’s most renowned projects in Toronto include the redevelopment of Regent Park and the TIFF Bell Lightbox and Festival Tower.</p> <p>“This is the most recent in a number of catalytic gifts from John and Myrna to the Daniels Faculty,” says Dean <strong>Richard Sommer</strong>. “Thanks to their incredible commitment and support, our students are tackling the very real challenge of transforming Canada’s urbanizing cities and landscapes. We are extremely grateful to them; their generosity will enable us to compete for talent globally and help ensure that our school plays a leading role well into the future.”</p> <p>The couple serves among the&nbsp;<a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/our-supporters/campaign-volunteers/">honorary chairs</a>&nbsp;of U of T's Boundless campaign. Their first gift of $14&nbsp;million, in 2008, helped create the John and Myrna Daniels Scholars Award&nbsp;and provided capital support for the school’s expansion. To date there have been 81&nbsp;John and Myrna Daniels Scholars, all professional master’s students with financial need, and some are notably the first in their families to go to university. Through their studies, the scholars – and, indeed, students across the faculty – have been exploring the various ways that design addresses 21<sup>st</sup>-century challenges, such as the relationship between growing inequality and cities, architecture and human health, digital technology and craft-construction, and data analysis and sustainable development.</p> <p>A second major gift of $10&nbsp;million from John and Myrna Daniels, in 2013, made it possible for the Daniels Faculty to undertake an ambitious transformation of&nbsp;<a href="https://boundless.utoronto.ca/news/reimagining-a-landmark/">One Spadina Crescent</a>, where the school is located today. Toronto architects, alumni and the business community continue to make donations to One Spadina’s<a href="https://donate.utoronto.ca/give/show/27" rel="noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;ongoing capital campaign</a>, supporting a project that has been acknowledged by Toronto architecture critic Alex Bozikovic as “one of the best buildings in Canada of the past decade.”</p> <p>“This latest commitment from John and Myrna through their charitable foundation brings their visionary and generous commitment to $30&nbsp;million,” says <strong>David Palmer</strong>, vice-president of advancement. “Their support has helped the Daniels Faculty attain a new level of global leadership. It now attracts the finest young minds and faculty from Canada and internationally, who are dedicated to creating more livable communities for people around the world.”</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 15 Nov 2018 21:34:34 +0000 noreen.rasbach 147205 at U of T’s Boundless campaign surpasses historic $2-billion mark and expands goal to $2.4 billion /news/u-t-s-boundless-campaign-surpasses-historic-2-billion-mark-and-expands-goal-24-billion <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T’s Boundless campaign surpasses historic $2-billion mark and expands goal to $2.4 billion</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-12-08-boundless-sky-con-hall_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=WasNxmlK 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2016-12-08-boundless-sky-con-hall_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=-TVZUBd4 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2016-12-08-boundless-sky-con-hall_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=G3bWf8Yg 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-12-08-boundless-sky-con-hall_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=WasNxmlK" alt="Boundless"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-12-09T11:30:38-05:00" title="Friday, December 9, 2016 - 11:30" class="datetime">Fri, 12/09/2016 - 11:30</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/boundless" hreflang="en">Boundless</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/philanthropy" hreflang="en">Philanthropy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research-innovation" hreflang="en">Research &amp; Innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Thanks to the unprecedented generosity of 94,736 alumni and friends, the Boundless campaign has set a new record for philanthropy in Canada and helped U of T reach new levels of excellence, innovation and impact. By expanding its goal to $2.4 billion, the campaign will support compelling new initiatives inspired by the University’s Three Priorities</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Groundbreaking treatments for heart disease, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, new initiatives for Indigenous health and education, new centres and incubators for innovation and entrepreneurship, novel approaches to the design and infrastructure of cities, deeper insights into ancient cultures and modern societies and thousands of scholarships for students – these are just some of hundreds of causes that U of T alumni and friends have contributed to during the <a href="http://boundless.utoronto.ca/">Boundless campaign</a>.