Task Force on Artificial Intelligence

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Task Force on Artificial Intelligence

As a leading research university, the University of Toronto has the
opportunity to provide opportunities for effective and responsible use
of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education while accounting for
AI’s limitations.

To help guide the University, Prof. Susan McCahan was appointed
Provostial Advisor on Artificial Intelligence in March 2024, and the
Task Force on Artificial Intelligence was formed. The Task Force is
engaging with the U of T community to develop a vision and strategy for
our AI activities and their integration within our teaching, learning, and
administrative processes and frameworks, ensuring alignment with our
core values and mission.

AI Task Force members

The Task Force members have expertise across academic, administrative and technical areas. Many Task Force members are co-chairs of working
groups representing essential areas of the University’s mission and operations. Additionally, the Task Force & Working Groups include
representatives from areas critical to topics across the institution, including libraries, legal services, and graduate education.

This critical institutional initiative will consider ways our community can best leverage AI to enhance our research expertise, support student
success and engagement in rewarding learning and co-curricular experiences and services, and improve operational efficiencies – all within a
framework of clear and consistent ethical principles.

- Professor Susan McCahan (Teaching & Learning Co-Chair) – Provostial Advisor on Artificial Intelligence; Associate Vice-President & Vice-Provost, Digital Strategies; Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education
- Professor Karen Reid (Teaching & Learning Co-Chair) – Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Arts & Science
- Professor Tim Chan (Research Co-Chair) – Associate Vice-President & Vice-Provost, Strategic Initiatives; Professor, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
- Professor Gary Bader (Research Co-Chair) – Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
- Ron Saporta (Operations & Planning Chair) – Chief Operating Officer, Property Services & Sustainability
- Professor Sandy Welsh (Student Services Co-Chair) – Vice-Provost, Students; Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts & Sciences
- Professor Bob Gazzale (Student Services Co-Chair) – Principal, New College; Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts & Science
- Erin Jackson (People Strategy & Administration Co-Chair) – Assistant Vice-President, University Human Resources, Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture
- Professor Kelly Lyons (People Strategy & Administration Co-Chair) – Professor, Faculty of Information; Faculty Affiliate, Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology & Society
- Swetlana Signarowski (Technology & Data Governance Co-Chair) – Executive Director, Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration
- Professor Jamie Stafford (Technology & Data Governance Co-Chair) – Vice-Dean, Academic Operations; Professor, Department of Statistical Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Science
- Chris Boutet (Communications Advisor) – Director, Content Innovation, University of Toronto Communications
- Larry Alford (Libraries Advisor) – University Chief Librarian, University of Toronto Libraries
- Professor Muhammad Mamdani (Task Force Advisor) – Director, Temerty Faculty of Medicine Centre for Artificial Intelligence Education and Research in Medicine (T-CAIREM); Professor, Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
- Archana Sridhar (Task Force Advisor) – Assistant Provost
- Professor Alison Gibbs (Task Force Advisor) – Director, Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation; Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Statistical Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Science
- Professor Joshua Barker (Task Force Advisor) – Vice-Provost, Graduate Research & Education and Dean, School of Graduate Studies; Professor, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts & Science

Working and advisory groups

Working groups are chaired by members with expertise in essential areas of the University’s mission and operations. Through a priority-driven process, each working group will consult broadly with stakeholders in its focus areas and review and contribute to the creation of guidelines and frameworks for AI use in its focus areas, aligned with broader principles identified by the Task Force.

Working and advisory groups have identified their own priorities that will contribute to a robust strategy for AI activities and use across the University. They aim to address the impact of AI on the following areas:

Teaching & Learning Working Group

Will address the impact of AI on teaching and learning practices, and faculty, staff, librarians and students involved in the educational mission of the University.

