The University of St. Michael’s College is pleased to congratulate Dean of Students Duane Rendle on his retirement in June 2025.
“Please join me in thanking Duane for his exceptional contributions to student life at St. Mike’s and wishing him the very best in his well-earned retirement,” University President David Sylvester says.
Rendle first joined the SMC community as a resident while completing an MA in Industrial Relations in the mid-1990’s. In 1998, after serving as a don for two years, he was hired as Dean of Men & Dean of College, overseeing St. Michael’s residence operation and serving as the main liaison between the student residence body and university administration.
During his nearly 28-year tenure, Rendle worked to animate and improve the part of a student’s university experience that takes place outside the classroom.
“Student life is about the clubs you join, the events you attend, the extra curriculars you engage in, and the leadership roles you assume – all of which help to make friends and memories that will last a lifetime,” he says. “It’s been an honour for me to foster those things at SMC.”
Over the years, Rendle worked to modernize the Dean of Men/College position into a true Dean of Students role. He oversaw the transition of the men’s residences into a coed operation and expanded the dean’s portfolio to include supervising Orientation, providing training and oversight to student clubs/leaders, and expanding supports for SMC’s commuter population. He also oversaw the college’s 24/7 on-call program, working with partners to expand mental health counselling, as well as supporting the creation of the Manager of Community Wellness position.
Passionate about intramural sports, Rendle took a special interest in promoting SMC’s rugby program, eventually watching the team compete in eight championship games and take home four Mulock Cup titles. He also led on student life education, creating an online course to promote safe drinking habits and address the intersection between alcohol use and sexual assault; Alcohol ABC’s (Always Be in Control) received an innovation award from the Canadian Association of College & University Student Services in 2015.
Rendle is very proud of the positive relationship his office fostered with SMC’s student union, SMCSU, and especially their collaboration on Student Improvement Fund projects, which invested more than $2 million to renovate residence halls, the Kelly Café and the Dodig Family Coop. The fund was also used to create the Wellness Studio, purchase a community ice rink and upgrade the equipment in the Alumni Hall gym.
He retires as the longest serving Dean of Students in St. Mike’s history, and one of the longest serving in the history of U of T.
Details for a farewell party, including date and time, will follow shortly.