</p> <p>Thanks to this commitment and enthusiasm, the Boundless campaign has raised a remarkable $2,058,559,590 to date, surpassing its original $2-billion goal six months ahead of schedule. Thousands of alumni and friends from around the world contributed to this milestone, which is unprecedented in Canadian philanthropic history and places U of T among just 31 universities worldwide that have raised $2 billion or more in a fundraising campaign. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>Building on this impressive success and momentum, the University announced that it is expanding the Boundless campaign goal to $2.4 billion, with the unanimous support of U of T’s Principals and Deans Advisory Group and volunteer campaign leadership. The campaign expansion will advance the <a href="http://threepriorities.utoronto.ca/">University’s Three Priorities</a> and fund emerging initiatives across each of our campuses. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>Speaking at an event on Dec. 8, U of T President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong> thanked donors for their vision, commitment and generosity.</p> <p>“Great universities are built by great people,” President Gertler said. “The excellence of our faculty and students, and the extraordinary passion and dedication of our supporters is fuelling our imagination, driving our discoveries and laying the groundwork for the future success of the University. With our expanded campaign goal, we have an opportunity to raise U of T to even greater heights of research excellence and accessible education.”&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Campaign Impact</strong></p> <p>The Boundless campaign launched publicly in November 2011 with a goal of preparing students for a borderless world and elevating U of T’s capacity to address critical local and global challenges. To realize this ambition, Boundless set out to raise $2 billion for the University’s highest priorities as part of the largest fundraising campaign in Canadian university history.&nbsp;</p> <p>The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Over the past five years, U of T has received $316 million for student scholarships and programs, $203 million for faculty support, more than $660 million for groundbreaking research centres, initiatives and programs, $523 million for critical infrastructure projects and more than $356 million in philanthropic research grants.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>A Tide of Support</strong></p> <p>The remarkable outpouring of generosity toward the Boundless campaign includes contributions from a record 94,736 alumni and friends, just under half of whom are first-time donors – a vivid illustration of U of T’s relevance to new generations of donors.&nbsp;</p> <p>The campaign has also been defined by a number of transformational gifts from leading philanthropists to fields as diverse as architecture and urban design, astronomy and astrophysics, global affairs, high performance sport, Indigenous health and education, innovation and entrepreneurship, humanities, law, medical psychiatry, public health, social work, regenerative medicine and more. From amplifying Canada’s voice on international issues to imagining the future design of cities to addressing heart disease across the lifespan, these visionary benefactions are placing U of T at the heart of some of the most consequential issues of our time.&nbsp;</p> <p>In addition to record philanthropic support, the University has witnessed a surge in alumni participation, pride and affinity at home and around the globe during the Boundless campaign. In the past year alone, 89,115 alumni participated in U of T programs worldwide, and more than 10,000 alumni served the University as volunteers and mentors.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Boundless has captured the diversity, openness and optimism of our community and our aspirations to effect meaningful change in the world,” says <strong>David Palmer</strong>, Vice-President, Advancement at U of T. “As a result, we’ve seen unparalleled levels of giving and engagement, which are creating countless opportunities for students, transforming our colleges, faculties and campuses and driving vital research, teaching and innovation to address issues of paramount concern to our faculty, alumni and donors.”</p> <p><strong>A New Horizon of Excellence and Impact</strong></p> <p>The success of the Boundless campaign has elevated U of T’s standing among the world’s best universities and lifted the University’s sights to a new horizon of excellence and impact.</p> <p>The campaign’s expanded goal of $2.4 billion will allow U of T to build on this momentum and fund critically important initiatives inspired by the University’s Three Priorities of leveraging our urban location more fully, strengthening key international partnerships and reimagining undergraduate education. The expansion will advance the most compelling ideas and innovations emerging across our three campuses and engage every division of the University.</p> <p>New programs in city leadership, urban design and civic engagement will place U of T at the heart of debates about how to build more prosperous and sustainable cities of the future. Support for major collaborative research and exchange programs with leading institutions around the world will strengthen the University’s global outlook and its impact on critical issues from cybersecurity to clean energy to neurodegenerative diseases. New scholarships, mentoring programs and experiential learning opportunities will help U of T deliver a rigorous and relevant undergraduate experience that prepares students for success in an ever-changing world.