Susan McCahan (Co-Chair) – Provostial Advisor on Artificial Intelligence; Associate Vice-President & Vice-Provost, Digital Strategies; Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education
Karen Reid (Co-Chair) – Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Arts & Science
Don Boyes – Associate Dean, Teaching & Learning, Faculty of Arts & Science
Alison Gibbs – Director, Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation
Vina Goghari – Vice-Dean, Research & Program Innovation, School of Graduate Studies
Laurie Harrison – Director, Digital Learning Initiatives, Information Technology Services
Avi Hyman – Director, Academic, Research & Collaborative Technologies
Karen McCrindle – Associate Dean, Teaching & Learning, University of Toronto Scarborough
Stephanie Orfano – Head, Scholarly Communications & Copyright Office, University of Toronto Libraries
Laura Rosella – Professor, Temerty Centre for AI Research & Education in Medicine (T-CAIREM), and Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Research Working Group

Will address the impact of AI on all aspects of the process of doing research and the research life cycle, including training, publishing and writing grants.

Gary Bader (Co-Chair) – Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine
Tim Chan (Co-Chair) – Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Strategic Initiatives; Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Arij Al Chawaf – Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation
Ashton Anderson – Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto Scarborough and Faculty of Arts & Science
Jason Bechtel – Senior Legal Counsel, Research, Innovation & Strategic Initiatives, Office of University Counsel
Andre Cire – Associate Professor, Department of Management, University of Toronto Scarborough, and Rotman School of Management
Beth Coleman – Associate Professor, Institute of Communication, Culture, Information & Technology, University of Toronto Mississauga
Avi Goldfarb – Professor, Department of Marketing, Rotman School of Management
Rahul Krishnan – Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Arts & Science; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Vinita Haroun – Director, Centre for Research & Innovation Support
Anastasia Kuzminykh – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Information
Scott Sanner – Associate Professor, Mechanical &Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Avery Slater – Assistant Professor, Department of English, University of Toronto Mississauga
Mindy Thuna – Associate Chief Librarian for Science Research & Information, University of Toronto Libraries

Student Services Working Group

Will address the impact of AI on provisioning and delivery of student services, including student life, health and wellness, recruitment, admissions, and registrarial processes.

Bob Gazzale (Co-Chair) – Principal, New College; Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts & Science
Sandy Welsh (Co-Chair) – Vice-Provost, Students; Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Christina Bartha – Senior Executive Director, Student Mental Health
Ryan Hargraves – Executive Director, Student Recruitment & Admissions
Heather Kelly – Executive Director, Student Life Programs & Services
Robyn Parr – Executive Director, Office of the Vice-Provost, Students
John Peever – Vice-Dean, Students, School of Graduate Studies; Professor, Cell & Systems Biology
Ang Sawezcko – University Registrar, Office of the Vice-Provost, Strategic Enrolment Management
Shelby Verboven – Registrar & Assistant Dean Strategic Enrolment Management, University of Toronto Scarborough

Operations & Planning Working Group

Will address the impact of AI on planning, operations, and procurement processes and practices.

Ron Saporta (Chair) – Chief Operating Officer, Property Services & Sustainability, Office of the Vice-President Operations and Real Estate Partnerships
Andrew Arifuzzaman – Chief Administrative Officer, University of Toronto Scarborough
Patrick Dyke – Legal Counsel, Office of University Cousel
Joyce Hahn – Chief Administrative Officer, Division of the Vice-President & Provost
Anna Kulikov – Senior Manager, Business Improvement & Strategic Initiatives, Facilities & Services
Jeff Lennon – Assistant Vice-President, Planning & Budget
Sinisa Markovic – Deputy Registrar and Executive Director, Registrarial Systems & Strategic Reporting, University Registrar’s Office
Lisa Myre – Manager, Procurement Programs & Operations, Procurement Services
Victoria Ostler – Chief Administrative Officer, Rotman School of Management
Anuar Rodrigues – Executive Director, Strategy, Office of the Vice-President and Principal, University of Toronto Mississauga

People Strategy & Administration Working Group

Will address the impact of AI on the administrative work of the university, including HR processes, talent management, and administrative work and financial services.

Erin Jackson (Co-Chair) – Associate Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture
Kelly Lyons (Co-Chair) – Professor, Department of Information, and Department of Computer Science; Faculty Affiliate, Schwartz Reisman Institute forTechnology & Society
Luke Barber – Executive Director, Digital & Physical Infrastructure, University of Toronto Mississauga
Melodie Buhagiar – Associate Director, Academic Policy & Process, Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life
Renee Brost – Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation
Elizabeth Dhuey – Professor, Department of Management, University of Toronto Scarborough
Mary Lyne – Chief Administrative Officer, Faculty of Arts & Science
Cherilyn Nobleza – Executive Director, HR Transformation & Analytics, People Strategy, Equity & Culture
Trevor Rodgers – Chief Financial Officer, Office of the President
Kathi Wilson – Vice-Dean, Faculty, University of Toronto Mississauga

Technology & Data Governance Working Group

Will address the impact of AI on university systems and information technology, information security, and data governance.

