Description
The UTFA Academic Citizenship Award honours one or two initiatives undertaken by members of UTFA who have made a significant contribution to our understanding of the relationship between the University and public life—whether by encouraging the positive engagement of academics in key social issues, or by working to extend democratic and accountable practices within the University itself, or by making an outstanding contribution to the well-being of their community.
The award is accompanied by a $1,000 prize, awarded to one initiative or each of two initiatives annually.
Eligibility
Nominees should be from the broad UTFA membership and not currently serving on the UTFA Executive Committee.
A nominee should:
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have participated in a leadership role in a significant initiative in the current or past academic year;
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be a faculty member or librarian from any of the three University of Toronto campuses or the federated colleges; and
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have contributed a significant amount of time to the initiative without substantial monetary gain from the work.
Selection Criteria
Each nominated initiative will be evaluated based on its demonstrated significance and positive impact, as well as one or more of the following criteria:
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Capacity to engage academics in key social issues
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Promotion of democratic practices at the University
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Advocacy of accountability in University governance
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Outstanding contribution to the well-being of the University or an under-served community
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Innovation: approaching a problem using a new and creative solution
Nomination Materials
The nomination consists of:
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three narratives, each 300 words or less, that address the following:
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What was the initiative?
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What was the impact or result of the initiative?
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Who else was involved? Explain or describe their contribution.
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one letter of support from a colleague who is an UTFA member
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No additional material may be included.
The nomination deadline is February 28, 2026.
UTFA Council will choose award winners following on the recommendation of the UTFA Membership Committee.
For a list of previous recipients, please see: https://www.utfa.org/content/academic-citizenship-award