Campus Curriculum Review
The U of T Scarborough Campus Curriculum Review was launched in the Fall of 2020 with the goal of ensuring that the campus’s commitment to inclusion, Indigeneity, and anti-racism is reflected across programs and embedded in pedagogical supports. The Working Circle completed its report, “Recommended Actions, Learnings, and Next Steps” in the Spring of 2022.
It has identified 56 recommended actions in the following areas: 1) Curriculum Development; 2) Pedagogical Development and Related Supports; 3) Dedicated Academic Homes, Programs, and Spaces for Indigenous and Black Excellence at U of T Scarborough; 4) Faculty, Librarian, and Staff Hiring; 5) Community Engagement; 6) Institutional Structures and Supports; and 7) Future of the Working Circle and Foundations for Implementation.
To read the report and to learn more about the curriculum review process at U of T Scarborough - https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/curriculum-review/
Inquires can be sent at any time to curriculum.utsc@utoronto.ca
Warm wishes,
Professor Katherine R. Larson
Vice-Dean Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs
May 2022
Campus Curriculum Review - Working Circle - Archive
On 12 November 2021 the Working Circle shared preliminary findings of the campus-wide curriculum review, launched last fall to assess curriculum and related pedagogical supports as part of the campus’ commitment to inclusion, equity, decolonization, and anti-racism. Participants had an opportunity to provide feedback as the Working Circle finalizes an action plan and recommendations. The U of T Community is welcome to access the video of that session-
Sign in with your UTORid and password to view the video.
The listening process continued in the fall of 2021 with listening circles for student-facing staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. Participants in the listening circles were invited to provide feedback and input into the campus-wide curriculum review process that is currently underway to ensure that U of T Scarborough’s commitment to inclusion, Indigeneity, and anti-racism is reflected across our programs and embedded in our pedagogical approaches and supports.
The listening sessions offered participants the opportunity to reflect on their pedagogical and curricular experiences, their hopes and questions for how the curriculum review might shape teaching and learning at U of T Scarborough, as well as ways in which the campus might better support inclusive, accessible, and anti-racist teaching and learning in the future.
The review honours multiple ways of knowing, with particular emphasis on Indigenous ways of knowing and knowledge systems, Black knowledges, racialized perspectives, and international and intercultural perspectives, while also recognizing the importance of intersectionality (including gender, sexuality, and disability). We recognize that faculty, staff, and students bring different perspectives and experiences to these areas. For some members if the U of T Scarborough community, these are topics that may connect closely to current pedagogical and curricular work; for others, these may be new ideas that also raise questions about how to engage. We welcome all perspectives.
For those that were unable to attend the listening circles over the summer, there will be further opportunities to contribute to the review process in the Fall term as we move towards recommendations and calls to action. For more information, please send inquires to curriculum.utsc@utoronto.ca
Working Circle Membership 2021-22
Supported and Guided by:
- Elder Josh Eshkawkogan
- Giidaakunadaad (Nancy) Rowe, Knowledge Keeper and Treaty Partner
Students and Alumni
- Olashile Adeyoyin, Recent Graduate, Departments of Global Health Studies and of Arts, Culture & Media
- Lamia Akbar, PhD Student in Environment and Health, and President, Graduate Students Association Scarborough
- Alexis Bornyk, Undergraduate Student, International Development Specialist Co-op Program, Departments of Global Development Studies and Anthropology
- Emma Chan Matthews, Graduate, Department of Psychology
- Isaiah Murray, Student in Statistics and Psychology, Vice-President Equity, Scarborough Campus Students' Union
- Franklin Perez, Student, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, Vice-President Graduate Students Association Scarborough
- Rimsha Rahman, Student City Studies and Urban Policy, Vice-President Academic, Scarborough Campus Students Union
- Taylor Tabobondung, PhD Candidate, Department of Physical & Environmental Science
Research Assistants:
- Rebecca Lennox, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology
- Nayani Ramakrishnan, PhD Candidate, Department of Psychology
Staff:
- Matthew Eitel, TEMPO Lab Coordinator, Department of Sociology
Faculty and Department Staff
- Iris Au, Professor, Teaching Stream & Associate Chair - Teaching, Department of Management
- Kyle Danielson, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Psychology
- Husseina Dinani, Assistant Professor, Department of Historical & Cultural Studies, African Studies
- Obidimma Ezezika, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Health & Society
- Mark Hunter, Professor, Department of Human Geography
- Nicole Klenk, Associate Professor, Environmental Studies, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences
- Danielle Kwan-Lafond, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Sociology
