Our Shared Priorities (2023-2027)

• Improving access to education, including a focus on scholarships, alternative course delivery, inclusivity and recruitment, for both domestic and international students
• Encouraging student wellness by creating an environment that supports and nurtures the student as a whole person
• Promoting and encouraging experiential learning opportunities
• Fostering communication, problem solving, interpersonal, leadership and critical thinking skills in a variety of ways
• Developing new programs, such as course-based masters and articulation agreements, that align our areas of expertise with student goals, market demand, and societal need
• Ensuring instruction is relevant, accessible and engaging, and promoting the adoption, evaluation and improvement of teaching methods and technologies that address the needs of students
• Modernizing infrastructure needed for student success

Fall 2021 & Winter 2022

• A pathway for the diploma in equine care and management to the bachelor of bio-resource management in equine management was approved. Graduates from the diploma program may be eligible to receive transfer credits for the degree program.
• Co-op options for the associate diplomas in agriculture, equine care and management and horticulture have been added at Ridgetown Campus.
• OAC released its first graduate studies viewbook to promote graduate programs and support recruitment.
• The Departments of Food Science and Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics created a new master of dairy technology management program, beginning fall 2022.
• In partnership with the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, OAC secured a full-time position to provide statistical consulting services and teaching of the new course UNIV*6020 Applied Ag Stats. This position was previously a temporary role.
• Sarah Labatt was hired as the Manager of the Equine Teaching Herd. In this role, she will provide support and expertise for courses offered as part of the BBRM Equine Management Program.
• The Department of Food Science supported several undergraduate students in creating content for a new alternative proteins course. The students approached the department with their idea and were matched with a faculty advisor for support. They received course credit for their work and the content developed will be used to create a new elective course for undergraduate students.

Winter & Summer 2021

• To support further experiential learning opportunities the OAC Dean’s Office piloted a new course (ENVS*3330 Flexible Environmental Internship) for a group of undergraduate and graduate students in environmental sciences. Students were required to complete a 40-hour flexible, unpaid internship that were done remotely and in-person, across North America.
• The Ridgetown Campus hosted their first Virtual Career Fair. They welcomed industry employers to discuss career possibilities for students.
• The Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics upgraded the third-floor lounge of the J.D. Maclachlan Building into a student learning space.
• The Department of Food Science launched a new online Cheese Maker Certificate for professional cheesemakers. The first course, Introduction to Cheese Making Technology, was offered in April 2021.
• Studio classes for landscape architecture students were converted to a digital collaboration platform, that fostered a greater community of participation and professional sector interactions were heightened.
• The Dean’s Office partnered with the Student Federation of the OAC and the Alumni Association to host a virtual mentoring night for undergraduate and diploma students. Alumni mentors from different programs in OAC held breakout room sessions for students, shared their journey and answered questions.
• The OAC Learning Trust (Richards Trust) supported the inaugural Impact Case Competition, which challenged teams of students to present solutions to a real-world sustainability problem. The competition was led by a team of OAC graduate students.
• The Department of Animal Biosciences modified the required graduate course, ANSC*6610 Thesis Proposal and Professional Development, to foster skill and professional development.
• The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development renovated the senior BLA and MLA studios in the Landscape Architecture building. The complete refurbishing included the integration of new technology (smartboards, electrified desks) and the modernization of collaborative environments and independent workstations.
• The Ridgetown Campus launched the new Agri-Food Entrance Scholarship program for students considering studies in agriculture, horticulture, or environmental management.

