Hello undergraduates, and welcome to the 2020-2021 academic year.
Those of you who are returning to the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design this year will note that this message is not coming from the usual source. Richard Sommer, our long-serving former dean, ended his 11-year term on June 30. I have been appointed interim dean while the faculty resumes its search for a permanent replacement.
For anyone who doesn’t know me, let me introduce myself: I'm Robert Wright, and I've been a professor of landscape architecture at the Daniels Faculty since 1986. I'm looking forward to working with you.
You are pursuing a design education at an exciting time. The world is changing rapidly, and so are our ideas about how cities, architecture, landscapes, and visual art should look and function. By attending the Daniels Faculty, you will receive a broad design- or art-based education that prepares you to be a full and informed participant in that change.
You will have opportunities to engage with a diverse group of instructors who are active in fields related to art, architecture, landscape architecture, and urbanism. The COVID-19 pandemic may make it difficult, at times, for us to gather in person — but we will not allow that to dampen the Daniels Faculty's creative, collegial atmosphere. No matter the circumstances, any Daniels student who comes to us in the spirit of critical inquiry and collaboration will find an engaging and supportive educational environment. My advice remains the same as it was before the current crisis: don't do all your learning in the classroom. Connect with your instructors and fellow students, and — most importantly — practice your craft.
That's not to say the classroom — be it physical or virtual — isn't important. The Daniels Faculty offers many academic options to its undergraduates, and this calendar is your guide to them. Here you'll find information on degree requirements, programs of study, and rules and regulations. I ask that you carefully review these pages. If you require more information, you can contact our Office of the Registrar and Student Services, where our professional staff are always happy to assist you.
When you're done reviewing this calendar, I strongly suggest that you continue reading about the many opportunities offered at the Daniels Faculty by visiting our website, http://daniels.utoronto.ca. There, you'll find information about our 2020 public programming series, our other events, and the many projects that our enterprising students and faculty work on when they're not at school.
I wish all of you much success during what promises to be an unusual and exhilarating academic year.
Robert Wright
Interim dean
Associate professor of landscape architecture
University of Toronto