&nbsp;</p> <p>The expansion will also fuel pioneering research in the humanities, sciences and social sciences that illuminates our world and lays the foundation for social progress. And it will strengthen U of T’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem by helping more researchers and students bring their best ideas to market and spark breakthroughs in fields such as regenerative medicine, genomics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and computational medicine to improve health and prosperity.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Over the past five years, the extraordinary generosity of our alumni and friends has transformed lives and created healthier and more vibrant communities in Canada and globally,” says <strong>Michael Wilson</strong>, Chancellor of U of T. “As the campaign expands to $2.4 billion, we have an opportunity to build on this foundation and imagine an even brighter future for our city, our country and our world.”</p> <p>For more information please visit the <a href="http://boundless.utoronto.ca/">Boundless campaign website</a>.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:30:38 +0000 ullahnor 102733 at U of T’s Boundless campaign surpasses historic $2-billion mark and expands goal to $2.4 billion /news/u-t-boundless-campaign-surpasses-historic-2-billion-mark-and-expands-goal-24-billion <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T’s Boundless campaign surpasses historic $2-billion mark and expands goal to $2.4 billion</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-12-08-boundless-sky-con-hall.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=uRnuVD5Q 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2016-12-08-boundless-sky-con-hall.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Rb7NEOXf 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2016-12-08-boundless-sky-con-hall.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Jm2z69tV 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-12-08-boundless-sky-con-hall.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=uRnuVD5Q" alt="Photo of convocation hall"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-12-08T20:00:32-05:00" title="Thursday, December 8, 2016 - 20:00" class="datetime">Thu, 12/08/2016 - 20:00</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/boundless" hreflang="en">Boundless</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/philanthropy" hreflang="en">Philanthropy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Thanks to the unprecedented generosity of 94,736 alumni and friends, the Boundless campaign has set a new record for philanthropy in Canada and helped U of T reach new levels of excellence, innovation and impact. By expanding its goal to $2.4 billion, the campaign will support compelling new initiatives inspired by the University’s Three Priorities</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Groundbreaking treatments for heart disease, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases,&nbsp;new initiatives for Indigenous health and education,&nbsp;new centres and incubators for innovation and entrepreneurship,&nbsp;novel approaches to the design and infrastructure of cities,&nbsp;deeper insights into ancient cultures and modern societies&nbsp;and thousands of scholarships for students – these are just some of hundreds of causes that U of T alumni and friends have contributed to during the Boundless campaign.</p> <p>Thanks to this commitment and enthusiasm, the <a href="http://boundless.utoronto.ca/">Boundless campaign</a> has raised a remarkable $2,058,559,590 to date, surpassing its original $2-billion goal six months ahead of schedule. Thousands of alumni and friends from around the world contributed to this milestone, which is unprecedented in Canadian philanthropic history and places U of T among just 31 universities worldwide that have raised $2 billion or more in a fundraising campaign. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>Building on this impressive success and momentum, the University announced that it is expanding the Boundless campaign goal to $2.4 billion, with the unanimous support of U of T’s Principals and Deans Advisory Group and volunteer campaign leadership. The campaign expansion will advance the University’s <a href="http://threepriorities.utoronto.ca/">Three Priorities</a> and fund emerging initiatives across each of our campuses. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>Speaking at an event on Dec.&nbsp;8, U of T President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong> thanked donors for their vision, commitment and generosity.</p> <p>“Great universities are built by great people,” President Gertler said. “The excellence of our faculty and students, and the extraordinary passion and dedication of our supporters is fuelling our imagination, driving our discoveries and laying the groundwork for the future success of the University. With our expanded campaign goal, we have an opportunity to raise U of T to even greater heights of research excellence and accessible education.”