Summer & Fall 2020

• The School of Environmental Sciences will be offering the new Bachelor of Indigenous Environmental Science and Practice (BIESP) program beginning in fall 2021.
• Co-op options for the B.Sc. Plant Science major, the Diploma in Turfgrass Management, and the B.B.R.M. Environmental Management and Equine Management majors have been added.
• The Department of Plant Agriculture modified the existing Crop, Horticultural and Turfgrass Sciences major of the B.Sc. (Agr.) into two majors: Horticulture and Crop Science. This modification to the major will make it easier for prospective students to identify areas of study and align their studies with their goals and career aspirations.
• The Department of Animal Biosciences set-up a biweekly teaching forum to exchange ideas and develop best practices for online teaching in response to COVID-19. The majority of academic units in OAC held similar meetings and brainstorming sessions in hopes of supporting student success in the Fall semester.
• The OAC Dean’s Office mailed a check-in note and gift card to all first year OAC students at the end of the Fall 2020 semester. The goal was to connect with our new students, congratulate them on making it through their first semester, and encourage a sense of community and support.
• For the Fall 2020 semester, the Department of Plant Agriculture facilitated in-person instruction for all courses they offer in the Associate Diploma in Turfgrass Management, a significant undertaking for the 26 courses offered.
• The Department of Food Science launched a new distance delivery option of their MSc in Food Safety and Quality Assurance. The pilot offers an additional option where students can do complete a workplace practicum in place of a research project with a faculty member.
• The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development started several new initiatives to support their graduate students. These include a Rural Planning and Development Research Guide and Capacity Development and Extension Pathways Series of webinars featuring careers of alumni.
• The OAC Program Counselling Office pivoted their offerings to virtual formats, including orientation sessions, recruitment events and individual appointments, ensuring students’ continued access to their support services.
• The School of Environmental Sciences initiated a new mentorship program, which matched up third- and fourth-year students with first-year incoming students. The program seeks to ease the transition of first-year students into university life and empower them to utilize all the resources and services offered by the University.

Winter 2020

• In early March 2020 we helped to host the Improve Life Challenge: Hack the Farm in a Climate of Change. The event was a one-day immersive experience where interdisciplinary student teams worked with community partners to develop solutions to challenges facing the agriculture and food sector including aging demographics, advancements in technology, and pressure for sustainable practices. Over half of the students involved were OAC students.
• The Department of Animal Biosciences has made significant progress in bringing a teaching herd of eight horses to campus for exclusive use by equine management students. Renovations to accommodate the herd are now complete, and the horses will be brought to campus once COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. Special thanks to Prof. Wendy Pearson for all the additional effort she invested into making this happen for our students!
• Work in many of our units continues on the development of online program and course offerings. Our Depts. of Food Science and Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics are working on a new online Master in Dairy Tech Management program. The Dept. of Food Science is also working on moving their FSQA program fully online and developing an online certificate in cheesemaking. Ridgetown Campus is also moving forward with plans to develop online certificates and diplomas.
• The School of Environmental Sciences completed work to improve the work-integrated opportunities available for its B.Sc. (Env.) students.
• Dean’s office staff supported graduate students through various new initiatives, including information sessions on applying to scholarships and 3MT preparation.
• In March 2020, Jong Liu, a recent PhD graduate from the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resources Economics, was hired directly into a faculty role at Texas A&M University, one of the top American colleges for agricultural economics.

Fall 2019

• The OAC Student Liaison Program began partnering with the Ministry of Education to host themed Specialist High School Major (SHSM) conferences for educators. After the 2018 Agriculture SHSM Professional Development Conference, there was an unprecedented growth of nine new SHSM – Agriculture programs. In October 2019 the program hosted a food-processing focused conference with 30 high school educators attending.
• Ridgetown Campus staff facilitated several local learning events for the Soil and Crop Club providing students with additional information to enhance academic lectures and labs. 25-100 students toured seven innovative farms and local agribusinesses.
• The School of Environmental Sciences launched a new CREATE Climate-Smart Soils training program. This is the first soil-centered program to address the need for highly qualified personnel training in sustainable agriculture in Canada. Led by Prof. Claudia Wagner-Riddle, the program trains undergraduate and graduate student scholars through research projects, courses, internships and professional skills workshops.
• The Department of Plant Agriculture and School of Environmental Sciences both launched new undergraduate courses focused on important emerging industry topics: AGR*4020 Precision Techniques for Plant Agriculture and PBIO*4290 Cannabis Production.
• Experiential learning continues to be a focus across the college, including significant progress on a revision of the college's experiential learning strategy. The Dean’s Office has taken a leadership role within the University by providing all U of G students access to facilitated internships in the agri-food sector. This is done through a new course (UNIV 340 Flexible Internships in Agrifood) where work-integrated learning and professional development are key outcomes. A new Internship Specialist position has also been created in the Dean’s Office to facilitate connections between students and industry through internships and summer employment opportunities.
• The Ridgetown Campus hosted over 40 local and regional employers to provide their diploma and certificate students with the opportunity to investigate diverse career paths and meet industry leaders.

