Vice-President, Academic and Provost

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work and create.

OCAD U) - Canada’s largest and oldest public art and design university - is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world.

The University is globally recognized as a hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration.

It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum, and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design and partner to both public sector and private industry.

Students benefit from hands-on studio learning and have access to state-of-the-art shops and studios for both traditional and digital creation.

They join a creative community with opportunities to collaborate with fellow artists and designers and work alongside a diverse and supportive team of instructors and peers.

Through undergraduate and graduate programming that is responsive to students’ interests, curiosities, and passions, and interdisciplinary programs like Indigenous Visual Culture and the Master’s in Art, Media and Design, students gain 21st Century skills that position them for success across a variety of sectors and as creative entrepreneurs.

Graduates work in a variety of industries, including furniture and product design, urban planning, healthcare, advertising, film, animation, digital media, game design, publishing, visual arts, illustration, curatorial practice and arts administration.

As OCAD U continues to drive national and international impact as a leader in art and design education, the institution invites nominations and applications for its next Vice-President, Academic & Provost .

In an era of change, this is a propitious time for the University to attract a passionate, skilled leader who will bring vision, a transparent and engaging communication style, and innovative, evidence-based academic leadership as OCAD U seeks to pursue its mandate as a vibrant hub of innovative teaching, learning, research and practice, in alignment with the ambitious goals in its .

• Reporting to the President and Vice-Chancellor, the Vice-President, Academic & Provost is the Chief Academic Officer of the University, responsible for upholding academic standards;
• championing excellence and innovation in programming, scholarship, and service to the community; advocating for inclusive excellence;

implementing academic policies and procedures; and overseeing faculty affairs. The Vice-President, Academic & Provost leads the quality assurance process for all academic programs, and provides leadership and direction to the Faculties of Art, Design, and Arts & Science, as well as the School of Graduate Studies, the Writing & Learning Centre, Faculty & Curriculum Development Centre, Indigenous Engagement, Institutional Analysis & Budget Planning, Library Services, and the portfolio of the Vice-Provost, Students & International.

In addition, the Vice-President, Academic & Provost serves as Vice-Chair of the University Senate, playing a central role in helping shape the Senate agenda to realize the seven priorities outlined in the strategic plan.

The ideal candidate is an innovative, collegial, and transparent leader with significant educational leadership experience and a track record of advancing academic excellence in a complex setting.

A PhD in a relevant discipline is desirable, or a terminal

degree in visual art, design or MBA, as is a record of teaching practice, research, research / creation, or professional practice accomplishments.

The Vice-President, Academic & Provost must be eligible for appointment with tenure to the senior ranks. The individual who realizes success in this role will bring lived experience to proactively addressing inequities and advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and Indigenization across all academic activities, policies and practices.

They will embrace the plurality of the OCAD U environment, the diversity found in its people, and the cutting-edge ideas, discoveries, and artistic expressions for which they are known.

The current moment requires an empathetic and kind leader with strong financial acumen, a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, a student-centred outlook, exceptional communication and problem-solving skills, and the desire to embrace novel ways to move the academic enterprise at OCAD U forward, in close collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and partners.

Consideration of candidates will begin in September 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. Nominations, applications, or expressions of interest should be directed to Andrea Patrick or Krutika Hotwani of Odgers Berndtson at .

As an employer committed to employment equity, OCAD University encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities / expressions.

We encourage members of designated equity-deserving groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire .

OCAD University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs.

Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please People & Culture for more information or refer to

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.