&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Campaign Impact</strong></p> <p>The Boundless campaign launched publicly in November 2011&nbsp;with a goal of preparing students for a borderless world and elevating U of T’s capacity to address critical local and global challenges. To realize this ambition, Boundless set out to raise $2 billion for the University’s highest priorities as part of the largest fundraising campaign in Canadian university history.&nbsp;</p> <p>The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Over the past five years, U of T has received $316 million for student scholarships and programs,&nbsp;$203 million for faculty support,&nbsp;more than $660 million for groundbreaking research centres, initiatives and programs,&nbsp;$523 million for critical infrastructure projects&nbsp;and more than $356 million in philanthropic research grants.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>A Tide of Support</strong></p> <p>The remarkable outpouring of generosity toward the Boundless campaign includes contributions from a record 94,736 alumni and friends, just under half of whom are first-time donors – a vivid illustration of U of T’s relevance to new generations of donors.&nbsp;</p> <p>The campaign has also been defined by a number of transformational gifts from leading philanthropists to fields as diverse as architecture and urban design, astronomy and astrophysics, global affairs, high performance sport, Indigenous health and education, innovation and entrepreneurship, humanities, law, medical psychiatry, public health, social work, regenerative medicine and more. From amplifying Canada’s voice on international issues to imagining the future design of cities to addressing heart disease across the lifespan, these visionary benefactions are placing U of T at the heart of some of the most consequential issues of our time.&nbsp;</p> <p>In addition to record philanthropic support, the University has witnessed a surge in alumni participation, pride and affinity at home and around the globe during the Boundless campaign. In the past year alone, 89,115 alumni participated in U of T programs worldwide, and more than 10,000 alumni served the University as volunteers and mentors.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Boundless has captured the diversity, openness and optimism of our community and our aspirations to effect meaningful change in the world,” says <strong>David Palmer</strong>, Vice-President, Advancement at U of T. “As a result, we’ve seen unparalleled levels of giving and engagement, which are creating countless opportunities for students,&nbsp;transforming our colleges, faculties and campuses&nbsp;and driving vital research, teaching and innovation to address issues of paramount concern to our faculty, alumni and donors.”</p> <p><strong>A New Horizon of Excellence and Impact</strong></p> <p>The success of the Boundless campaign has elevated U of T’s standing among the world’s best universities and lifted the University’s sights to a new horizon of excellence and impact.</p> <p>The campaign’s expanded goal of $2.4 billion will allow U of T to build on this momentum and fund critically important initiatives inspired by the University’s Three Priorities of leveraging our urban location more fully, strengthening key international partnerships and reimagining undergraduate education. The expansion will advance the most compelling ideas and innovations emerging across our three campuses and engage every division of the University.</p> <p>New programs in city leadership, urban design and civic engagement will place U of T at the heart of debates about how to build more prosperous and sustainable cities of the future. Support for major collaborative research and exchange programs with leading institutions around the world will strengthen the University’s global outlook and its impact on critical issues from cybersecurity to clean energy to neurodegenerative diseases. New scholarships, mentoring programs and experiential learning opportunities will help U of T deliver a rigorous and relevant undergraduate experience that prepares students for success in an ever-changing world.&nbsp;</p> <p>The expansion will also fuel pioneering research in the humanities, sciences and social sciences that illuminates our world and lays the foundation for social progress. And it will strengthen U of T’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem by helping more researchers and students bring their best ideas to market&nbsp;and spark breakthroughs in fields such as regenerative medicine, genomics, artificial intelligence, machine learning&nbsp;and computational medicine to improve health and prosperity.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Over the past five years, the extraordinary generosity of our alumni and friends has transformed lives and created healthier and more vibrant communities in Canada and globally,” says <strong>Michael Wilson</strong>, Chancellor of U of T. “As the campaign expands to $2.4 billion, we have an opportunity to build on this foundation and imagine an even brighter future for our city, our country and our world.”</p> <p>For more information please visit the<a href="http://boundless.utoronto.ca/"> Boundless campaign </a>website.