Summer 2019

• The OAC Student Liaison Program was expanded in the summer of 2019 to meet the growing demand for its program offerings. The promotion of Carleigh Johnston and the hiring of Christine Wilkinson, in a new coordinator role, has enabled the program to expand its offerings and engage more high school students. The program is funded completely by fundraised dollars, making it unique to the university system in Canada, and a $500,00 donation made by the Grand River Agricultural Society this fall is the largest commitment to the program since its inception.
• The first co-hort of students studying in our new Food Industry Management major of the Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management degree began in Fall 2018. Six students entered the new program, offered by the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics and the Department of Food Science.
• The Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics worked to increase experiential learning components in its course offerings, such as collaborative group projects with external stakeholders and research partners. For the Food Industry Management major, three new courses with such components were introduced.

Winter 2019

• Through 730 unique awards, OAC distributed over $1.3 million in student scholarships and awards to diploma, undergraduate and graduate students in OAC in 2018.
• In the spring of 2018, OAC’s graduate recruitment staff launched two social media marketing campaigns to attract potential PhD students, one specifically targeted at students interested in pursuing research with the Department of Plant Agriculture. These PhD promotion campaigns reached over 340,000 people and generated over 5,200 unique visits to OAC’s website.

Updated March 20, 2023.

• Promoting excellence in teaching and learning in a rapidly changing environment
• Creating responsive and financially sustainable programs and curriculum that reflect student and market demand
• Supporting faculty and instructors in advancing their pedagogy and teaching skills, while promoting academic integrity
• Valuing intellectual and academic freedom, evidence-based inquiry, and the discovery and application of new knowledge
• Supporting research success, including collaboration, interdisciplinary work, and research in emerging areas
• Collaborating with Indigenous communities to create partnerships and new research, and academic program opportunities that serve reconciliation
• Enhancing the recruitment of high-quality graduate students
• Encouraging engagement and outreach with broad communities to share knowledge, identify research needs, and build connections

Fall 2021 & Winter 2022

• Seven OAC classroom and meeting spaces received upgraded classroom technical equipment to support hybrid learning and ongoing engagement with remote communities and resources.
• The Department of Animal Biosciences in collaboration with Meat and Poultry Ontario is establishing the Meat Tech Centre of Excellence that will expand the activities of the meat lab to work more closely with industry-related projects.
• The new Foundations in Agricultural Management online certificate course was launched, and 3,600 participants registered in its first month. The course is funded by a three-year, $1.25-million donation from the RBC Foundation and with support from Farm Credit Canada.

Winter & Summer 2021

• ­­­The Guelph Turfgrass Institute moved to its new state-of-the-art research and teaching facility, the G.M. Frost Research and Information Centre. Occupying about 17 acres, the new site contains 14 research plots, a classroom, a large lecture hall, a spacious boardroom and a scientific laboratory. The building is also headquarters for the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association, Sports Turf Canada and the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation.
• The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development pivoted their guest lectures to a virtual format, that resulted in greater participation and included more national and international speakers.
• Multiple researchers from the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics contributed to a special edition of the Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics that focused on agriculture in the Biden era.
• The School of Environmental Sciences hired Susan Chiblow, assistant professor in Indigenous environmental stewardship, to support the new Bachelor of Indigenous Environmental Science and Practice program.
• The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development hired Afshin Ashari and Zannah Matson as new assistant professors in landscape architecture. Ashari’s research focuses on design media and professional practice and Matson’s focus is histories and contemporary reinterpretations of landscapes.
• The Department of Food Science hired Alice Marciniak as an assistant professor in dairy science.

Summer & Fall 2020

• The Department of Animal Biosciences and School of Environmental Sciences have established departmental working groups on equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Five new faculty members were hired in the areas of meat science, Indigenous environmental science, environmental microbiology, systematic entomology, and wheat breeding and genetics.
• The Department of Plant Agriculture hired a new computational biologist to support the work of graduate students, researchers and professors and making the most of big data they are collecting.
• Since the start of the pandemic, 100 OAC principal investigators have been able to conduct research, not including research that continued remotely without interruption. Many OAC researchers have also participated in response committees, conducted COVID-19 research, given media interviews, and published special COVID-19 resources. For example: Prof. Mike Von Massow has been featured 10 times in the media regarding the impacts of COVID-19 on agri-food.
• Profs. Silvia Sarapura and Leith Deacon signed an MOU with the International Potato Center in Peru to enable graduate students from U of G to collaborate with researchers there, gain international experience, expand their network, and provide further opportunities for field work.
• The School of Environmental Sciences (SES) hired Dr. Faez Mohammed through the Scholars at Risk Canada program, which supports and defends the principles of academic freedom and defends the human rights of scholars around the world. He studies agricultural and food chemistry. He joined SES in December 2019 and has been renewed for a second year.

