About Project Catalyst
A university-wide, multi-year program to modernize how U of T works, so we can do more for teaching and discovery.
What Project Catalyst is
Project Catalyst is an institution-wide, multi-year operational excellence program. It brings the university’s administrative work together around a shared goal: simpler, better-connected services that free up time and resources for our academic mission.
Catalyst is people-first. It’s an investment in the skills and careers of our staff, not a cost-cutting exercise, and it is designed to grow over time, adding new initiatives without starting over.
Why now
The way we work hasn’t kept pace with the university we’ve become. Four challenges make the case for change.
- Fragmented systems
- Manual processes
- Unclear service pathways
- Limited data access
Modernizing Technology
Replacing fragmented, ageing systems with connected platforms that are easier to use and maintain, so staff spend less time on workarounds and more on meaningful work.
Leveraging Data
Making trusted data easy to find, understand and use, with clear stewardship, so decisions across the university rest on evidence.
Streamlining Processes
Mapping how work really gets done, removing unnecessary steps and making service pathways clear for everyone who uses them.
Empowering People
Investing in our staff with practical skills, protected time to learn and a voice in the changes, starting with Catalyzer Training.
Seven guiding principles
How we make decisions, in every initiative and at every level.
Academic Mission First
Every change must serve teaching, learning and research.
Service Excellence
Simple, reliable services for students, faculty and staff.
People-Powered Transformation
Change is led by our people and invests in them.
Fiscal Sustainability
Spend wisely so resources flow to the mission.
Responsible Innovation
Adopt new tools, including AI, thoughtfully, ethically and securely.
Operational Leadership
Set the standard for how a great university runs.
Community as Living Lab
Test, learn and improve together, right here in our own community.
Governance at a glance
Clear accountability, from executive sponsorship to the working groups that deliver each initiative.
- Level 1
VPD
Provides executive sponsorship, sets direction and makes final decisions.
- Level 2
OpEx Steering Committee
Senior leaders who set priorities, approve initiatives and track results.
- Level 3
Catalyst Project Team
Plans, coordinates and reports on the program day to day.
- Level 4
Working Groups
Cross-divisional teams that design and deliver each initiative, with staff at the table.
Start with Catalyzer Training
Our first initiative: four short courses that build skills to protect and grow your value.