Report: Academic Board - April 27, 2023

OPEN SESSION

1. Chair’s Remarks
   
   The Chair welcomed members and guests to the meeting. He encouraged Board members to participate in the Convocation Ceremonies planned for June 2023, and noted that these ceremonies marked a significant milestone for students as they pursued their academic and personal goals at the University.
    
2. Report of the Vice-President and Provost
   
   There was no report from the Vice-President and Provost.
    
3. Annual Report: Vice-President, Research and Innovation, 2022
   
   Professor Leah Cowen, Vice-President, Research and Innovation and Strategic Initiatives presented his divisional annual report for information. The 2022 Annual Report highlighted the accomplishments and impact of researchers and innovators at the University, as well as the impact and role the Division played in support of their endeavours. 
   
   Highlights of the presentation included:

• U of T consistently ranked first in Canada in nearly all major fields and second among North American public universities;
• U of T was 5^th in the world for publications in the top 10% of the most highly cited publications;
• U of T’s appointed academic staff represented only 6% of all Canadian university teaching staff, but vastly leads in the number of prestigious awards nationally and globally compared to peer institutions;
• U of T had unprecedented success securing grants totalling almost $300M
• In 2022-23, U of T received 16% share of all tri-agency funding;
• In 2022, U of T spent $58M in research support funding for indirect expenditures such as IP, research facilities, management and administration;
• U of T with the Toronto Academic Health Science Network hospitals continued to lead in Canada Research Chairs nationally;
• U of T was surpassing equity targets for Canada Research Chairs in all four federally designated groups (women, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities);
  
  There were no questions for Professor Cowen.
   

4. Affiliation Agreements: Renewal of the Existing Affiliation Agreements Between the University of Toronto (UofT) and the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) associate member hospitals and revisions from the 2018 Template
   
   The Committee received a combined presentation on Items 4, 5, and 6.  
   
   Professor Lynn Wilson, Associate Vice-Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, provided an overview of the affiliation agreements between UofT and the TAHSN associate member hospitals (Item 3), community affiliated hospitals (Item 4), and its non-hospital clinical sites (Item 5). She noted that the agreements were broad relationship frameworks that set out shared objectives in a number of areas including: the appointment of faculty and staff, teaching, research, fundraising, and legislative requirements. 
   
   Professor Wilson noted that the template affiliation agreements with the fully-affiliated hospitals were updated and renewed and approved by governance in the Fall of 2022.  Relevant changes agreed to with the fully-affiliated hospitals were then carried over to the agreements with the associate hospitals, community hospitals, and non-hospital clinical sites.  
   
   Professor Wilson outlined the proposed amendments to the existing templates and spoke to the consultation undertaken as part of the review process of each.
   
   There were no questions from members.
    

   On motion duly moved, seconded and carried
   
   YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDED
   
   THAT the revised template for affiliation agreements between the University of Toronto and the associate member hospitals of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network be approved, effective immediately;
   
   THAT the President, or designate, be authorized to sign such agreements on behalf of the Governing Council, provided that the agreements conform to the approved template; and
   
   THAT the agreements signed under the provisions of this resolution be filed with the Secretary of Governing Council.
    

5. Affiliation Agreements: Renewal of the Existing Affiliation Agreements Between the University of Toronto (UofT) and community affiliated hospitals and revisions from the 2017 Template
    

   On motion duly moved, seconded and carried
   
   YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDED
   
   THAT the revised template for affiliation agreements between the University of Toronto and the community hospitals be approved, effective immediately; 
   
   THAT the President, or designate, be authorized to sign such agreements on behalf of the Governing Council, provided that the agreements conform to the approved template; and 
   
   THAT the agreements signed under the provisions of this resolution be filed with the Secretary of Governing Council.
    

