Fall 2025 Convocation ceremonies included the formal installation of Dr. J.J. McMurtry as the University’s eighth President and Vice-Chancellor. (JOHN-PAUL BONADONNA/University of Windsor)
By John-Paul Bonadonna
The success of the University of Windsor in 2025 can be measured through initiatives across campus leading to advances in infrastructure, community partnerships, groundbreaking research and people-focused inclusivity.
YMCA moves into 300 Ouellette
In February, the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario announced it would relocate its Windsor newcomer and employment services office to UWindsor’s downtown campus building at 300 Ouellette Ave. For the individuals served by the YMCA, this use of the street level floors promised a more accessible location, and for the University, it marked a shift towards becoming a civic hub.
That vision came into full view in November, when UWindsor and YMCA officially opened the new YMCA Learning and Career Centre. The facility now serves hundreds of community members every day, offering English-language classes, settlement support, employment services, and more.
Municipal partnership: Lakeshore and Kingsville
UWindsor also strengthened regional ties with two major municipal agreements. In May, the University signed a five-year partnership with the Municipality of Lakeshore focused on innovation, housing development, environmental sustainability and community engagement.
That same month, a similar strategic collaboration was announced with the Town of Kingsville, opening doors for student placements and research addressing agriculture, sustainability, automobility and economic development for the region.
UWindsor deepens footprint on the global stage
In July, the University secured nearly $4 million in federal support for groundbreaking research. Eighteen scholars across disciplines were awarded grants through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), enabling advanced work in fields such as molecular electronics, environmental biology, autonomous systems, biomedical diagnostics and more.
With an ever-present focus on sustainability, the University announced in July that it had cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 47 percent compared with 2019 levels, achieving its 2030 climate-action target six years ahead of schedule.
Through HVAC upgrades, the installation of hybrid chiller systems and low-carbon design standards for new buildings like Rodzik Hall and the Toldo Lancer Centre, UWindsor demonstrated that growth and sustainability can go hand in hand.
Supports for Serving Students launched
In August, UWindsor signed on to the Canadian Military, Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium (CMVF3C), pledging expanded supports for military-connected learners. The initiative includes academic accommodations, peer mentorship and resources tailored to the unique needs of veterans, reservists and families, reflecting a growing recognition that universities and pathways to education must remain accessible to all.
Welcoming New Leadership
The arrival and installation of Chanceller Dwight Duncan and President and Vice-Chancellor J.J. McMurtry at Fall Convocation marked new beginnings in both roles.
The Right Hon. Dwight Duncan is the ninth Chancellor of the University of Windsor. A lifelong Windsor-Essex resident and proud alumnus, Chancellor Duncan brings decades of public service experience to the role having served as Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance.
The campus community also saw meaningful movement in mental health support through a major new partnership announced in August with GreenShield. The collaboration aims to expand mental health and wellness programming, enhance access to digital support tools and strengthen the University’s capacity to respond to growing demand for mental health services.
In September, the University of Windsor welcomed Dr. J.J. McMurtry as its eighth President and Vice-Chancellor. McMurtry previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at York University. McMurtry has set out “to make a meaningful impact...while strengthening relationships with our community partners, alumni, donors, and retirees,” a vision that aligns with UWindsor’s direction of deepening community engagement, research excellence and inclusive student support.
Room to be You: Rodzik Hall opens
On Oct. 6, UWindsor celebrated the formal ribbon cutting for the University’s newest student residence, Rodzik Hall. The 452-bed residence was made possible by a public-private collaboration with Tilbury Properties and a generous gift from the Rodzik family.
The building adds significant on-campus capacity, easing housing pressures for students and the broader community while signaling the University’s commitment to supporting student life and well-being.
3D Student Housing project begins
November saw nationwide attention focused on a UWindsor innovation and a first in Canada. Just steps from the Toldo Lancer Centre, a 3D-printed student residence began construction.
The project highlights the potential for emerging technologies to tackle housing affordability challenges in communities across the country. The initiative offers students, researchers and industry partners a real-world case study in sustainable design, rapid construction and the intersection of engineering and community need.
For the University of Windsor, bold steps forward in research and innovation, partnerships and campus life were the hallmarks of 2025.
Through the collective will of the campus community, the University of Windsor remains well-positioned not just for the academic year ahead, but for the next era in the institution’s history.