Toronto, ON-- Professor Kwong-loi Shun, a distinguished scholar and accomplished academic administrator, is the University of Toronto at Scarborough’s (UTSC) new vice-president and principal. His 6 ½ year term was officially launched at an installation ceremony today at UTSC. He is the eighth principal in the campus’ 40-year history.
“Professor Shun is a superb academic who is deeply committed to undergraduate education,? says University of Toronto (U of T) president Robert Birgeneau.
“We’re fortunate to welcome him to our Scarborough campus. The University of Toronto ranks among the top public universities in the world and we seek academic leaders who will help uphold our tradition of excellence.?
Shun, a professor of Chinese (Confucian) philosophy, is a former dean of the undergraduate division of the College of Letters and Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He holds bachelor degrees from the University of Hong Kong and University of London, graduate degrees in philosophy from the University of Hong Kong and from Oxford University, and PhD from Stanford University.
During his first year as principal, Shun will focus on academic planning – a process that outlines the goals and objectives of teaching, learning, and research at the campus.
Careful academic planning, he says, will ensure the campus maximizes the benefit of its new facilities – which include an academic resource centre, management building, student centre, arts building, student residence (Joan Foley Hall) and Doris McCarthy Gallery.
“UTSC is in the midst of its most significant period of growth, not only in its physical spaces, but also in its programs, research and partnerships,? he says.
“Academic excellence is thriving at UTSC and the expansion will only help attract more first-rate students, faculty and researchers to this campus.?
In 2002, UTSC began planning for the unprecedented enrolment growth that will happen over the next decade. “By strengthening our campus, we will add to the resources of the university as a whole and will be doing our part to place the University of Toronto among the top public universities in the world,? says Shun.
At the University of Toronto, Shun will hold an appointment in the graduate Departments of Philosophy and East Asian Studies and in the Department of Humanities at UTSC. He succeeds Professor Paul Thompson, who served for 14 years as principal.
Opened in 1964, UTSC provides undergraduate and graduate studies and has become the GTA leader in co-op education. Enrolment at the campus has increased to over 8,000 students in 2003 from 5,700 in 2000. Through partnerships, teaching, and research, UTSC continually distinguishes itself as an innovative leader in the U of T tri-campus community.
For more information:
Catherine Riddell
UTSC Marketing and Communications
416-287-7008
riddell@utsc.utoronto.ca
*Updates or changes to programming can be found at www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~cultural