6. Affiliation Agreements: Renewal of the Existing Affiliation Agreements Between the University of Toronto (UofT) and non-hospital clinical sites and revisions from the 2017 Template
    

   On motion duly moved, seconded and carried
   
   YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDED
   
   THAT the revised template for affiliation agreements between the University of Toronto and its non-hospital clinical sites be approved, effective immediately;   
   
   THAT the President, or designate, be authorized to sign such agreements on behalf of the Governing Council, provided that the agreements conform to the approved template; and   
   
   THAT the agreements signed under the provisions of this resolution be filed  with the Secretary of Governing Council. 
    

7. Capital Project (Level 3) : Report of the Project Planning Committee for the Lash Miller Building Expansion – Project Scope and Sources of Funding
   
   The Board received a presentation from Professors Scott Mabury, (Vice-President, Operations & Real Estate Partnerships), and Vince Tropepe, (Vice-Dean, Research – Faculty of Arts & Science).
   
   The proposal presented to the Board included the following highlights:  

• three new storeys and a mechanical penthouse were envisioned atop the existing one storey to house the Acceleration Consortium (AC) research initiative;
• the project provided new research space for the AC, as well as replacement classrooms for Learning Space Management, and replacement faculty lab space for the Department of Chemistry;
• upper floor levels would also provide space for research labs, staff offices, hacking rooms, meeting rooms, reception areas, and a kitchen and lounge area;
• the project would enhance the presence of the Department of Chemistry and its research activity;
• the project provided additional lab and office space, as well as reception and meeting rooms;
• project consultation involved both undergraduate and graduate student representatives from the Department of Chemistry during the initial Project Planning Committee meetings, and during implementation student representatives continued to partake in bi-weekly project meetings;
• occupancy was projected for September 2025.
  
  Discussion
  
  Noting that the project would only replace approximately 80% of existing classroom seats in the Lash Miller building and that classroom space on the St. George campus was already constrained, a member asked about the long-term learning space management plan.
  
  Professor Scott Mabury acknowledged that close to 100 seats would be lost, but explained that modern building codes would not allow for all currently existing classrooms in the building to be replaced. Professor Mabury was confident however, that addressing underlying scheduling issues would result in increased efficiencies in classroom use and provide the required space to support program delivery.
  
  In response to a member’s question regarding pedestrian traffic and changes to sidewalk space,  Professor Mabury confirmed that the sidewalk space on St. George St. would not change, and would in fact be improved.
  
  Mr. Ron Saporta, (Chief Operating Officer, Property & Sustainability), addressed a member’s question regarding the sustainability design of the proposed project.  Mr. Saporta advised that the building was aligned with the University’s climate positive strategy and met all sustainability targets.  Mr. Saporta advised members that all future capital projects would set explicit carbon and energy budgets that could then be incorporated into the campus model on a tri-campus scale to advance the University’s 2050 climate positive goal.
  
   

  On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried 
  
  YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDED 
  
  THAT the project scope of the Lash Miller Building Expansion as identified in the Report of the Project Planning Committee for the University of Toronto Lash Miller Building Expansion, dated February 14, 2023, be approved in principle; and,
  
  THAT the project totaling new 2,858 net assignable square metres (nasm) (4,881 gross square metres (gsm)), and 936 gross square metres (gsm) renovated space, be approved in principle, to be funded by the  Provost Institutional Funds, Faculty of Arts & Science Operating Reserves, Faculty of Arts and Science Future Major Capital Projects Reserve Fund and Fundraising.

8. Capital Project (Level 3): University of Toronto Facilities & Services Project Concept Report for the Climate Positive LEAP Project – Project Scope and Sources of Funding
   
   Following introductory remarks by Professor Scott Mabury, Mr. Ron Saporta  provided an overview of Project LEAP.  Mr. Saporta began by reporting to members that the project was a partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to accelerate the University’s plans to achieve a climate positive campus.
   
