Report: Executive Committee - March 26, 2024 | The Office of the Governing Council, Secretariat

Tue, Mar 26 2024 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Chairs' Boardroom, Simcoe Hall

REPORT NUMBER 548 OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2024

To the Governing Council,
University of Toronto,

Your Executive Committee reports that it held a meeting in the Chairs’ Boardroom, on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, with the following members present:

PRESENT: Sandra Hanington (Vice-Chair), Meric Gertler (President), K. Sonu Gaind, Paul Huyer, Sarosh Jamal, Mark Lautens, Seyedreza Fattahi Massoum, Joanne McNamara, Grace Westcott, Mary-Agnes Wilson

REGRETS: Anna Kennedy (Chair), Soban Atique, Ernest Lam, Kikelomo Lawal

SECRETARIAT: Joanne Chou, Committee Secretary

IN ATTENDANCE: Ann Curran (Chair, UTM Campus Council); Douglas McDougall (Chair, Academic Board); Rajiv Mathur (Chair, Business Board); Trevor Young, Vice-President and Provost; Leora Jackson (for item 12a and b); Chris Lang (for item 12a and b); Nadina Jamison, Chief Strategy Officer, Office of the President; Bryn MacPherson, Assistant Vice-President, Office of the President; Kristin Taylor, University Counsel & Chief Legal Officer; Susan Mazza, Special Projects Officer, Office of the President

Pursuant to section 38 of By-Law Number 2,
consideration of items 12 to 14 took place in camera.

CLOSED SESSION

Chair’s Remarks

The Vice-Chair welcomed members, Board and Council Chairs and Vice-Presidents to the meeting. She noted that the Chair and the Secretary of the Governing Council were attending the Association of Governing Boards conference and that she would be chairing the meeting.
Report of the President

The President began by highlighting that it was U of T Giving Day, where the global U of T community worked together to support inclusive excellence at the University. He stated that donated funds would be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000,and that the second annual event had been well received by our global alumni community.

Budget and Blue-Ribbon Panel report

The President remarked that it was Budget Day in Ontario and noted that there appeared to be few new measures for the higher education sector. He identified a few items of note, including funding for advanced research computing facilities, funding to support planning for a medical school at York University, some additional support for nursing spaces and deferred maintenance investments, as well as some funding for the biosciences research infrastructure fund.

The President commented on the recommendations of the Province’s Blue-Ribbon Panel (BRP). He reminded members that on February 26^th, Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop announced a package of measures in response to the Panel’s recommendations totaling $1.3 billion that included:

$903 million over three years through a new Postsecondary Education Sustainability Fund starting in 2024-25.
- Approximately $700 million was to be allocated across the system on a per student basis.
- Approximately $200 million was to be allocated for institutions with greater financial need.
$167.4 million over three years in additional funding for capital repairs and equipment across the sector. (The President noted that U of T’s tri-campus deferred maintenance costs stood at $1.2 billion).
$15 million over three years for a new Efficiency and Accountability Fund to support third-party reviews to identify actions that institutions could take to find efficiencies and save costs.
$100 million in 2023-24 to support STEM program costs at colleges and universities with enrolments above currently funded levels.
$65.4 million to support research and innovation expenditures, including $47.4 million to renew infrastructure for Ontario’s Advanced Research Computing systems, and $18 million for their ongoing operations and maintenance.
- The President noted that U of T had been strongly advocating for this funding, and that the additional investment into the University’s SciNet supercomputer centre was welcome news.
$23 million to enhance mental health supports over three years across the sector.

The President commented that while these investments were a welcome first step towards meeting the recommendations of the BRP, there was much more to be done. He noted that it was hoped that the announced grant increases would become permanent base increases after the three-year period, and that the Provincial government had maintained the tuition freeze for Ontario domestic students for an additional three years, despite the BRP’s recommendations that tuition fees increase incrementally.

The President stated that the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) and other organizations had indicated that the government’s announcement fell well short of what was required to ensure the financial sustainability of the sector. He remarked that Steve Orsini, President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities, had noted that the government announcement only provided short-term relief, and that DBRS Morningstar had described the package as a “stop gap”, adding that the measures “failed to address the fundamental lack of revenue flexibility for Ontario universities”. Consequently, it was predicted that Ontario’s universities would face increased financial struggles in the future. Additionally, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) had commented on this matter in their budget submission, and called for more funding for the province’s “struggling postsecondary institutions, both from the government and from allowing tuition to rise, so that Ontario could continue to benefit from its pool of skilled graduates.”