Winter 2020

• In January 2020, the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development hosted close to 200 people for a discussion on the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects' statement on Landscape Architecture and Reconciliation. The event was organized by the school and Chris Grossett (Chair of the CSLA Reconciliation Advisory Committee, and OAC alumni, MLA 2000) to share reconciliation efforts forward in the profession of landscape architecture. By working closely with the CSLA, the school hopes to better prepare it students to address the needs of Indigenous communities and support reconciliation.
• Prof. Alan Ker, Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, spearheaded a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics on the implications of COVID-19 on the Canadian agriculture and food sectors. The collection of 18 short articles was released online and is open access through to the end of July.
• Seven new faculty members have been hired in the areas of specialty crops, forage and service crops, aquaculture, entomology, environmental microbiology and two hires in food industry economics.
• Prof. Amar Mohanty, Department of Plant Agriculture, was appointed as the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) Distinguished Research Chair in Sustainable Biomaterials in February.
• In the Winter 2020 semester, the following OAC community members who awards:
  • OAC student Conor Russell received the Student Experience Brian D. Sullivan Student Leadership Award for creating the Queer Christian Community, a program for LGBTQ2SIA+ students seeking an affirming faith community.
  • Paul Luimes, Ridgetown Campus, received the 2020 UGFA 2 Award for Excellence in Teaching.
  • Prof. Andy Robinson, Department of Animal Biosciences, was selected by U of G students to deliver the Last Lecture.
  • Prof. Kate Shoveller, Department of Animal Biosciences, was an inaugural recipient of the American Feed Industry Association’s Friend of Pet Food Award.
  • Prof. Amar Mohanty, Department of Plant Agriculture, was the recipient of the Polymer Processing Society’s (PPS) JL White Innovation Award 2020.
  • Prof. Nate Perkins, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, received the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Fall 2019

• The School of Environmental Sciences is developing an Indigenous Environmental Stewardship major in the Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management degree to meet the growing demand for environmental stewards. This specialization will enable Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to study the environment and its management in fundamentally new ways. Active consultation and collaboration with Indigenous leaders is a crucial element of the program development.
• To meet the increased demands on program curriculum, student academic counselling and academic issue management, Prof. Renée Bergeron was appointed as the Assistant Dean – Academic. A large focus of this 8-month appointment is strengthening the associate diploma programs offered by the college and moving online program development forward.
• Construction began on the new Guelph Turfgrass Institute this summer.
• The new Soils at Guelph initiative in the School of Environmental Sciences was launched to increase awareness of soil research. It facilitates collaboration and knowledge exchange among stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, industry, government, and the general public. It aims to educate everyone on the importance of keeping soils healthy.
• In March 2019, the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics hosted a public panel discussion on “Farming on First Nations: Reconciling Business with Social Enterprise to Achieve Food Security”. The panel featured four speakers representing the Federal government, Six Nations and Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
• The Office of the Associate Dean - Research and Graduate Studies developed an OAC Strategy for Tri-Agency Success for research funding received through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The strategy details steps forward in directing resources and developing activities to increase Tri-Agency program participation, success rates and research funding secured by OAC faculty.
• The Dean’s Office launched a new research-focused podcast called the Why & How Podcast that looks to answer big questions in agriculture, food, and the environment through casual conversations rooted in research. The podcast received a certificate of merit at a 2019 Best of the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association Awards Gala.

Summer 2019

• Our academic units have continued their reinvestment in and renewal of faculty members to enhance our research, teaching and outreach efforts. Of particular note is the renewal happening in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development. Of the 19 faculty members in the school, nine of them have joined since 2016, and two additional faculty members are being hired in rural planning and development.
• The Department of Food Science’s Guelph Food Innovation Centre has made significant strides over the last year in its pursuit to offer research services to the food industry. Derek Vella was hired as manager of the centre and all three pilot plants have received certification for processing various products, including dairy.

Updated March 20, 2023.

• Creating a safe, supportive and respectful environment that fosters equity, diversity and inclusion and dismantles systemic barriers
• Supporting a culture of communication, awareness and connectivity for staff, faculty and students to increase collaboration and the sharing of best practices
• Fostering a culture where people feel valued and motivated
• Recognizing the importance of balancing the demands of work with personal life, and encouraging appropriate workloads, and providing support when and where needed
• Recruiting, retaining and developing exemplary people by encouraging a focus on succession planning, and on equity, diversity and inclusion

Progress on elevating "Supporting Our People"

Fall 2021 & Winter 2022

• The OAC Dean’s Office presented the inaugural Outstanding Student Staff Recognition Award, to recognize the contributions and hard work of student employees.

