Search the:

MyOntarioTech

Employee Orientation

Welcome to Ontario Tech University Orientation

We’re so glad you’re here! Think of this space as your personal launchpad—designed to guide you, support you, and give you the confidence to step into your new journey at your own pace. This orientation brings everything you need right to your fingertips. Explore the modules in any order, revisit them whenever you like, and take the time to get comfortable with the people, tools, and opportunities that will shape your experience. Your adventure starts now, and we’re excited to walk alongside you as you begin.

Land Acknowledgement

We do land acknowledgements to show our respect for the land, a tradition that dates back centuries for Indigenous people. Land acknowledgements have been adopted as a common practice in civic and community spaces across Canada – a small but important step towards reconciliation. For non-Indigenous Canadians, land acknowledgements are an opportunity to reflect on the impacts of colonialism, to be accountable to Indigenous people and thank those who still live on and care for the land. These few words spoken at gatherings can provoke thought and reflection about colonialism and how to engage in reconciliation more meaningfully.

Ontario Tech University acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. We are thankful to be welcomed on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered under the Williams Treaties and the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to a number of Indigenous nations and people.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we remember the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by as we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Our campus is home to several Indigenous art installations, each offering its own story and connection to place. Among them, two spaces often stand out for students and campus community members alike: Baagwating Indigenous Student Centre and Mukwa's Den. These areas invite reflection, grounding, and a deeper appreciation of the Indigenous histories, teachings, and relationships that are a part of our campus environment. They’re meaningful stops for anyone looking to engage more intentionally.

Mukwa’s Den Baagwating Indigenous Student Centre
Shawenjigewining Hall 3rd floor 151 Charles St beside Charles Hall

The University

The university was founded in 2002 as the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) to expand higher educatoin in Durham Region. A significant portion of the university's North Oshawa campus expansion is built on the historic Windfields Farm property. The land was the former property of world-renowned horse breeder E.P. Taylor and was the birthplace of Northern Dancer, the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. The university maintains a Windfields Farm Collection to preserve the legal and historical records of this property, which was integral to the region's agricultural and sporting history. The main campus occupies about 400 acres featuring modern facilities and a commitment to technology. The downtown campus began with the purchase of the historic Regent Theatre and now includes several of the downtown buildings.

The university rebranded to Ontario Tech University in 2018. Where there were 1000 students in 2003, there are over 14,000 students now.

Leadership

Universities are guided by a leadership team that works together to shape vision, uphold academic excellence, and ensure the institution thrives. While structures vary across campuses, four roles are especially central to how a university operates.

The President serves as the chief executive officer of the university. This role focuses on overall strategic direction, institutional priorities, external partnerships, and major decisions that influence the university’s future. The President works closely with senior leaders, government partners, and the broader community to advance the institution’s mission.

The Provost is the university’s chief academic officer. They oversee academic programs, faculty affairs, curriculum quality, and student learning. The Provost ensures that teaching, research, and academic supports align with the university’s standards and long‑term academic goals. They work closely with deans, faculty, and student‑facing units.

Dr Stephen Murphy, President & Vice Chancellor

Steven Murphy has served as the fourth President and Vice-Chancellor of Ontario Tech University since March 1, 2018.

Dr. Murphy was reappointed by the university’s Board of Governors to a second five-year term, effective July 1, 2023.

His vision centers on ‘tech with a conscience’: finding ethical solutions to problems in our tech-focused world.

Dr Lori Livingston, Provost & Vice President

Lori Livingstone has served as Provost and Vice President since July 2019. She is currently in her second term.

In addition to her academic successes, Dr. Livingston is a former national team coach and leader in women’s field lacrosse, and a former university varsity athlete in ice hockey and field hockey.

Lori is a prominent injury prevention expert who has elevated biomechanics and sports medicine research in Canada.

Mission Vision Values

Purpose‑Driven. People‑Centered. Future‑Focused.

Every university has a mission, vision, and values—but ours truly shape how we show up every single day. They’re the heartbeat of our community, guiding how we teach, learn, innovate, and support one another. And as the world shifts around us, these commitments keep us grounded while pushing us forward.

At the core, we’re here to create meaningful impact. We prepare future leaders to take on complex challenges with confidence, and we design exceptional undergraduate, graduate, and lifelong learning experiences that meet the needs of today’s learners—and tomorrow’s world. Everything we do is rooted in community and aligned with four strategic priorities that reflect who we are and who we’re becoming.

Tech with a Conscience

Innovating to improve lives and the planet

Let’s be honest: technology is everywhere. But what truly matters is how we use it. We’re driven by a powerful goal—to improve life for people and the planet through the ethical application of technology.

