UTM's fall semester
Dear colleagues,
The end of term is in sight; so I’m writing to share some updates on progress this fall, plus a few things to anticipate in the months ahead.
Achieving excellence at scale
In October, Times Higher Education published their latest world university rankings: U of T placed first in Canada and 21st globally. What makes me most proud is that we share this excellence at scale. THE ranks 12 private American universities in its top-20; this term, U of T will educate about the same number of undergraduates as all 12 combined. UTM will keep working to expand opportunity: we’ll deliver 77 per cent more student financial aid this year than in 2019-20.
Recruiting promising students
Our reputation drives enrolment. This fall, we have almost 7,000 students just from Brampton and Mississauga studying for a world-class degree close to home. (That’s more students than several top schools, like Princeton, have undergraduates total). Our campus also has a global reach: UTM enrols 20 or more international students from 19 distinct countries, up from 15 countries five years ago.
Supporting student success
Alongside transformative academic programs, UTM provides students with wide-ranging services. We have some new ones. For example, our career centre just opened a skills accelerator, through which students connect with top employers – SunLife and Bell led November sessions – to practice professional skills and build networks. Initiatives like this help make our graduates Canada’s most employable.
Strengthening on-campus presence
President Woodin announced earlier this semester that U of T plans to strengthen administrative staff presence on our campuses – to ensure in-person access to student and other services and to promote connections among members of our vibrant community. In-person work will start ramping up in January 2026: UTM has struck a task force to develop resources and guide space and operational plans. PSEC has resources, too, with more coming before winter break.
Recruiting top talent
This fall, UTM is running 16 faculty searches, which will attract some of the world’s best researchers and teachers. New faculty – UTM welcomed another 10 earlier this year – shape their fields, enhance our students’ experience, and make positive global impact. That’s why UTM faculty complement keeps growing – up about 15 per cent since 2020-21. In the same spirit, U of T has a new initiative to attract postdoctoral researchers, six of whom will be based at UTM.
Funding exceptional research
UTM launched recently a revised suite of internal research funding opportunities, designed to meet faculty needs and seed success in external grant competitions. Grant results are trending up. In 2024-25, UTM earned $22.3M in research funding, our all-time high, ≈70 per cent above averages from the late 2010s.
Training health professionals
In fall 2026, U of T’s Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing will begin offering their BScN at UTM, in a Peel community that needs healthcare professionals urgently. The program attracted 30 new funded seats from the provincial government, plus $500K to build a nursing simulation lab on campus. Nursing enhances our strengths in the health sciences, including at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, which graduated its 500th UTM-based MD this year.
Fostering sustainability
Progress continues apace on Project Shift: i.e., energy retrofits that move us away from fossil fuels and toward climate positivity by 2050. The project complements our sustainability plan. After five years, UTM has achieved roughly 70 per cent of our ten-year targets, extending U of T’s leadership as one of the world’s most sustainable universities.
Answering the call
UTM just hired the architect to design our latest capital project – a home for Indigenous teaching, research, and ceremony planned for the heart of campus. Like the tipi, teaching lodge, and powwow, this space reflects leadership from our Indigenous community and answers calls to action of Wecheehetowin. So do other initiatives-in-progress – including the development of Indigenous studies programs and the 23-foot art installation by UTM student MJ Singleton you’ll soon see at the entrance to our library.
Promoting wellbeing and belonging
Our wellbeing and belonging team will publish their strategic plan early in the new year. It reflects conversations with 200+ faculty, librarians, and staff, and describes supports to build community on campus. That includes our connect and refresh event series, which has engaged 750 participants.
UTM is – you are – doing a lot, as usual. I could fill many more pages with stories of UTM successes. But this is probably enough for your inboxes.
So I'll end by saying thanks for making UTM a vibrant community for learning, discovery, and connection. I hope to be able to say that to you in person at the holiday gathering on Wednesday, December 3.
With my best wishes,
Alexandra Gillespie
Vice-President and Principal
University of Toronto Mississauga