Winter & Summer 2021

• The Dean’s Office hosted their first virtual All-College Meeting in January. This was an opportunity for staff, faculty and graduate students to submit questions and receive updates from OAC leadership.
• The Ridgetown Campus initiated a Campus Connections Committee program to develop and share campus-wide communications and social activities.

Summer & Fall 2020

• The Dean’s Office arranged several workshops and trainings for Dean’s Office staff and unit leaders on equity, diversity and inclusion topics. These topics include transforming power, prejudice and privilege, and microaggressions.
• Faculty members in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics hosted a new seminar series for U of G students. The department wants to ensure students continue to have access to seminars, presentations and public lectures, despite the majority of students and faculty not being on campus.
• Many annual events were pivoted to virtual formats, such as the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development’s guest lecture series, the Welcome Back BBQ and Outstanding Staff and Faculty Awards, and grant workshops to support faculty grant application success.
• Dean’s Office staff created a MS Teams group for all OAC graduate students to enhance connection, access to support, and sharing of timely information.
• A OAC COVID Delay Assistance Program for Students in Thesis-based Graduate Programs was created to support OAC students who were unable to make significant, expected progress in achieving their thesis objectives in Summer 2020. The $5,500 award will support those students who require an “extra” semester beyond their original planned completion date, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The OAC Dean’s Office teamed up with Alumni Affairs and Development to support the Guelph Student FoodBank with a donation of $77,500 in gift cards. The Dean’s Office helped to facilitate a 25% discount off all gift cards purchased from Loblaws.

Winter 2020

• The OAC Dean’s Office hosted its first administrative staff development day, which brought together 59 staff from across the college for a half-day event focused on wellness at work. The event brought together staff from OAC’s six academic units and many of their centres and institutes.
• Dean’s Council members began a dialogue on how college leadership can better support a college culture that uncompromisingly supports wellness, safety and inclusiveness, and has an absolutely zero tolerance approach to all kinds of harassment. Discussions have focused on actions, training and communication.
• 109 OAC staff and faculty attended on student mental health and sexual violence training sessions. Three offerings, delivered by staff in Student Affairs, were coordinated by Dean’s Office.
• The Dean’s Office continues to offer successful statistical support services for staff, faculty and students. Just this semester, Michelle Edwards, the OAC statistics consultant provided over 100 hours of one-on-one consultation time with faculty, staff and students. She also offers data and statistical workshops to students, and her support is often noted in graduate students’ thesis acknowledgements.

Fall 2019

• The Office of the Associate Dean - Research and Graduate Studies held a professional development event for OAC faculty in May 2019. This event provided faculty with the opportunity to develop their skills for successful team and project management, research proposals and collaborations, to learn new time-saving tools, and to share and network with their peers.
• The Department of Animal Biosciences created six new awards to recognize their graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Each award is worth $500 and recognizes mentorship, teaching, positive impact, service and scientific and industry outreach.
• In September 2019, an expanded and enhanced student space was opened in Johnston Hall. The new space includes group and quiet study space, common spaces for networking, and an office space and meeting room for the Student Federation of the Ontario Agricultural College. The alumni Classes of ’80, ’82 and 2018 all supported the renovation.
• The Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics supported four of its undergraduate students to attend the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference – East this fall.
• The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development provided each of the incoming M.Sc. Rural Planning students with $300 to attend the Ontario Professional Planners Institute annual conference. Virtually every student attended this professional conference.
• The Office of the Associate Dean - Research and Graduate Studies coordinated several meetings with OAC faculty and graduate students and key personnel from Mitacs (a national not-for-profit organization whose mandate is to bring together industry, not-for-profits, and post-secondary institutions to solve business and societal challenges, while advancing academic research). The sessions and workshops showcased opportunities for graduate research funding and support available through Mitacs, including consultations on pitching projects and developing proposals.

Winter 2019

• The OAC Dean’s Office launched the OAC Outstanding Staff Recognition Awards, which are presented annually to two staff who are identified by their colleagues for making OAC a better place to work.

Updated March 20, 2023.