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 09 Dec 2016 01:00:32 +0000 ullahnor 102731 at Alumnus leaves landmark $20-million bequest to U of T Engineering /news/alumnus-leaves-landmark-20-million-bequest-u-t-engineering <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Alumnus leaves landmark $20-million bequest to U of T Engineering</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>lavende4</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-05-31T10:26:56-04:00" title="Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 10:26" class="datetime">Tue, 05/31/2016 - 10:26</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Erwin Edward Hart (inset) and the Little Red Skulehouse, U of T Engineering’s first building (sketch by artist Andrea M. Listro /photo illustration by Geoff Agnew) </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/engineering-strategic-communications" hreflang="en">Engineering Strategic Communications</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Engineering Strategic Communications</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/boundless" hreflang="en">Boundless</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Percy Edward Hart and Erwin Edward Hart Professorships to bolster early-career research and graduate student mentorship</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A $20-million bequest from the estate of alumnus <strong>Erwin Edward Hart</strong> (CivE 4T0) will drive engineering forward by supporting emerging research and education at the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering and providing enhanced opportunities for graduate students.</p> <p>The income from the Hart Trust will fund the Percy Edward Hart and Erwin Edward Hart Professorships. Seven faculty members, each within the first 10 years of their academic career, will receive $75,000 per year for three years for research and graduate student support. The recipients will be nominated by their department or institute and will have demonstrated a high level of research excellence and exemplary graduate mentorship.</p> <p>Erwin Edward Hart&nbsp;was a long-time employee of Massey-Ferguson Ltd. and served as the company’s chief welding engineer. The professorships are named in honour of Hart and his late father, Percy Edward Hart.</p> <p>“The Hart Professorships are an outstanding example of the impact that can be made when visionary generosity meets visionary leadership,” said U of T President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong>. “Mr. Hart’s legacy gift will bolster the work of promising researchers at a crucial stage in their careers.”</p> <p>The professorships will foster the next generation of engineering research leaders and educators, and strengthen the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering’s position as one of the world’s great engineering schools, said dean <strong>Cristina Amon</strong>.</p> <p>“Investments in early-career faculty will accelerate research and innovation,” Amon said. “This gift will support generations of professors and deepen our Faculty’s culture of research and teaching excellence. It will also strengthen the Faculty’s ability to recruit top early-career educators and researchers from around the world. Our students will benefit by working with faculty members who are committed to mentoring the next generation of innovators.”</p> <p>The&nbsp;bequest contributes to U of T Engineering’s $200-million fundraising goal as part of <a href="http://boundless.utoronto.ca/divisions/faculty-of-applied-science-engineering/">Boundless: The Campaign for the ÖŘżÚζSM</a>. To date, the Faculty has raised more than $180 million.</p> <p>The first cohort of Hart Professors will begin in September 2016, and will represent the following departments and institutes:</p> <ul> <li>Department of Chemical Engineering &amp; Applied Chemistry</li> <li>Department of Civil Engineering</li> <li>The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical &amp; Computer Engineering</li> <li>Department of Materials Science &amp; Engineering</li> <li>Department of Mechanical &amp; Industrial Engineering</li> <li>ÖŘżÚζSM Institute for Aerospace Studies</li> <li>Institute for Biomaterials &amp; Biomedical Engineering</li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 31 May 2016 14:26:56 +0000 lavende4 14187 at Joseph Rotman leaves $30 million legacy gift to Rotman School of Management /news/joseph-rotman-leaves-30-million-legacy-gift-rotman-school-management <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Joseph Rotman leaves $30 million legacy gift to Rotman School of Management </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-04-06T05:37:56-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 6, 2016 - 05:37" class="datetime">Wed, 04/06/2016 - 05:37</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/ken-mcguffin" hreflang="en">Ken McGuffin</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Ken McGuffin</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/boundless" hreflang="en">Boundless</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/business" hreflang="en">Business</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rotman" hreflang="en">Rotman</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rotman-school-management" hreflang="en">Rotman School of Management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/top-stories" hreflang="en">Top Stories</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Gift strengthens School’s role as a leader in innovative management education </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The estate of <strong>Joseph Rotman</strong> is making a landmark $30 million gift to the ÖŘżÚζSM’s Rotman School of Management. &nbsp;</p> <p>The gift will help the Rotman School, already one of the leading global brands in management education, continue to be at the forefront of transforming management education and research. &nbsp;</p> <p>This latest gift from <strong>Joseph</strong> and <strong>Sandra Rotman</strong> makes them the most generous benefactors in the University’s history, following numerous significant gifts over the past 20 years.