Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award
Awards of Excellence
Carolyn Tuohy
As the country’s leading research-intensive university, the University of Toronto is committed to serving as a public steward of knowledge by ensuring that the scholarship we generate is made available to the broader community. The innovative work executed by the University’s top faculty has consistently made an impact both within and beyond academic circles, at national and international levels.
In light of this, the Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award will be presented annually to a member of the University of Toronto teaching faculty holding a continuing appointment whose scholarship has had a significant impact on public policy.
The Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award nomination process is part of the President’s Impact Awards managed by the Division of the Vice-President Research and Innovation. A nomination for the Carolyn Tuohy Award may not be submitted independently; candidates must also be considered for the President’s Impact Award. No additional materials are required, but nominators should ensure that the nomination dossier addresses the selection criteria for both awards.
The Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award was created on the occasion of Carolyn Tuohy’s departure from her role as Vice-President, Government and Institutional Relations. This award honours her many contributions to the University.
As a faculty member of the department of political science, Carolyn Tuohy was a highly regarded scholar in her area of comparative public policy. She was also a consultant to both the provincial and federal government on health care policy. Tuohy held several senior administrative posts at the University of Toronto, including Vice-President, Policy Development, Associate Provost, and most recently, Vice-President, Government and Institutional Relations. During her term, the University successfully advocated for increased investment in post-secondary education, particularly through involvement with the Rae Review and the subsequent Provincial Budget.
Nominations for the Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award may be made by a Department Chair, Academic Director, Vice- or Associate-Dean, Research, or Vice-Principal, Research of the nominee’s academic unit or division as appropriate. As a rule, nominators are to be one administrative level above nominees.
In making its decision, the Selection Committee will assess candidates based on the following criteria:
- Academic excellence as a teacher and a scholar
- Impact on public policy, whether at the municipal, provincial, national, or international level
- The magnitude of the impact of the faculty member’s contributions to public policy and their contribution to the University’s national and international reputation
Nominations will close on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
It is recommended that the nominee be informed of the nomination. Nominees should be involved in the process of preparing the nomination package, and should be consulted with regard to letters of support and other relevant supporting materials.
Please see the "Preparing a Nomination" section of the President's Impact Awards web page for instructions on what should be included in the Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award nomination package.
A complete nomination package should be submitted online.
Do not submit more than the required number of documents/letters. Supplementary documents will not be considered.
All letters of support are confidential and will be viewed by members of the President's Impact Awards Selection Committee only.
It is the responsibility of the nominator to ensure that nomination packages are complete. Incomplete nomination packages will not be considered by the Selection Committee.
Unsuccessful nominations are eligible to be resubmitted for consideration in the year following their initial nomination. After this, the nominee must wait at least two years before resubmission.
A renomination requires a new submission with updated nomination materials; revising the detailed description and providing updated letters of nomination and support are recommended.
Information about this President's Impact Award is available at research.utoronto.ca/PIA. Please contact vpri.awards@utoronto.ca for any further information.