Swetlana Signarowski (Co-Chair) – Executive Director, Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration, Information Technology Services
Jamie Stafford (Co-chair) – Vice-Dean, Academic Operations, Faculty of Arts & Science; Professor, Department of Statistical Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Science
Kelly Carmichael – Coordinator, Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy
Marsha Chechik – Professor, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Arts & Science
John DiMarco – Director, Information Technology, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Arts & Science
Marcel Fortin – Associate Chief Librarian, Data Services, Digital Scholarship & Information Technologies, University fof Toronto Libraries
Kiren Handa – Executive Director, Institutional Research & Data Governance
Laurie Harrison – Director, Digital Learning Initiatives, Information Technology Services
Ravneet Kaur – Director, Strategy & Business Transformation, Information & Instructional Technology Services, University of Toronto Scarborough
Donna Kidwell – Chief Information Security Officer, Information Technology Services
Nathan Taback – Professor, Teaching Stream, Statistical Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Science

Libraries Advisory Group

Will advise the Task Force & Working Groups on issues of relevance to the University of Toronto Libraries and their stakeholders.

Larry Alford – University Chief Librarian
Laura Anderson – Director for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the University Chief Librarian
Marcel Fortin – Associate Chief Librarian, Data Services, Digital Scholarship & Information Technologies
Angela Hamilton – Chief Librarian, University of Toronto ScarboroughLibrary
Stephen Marks – Digital Preservation Librarian
Stephanie Orfano – Head, Scholarly Communications & Copyright Office
Matt Ratto – Professor & Associate Dean, Research, Faculty of Information
Seamus Ross – Professor, Faculty of Information
Dany Savard – Interim Chief Librarian, University of Toronto Mississauga Library
Mindy Thuna – Associate Chief Librarian, Science Research & Information
Marlene van Ballegooie – Manager, Metadata Technologies
Jacqueline Whyte Appleby – Interim Associate Director, Scholars Portal
Weijing Yuan – Head, Acquisitions & Collections Services

Drawing on the recommendations of the working groups and its own consultations and discussions, the Task Force will synthesize the feedback and recommendations of each working group to craft a unified vision, set of priorities, and strategic framework for AI activities across the University’s mission and administrative areas of operation, including AI use, AI literacy and training, AI infrastructure development, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation, including a host of other identified goals.

Projected work plan

The Task Force has identified a series of milestones as they work through the strategy-building process.

Timeline	Details
May 2024	Launch of the Task Force, and selection of working group chairs / co-chairs. Task Force begins approximately monthly meetings and broad consultation.
Summer 2024	Establishment of working group memberships, plans and priorities, and working group consultation plans; working groups begin meeting.
Fall 2024	Working groups and Task Force continue meetings and conduct consultations. Task Force receives and shares updates on working groups, identifying areas of connection, opportunities for collaboration, and alignment of recommendations. By late Fall 2024, recommendations and frameworks should be solidifying.
Winter 2025	Conclusion of working group meetings and development of working group reports and recommendations to the Task Force.
Spring 2025	Report and recommendations of the Task Force, incorporating working group recommendations.
Throughout	Communication and updates to University leadership, relevant leadership groups (e.g. governance committees) and the community.

Consultations, questions and feedback

The AI Task Force and its working groups are consulting widely to gather input about AI use, priorities, and questions from across the U of T
community. We also invite any questions or comments about AI at U of T. Please visit the AI Task Force SharePoint to learn about upcoming
consultations and to share your questions or comments.

Updates and resources

As the AI Task Force is developing and updating AI guidance for the U of T community, the latest institutional updates and resources for students,
faculty, and employees can be found via the monthly updates on SharePoint. We encourage all our community members to regularly review these
updates to find out what emerging guidelines are available to help you navigate using AI at the University.