&nbsp;This new $30 million gift will be matched by the ÖŘżÚζSM in order to establish a $45 million Rotman Catalyst Fund as well as provide additional support to the School’s highest priorities such as scholarships, faculty positions and infrastructure investments.</p> <p>The Rotman Catalyst Fund will act as a “venture fund” for the Rotman School, used to fund bold and innovative initiatives to continue to transform management education and to increase the impact of the School’s students and new thinking. The Rotman Catalyst Fund was conceived by Joseph Rotman in collaboration with the leaders of the School shortly before he died.</p> <p>“The ÖŘżÚζSM is immensely proud of the rise of the Rotman School of Management to the top ranks of business schools worldwide.&nbsp;We heartily support the School’s aspirations for continued excellence and applaud Joe Rotman’s brilliant vision for a catalyst fund. It will quickly stimulate and drive opportunities for major contributions to national issues such as prosperity, innovation, and leadership development,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Professor&nbsp;<strong>Meric Gertler</strong>,&nbsp;president of the ÖŘżÚζSM.</p> <p>“More than 20 years ago, Sandy and Joe believed that Canada needed a world class management school, which was the beginning of their commitment to the Rotman School and the ÖŘżÚζSM,” said Professor&nbsp;<strong>Tiff Macklem</strong>, dean of the Rotman School. “With their support, the School underwent a remarkable period of growth led by my predecessor <strong>Roger Martin</strong>.</p> <p>“Today with this new support from the Rotman family, we will take the next leap forward with more intrepid thinking, innovative and transformative programs, and an enhanced commitment to experiential education and lifelong learning. We express our deep gratitude for Sandy and Joe’s vision, foresight and enduring support.” &nbsp;</p> <p>Macklem said The Rotman Catalyst Fund will help the School continue to foster innovation to enable students to access previously unimagined innovations in business education, to enable faculty to conduct more ground-breaking research and to spur the delivery of a transformative student experience and lifelong alumni engagement. Specifically, the Rotman Catalyst Fund will support initiatives in the School’s three areas of academic emphasis&nbsp;–&nbsp;entrepreneurship and innovation, a global mindset, and leadership in financial management and good governance. It will seed intrepid thinking on the most pressing problems of our time, Macklem said.</p> <p>The Rotman School has already reached a tremendous level of success, Macklem said, adding that, in January, the School’s faculty was ranked third in the world for its research by the <em>Financial Times</em>. Many of the School’s research centres and hubs such as the Martin Prosperity Institute, the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, and the new Behavioural Economics in Action at Rotman have achieved global prominence in their fields. In addition, the School’s innovative labs including the Creative Destruction Lab, Self Development Lab, DesignWorks, and the BMO Financial Group Finance Research and Trading Lab are delivering unique opportunities for experiential education and personalized development for students.</p> <p>“The Rotman Catalyst Fund will allow us to scale up our most successful initiatives and imagine new innovations,” Macklem said.</p> <p><em>Ken McGuffin is a writer with the Rotman School of Management at the ÖŘżÚζSM</em></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2016-04-06-rotman-JR-600x400-clean.jpg</div> </div> Wed, 06 Apr 2016 09:37:56 +0000 sgupta 7794 at Student financial aid: improving access to U of T /news/student-financial-aid-improving-access-u-t <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Student financial aid: improving access to U of T</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-03-15T10:23:46-04:00" title="Tuesday, March 15, 2016 - 10:23" class="datetime">Tue, 03/15/2016 - 10:23</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Jessica Phillips, Kaleem Hawa and James Flynn, who will be attending the University of Oxford as Rhodes Scholars later this year, received financial support during their undergrad years (photo by Diana Tyszko)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/arthur-kaptainis" hreflang="en">Arthur Kaptainis</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Arthur Kaptainis</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/more-news" hreflang="en">More News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/boundless" hreflang="en">Boundless</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Bursaries, scholarships, needs-based aid for students at U of T exceed $180 million per year</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When Rhodes Scholar <strong>Kaleem Hawa</strong> talks about the importance of financial support for university students, he speaks from personal experience.