History of the Rotman School

Changing the face of business education since 1901

The Rotman School's history of transforming business education goes back to 1901, when a diploma program in commerce was established at the University of Toronto.

How we got here

The Rotman School has been training future business leaders since 1901, when the diploma program in Commerce was inaugurated at U of T's Faculty of Arts. The School of Business became a faculty in 1972, and was renamed in honour of graduate and donor Joseph L. Rotman in 1995. Over the past 15 years, the School has quadrupled its endowment, and tripled its physical footprint, its faculty and its student body.

Below in reverse order are some further milestones of our historic journey:

2023	Dr. Marcel Desautels, business leader, musician, philanthropist and supporter of Rotman School, passes away.
2022	Rotman launches Purpose into Action: Academic Plan 2022-2027, a strategic roadmap for the next five years, as well as Fueling Purpose into Action, a fundraising campaign as part of U of T’s Defy Gravity campaign.
2021	On July 1, 2021, Professor Susan Christoffersen appoionted the new dean of the School.
2020	Tiff Macklem appointed Governor of the Bank of Canada. Professor Kenneth Corts becomes Interim Dean.
2019	Launch of the new Rotman brand, focused on personal and professional transformation, and new brand tagline Here's Where It Changes. Rotman dean Tiff Macklem confirmed for a second five-year term.
2018	Introduction of several specialized master's programs - the Master of Management Analytics, the Master of Financial Risk Management- as well as the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting. New partnership for the Rotman Global Executive MBA program is launched with Bocconi University’s SDA Bocconi School of Management.
2016	Rotman Catalyst Fund is established with a $30-million gift from the Rotman family.
2015	Joseph L. Rotman, entrepreneur, philanthropist and supporter of the Rotman School, passes away.
2014	On July 3, 2014 Tiff Macklem begins his term as dean.
2013	On December 5, Tiff Macklem, a leader in national and international financial systems, is named the new dean of the School. Macklem was formerly the senior deputy governor of the Bank of Canada.
2012	On May 1, 2012, the Rotman School opens the doors to an expanded facility, Rotman's South Wing.
2008	The undergraduate Commerce program at the University of Toronto’s St. George campus announces its new name – Rotman Commerce – thanks to a $2.5-million gift from Sandra and Joseph Rotman.
2007	The Province of Ontario announces $50 million in funding to the School for an expansion to provide space for a 50 per cent increase in the size of the School’s graduate programs. The School introduces the 20-month, five-term Master of Finance program. Marcel Desautels, founder, president and CEO of the Canadian Credit Management Foundation supports the ongoing initiatives of the Desautels Centre for Integrative Thinking with a gift of $10-million, bringing his total gifts to the Rotman School to $31 million. The School receives a gift of $18 million from Sandra and Joseph Rotman.
2005	The Rotman School receives a significant boost to Integrative Thinking and its mission to revolutionize business education with a $10-million gift from the Canadian Credit Management Foundation (CCMF) and its founder Marcel Desautels.
2004	Rotman School completes a $4-million expansion with an addition to the 4th and 5th floors, providing space for faculty offices, meeting rooms, research and other offices. A $10-million gift from Michael Lee-Chin establishes the AIC Institute for Corporate Citizenship at Rotman and pushes the U of T’s collective campaign over its $1-billion milestone.
2000	$10-Million Gift establishes the Marcel Desautels Centre for Integrative Thinking.
1998	Former management consultant Roger L. Martin is appointed Dean. A new vision and graphic identity are launched.
1997	The Faculty of Management receives a $15 million donation from Sandra and Joseph Rotman to support its vision and goals. The gift is matched by U of T, creating a $30 million endowment fund. The School is renamed the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management in their honour.
1995	The Joseph L. Rotman Centre for Management opens, establishing a new home for the Faculty of Management.
1990	Establishment of the Business Information Centre, offering fee-based research to corporate clients.
1986	The Faculty of Management Studies is renamed the Faculty of Management in 1986 under the leadership of Dean Roger Wolff.
1983	Introduction of the first executive MBA.
1972	The Faculty of Management officially established. John Crispo becomes the school's first dean.
1968	Introduction of the PhD program.
1960	The Institute becomes the School of Business and Warren Main takes over as director.
1951	The Institute of Business Administration is founded, a predecessor of the School.
1938	A Master of Commerce degree is introduced.
1901	The University of Toronto begins offering undergraduate courses in management.