- Randy Lundy, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of English
- Laura Risk, Asssistant Professor, Music & Culture, Department of Arts, Culture & Media
- Nirusha Thavarajah, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences
- Karina Vernon, Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Department of English
Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean and Office of the Vice-President & Principal
- Zahra Bhanji, Director, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean (ex officio)
- Melanie Blackman, Team Lead, Community Partnerships & Engagement, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean Office of Business, Operations & Strategic Affairs
- Kelly Crawford, Assitant Director, Indigenous Initiatives, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office
- Tina Doyle, Director, AccessAbility Services
- Katherine R. Larson (Convenor), Professor, Department of English and Vice-Dean Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs
- Karen McCrindle, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Associate Dean Teaching & Learning and Director, Centre for Teaching & Learning
- Juanita Muise, Indigenous Engagement Coordinator, Student Life
- Varsha Patel, Assistant Dean, Student Success & Career Support, Academic Advising & Career Centre, Office of Student Experience 7 Wellbeing
- Melissa Pullara, Programs & Curriculum Coordinator, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean (ex officio)
- Roxanne Reid, Project & Administrative Coordinator, Undergraduate Initiatives & Awards, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean
- Cherilyn Scobie-Edwards, Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office
- Sarah Shujah, Liaison Librarian, Univerisity of Toronto Scarborough Library
- Mary T. Silcox, Professor, Department of Antrhropology, and Vice-Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean
- Kimberley Tull, Director, Community & Learning Partnerships & Access Initiatives, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean, Office of Business, Operations & Strategic Affairs
The Curriculum Review Working Circle hosted listening circles over the summer of 2021 with U of T Scarborough student leaders, student-facing staff in AA&CC, Health & Wellness, and AccessAbility Services, as well as with faculty and librarians. Participants in the listening circles were invited to provide feedback and input into the campus-wide curriculum review process that is currently underway to ensure that U of T Scarborough’s commitment to inclusion, Indigeneity, and anti-racism is reflected across our programs and embedded in our pedagogical approaches and supports.
The listening sessions offered participants the opportunity to reflect on their pedagogical and curricular experiences, their hopes and questions for how the curriculum review might shape teaching and learning at U of T Scarborough, as well as ways in which the campus might better support inclusive, accessible, and anti-racist teaching and learning in the future.
The review honours multiple ways of knowing, with particular emphasis on Indigenous ways of knowing and knowledge systems, Black knowledges, racialized perspectives, and international and intercultural perspectives, while also recognizing the importance of intersectionality (including gender, sexuality, and disability). We recognize that faculty, staff, and students bring different perspectives and experiences to these areas. For some members if the U of T Scarborough community, these are topics that may connect closely to current pedagogical and curricular work; for others, these may be new ideas that also raise questions about how to engage. We welcome all perspectives.
For those that were unable to attend the listening circles over the summer, there will be further opportunities to contribute to the review process in the Fall term as we move towards recommendations and calls to action. For more information, please send inquires to curriculum.utsc@utoronto.ca
Dear members of the UTSC community,
A campus-wide curriculum review will be running this year to assess our current standing with respect to our commitment to inclusion, Indigeneity, and anti-racism articulated in U of T Scarborough’s Strategic Plan, Inspriring Inclusive Excellence, and to inform a plan for action. The focus of this review will be on Indigenous ways of knowing, Black knowledges, racialized perspectives, as well as international and intercultural experiences.
A Working Circle has been established to collectively assess pathways to ensuring that U of T Scarborough’s commitment to inclusion, Indigeneity, and anti-racism are reflected across our programs and embedded in our curriculum and in our pedagogical approaches and supports. See the Working Circle membership below.
The Working Circle will meet monthly throughout the year, and a report summarizing its learnings and recommendations will be submitted to the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean in July 2021. For more details about the context and goals for the review please see the Working Circle Terms of Reference.
A priority for the process will be dialogue and consultation, and especially to hear from Indigenous, Black, and racialized students, faculty, staff, and community members. More information about consultations will be circulated in the winter term.
We welcome your feedback and input throughout the process. Questions and comments can be sent to curriculum.utsc@utoronto.ca.
