Conversations with SGS

Conversations with SGS is a series of sessions for faculty in administrative roles in graduate education at the unit level to come together to share experiences, lessons, and incorporate best practices into our work. See below for information about the 2023–2024 sessions, including registration links, panelists / presenters / participants, and highlights from our past sessions.

Sessions

Fall 2023

1

Session #1 — The Role of SGS in the Graduate Ecosystem: What SGS Can Do for You

Description:
Come join the Dean of SGS, Joshua Barker and the SGS team in discussing the role of SGS both as a central service, as well as a hub of promising practices for the graduate ecosystem. Learn what are current priorities in the Dean’s and Vice-Deans’ portfolios. Also, learn what our five centre and service directors can do for you and your students. Come inform us of what is working in your units and how we can better support the work that you do.

Participant(s):
Joshua Barker, Dean of SGS & Vice-Provost, Graduate Research and Education
Vina Goghari, Vice-Dean, Research and Program Innovation, SGS
John Peever, Vice-Dean, Students, SGS
Rachael Cayley, Director, Centre for Graduate Professional Development, SGS
Jane Freeman, Director, Graduate Centre for Academic Communication, SGS
Aziza Kajan, Director, Centre for Graduate Mentorship and Supervision, SGS
Sarah Peake, Director, Student Academic Services, SGS
Laura Stathopoulos, Director, Graduate Awards and Financial Aid, SGS

September 19, 2023
9:00 AM–10:30 AM ET

Register for The Role of SGS in the Graduate Ecosystem: What SGS Can Do for You (Zoom)
2

Session #2 — Graduate Academic Appeals

Description:
Come join the SGS and legal team in learning about graduate academic appeals, from the role of graduate faculty leaders in informal mediation, to the role of the Graduate Department Academic Appeals Committee (GDAAC), to the role of the Graduate Academic Appeals Board (GAAB). Learn how to set up the process for success at the Department level, as we share observations from our learnings at the second level up of the Graduate Academic Appeals Board (GAAB). Please invite your GDAAC Chairs to attend this event as well.

Participant(s):
John Peever, Vice-Dean, Students, SGS
Leora Jackson, Legal Counsel
James Phillips, Senior Chair, Graduate Academic Appeals Board

November 14, 2023
9:00 AM–10:30 AM ET

Register for Graduate Academic Appeals (Zoom)

Session Highlights

1

Session #1 — Envisioning Graduate Education in the Post-Pandemic Era

Presenter(s):
Fahim Quadir, PhD, Vice-Provost and Dean, School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, Queen’s University
Chair, Ontario Council on Graduate Studies

September 29, 2022
10:00 AM–11:00 AM ET

SGS Graduate Faculty Leadership Orientation

October 4, 2022
9:00 AM–12:00 PM ET

View / Download Agenda (PDF)
2

Session #2 — Academic and Research Resiliency: Managing Impacted Student Trajectories

Panel:
Vina Goghari, Vice-Dean, Research and Program Innovation, SGS
Josie Lalonde, Director, Student Academic Services, SGS
Emma Thacker, Director (Acting) Graduate Awards and Financial Aid, SGS
Jane Freeman, Director, Graduate Centre for Academic Communication, SGS
Caroline Rabbat, Director, Centre for Graduate Mentorship and Supervision, SGS

November 15, 2022
10:00 AM–11:00 AM ET

3

Session #3 — Inclusive Pathways: Supporting International Students

Panelists:
Alexie Tcheuyap, Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, International Student Experience
Katherine Beaumont, Senior Director, Global Learning Opportunities & International Student Success, Centre for International Experience
Graeme Hirst, Associate Chair, Graduate Studies, Department of Computer Science
Scott Liao, Academic Director, Full Time MBA

February 21, 2023
10:00 AM–11:00 AM ET

Register for Session 3 (Zoom)
4

Session #4 — Managing Conflicts and Complaints Related to Graduate Supervision: Role of the Academic Administrators

Presenter(s):
Yana Yunusova, Acting Vice-Dean, Students, SGS
Caroline Rabbat, Director, Centre for Graduate Mentorship and Supervision, SGS

April 17, 2023
10:00 AM–11:30 AM ET

Register for Session 4 (Zoom)
5

Session #5 — Leveraging Insights from SGS Data Dashboards to Maximize Graduate Program Success

Panelists:
Brian Desrosiers-Tam, Assistant Dean, SGS
Ellen MacPherson, Special Projects Officer, SGS
Grace Zhu, Data Analyst, SGS

June 19, 2023
10:00 AM–11:30 AM ET

Session #1 — Re-imagining Graduate Education 

Joshua Barker, Dean of SGS & Vice-Provost, Graduate Research and Education

Read Session #1 Highlights

Session #2 — Inclusive Pathways: Spotlight on Graduate Admissions

Charmaine Williams, Vice-Dean, Students, SGS
David Burnes, Associate Dean, Academic, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
Ruth Childs, Professor, Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education, OISE
Elizabeth Page-Gould, Graduate Chair, Psychology

Read Session #2 Highlights

Session #3 — SGS Showcase on Services: Spotlight on Graduate Mentorship and Supervision

Charmaine Williams, Vice-Dean, Students, SGS
Josie Lalonde, Director, Student Academic Services, SGS
Laura Stathopoulos, Director, Graduate Awards and Financial Aid, SGS
Jane Freeman, Director, Graduate Centre for Academic Communications, SGS
Jonathan Turner, Manager, Program Completion and Postdoctoral Services, SGS
Caroline Rabbat, Director, Centre for Graduate Mentorship and Supervision, SGS

Read Session #3 Highlights

Session #4 — Program Innovation: Fostering Interdisciplinary Work

Elspeth Brown, Director, Digital Humanities Network
Fiorella Foscarini, Program Director, Faculty of Information
Alissa Trotz, Director, Women and Gender Studies Institute
Tanhum Yoreh, Graduate Associate Director, School of Environment

Read Session #4 Highlights

Session #5 — Program Innovation: Defining Inclusive Excellence

Vina Goghari, Vice-Dean, Research and Program Innovation, SGS
Gretchen Kerr, Dean, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Read Session #5 Highlights

Session #6 — Curriculum Renewal: Decolonization and Diverse Cultural Perspectives

Katherine Larson, Vice-Dean, Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs, UTSC
Angela Mashford-Pringle, Associate Director, Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health

Read Session #6 Highlights

Contact

For more information or questions about Conversations with SGS, please contact:

Vina Goghari, PhD
Vice-Dean, Research and Program Innovation, SGS
sgs.vdeanprograms@utoronto.ca

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