   Highlights of the project shared with members included: 

• UofT would use CIB and private debt provider financing to complete deep energy retrofit projects (such as converting gas boilers to electric boilers and installing energy storage solutions), which would accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels;
• the project allowed UofT to modernize its district energy systems and start migrating away from fossil fuels as the primary heating source;
• greenhouse gas emission would be reduced by more than 55 per cent, or 48,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents, by the end of the decade;
• the project would complete all future phases of the Landmark project geo-exchange system allowing that project to be accelerated;
• reduced carbon emissions would result in significant savings from avoided carbon tax;
• approximately $30M in deferred maintenance liability would be retired as older equipment was phased out;
• an output-based procurement process was used making the project the first at U of T to be executed using a performance-based design-build contract;
• the project advanced the University’s climate positive strategy by 10 years; and
• the infrastructure-focused strategy complemented efforts to advance sustainability across UofT’s research, innovation and teaching missions.
  
  Discussion
  
  Addressing a member’s concern regarding disruptions to those working in the space, Mr. Saporta reported that the overwhelming majority of the deep energy retrofit work would be underground or to the roof of the building, with only a small portion (e.g. installing LED lighting) impacting the occupied space.  He advised that stakeholder engagement sessions had been established to keep occupants fully informed of the project’s progress and to allow planning for scheduled shutdowns as required.
  
  A member inquired about emissions associated with construction and whether those were captured in the Climate Positive Campus Plan.  In reply, Mr. Saporta stated that the Plan focused on Scope 1 and 2 operational emissions and did not yet include the ‘Scope 3’ emissions associated with construction as there currently lacked a framework to reliably quantify these emissions.  Mr. Saporta referred to earlier comments made by the Chair of the Planning & Budget Committee when reporting on the Committee’s discussion of the project, that the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design had been engaged to develop models to quantify those emissions.  He also stated that sustainability standards for new capital projects were being reviewed to set limit and material guidance to reduce both embodied and embedded carbon emissions.
  
  Finally, a member asked whether the project took into account that technology costs were likely to decrease over time. Mr. Saporta suggested this was not a concern because the majority of the initiatives to be implemented by the project involved well-established technology (e.g. electric boilers, heat pump technology), that would result in significant carbon emission reduction given the age and scale of the campus infrastructure.
  
  Comments from President Meric Gertler
  
  Providing broader national context, President Gertler advised the Board that as a part of Universities Canada’s membership meetings the previous day, U of T  had hosted approximately 30 presidents from universities across Canada who came to learn about the LEAP project.  He noted that there was tremendous interest in the University of Toronto’s inventiveness, and that Universities Canada had just launched its own net zero climate initiative, which would profile these types of projects with the aim of inspiring other universities.
  
  President Gertler explained that Universities Canada’s action for net zero initiative would be the first time that the collective greenhouse gas emissions of the entire post-secondary sector would be measured.  This was important not only to measure national progress, but also to signal to governments and private sector partners the enormous potential that the sector represented in helping Canada achieve its Paris Agreement targets. The sector hoped that this would support advocacy efforts to make universities eligible for the same program funding currently available to the private sector, generated from the proceeds of the carbon tax.
  
   

  On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
  
  YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDED
  
  THAT the project scope of Project LEAP, as identified in the Concept Report and Technical Submission, dated March 31, 2023, be approved in principle; and, 
  
  THAT the project be approved in principle to be funded through: UTSG Utilities Operating Funds, Federal Grants, and Debt Financing. 

9. Review of Academic Programs and Units
   1. Follow-Up Report on Reviews
      
      Professor Susan McCahan, (Vice-Provost Academic Programs and Innovations in Undergraduate Education), introduced the item explaining that under the University of Toronto Quality Assurance Process (UTQAP), the Committee on Academic Policy and Programs (“AP&P”), could request a one-year follow-up report when concerns were raised in an external review that required a longer period of response. Professor McCahan reported that the Provostial reviews the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (“OISE”), and of the programs offered conjointly by the Toronto School of Theology and the University of Toronto (“TST”), were discussed at the October 2021 meeting of AP&P.  The Committee requested follow-up reports for those two reviews.
      
      The Board then received a summary report by Professor Ernest Lam, (Chair of AP&P) of the OISE and TST follow-up reports, which AP&P considered at its meeting on February 16, 2023. 
      
