The current Faculty strategic plan, Stepping Up, draws to a close in 2010. This is an appropriate time to reflect on our achievements accomplished and initiatives underway, to consolidate our thinking and to renew our academic plan to guide us for the next five to seven years.

Accordingly, Dean Amon initiated a Faculty-wide academic planning process, with concentrated activity during the fall 2009 and winter 2010. It aligns with the University’s overarching goals and takes into account the larger university environment within Towards 2030, as it relates to our Faculty. These goals include our research-intensive culture, academic rigor, global reputation, enrolment, excellence in students’ experiences inside and outside the classroom, funding models and our internal and external collaboration, outreach and influence.

In support of our continued pursuit of excellence, we have recently launched many initiatives, such as:

• Engineering Faculty’s Annual Report 2009: Performance Indicators
  Data from 2008-2009 compared with both historical data from the Faculty and with corresponding figures from our peer institutions
  
• Positioning Initiative
  A participative inquiry into how the Faculty has and wants to position itself among engineering schools
  
• Faculty’s Self-Study
  A part of the larger U of T academic planning and accountability processes, the Self-Study reflects on the advances made, reports on the status of the Faculty and identifies opportunities to consider
  
• Dean’s Task Force on Globalization and Engineering
  Task Force struck in 2008 to consider how the Faculty’s education and research missions should take into account globalization trends and challenges
  
• Engineering and Public Policy Task Force
  Task Force struck in 2008 to build awareness of the intersection of engineering/technology and public policy
  
• Catalogue of Advancement Priorities
  Philanthropic plan to support key efforts of the Faculty
• Divisional Space Review and Development of a Master Plan
  Initiated in 2008 as an extensive review of the existing space within the Faculty in accordance with the Council of Ontario Universities guidelines, and to categorize the space into that which meets acceptable standards and that which requires attention
  
• Dean’s Task Force on Engineering Leadership Education
  Task Force struck in late 2009 to recommend the future path for engineering student leadership development programs and structures

To guide the Faculty’s planning process activities, a Steering Committee with representatives from our major constituencies was struck to develop a Draft Academic Planning Framework. The membership is:

Cristina Amon, Dean
Grant Allen, Vice-Dean, Undergraduate & Professor, Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
Erika Bailey, Director, Office of the Dean
Catherine Gagne, Chief Administrative Officer
Jason Grenier, Graduate Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Greg Jamieson, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering & Curriculum Committee Chair
Wayne Lin, VP, Student Life, Engineering Society & Undergraduate Student, Industrial Engineering
Brenda McCabe, Chair, Civil Engineering
Eugene Polistuk, Alumnus, Member, Dean’s Advisory Board
Paul Santerre, Director, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering & Professor, Faculty of Dentistry
Ted Sargent, Associate Chair, Research & Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Faculty’s Academic Planning Framework was developed in consultation with Chairs and Directors and members of the Faculty’s senior administrative team. This Framework guides Departments, Institutes, Divisions and Administrative Units during their current development of respective units’ Academic Plans. The synthesis of Units’ Academic Plans at the Faculty level will then form the Faculty’s Academic Plan. The target date for completion of the Plan is by summer 2010.

The Framework asks Academic and Administrative Units to consider: Positioning; Culture of Excellence; Educating Future Engineers; Student Experience; Research Foci; Research Collaboration, Outreach and Influence; and Resource Allocation. It also asks us to reflect critically on our priorities, weaknesses and the implications of our Plan. Within the Framework, Units have the opportunity to incorporate plans related to their uniqueness.

Academic Planning relies heavily on our Faculty’s Self-Study, and External Review processes. As a result of our broad-based, reflective Self-Study, cross-Faculty themes may emerge that could then be incorporated into the Faculty’s Academic Plan. The Reviewers’ visit will provide a vital, external and critical analysis of our Faculty which will also strengthen our Academic Planning.

Engineering Events

Click here for more Engineering events

Engineering Sports - How EngSci prepared me to Run a NFL Franchise
MIE Grand Opening of the Center for Sustainable Energy
ECE Engineering Entrepreneurship Series, Sandro Di Pede
MIE Open House/Graduate Applicant Event
MSE Grad School Meet-and-Greet Event
ECE Engineering Entrepreneurship Series, Terry Matthew
Roadshow 2010: Nanoindentation Seminar and Practical Demonstration
March Break Applicant Event – ECE, ChemE, MIE
ECE Distinguished Lectures Series, David B. Mitzi
Skule™Nite 2010 Alumni Reception
ChemE Lectures at the Leading Edge – Paul Yager