Welcome to the MacPherson Institute.
We collaborate to explore, enhance, support, and recognize teaching and learning experiences at McMaster.
We offer a wide variety of programs, workshops, services and supports to all members of the McMaster community to cultivate an environment where learning deeply matters, and teaching is valued and recognized. Through these activities, educators have the opportunity to build teaching skills, develop and redesign courses, gain knowledge of educational technology tools and much more.
Since 2013, the MacPherson Institute has experienced considerable growth and change. We have expanded the quality and quantity of our supports and services; developed partnerships with educators across the McMaster community; and advanced the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at McMaster and beyond.
In 2018-19 we embarked on a journey to re-discover what the teaching and learning communities wanted from us. The self-study process helped us create a roadmap for our strategy moving forward that resulted in our new Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan outlines three key pillars that will help guide our mission and mandate moving forward.
Partnerships: We will continue to connect and collaborate with the McMaster communities.
Programs and Services: We will continue to support teaching through scholarship, supports and activities to foster positive student-centred learning.
Process: We will commit to procedures and policies that support the Strategic Plan and the culture of McMaster and the MacPherson Institute.
Teaching and learning are the heart of what we do. Together with you, we look forward to building on past successes and developing new initiatives to address the teaching and learning priorities that have been identified by our community. We will continue to ask, listen and respond to feedback as we continue to grow, adapt and change.
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Paul R. MacPherson
Paul MacPherson has been a valued friend and donor to McMaster University for nearly 30 years. In 1988, he established the Paul R. MacPherson Bursary, which is awarded to students demonstrating financial need, with a preference given to students from Mr. MacPherson’s high school in Bracebridge, Ontario. To date, the Paul R. MacPherson Bursary Fund ranks as one of McMaster’s largest bursary funds and has supported over 500 students.
The Susan Vajoczki Legacy Fund
The Susan Vajoczki Legacy Fund has been established at McMaster to honour Sue’s memory and distinguished academic career. The fund will be used to create an ongoing undergraduate scholarship to help talented students pursue research in Geography and Earth Sciences, pedagogical research, and evidence-based teaching and learning projects. For those wishing to do so, donations may be made to the Susan Vajoczki Legacy Fund, c/o Advancement Office, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4L8 or may be made online.