VPFAL Monthly Action Guide: February 2026

This email contains reminders of key deadlines and administrative tasks related to academic HR. Please share with faculty or staff who would find this information relevant. 

Contact vpfal.prof.dev@utoronto.ca to be added to the distribution list or with any questions. 

Academic Searches

You may find it useful in the current context to consult the document on Best Practices for Virtual Faculty Interviews and the AAPM Recruitment Page.

Tenure Review

Promotion

  • Promotion Committees in Single-Department Faculties should convene.
  • Please remember to forward positive promotion files to the Provost’s Office for second-level review at the earliest opportunity.
  • Please see the AAPM Section on Promotion in the Tenure Stream and Promotion in the Teaching Stream for more details.

Save the Date: Retreat for New Academic Administrators 2026

  • The Retreat for New Academic Administrators will take place on June 22-24, 2026 at the Faculty Club (41 Wilcocks Street)
  • Newly appointed Chairs; Directors; Deans; and Vice and Associate Deans with portfolios related to faculty, academics, and graduate education will receive an invitation in the coming months.
  • Any continuing academic administrator who wishes to attend the Retreat is welcome to do so and should contact vpfal.prof.dev@utoronto.ca for registration information

Save the Date: New Faculty & Librarian Orientation 2026

  • The New Faculty & Librarian Orientation will take place on August 10 & 11, 2026 at the Faculty Club (41 Wilcocks Street)
  • Faculty members who are appointed to the tenured/tenure stream and continuing stream teaching stream, and librarians will be sent an invitation in July

February & March Programming for Academic Administrators

Highlighted below are the sessions occurring in the next two months. To see the complete list of scheduled workshops for academic administrators, please visit the VPFAL programming page. Please note that these sessions are not recorded nor are the slides shared.

Hiring Teaching Assistants, Course Instructors, and Sessional Lecturers – for AAAs and Staff (Online)

February 2, 2026, 1-3pm

Session leader: Labour Relations

This session, offered by Labour Relations, will provide Chairs, Directors, Associate Chairs, TA Coordinators, and Administrative Staff responsible for the administration of CUPE 3902 appointments with the tools and information necessary for posting, hiring, and filling positions under the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 and Unit 3 Collective Agreements. Topics will include: subsequent appointment assignments, job security commitments, timelines, job postings, and navigating the hiring criteria.

Register

Managing Teaching Assistants and Sessional Lecturers – for AAAs and Staff (Online)

February 26, 2026, 1-3pm

Session leader: Labour Relations

This session, offered by Labour Relations will provide Chairs, Directors, Associate Chairs, Vice/Associate Deans, TA Coordinators, and Administrative Staff responsible for the administration of CUPE 3902 appointments with the tools and information necessary for managing employees under the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 and Unit 3 Collective Agreements. Topics will include: performance management, accommodation, workload, leaves, and all other relevant processes under the Collective Agreements for the duration of an employee’s contract.

Register

Hosting International Collaborators for Academic Administrators, Faculty, Principal Investigators, and Staff All Faculties (Online)

March 2, 2026, 1-2:30pm

Hosting international colleagues, researchers, expert knowledge holders, students or visitors to your department, lab, or office requires advance planning and must include immigration considerations. There can be a variety of negative repercussions if there are errors or omissions in the process. This session will guide participants on where to seek assistance. We will provide an overview of the Canadian immigration system, offer information on ways to invite and host international collaborators, and answer general questions about immigration processes and options.

Register

February & March Programming for Faculty

Please share with your faculty.

Interim and Tenure Review – For Faculty (Online)

February 3, 2026, 1-3pm

This session is for tenure stream faculty only.

Achieving tenure is an important milestone in the life cycle of tenure-stream faculty. Understanding expectations and knowing what constitutes a complete and thorough file is critical. This session, intended for pre-tenure faculty who are preparing for their interim or tenure reviews, will cover the process and associated timelines for each review.

Register

Promotion in the Teaching Stream – For Faculty (Online)

February 6, 2026, 10-11am

This session is only for teaching stream faculty who have already completed their continuing status review and have been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor, Teaching Stream.

The University anticipates that many teaching- stream faculty will achieve the rank of Professor, Teaching Stream. This session is intended to help associate rank teaching stream faculty prepare for promotion. We will discuss the process and timelines, how candidates may be identified, and how they can develop a professional development plan in preparation for promotion to Professor, Teaching Stream.

Register

Promotion in the Tenure Stream – For Faculty (Online)

February 25, 2026, 1-2pm

This session is for tenured faculty only.

The University expects that most tenure-stream faculty will achieve the rank of Professor during their career at this institution. This session is intended for Associate Professors in the Tenure Stream who are preparing for promotion to Professor. We will discuss the process and timelines, how candidates may be identified, and how they can develop a professional development plan in preparation for promotion in the tenure stream.

Register

Building the Momentum: Finding Your Post-Continuing Status Pathway (In-Person)

March 23, 2026, 12-2pm

Main Lounge, Faculty Club (41 Willcocks Street)

Thinking about next steps after continuing status? This session, intended for Associate Professors, Teaching Stream who achieved continuing status between 2021-221 and 2024-2025, is a conversation about post-continuing status pathways. A panel of teaching stream faculty will share how they have continued to grow exciting and dynamic careers after achieving continuing status. This session will be moderated by Vice Provost, Faculty & Academic Life, Heather Boon at the Faculty Club

Register

Building the Momentum: Finding Your Post-Tenure Pathway (In-Person)

March 31, 2026, 12-2pm

Wedgewood Dining Room, Faculty Club (41 Willcocks Street)

This interactive panel, intended for Associate Professors who achieved tenure between 2021-22 and 2024-2025, is a conversation about exploring post-tenure pathways. Experienced faculty will share how they navigated the immediate post-tenure period. This panel will be moderated by Vice Provost, Faculty & Academic Life, Heather Boon at the Faculty Club.

Register

NCFDD Programming

NCFDD offers on-demand access to programs and resources designed to help faculty members “achieve extraordinary writing and research productivity while maintaining a full and healthy life off campus”

 Activate your NCFDD membership to access webinars

NCFDD Faculty Success Program (FSP) Summer Session (May 18-July 26) and the Post-Tenure Pathfinders (PTP) Program (May 18-August 9)