</p> <p>“As someone who was the recipient of a large grant to fund my education here at U of T, I can say without a doubt that it allowed me to pursue the work that mattered most to me, gave me confidence, and changed my life for the better,” Hawa said.</p> <p>“No student should be unable to attain a post-secondary education as the result of monetary concerns,” Hawa said.&nbsp;</p> <p>His words echo a resolution adopted by U of T in 1998: “No student offered admission to a program at the ÖŘżÚζSM should be unable to enter or complete the program due to lack of financial means.”</p> <p>That resolution&nbsp;means U of T steps in when the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) isn’t enough.&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s just one of the reasons why the university’s total spending on student support (including needs-based aid, scholarships and bursaries) has grown from less than $8 million in 1992-93 to more than $180 million in 2014-15, said Vice-President and Provost <strong>Cheryl Regehr</strong>. &nbsp;</p> <p>Regehr added that students at U of T are more likely than their counterparts at other universities in Ontario to come from families where parents have income below $50,000.</p> <p>“There is no doubt in my mind that our dedication to access, while easily justified as a social policy, pays great dividends in quality and diversity,” Regehr said. “We want top performers regardless of their background or financial circumstances. &nbsp;We believe increased access makes us stronger.”</p> <p>Students today have access to a range of government and university-funded support aimed at&nbsp;ensuring that financial need is not a barrier to gaining a university education. That means many students pay significantly less than the published tuition fees. &nbsp;</p> <p>Across U of T in 2014-15, the “net tuition” paid by U of T undergraduates who received OSAP was, on average, 51 per cent of the posted rates. The other 49 per cent was funded by grants from U of T, OSAP, and the relatively new Ontario Tuition Grant.</p> <p>“To be supporting almost half of tuition expenses for so many undergraduates is clearly a remarkable accomplishment,” Regehr said. &nbsp;</p> <p>Hawa is one of three U of T students heading to Oxford next year as a Rhodes Scholar. Like Hawa, his fellow Rhodes Scholars <strong>Jessica Phillips</strong> and <strong>James Flynn</strong> received financial support for their studies at U of T – and so did U of T Rhodes Scholars before them.</p> <p>“U of T provides opportunities unlike any university in Canada,” <strong>Connor Emdin</strong>, a Rhodes Scholar in 2013, told the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science. “I was able to conduct research with talented faculty since my second year. I worked on an HIV-related clinical trial in South Africa, which opened my eyes to global health issues and the importance of public policy in determining the health of individuals in developing countries.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I come from a single-parent home, so it wouldn’t have been possible for me to have these kinds of opportunities without scholarships.”&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Jenny Nguyen</strong>, a Rotman Commerce student, talked with the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science about the impact of student financial aid.</p> <p>“Growing up, my family did not have a lot of money,” said Nguyen. “My parents worked extremely hard and made many sacrifices for me to be here today.”</p> <p>Nguyen, who received The BPP-The Lawrason Foundation Award, said it “has provided some relief to my financial situation and motivates me to continue to work hard to achieve my goal of obtaining my CPA designation and contribute to my community through my extracurricular activities with the Rotman Commerce Women in Business and Rotman Commerce Accounting Society, and by volunteering with U of T’s Take Action.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Alumna <strong>Shirley Beatty</strong> said she established the William and Shirley Beatty Undergraduate Scholarships as part of the <a href="http://boundless.utoronto.ca/assets/faqs/Boundless-Promise-Matching-Program1.pdf">Boundless Promise matching program</a>, to help students get the education they need and the undergrad experience they deserve, while avoiding debt.</p> <p>“Hopefully, with a little bit of help from this scholarship they will have less of a financial burden. Perhaps they’ll be able to enjoy the university experience more fully, as I did, and focus more on fulfilling their dreams instead of just dreaming them.”</p> <p>More information on tuition and access at U of T is available here: <a href="http://www.adm.utoronto.ca/financial-aid">http://www.adm.utoronto.ca/financial-aid</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><iframe allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KGzzL4mt6vY?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-11-24-rhodes-scholars_0.jpg</div> </div> Tue, 15 Mar 2016 14:23:46 +0000 sgupta 7722 at