• Ensuring fiscal sustainability:
  • Focusing effort on revenue generating activities, and ensuring cost recovery wherever possible
  • Allocating our time and energy to deliver on our core accountabilities in the most efficient way, which will include prioritizing some activities over others
  • Supporting increased collaboration and partnerships, including the sharing of resources and best practices, leveraging technology to improve workflow, enhancing data access and IT infrastructure, and facilitating a greater integration of Ridgetown and Guelph campus operations
• Fostering transparency, accountability and effective use of resources by:
  • Ensuring our people have the right tools, information, data access and decision-making framework to be efficient and effective
  • Reducing duplication of effort
  • Producing 5-year budget plans for all OAC units annually
  • Adopting and integrating financial health planning parameters across all areas, units and campuses
  • Supporting the development of strong teams and team capacity

Fall 2021 & Winter 2022

• OAC staff members participated in a central initiative to implement a new electronic CV application, UniWeb, that aligns to the Canadian Common CV and will support grant applications. Their ongoing contributions will support the transition and ensure OAC’s needs are met by the new system.
• Sean Kelly was reappointed as director of the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) for a five-year term beginning January 1, 2022.
• Dr. Hugh Earl was reappointed as chair of the Department of Plant Agriculture for a five-year term beginning September 1, 2022. Dr. Eric Lyons was named acting chair of the department from January 1, 2022 to August 31, 2022.
• The OAC Dean’s Office launched a tripartite IT service, encompassing Ridgetown Campus, several OAC academic units at the Guelph campus and the College of Arts. As part of the service, faculty members in participating units were offered a computer subsidy.

Winter & Summer 2021

• Dr. Rene Van Acker was been reappointed dean of OAC for a five-year term, effective Sept. 1, 2021.

• The Department of Plant Agriculture appointed Dr. Kim Schneider as faculty supervisor for the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming. Schneider will support the farm coordinator and faculty advisor to plan day-to-day operations and provide strategic direction for the farm.

• The Department of Animal Biosciences created a department handbook for faculty, staff and students. The handbook provides a detailed overview of the department including academic programs, personnel, facilities, standard operating procedures, academic resources and department committees.
• Dr. Andy Robinson, Department of Animal Biosciences, created an OAC Teaching Network on Courselink to provide easier access to resources for remote teaching.
• OAC hosted the first virtual Equine Exploration Program Information Night. It was a collaborative event between Ridgetown, Clinton, and Guelph campuses staff and students.
• OAC hosted the first virtual Diploma Program Information Night, a collaborative event between staff and students at the Ridgetown and Guelph campuses.
• Dr. Paul Sibley was appointed as the director of the School of Environmental Sciences. Sibley served as interim director for eight months, leading up to his appointment. His five-year term began on September 1, 2021.
• The Business Development Centre of Ridgetown Campus hired a project manager to support the development of the University of Guelph Foundations in Agricultural Management, an e-learning course made possible through a partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Farm Credit Canada (FCC).

Summer & Fall 2020

• Prof. Emmanuelle Arnaud was appointed as the Assistant Dean Graduate Programs for OAC. Her two-year term will begin on January 1, 2021. In this new role, Emmanuelle will support the portfolio of the Associate Dean – Research and Graduate Studies by leading the development of new graduate programs, including micro-credentials.
• Brett Shepherd was named director of the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus. The two-time U of G graduate began on Nov. 16. As Ridgetown’s eleventh director, he will oversee critical, day-to-day business functions of the campus.
• Prof. Simon Lachance was appointed as the Assistant Dean Academic for the Ridgetown Campus. His five-year appointment began on October 12, 2020. In this new role, he will support academic programming and recruitment for the Campus.
• Prof. Jon Warland was appointed as the Associate Dean (Academic) for the college. His five-year term beings on January 1, 2021. He will act as key member of the OAC senior leadership team responsible for leading and managing academic processes in the college. Prof. Paul Sibley will be the acting director of the School of Environmental Sciences while an internal search takes place.
• The Department of Plant Agriculture appointed Prof. Barry Micallef as faculty advisor for the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming and hired Jessica Gale as the farm coordinator. Both positions will support farm operations, collaboration and economic sustainability.
• The Dean’s Office has created two new roles to support the effectiveness of its operations: a Projects Coordinator for the office of the Associate Dean – Research and Graduate Studies and an IT Services Technician. Alumni Affairs and Development have also reimagined a role in support of OAC; the new Senior Advancement Manager role will support annual giving and campaign development for the college’s upcoming 150th anniversary in 2024.
• The Arboretum converted all paper evaluation forms for workshops and events to Qualtrics online forms, to facilitate more efficient program evaluation and data driven decision making.
• Although the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming (GCUOF) remained closed for the year due to COVID-19, fresh produce grown on the farm was not wasted. GCUOF produce was used by Hospitality Services for on-campus dining and in meals prepared for The SEED. Some vegetables were also distributed to those living in Family and Graduate Student Housing on campus.
• The Space Visioning Study for OAC (on the Guelph campus) is complete and will be delivered by the end of 2020. The study will inform OAC’s decision-making on space in alignment with our strategic priorities. It will be a key tool in guiding the improvement of OAC space through renovation, adaptation, renewal, new construction, and reallocation to address changes anticipated over a 10-year horizon.

