In retrospect: Ontario Tech University in 2020

As Ontario Tech positions itself for the promise of new opportunities and innovative approaches in post-secondary education, and in the discovery and application of knowledge in 2021, the university reflects on moments and milestones from the past year.

“The past year will be remembered as a challenging one for everyone,” says Dr. Steven Murphy, President and Vice-Chancellor, Ontario Tech University. “As a campus community, we quickly pivoted our curriculum to an online e-learning mode in March, thanks to our remarkable capacity and strength with technology, and of course the creativity and resilience of everyone on our team.”

“Our faculty and staff answered the call to adjust our operations faster than any other university to ensure the success of our students,” says Dr. Murphy. “Our researchers have been hard at work all year, coming up with countless solutions to help meet society’s COVID-19 challenges, including such endeavours as wastewater sample testing protocols for Durham Region, and responding to requests for rapid development of personal protective equipment, and critical health-care supply donations. We graduated our nursing students early, getting their expertise on the frontlines of health care. We received incredible support for our Student Relief Fund. I am very proud of our entire campus for pulling together through this very difficult time. We are stronger for the experiences we’ve gone through and ready to tackle future challenges.”

• Ontario Tech’s COVID-19-related research and news web page.

A sampling of 2020 highlights:

Student success

• Organized a virtual graduation celebration for graduates.
• Three students won national awards from the Canadian Society of Forensic Science.
• Announced a remembrance scholarship in honour of those who perished in the tragic Iran plane crash in January 2020. The crash claimed the lives of Sessional Instructor and 2018 alumnus Dr. Razgar Rahimi and his family.
• The campus community rallied together to support the Student Relief Fund to assist students during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
• Computer Science students succeeded in an appathon staged by California-based ‘The @ Company’.

Recognition of new university brand

• New brand (launched in March 2019) won major accolades from the U.S.-based Council for the Advancement and Support of Education in the Best Institutional Brand category (bronze), and from the Canadian Marketing Association for brand excellence (silver).

Awards and recognition

• Programs in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering placed high in the 2020 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects by ShanghaiRankings, and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science posted strong results in the annual U.S. News and World Report rankings.
• Twenty researchers placed in the global top-two per cent of academic authors for citations by other experts in their specific disciplines.
• Garnered its highest rankings to-date in the Research Infosource summary of Canada’s top research universities.

Leadership and new growth

• Mitch Frazer was named fourth Chancellor.
• Dietmar Reimer became Chair of the Board of Governors.
• Various new faculty Deans officially took office, including Dr. Carol Rodgers in Health Sciences, Dr. Robin Kay in Education and Dr. Hossam Kishawy in Engineering and Applied Science.
• President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Steven Murphy was appointed Co-chair of eCampus Ontario to provide his expertise in support of Ontario’s changing educational landscape.
• Dr. Langis Roy, Dean of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, was also named Deputy Provost.
• Brad MacIsaac was appointed Vice-President, Administration.

Community connections

• Canadian motorsports leaders gathered at ACE to check out ‘The World’s Most Extreme Classroom’ for a showcase of Ontario Tech’s leading R&D facilities.
• Hosted a visit by Premier Doug Ford for a tour and demonstration of ACE’s capabilities for innovative research, energy-efficient product development and reduction of carbon emissions.
• Became the first university in the province to join Microsoft Canada’s data analytics and artificial intelligence skills program to bolster cloud skills and support economic recovery.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

• Sharifa Wright was appointed new Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
• The President’s EDI Taskforce Final completed its three-year report.
• Held special activities to recognize the REDress Campus Campaign to shine a spotlight on the MMIWG2S crisis, National Indigenous Peoples Day in June, and Treaties Recognition Week in November.

Partnerships and research to deploy ethical applications of technology

• Announced plans to collaborate with Ontario Shores for the exploration of new frontiers in artificial intelligence to enhance mental wellness.
• Advanced plans to develop high-tech methods to address the issue of loneliness among seniors through interaction with companion ‘Zenbo’ robots.
• Launched a partnership with the Region of Durham to test local samples of wastewater to detect traces of COVID-19.

Influential research and development

• More than two dozen researchers shared more than $3 million in new federal research funding unveiled by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
• The Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism announced a partnership with Facebook Canada to create a global network to address online hate, and a collaboration with the Canadian military to battle right-wing extremism in the armed forces.
• Named the lead academic institution for Phase 2 of Project Arrow, the all-Canadian zero emissions concept vehicle.

Learning re-imagined

• Unveiled plans for Ontario Tech Talent, a unique and differentiated lifelong-learning model in lockstep with industry to bridge the skills gap. The enterprise named Rachel Sumner as Executive Director.
• The Faculty of Education held two series of online teaching conferences to help Canadian elementary and secondary school teachers prepare blended and online learning.
• Became Canada’s first post-secondary institution to issue digital degrees. The electronic parchment option strengthen the university’s reputation for digital leadership and innovation.

Creating a ‘sticky’ campus

• Demonstrated reputational strength in innovation and technology, through a series of interactive virtual Open House events throughout the year to showcase programs.
• Named top in the province on Sierra Magazine’s ‘Cool Schools’ list for achievements in campus sustainability initiatives.

Building academic partnerships

• Launched a new Master of Science in Nursing (Professional Practice Leadership) collaborative program with Trent University. The program is marketed for registered nurses seeking to move into leadership positions.
• Confirmed its first cotutelle PhD student, in partnership with Australia’s University of Technology Sydney.

Ridgebacks milestones

• Women’s hockey player Kassidy Ford won a national scholarship from the True Sport Foundation. She will continue her educational journey in the Master of Health Sciences program.
• Mentorship program included special profiles of Ontario Tech athletes (see these profiles and all Ridgeback stories at com).