Governance and Strategy
- AI-ready University
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- Governance and Strategy
The University of Toronto’s human-centred approach to AI builds on U of T’s leadership in AI development and its commitment to ethical innovation. The approach focuses on four strategic priorities identified by the AI Task Force, which met between 2024 and 2025 to envision a responsible path toward becoming an AI-ready institution:
Priority: Support and grow AI expertise at U of T
The University of Toronto is a leader in many areas of artificial intelligence. U of T will invest in growing AI expertise by enhancing AI literacy, supporting professional development and promoting the sharing of effective practices. The university will also engage its community in shaping AI priorities, tools and use cases, along with strengthening the data and IT infrastructure needed to support responsible AI integration.
Learning and professional development opportunities
These are just some of the AI training and professional development opportunities that are available to help you incorporate these concepts and tools into your work.
Find training opportunities
Academic offerings for students
U of T has a growing number of AI-focused offerings for undergraduate and graduate students:
Priority: Establish an AI Adoption Table (AIAT)
To guide strategic decision-making, U of T has established a university-wide expert advisory body. In the course of its work, this group engages with faculty, librarians and students, advises leadership, develops institutional guidelines and coordinates U of T’s contributions to broader AI policy discussions. Its members draw expertise from all three campuses, including specialists in privacy, legal, ethics, data governance, information security, AI, data and analytics, research data management, technology, business process optimization and procurement.
Meeting Schedule
| Meeting | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
2025-26, Meeting 1 |
Monday, February 23, 2026 |
9:00-10:00 a.m. |
|
2025-26, Meeting 2 |
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 |
9:00-10:00 a.m. |
|
2026-27, Meeting 1 |
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 |
1:00-2:00 p.m. |
|
2026-27, Meeting 2 |
Monday, November 23, 2026 |
3:30-4:30 p.m. |
|
2026-27, Meeting 3 |
Monday, January 25, 2027 |
3:30-4:30 p.m. |
|
2026-27, Meeting 4 |
Monday, March 8, 2027 |
3:30-4:30 p.m. |
|
2026-27, Meeting 5 |
Monday, May 31, 2027 |
3:30-4:30 p.m. |
The AlAT meets every other month between September and June (five meetings per year), with additional meetings as needed.
Membership
Chair: Susan McCahan, Associate Vice-President & Vice-Provost, Digital Strategies.
Members are drawn from across the University, bringing expertise in research, teaching and learning, information security, legal affairs, human resources, finance, libraries, and AI ethics.
Membership Academic Year 2026-2027
| Name | Title / role |
|---|---|
|
Susan McCahan (Chair) |
AVP & Vice-Provost, Digital Strategies |
|
Syed Ishtiaque Ahmed |
Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science; Director, Global Consortium for Responsible AI, Care, and Equity (GRACE) |
|
Laura Anderson |
Director for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the University Chief Librarian |
|
Gary Bader |
Professor, Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research |
|
Don Boyes |
Professor, Teaching Stream, Geography and Planning and Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning |
|
Ryan Brown |
Senior Legal Counsel, Office of University Counsel |
|
Tim Chan |
Associate VP and Vice-Provost, Strategic Initiatives, Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering |
|
Robert Gazzale |
Professor, Teaching Stream, Economics and Principal, New College |
|
Kate Giovacchini |
Executive Director, Digital Transformation and AI |
|
Kiren Handa |
Executive Director, Institutional Research & Data Governance |
|
Erin Jackson |
Assistant Vice-President, University Human Resources |
|
Donna Kidwell |
Chief Information Officer |
|
Matt Ratto |
Professor and Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Information |
|
Trevor Rodgers |
Assistant Vice-President, Institutional Strategy |
|
Ron Saporta |
Interim Vice-President, Facilities and Real Estate |
|
Jamie Stafford |
Professor Statistical Sciences; Special Advisor on Digital Strategies |
|
Lisa Strug |
Director, Data Sciences Institute; Professor, Statistical Sciences & Computer Science |
|
Vince Tropepe |
Professor and Associate Vice-President Research Oversight & Compliance |
Priority: Create a Response Team
Successfully implementing AI projects requires both skilled advice to identify and plan effective AI use, and appropriate support to configure AI tools and data for safe, accurate operation. A new AI Response Team will contribute diverse expertise to provide technical and administrative support for the development and implementation of selected AI projects.
Priority: Develop the AI Kitchen and expand AI tool availability
Appropriate AI infrastructure can mitigate risks while enabling responsible use. The AI Kitchen offers a secure virtual environment equipped with AI tools and data access to test and implement advanced AI projects with technical and process support from U of T. The AI kitchen allows users to evaluate and compare AI tools’ performance in technical, ethical, and environmental criteria, for projects related to teaching and learning, administration, operations, research, and student groups once the kitchen has reached a level of maturity.
AI Task Force
In May 2024, U of T launched an AI Task Force to engage members of the community to develop a vision and strategy to guide the university’s AI activities. The AI Task Force’s recommendations span the university’s core activities: teaching and learning, research, student services, administration, operations, and the broader technology and data landscape. With a critical and principled approach to AI adoption, the Task Force focused on how AI can enhance the expertise of faculty, librarians and staff, while enriching the student learning experience, ensuring alignment with U of T’s core values and mission.
The AI Task Force delivered its final report in June 2025. Its recommendations consider areas for action and outline a range of opportunities for faculty, librarians, staff and students to learn about and responsibly adopt sector-leading applications of AI.
Working Groups
As part of the AI Task Force, each working group was chaired by expert members in essential areas of the university’s mission and operations. Through a priority-driven process, each working group consulted broadly with stakeholders in the creation of guidelines and frameworks for AI use in its focus areas, aligned with broader principles identified by the Task Force. These working and advisory groups identified their own priorities in reports that contribute to a robust strategy for AI activities and use across the university.