Winter 2020

• Two leadership searches were launched for University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus. An external search was launched for the 11th director of the campus in preparation for the successful completion of Ken McEwan’s time as Ridgetown Campus director, and a new leadership role, Assistant Dean, Academic – Ridgetown Campus, was created to support the campus’ growth and success.
• A new director for the Arboretum was hired in January. Justine Richardson will work with Arboretum staff and volunteers to develop strategic plans for the teaching and research mandate of the Arboretum. One of her key mandates is operational planning to support the Arboretum and its important role as a place for student and community learning and wellness.
• A new ListServ structure was created for efficient email communication to all OAC staff, faculty and graduate students. This was done through a collaborative effort by the academic unit admins and IT staff.

Fall 2019

• The entire college began a comprehensive IT review with PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) to identify ways to improve efficiency, enhance services and plan for the future.
• The Department of Animal Biosciences initiated a succession planning process through a workshop held this fall. The discussions centered around leadership positions for the department and resources needed for future planning.
• The Departments of Food Science and Animal Biosciences have begun documenting, and posting online, policies and procedures so that students, staff and faculty have access to the most up to date departmental processes.
• The academic leaders of the college want to include a special mention of the various University administrative processes that have been put online recently. Moving important and sometime complicated forms and approval processes to online platforms have been incredibly helpful to faculty and staff in OAC.
• The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development renovated an underutilized computer lab into a digital media lab for its landscape architecture students and researchers.
• The Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics converted and renovated their seminar room into a student learning room to support student group work. The room also includes teleconferencing abilities to support remote connection.

Summer 2019

• The Department of Animal Biosciences made many upgrades to its facilities, including classrooms, common spaces and research facilities (feed preparation facility, meat lab and abattoir and laboratory facilities). The department also installed audio-visual and video conferencing facilities in six different locations, which is used for graduate student defenses, seminars and meetings.

Updated March 20, 2023.

• Celebrating our history and traditions through the support of alumni events and alumni involvement in our communities
• Using the privilege afforded by our strong reputation to create a more inclusive community
• Telling our stories and communicating the breadth of OAC’s programs, its people and their accomplishments to a broad variety of audiences locally, nationally and globally
• Engaging external stakeholders, including our alumni, as partners in pursuing OAC’s goals
• Leveraging our reputation and history to shape the future of food, agriculture, communities and the environment in positive, inclusive and responsive ways
• Considering and supporting environmental sustainability as a key component of our future legacy

Fall 2021 & Winter 2022

• The OAC research and graduate studies team released findings from a new project, Doctoral Destinations: PhDs with Impact, which highlights PhD career pathways. It is the first under the umbrella of OAC’s Graduate Destinations Project.

Winter & Summer 2021

• The Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics released a special edition of the FARE Share newsletter to celebrate Dr. Glenn Fox, who recently retired from the department.
• The Ridgetown Campus shifted its recruitment events to an online format. They hosted several Virtual Open House events for potential students
• The Business Development Centre of Ridgetown Campus pivoted the in-person SouthWest Agricultural Conference (SWAC) to the virtual Ontario Agricultural Conference (OAgC), a partnership between SWAC, Golden Horseshoe & Heartland Soil and Crop Improvement Associations and the Eastern Ontario Crop Conference. The event had over 1,570 registrants and 86 conference speakers.
• In partnership with Ridgetown Campus staff, OMAFRA and various grower organization, Soils At Guelph lead the virtual Midwest Cover Crops Council annual conference, held in Ontario for the first time in eight years. The three-day event included MCCC's annual meeting, two days of cover crop-related sessions and two keynote presentations.
• In conjunction with the Midwest Cover Crops Council Conference and Soils At Guelph, OAC hosted the inaugural Future Thinkers event in partnership with OAC’59 and the OAC Alumni Foundation. Roger Martin discussed his book, “When More is Not Better” and its relevance to agriculture. It was followed by a panel that featured several alumni and a faculty member from OAC.