Warm wishes,
Professor Katherine R. Larson
Vice-Dean Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs
November 2020
The members of the Working Circle are as follows:
Students:
- Sarah Abdillahi, President, Scarborough Campus Students’ Union
- Leah Lee, Secretary, Graduate Student Association at Scarborough
- Olashile Adeyoyin, Centre, Critical Development Studies and Department, Arts, Culture, & Media
- Halle Borland, Department of Biological Sciences and Department of English
- Emma Chan Matthews, Department of Psychology
- Taylor Tabobondung, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences
Faculty:
- Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of English
- Aarthi Ashok, Professor, Teaching Stream, and Associate Chair, Department of Biological Sciences
- Iris Au, Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Management
- Kyle Danielson, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Psychology
- Husseina Dinani, Assistant Professor, Department of Historical and Cultural Studies
- Mark Hunter, Professor, Department of Human Geography
- Danielle Kwan-Lafond, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Sociology
- Randy Lundy, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of English
- Laura Risk, Assistant Professor, Department of Arts, Culture, & Media
- Nirusha Thavarajah, Lecturer, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences
- Karina Vernon, Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Department of English
Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean and Office of the Vice-President & Principal:
- Katherine R. Larson, Professor and Vice-Dean Teaching, Learning, & Undergraduate Programs (convenor)
- Mary T. Silcox, Professor and Vice-Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies
- Natalie Elisha, Equity Project Specialist, Office of the Vice-President Human Resources & Equity (designate for EDIO)
- Kelly Crawford, Assistant Director for Indigenous Initiatives
- Karen McCrindle, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Associate Dean Teaching & Learning, and Director, Centre for Teaching & Learning
- Tina Doyle, Director, AccessAbility Services
- Kimberley Tull, Director, Community & Learning Partnerships & Access Initiatives
- Nadia Rosemond, Assistant Dean, Student Affairs & Student Life
- Varsha Patel, Assistant Dean, Student Success
- Sarah Shujah, University of Toronto Scarborough Library
- Zahra Bhanji, Director, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean (ex officio)
- Sarah Chaudhry, Programs & Curriculum Coordinator and Project Manager (ex officio)
Working Circle Membership 2020-21
Supported and Guided by:
- Elder Josh Eshkawkogan
Students:
- Sarah Abdillahi, President, Scarborough Campus Students’ Union
- Olashile Adeyoyin, Undergraduate Student, Centre for Critical Development Studies and Department, Arts, Culture, & Media
- Halle Borland, Undergraduate Student, Department of Biological Sciences and Department of English
- Emma Chan Matthews, Undergraduate Student, Department of Psychology
- Leah Lee, Secretary, Graduate Student Association at Scarborough
- Taylor Tabobondung, PhD Candidate, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences
Research Assistant:
- Nayani Ramakrishnan, PhD Candidate, Department of Psychology
Faculty:
- Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of English
- Aarthi Ashok, Professor, Teaching Stream, and Associate Chair, Teaching & Undergraduate Affairs, Department of Biological Sciences
- Iris Au, Professor, Teaching Stream, amd Associate Chair, Teaching, Department of Management
- Kyle Danielson, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Psychology
- Husseina Dinani, Assistant Professor, Department of Historical & Cultural Studies, and African Studies
- Mark Hunter, Professor, and Associate Chair, Department of Human Geography
- Danielle Kwan-Lafond, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Sociology
- Randy Lundy, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of English
- Laura Risk, Assistant Professor, Music & Culture, Department of Arts, Culture, & Media
- Nirusha Thavarajah, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences
- Karina Vernon, Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Department of English
Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean and Office of the Vice-President & Principal:
- Zahra Bhanji, Director, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean (ex officio)
- Melanie Blackmam, Team Lead, Community Partnerships & Engagement, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean, Office of Business, Operations & Strategic Affairs
- Sarah Chaudhry, Programs & Curriculum Coordinator, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean, and Project Manager (ex officio)
- Kelly Crawford, Assistant Director, Indigenous Initiatives, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office
- Tina Doyle, Director, AccessAbility Services
- Natalie Elisha, Equity Project Specialist, Office of the Vice-President Human Resources & Equity (designate for EDIO)
- Farrah Kamani, Programs & Curriculum Coordinator, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean, and Project Manager (ex officio)
- Katherine R. Larson, Professor, Department of English, and Vice-Dean Teaching, Learning, & Undergraduate Programs, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean (convenor)
- Karen McCrindle, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Associate Dean Teaching & Learning, and Director, Centre for Teaching & Learning
- Varsha Patel, Assistant Dean, Student Success & Career Support, Academic Advising & Career Centre, Office of Student Experience & Wellbeing
- Melissa Pullara, Programs & Curriculum Coordinator, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean, and Project Manager (ex officio)
- Nadia Rosemond, Assistant Dean, Co-curricular Programs & Student Leadership, Office of Student Experience & Wellbeing
- Cherilyn Scobie Edwards, Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office
- Sarah Shujah, Liaison Librarian, University of Toronto Scarborough Library
- Mary T. Silcox, Professor, Department of Anthropology, and Vice-Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean
- Kimberley Tull, Director, Community & Learning Partnerships & Access Initiatives, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean, Office of Business Operations & Stategic Affairs
Project Support:
- Hanan Domloge, Project Manager, Project Management Office, Office of Business, Operations & Strategic Affairs, Project Support
- Ravneet Kaur, Manager, Project Management Office, Project Management Office, Office of Business, Operations & Strategic Affairs
- Roxanne Reid, Administrative Assistant, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office, Project Support