VPFAL Monthly Action Guide: March 2026

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

Please contact the VPFAL Programming team at vpfal.prof.dev@utoronto.ca to be added to the distribution list, or with any questions. 

July 1, 2025 Across-the-Board Increases (ATB) & Progress Through the Ranks (PTR) for July 1, 2026

  • July 1, 2025 retroactive ATB will be run in the March monthly pay run. Please refer to the details in the implementation memo.
  • Units should begin the July 1, 2026 annual performance evaluation process for faculty by sending a request for Annual Activity Reports and Paid Activity Reports to all faculty members and librarians. These should be submitted to unit heads at the end of April (following divisional norms).

Research & Study Leaves

  • This month, the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life will send approvals for upcoming Research & Study Leaves in your unit or division that were submitted by the December 31, 2025 deadline.
  • More details about Research & Study Leaves are available in the AAPM.  

Recruitment

  • As recruitment efforts continue, be sure to factor in visitor visa processing times for those who need it (i.e. people who require a Canadian entry visa based on their country of citizenship). Currently, the visitor visa processing time for people who require a Canadian entry visa and apply for it in the US is 24 days. The average processing time is 95 days. 
  • If you plan to invite international contributors to campus, you should work with your Dean’s office or HR office to confirm the current protocols and obtain updated interview invitation letter template.  
  • Please also consider attending the Hosting International Collaborators session on March 2, 2026 (more information below). 

Save the Date! AAA Retreat & NFLO  

Retreat for New Academic Administrators

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

New Faculty & Librarian Orientation

  • The New Faculty & Librarian Orientation (NFLO) takes place on August 10 & 11, 2026, at the Faculty Club on St George Campus.  
  • Faculty members who are recently appointed to the tenure stream and the continuing stream teaching stream, and librarians will be sent an invitation in July. 

Academic Administrators Programming: March & April 2026 

Highlighted below are the sessions taking place over the next few months. To view the full list of scheduled workshops, please visit the VPFAL programming page. Please note that these sessions are not recorded, and slides are not distributed. 

Hosting International Collaborators for Academic Administrators, Faculty, Principal Investigators, and Staff

Date: March 2, 2026, 1.00pm-2.30pm

Location: Online

Session leader: Hisani Kreiser, Senior Lead, Academic Immigration & Recruitment, and Sophia Martins, Recruitment and Immigration Advisor, with support from Olumide Bolu

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

Administering Subsequent CUPE 3902 Unit 1 Appointments – for AAAs and Staff

Date: March 23, 2026, 1.00-3.00pm

Location: Online

Session leader: Labour Relations

Note: CUPE 3902 Unit 1 includes PhD and Masters students performing work, primarily as TAs. There are instances where the performance of Course Instructorships, will be considered.

This session, run by Labour Relations, will provide Chairs, Directors, Associate Chairs, TA Coordinators, and Administrative Staff responsible for the administration of CUPE 3902 Unit 1 appointments with the necessary information to manage and administer subsequent appointments within a department.

Register

Faculty Programming: March & April 2026

Please share with your faculty.

Building the Momentum: Finding Your Post-Continuing Status Pathway

Date: March 23, 2026, 12.00-2.00pm

Location: Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks Street, Toronto (in-person)

Moderator: Heather Boon, Vice Provost, Faculty & Academic Life

Thinking about next steps after continuing status? This session, intended for Associate Professors, Teaching Stream who achieved continuing status between 2021-22 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.

Register

Building the Momentum: Finding Your Post-Tenure Pathway

Date: March 31, 2026, 12.00-2.00pm

Location: Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks Street, Toronto (in-person)

Moderator: Heather Boon, Vice Provost, Faculty & Academic Life

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.

Register

Retirement Information Resources and Q&A Session

Upcoming retirement resources are designed for faculty and librarians enrolled in the University Pension Plan who are between the ages of 54 and 72 and are considering retirement, currently in phased retirement, or have submitted their Notice of Intention to Retire.

  • Resources (coming soon!): Retirement Information Pre-Recorded Video Series. These videos will cover the University Pension Plan (UPP), the University’s Phased Retirement Program, and retiree benefits.  Sign up to be notified when the videos are available.
  • Retirement Information Q&A Session: April 20, 2026, 1.00-3.00pm (online). This is a Q&A session only, most helpful to those who have reviewed the pre-recorded videos. Register for the Q&A session.

NCFDD Programming (online)

The National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (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) & Post-Tenure Pathfinders Program (PTP)