Summer & Fall 2020

• The Arboretum partnered with OAC Liaison and Upper Grand District and Wellington Catholic school boards to distribute tree identification sheets and learning resources to all grade 6 students in the region.
• The Department of Animal Biosciences produced the second issue of their newsletter, Animal Tracks, which is distributed digitally and in print to internal and external stakeholders and showcases departmental initiatives and successes.
• The U of G BrewLab in the Department of Food Sciences collaborated with Escarpment Labs and Royal City Brewing Company to develop the Experimental Farm Ale using yeast from a squash flower from the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming, and part of the proceeds are being donated to a local charity.
• The Business Development Centre of Ridgetown Campus is working with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to develop a new online Ontario Agriculture Worker Safety and Awareness Certificate.
• The OAC Dean’s Office and Alumni Affairs and Development team hosted an online panel forum for alumni and donors, which provided an outlet for questions and updates on OAC activities and happenings of 2020.
• Many annual events were pivoted to online formats including the wheat and bean breeding open houses in the Department of Plant Agriculture, events hosted by the OAC Alumni Association and OAC Alumni Foundation, and the Educator’s Symposium hosted by the OAC Liaison Program at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
• Founded fifty years ago in the OAC, the Arboretum began celebrating its golden anniversary. Events and activities look back at how its grown and celebrate opportunities for future impact.

Winter 2020

• The University of Guelph Canadian Agri-Marketing Association student team placed first in their preliminary group for their Executive Summary submission to the NAMA 2020 Student Marketing Competition. Although the rest of the annual competition won’t be moving forward, this is a terrific accomplishment for the team. Their summary was awarded 184 out of a potential 200 points.
• Fourth year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture students Jack Mosquite and Emil Kovacevic won the Brains and Brawn Design Challenge hosted by The Concussion Legacy Foundation of Canada and iBoost Zone. The design challenge was a 24-hour event with the goal of producing and presenting a concept and prototype of a solution for minimizing and avoiding physical contact in youth sports.
• The second edition of the LIBRANNI alumni magazine was sent to 27,800 alumni households.
• The rural planning and development (RPD) program of the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development published their first annual report to celebrate and share the accomplishments of their faculty and students.

Fall 2019

• The Dean’s Office created a new annual magazine for OAC alumni “LIBRANNI”. The new publication was sent to over 27,000 alumni across the world in January 2019 to encourage a sense of community with our broad alumni base. The inaugural issue was honoured with a 2019 Best of CAMA award by the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association.
• The Dean’s Office staff team provided leadership in the development and implementation of the University of Guelph’s celebrated presence at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair held in Toronto each November. A number of important individuals visited the exhibit, including Premier Doug Ford, Minister Ernie Hardeman and various other industry leaders and alumni.
• The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development secured a back cover full page colour ad in the 100th Anniversary Celebration issue of PLAN Canada, the official publication of the Canadian Institute of Planners.
• The President’s Dinner is an annual event for the University’s most generous donors. Prof. Mike Dixon of the School of Environmental Sciences was selected as the keynote speaker for this important event with influential attendees. He spoke on his research that seeks to grow plants in space.
• The Department of Food Science began offering two new short courses. The new chocolate course, which has been offered once, was aimed at industry professionals looking to upgrade their technical skills. The beer course, which has been offered twice, was formatted as a more open artisan format and has been extremely popular with beer enthusiasts and at-home brewers.
• The Department of Animal Biosciences partnered with the Beef Farmers of Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to offer a one-day industry workshop called Carcass 101. They also offered a Smart Calf Rearing Conference for researchers, industry and producers. Both were offered in late 2019.
• In 2019 OAC faculty across the college took leadership roles in hosting important scientific conferences such as International Union of Soil Sciences – Pedometrics Conference, the International Society for Equitation Science Annual Conference, and the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society Annual Meeting.
• Four alumni class projects have been initiated since the Summer of 2019. The OAC Classes of ’71,’72, ’73, ’78, and ’79 are fundraising for various projects that focus on scholarships, awards, research infrastructure and building renovations.

Updated March 20, 2023.