REPORT NUMBER 218 OF THE UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS BOARD
May 21, 2020
To the Governing Council,
University of Toronto
Your Board reports that it met on Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. via virtual meeting with the following members present:
Andrew Szende, Chair; P.C. Choo, Vice-Chair; Sandy Welsh, Vice-Provost, Students; Harvey Botting; Catherine Bragg;Reshma Dhrodia; Avrum Gotlieb; Ira Jacobs; Mallory Jackman; Amin Kamaleddin; Mark Lautens; Clayon Levy; Joseph Leydon; Ron Levi;
John F. Monahan; Sandhya Mylabathula; David Newman; Tayyab Rashid; Stephanie Rose; Gurvir Sangha; Mark Seymour; Daman Singh
Non-Voting Assessors:
Desmond Pouyat, Dean, Student Affairs, UTSC; Anne Macdonald, Assistant Vice-President, Ancillary Services; Mark Overton, Dean, Student Affairs, UTM; Meredith Strong, Director, Office of the Vice-Provost, Students and Student Policy Advisor
Secretary:
David Walders
Sectretariat:
Alexandra DiBlasio; Anwar Kazimi; Samantha Puran
Regrets:
Apefa Adjivon; Jayde Jones
In Attendance:
Christine Burke, Director, Campus and Facilities Planning
Cheryl Gibbs, Assistant-Director, Office of the Vice-Provost Students
Josh Hass, Coordinator, Student Policy Initiatives
Deborah Fritz Assistant Director – University of Toronto Campus Police
Michael Munroe Director – University of Toronto Campus Police
Kristina Kazandjian, Trademark Licensing Manager
Jason MacIntyre Bursar and Chief Administrative Office, Trinity College
Tom McIlhone Director, Campus Police Services, UTSC
Robert Messacar Director, Campus Police Services, UTM
Mayo Moran, Provost and Vice-Chancellor, Trinity College
Ben Poynton, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Officer
Stephen Rayment, Director, Marketing and Communications, Ancillary Services
Jonathan Steels, Dean of Students, Trinity College
ITEMS 3, 4 AND 13 ARE REPORTED FOR RECOMMENDATION. ITEMS 9, 14 AND 15 ARE REPORTED FOR APPROVAL. ALL OTHER ITEMS FOR INFORMATION.
- Chair’s Opening Remarks
The Chair welcomed members and guests to the meeting.
- Report of the Senior Assessor
Professor Welsh offered updates on the following matters:
COVID-19
Professor Welsh provided an update on the University’s response to the COVID-19 virus as of May 21, 2020. She highlighted the following matters: a recent announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regarding the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program; recent updates from the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), and; the recent launch of the COVID-19 discussion forum.
In the discussion that followed, members asked questions about support for graduate students and teaching assistants, support for staff members, as well as details surrounding online courses. In reply, Professor Welsh noted that her office was in regular communication with SGS regarding the concerns that had been raised by graduate students relating to the need for increased communication and support. In the same way, the University was exploring ways to support teaching assistants in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Professor Welsh noted that the University was aware of the strain placed on staff as a result of COVID-19 and the Office of Human Resources and Equity was working to ensure necessary supports were in place.
Turning to online learning, Professor Welsh noted that the recent announcement from the IRCC allowed international students to complete up to 50% of their course work outside of the country. The University would be closely examining the details of this initiative and of all online offerings to ensure that appropriate guidance was provided to students regarding completing their degree/program requirements.
- Proposed Revisions to Policy on the Recognition of Campus Groups
Professor Welsh provided an overview of the proposal, highlighting the consultations that had taken place.
On motion duly made, seconded and carried
It was Recommended
THAT the proposed revisions to the Policy on the Recognition of Campus Groups, dated May 7, 2020, be approved, effective immediately.
- Capital Project: Report of the Project Planning Committee for Trinity College in the University of Toronto New Student Residence & Academic Building - The Lawson Centre for Sustainability
Ms Christine Burke provided a brief description of the needs that would be met by the project and Chancellor Mayo Moran provided an overview of the project itself.
A member commented that while they supported the project, the University should be mindful about the loss of outdoor space for physical activities.
In reply to a comment about funding for low-income students in residence, Chancellor Moran noted that needs-based financial aid, including residence bursaries, were part of the funding structure of the proposed project.