      Professor Lam confirmed that AP&P was satisfied with the follow-up reports and determined that there were no specific issues of concern to be brought forward to the Academic Board.
       
   2. Semi-Annual Report on the review of Academic Units and Programs- Part 1
      
      Professor McCahan began by noting that reviews allowed the University to:
   • obtain expert advice from leaders in the field concerning academic and administrative issues;
   • measure performance against leading international programs; and
   • obtain guidance and input from peers on key strategic directions.
     
     Professor Lam then reported on the 11 reviews of units and/or programs received by AP&P at its February 16, 2023 meeting.  A summary of the discussion was contained in the AP&P report of that date.  He noted that the reviews had been conducted appropriately and within policies. 
     
     Professor Lam indicated that three follow-up reports had been requested from the:
     1. Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (Provostial Review)
     2. University of Toronto Scarborough New Media Studies Program
     3. Faculty of Arts & Science African Studies Program 
   3. Semi-Annual Report on the review of Academic Units and Programs- Part 2
      
      Professor Lam the reported on the 12 reviews of units and/or programs received by AP&P at its April 13, 2023 meeting, two of which were a Provostial review and ten of which were Decanal.  A summary of the discussion was contained in the AP&P report of that date. 
      
      One follow-up report had been requested from the Faculty of Arts & Science, Centre for Indigenous Studies.
      
      There were no questions from members.
       
10. Academic Plan: Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education’s Transformation in Motion: Academic Plan 2022-27
    
    The Chair reminded members that, while Board approval was not required for individual academic plans, under its Terms of Reference, the Board was asked to consider divisional academic plans for information and feedback. 
    
    The Chair noted that a presentation of the plan was made by Dean Gretchen Kerr to the Planning and Budget Committee on April 12, 2023 and that a summary of that presentation could be found in the minutes of that meeting (Report 209 of the Planning and Budget Committee – April 12, 2023). He noted there were no questions from Committee members regarding the Plan. 
    
    There were no questions or comments from Board members. 

​​​​OPEN SESSION CONSENT AGENDA

On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

YOUR BOARD APPROVED

THAT the consent agenda be adopted.
 

11. Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 244 – March 9, 2023
    
    Report Number 244, from the meeting of March 9, 2023 was approved.
     

12. Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
    
    There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting.
     

13. Items for Information
    
    Members received the following reports for information:

    1. Report Number 296 of the Agenda Committee – April 18, 2023

    2. Report Number 217 of the Committee on Academic Policy and Programs – February 16, 2023

    3. Report Number 218 of the Committee on Academic Policy and Programs – April 13, 2023

    4. Report Number 209 of the Planning and Budget Committee – April 12, 2023

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

14. Date of the Next Meeting: May 25, 2023, 1:10 – 4:10 p.m.
    
    The Chair reminded members that the next meeting, the last of the 2022-2023 governance year, would be held at a special time on May 25, 2023 (starting at 1:10 p.m.), and also be extended by one hour (ending at 4:10 p.m.) in anticipation of a heavier agenda. 
     

15. Other Business
    
    There were no matters of other business.
     

THE BOARD MOVED IN CAMERA. 

IN CAMERA AGENDA
 

16. Capital Project: Report of the Project Planning Committee for the Lash Miller Building Expansion– Total Project Cost Increase and Sources of Funding
     

    On motion duly moved, seconded and carried
    
    YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDED
    
    THAT the recommendation of the Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships, as outlined in the memorandum dated April 20, 2023 regarding the total project cost and sources of funding for the Lash Miller Building Expansion, be approved in principle.

17. Capital Project: University of Toronto Facilities & Services Project Concept Report for the Climate Positive LEAP Project– Total Project Cost Increase and Sources of Funding
     

    On motion duly moved, seconded and carried
    
    YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDED
    
    THAT the recommendation of the Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships, as outlined in the memorandum dated April 20, 2022 regarding the total project cost and sources of funding for the Climate Positive LEAP Project, be approved in principle.
     

THE BOARD RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION.

The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.