This isn’t just a tagline. It’s woven into our teaching, our operations, and the research that sparks new ideas every day. We embrace technology‑enhanced learning, and we champion research that asks big questions about how tech can be used responsibly and for good. Curiosity, care, and impact guide everything we do.

Learning Re‑Imagined

Flexible, dynamic, and co‑created

Education is changing fast—and we’re not just keeping up, we’re helping shape what comes next. We’re constantly exploring new ways to offer flexible, dynamic learning that opens doors for more people, in more ways, at more stages of life.

Learning here isn’t something we deliver to students; it’s something we co‑create with them. Through adaptable teaching approaches and innovative research opportunities, we empower learners to chart their own paths and contribute to a vibrant, future‑focused academic community.

Creating a Sticky Campus

Belonging, connection, and community

A great campus isn’t just a place you study—it’s a place you want to stay, connect, and grow. That’s why we’re committed to fostering a culture that’s accessible, equitable, diverse, and inclusive. When people feel welcomed and supported, they thrive.

We’re building a “sticky campus” by creating meaningful engagement opportunities both online and in person. From community events to student‑driven initiatives, we’re designing spaces where people can build relationships, share experiences, and feel a genuine sense of belonging.

Leaders for a Changing World

Preparing future‑ready thinkers and problem‑solvers

The world needs leaders who can navigate complexity with clarity, creativity, and compassion. That’s exactly who we’re preparing. Through exceptional learning experiences at every level, undergraduate, graduate, and lifelong, we help students build the skills and confidence they need to lead in a rapidly evolving world.

Our mission and our story are shaped by our community. And as we continue to grow, adapt, and innovate, these priorities guide every step we take.

Telling Our Story

We’ve spent years building a new kind of university, one that did not simply follow the traditional path but created its own. Starting from scratch was not easy, but the results speak for themselves. We are no longer the best kept secret in higher education. We are a hidden gem that is ready to shine a little brighter and share our story with the world.
And the truth is, we have earned that spotlight. We consistently punch well above our weight in rankings, competitions, research and more. That momentum comes from our entrepreneurial spirit, the same drive that helped us build this place from the ground up. We know who we are, we know what we stand for, and we are excited about where we are headed next.

A New Day - Tech with a Conscience

Before we dive deeper into what makes our university such a unique and future‑focused place to learn, we want to give you a glimpse of the spirit that drives everything we do. One of the best ways to feel that energy is through our Tech With a New Day video. It captures the optimism, creativity and bold thinking that shape our community, and it shows how technology, curiosity and human connection come together to create something truly meaningful here.

Take a moment to watch. It sets the tone for the kind of learning, discovery and impact you’ll experience as part of this university.

Let’s take a look here.

Values

Ontario Tech is a place where every person belongs and is free to grow their skillsets and mindsets.

We cultivate lasting relationships through:

Integrity: Supporting a culture of trust and belonging by consistently promoting equity, fairness, kindness and ethics.
Inclusion: Advancing a learning community where we achieve success by prioritizing reconciliation, valuing diversity and eradicating discrimination and hate.
Intellectual resilience: Pursuing excellence in all that we do by respecting different points of view and engaging constructively when exploring ideas and advancing knowledge.
Innovation: Inspiring world-changing ideas by re-imagining learning and in so doing, fostering an environment that provokes curiosity, creativity, ingenuity and failure while stimulating growth.

University Facts

Faculty experts engage with more than 300 industry partners to develop unique programs that incorporate:

Program-specific and industry-current software.

Practical, hands-on experience in a real-world setting.

The university houses more than 80 specialized research laboratories and facilities. These facilities show our commitment to attracting leading scholars and creating excellent learning experiences.

Canada Research Chairs.

The Canada Research Chairs Program invests up to $311 million per year to attract and retain some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds. Chairholders aim to achieve research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Canada Research Chairs are highly prestigious awards established by the Canadian Government in 2000. The key objective of the program continues to be met by providing human and material resources to Canadian universities that have greatly enhanced their research excellence and international competitiveness. Research Chair positions are used to attract and retain the best research talent from around the world.

Locations

Employees at our university contribute to a vibrant community that spans multiple locations and work styles. Depending on their role, team members may be based at our main campus, our downtown campus, or take part in our flexible work arrangement program. This approach allows us to support operational needs while also recognizing that different roles thrive in different environments, creating space for both collaboration and flexibility.

North Campus

Downtown Campus

Where you might see yourself

Employees across the university belong to a wide range of departments and faculties, each contributing to our shared mission in unique ways. Depending on their role, team members may be part of an academic faculty, a student‑focused service area, or an administrative or operational department. Here are some of the units and faculties where you may find yourself within our campus community.