On motion duly made, seconded and carried
It was Resolved
THAT the University Affairs Board concur with the prospective recommendation of the Academic Board
THAT the Report of the Project Planning Committee for Trinity College in the University of Toronto New Student Residence & Academic Building – The Lawson Centre for Sustainability, dated April 16, 2020, be approved in principle; and,
THAT the project totaling 9,229 net assignable square metres (nasm) and 14,068 gross square metres (gsm), be approved in principle, to be funded by Trinity College by means of a combination of institutional investments, fundraising, and external loans.
- Annual Report on the Code of Conduct for Trademark Licensees
Ms Anne Macdonald provided a brief overview of the Annual Report, noting that the Report highlighted the 20-year history of trademark licensing at the University. She offered her thanks to two members of her office – Kristina Kazandjian and Stephen Rayment for their work on the Report.
Professor Welsh offered her thanks to Ms. Macdonald for the continued hard work of her office.
The following reports were received for information.
- Annual Report: Recognized Campus Groups
- University of Toronto Mississauga
- University of Toronto Scarborough
- University of Toronto, St. George
- Annual Reports: Police Services
- University of Toronto Mississauga
- University of Toronto Scarborough
- University of Toronto, St. George
- Annual Report: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
- Report of the Previous Meeting: April 27, 2020
The report of the previous meeting was approved.
- Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting.
- Date of Next Meeting: September 30, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.
The Chair confirmed that the next meeting would be held on September 30, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.
- Other Business
A member expressed thanks and appreciation for the work of the Campus Police and the progressive approach taken to training officers. In reply to another members’ question regarding the use of the name “Campus Police”, Mr. Mike Munroe noted that discussions regarding the continued use of the name were underway.
Finally, a member noted that, with respect to the recognition of student groups, it would be beneficial for the University to have a larger role in assessing whether student groups were meeting current needs and demands. In reply, Professor Welsh noted that the requirement that the applications for recognition be made on a yearly basis ensured that there was demand for the groups. In addition, the new Policy would enable a greater tracking of recognized student groups.
The Board moved in camera
- Capital Project – Trinity College in the University of Toronto New Student Residence & Academic Building - The Lawson Centre for Sustainability: Total Project Cost and Sources of Funding
On motion duly made, seconded and carried
It was Resolved
THAT the University Affairs Board concur with the prospective recommendation of the Academic Board
THAT the Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships’ recommendation regarding the Total Project Cost and Sources of Funding for the Trinity College in the University of Toronto, New Student Resident & Academic Building – The Lawson Centre for Sustainability, as outlined in the memorandum dated May 12, 2020, be approved.
- Proposed Extension of Term of Appointment: Warden of Hart House
On motion duly made, seconded and carried
It was Resolved
THAT Mr. John F. Monahan’s term as Warden, Hart House be extended for a term beginning July 1, 2020, until September 30, 2020.
- Annual Report of the University Affairs Board Striking Committee
On motion duly made, seconded and carried
It was Resolved
THAT the following recommendations from the Report of the University Affairs Board Striking Committee were approved:
- THAT the following be appointed to the University Affairs Board for a one-year term from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
Administrative Staff
Ms Reshma Dhrodia*
Ms Ann Perry
Mr. Neil Chakraborty
Students
Ms Sandhya Mylabathula*
Mr. Ian Hutson
Ms Linh Tran
Ms Christine Sutcliffe
Ms Syeda Hasan
- THAT the following be appointed to the Discipline Appeals Board for a one-year term from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
Staff Members
Professor Avrum Gotlieb*
Mr. Sarosh Jamal
Student Members
Ms Caitlin Campisi*
Ms Susan Froom*
Ms Sandhya Mylabathula*
Ms Mama Adobea Nii Owoo*
- THAT Mr. Marshall Schnapp be re-appointed as Chair of the Complaints and Resolution Council for Student Societies for a two-year term, from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022.
- THAT the following be appointed to the University Affairs Board for a one-year term from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
The meeting moved in open session.
The Chair thanked the Vice-Chair for his support and, Professor Welsh, the other Assessors and their team members for their contributions, which had enabled the Board to meet its mandate. He thanked the Secretariat for their support. He also thanked all the members of the Board for their commitment and contribution. He acknowledged members whose terms would end on June 30th.
Professor Welsh also offered thanks to members for their service and diligence. She also thanked the Secretary and the Chair.
The meeting adjourned at 6:04 p.m.
May 22, 2020