The President went on to note that the COU had partnered with the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) to communicate the sector’s financial challenges to the Province, and had signed a joint open letter to Minister Bethlenfalvy to urge him to address the sector’s financial sustainability challenges. He concluded his comments on Provincial matters by noting that the University’s advocacy focus would shift to SMA 4 (Strategic Mandate Agreement, fourth iteration), in which post-secondary institutions would be invited to articulate three-year plans that accentuated their distinctive strengths.

Federal Updates

The President then shifted to the federal scene, and addressed the cap on international student visas. He noted that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had issued minor adjustments to the international student cap policy, and that Immigration Minister Marc Miller had recently said that “colleges and universities that didn't contribute to the over-enrollment of international students should not be impacted by the federal policy, and that Ottawa will step in, should the provinces let this happen”. The Minister had added that, “we just want to make sure that we were separating the wheat from the chaff, rewarding those institutions that have the ability to welcome and attract the top talent for which the international student visa program was designed in the first place”. The President noted that U of T had been working closely with IRCC and MCU to ensure the implementation of the cap would recognize U of T’s responsible behaviour, and that he anticipated hearing shortly from the Province regarding the University’s study permit allocation.

The President noted that the University continued to support IRCC’s efforts to advance the concept of the Recognized Institutions Framework, which would be designed to reward responsible institutional actors and help develop guidance and metrics on study permit allocations.

The President concluded his federal remarks by noting that the Federal 2024 Budget was set for April 16^th. The university’s highest federal advocacy priority continued to be the urgent need to increase funding for fundamental research through the granting councils, as well as graduate scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships. He highlighted his recent encouraging conversations with government officials that the Budget may bring some significant new investments on these fronts.

Bargaining update

The President provided an update on the University’s recent bargaining outcomes. He noted that the University had a complex labour landscape, with approximately 20,000 unionized employees organized into 25 separate bargaining units, represented by 10 different unions. Given that each of these 25 bargaining unions had its own collective agreement, collective bargaining and negotiating occurs almost continuously at the University. He noted that as of mid-February, five CUPE units had been in legal strike positions, but that agreements with each of them had been reached and ratified. He congratulated and thanked all of the bargaining teams from the University and the CUPE units for their exceptionally hard work under tense conditions over long hours. He noted that one of the University’s highest priorities was securing good conditions for all those who teach, learn, study, and work at U of T. He was grateful that we continued to be successful in this effort, and that the bargaining had reached a successful conclusion.

In the discussion that followed, senior leadership provided additional comments, noting that:

The Provost indicated that the budget did account for the impact of the union agreements and that the budget priorities in academic divisions included managing compensation costs;
Professor Scott Mabury, Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships & Vice-Provost, Academic Operations added that certain variables such as compensation had been factored into the budget and that revenues would be less than expenses and that the budget would adapt accordingly. In addition, he highlighted the risk assessments;
The Budget model accounted for changing variables such as Bill 124 and the international student visa cap;
The University continued to strongly advocate for assistance related to Bill 124, given that it had been struck down by the courts, and that assistance had been extended by the Province to hospitals and school boards, but not yet to post-secondary education institutions.

Items for Endorsement and Forwarding to Governing Council
1. Tuition Fees and Budget
  
  The Committee received an overview from Ms Ann Curran, Chair of the UTM Campus Council, Ms Grace Westcott, Chair of the UTSC Campus Council, Professor Doug McDougall, Chair of the Academic Board, and from Mr. Rajiv Mathur, Chair of the Business Board on the discussion of this item at the meeting of their respective bodies. The Campus Councils reviewed the budget for information, and both Boards supported the recommendation to approve the Budget and Long-Range Budget Guidelines.
  1. Annual Report on Student Financial Support, 2022-23: Vice-Provost, Strategic Enrolment Management
    
    The Annual Report on Student Financial Support was provided to members for information.
  2. Tuition Fee Schedules for Publicly Funded Programs, 2024-25
    
    On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
    
    YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED
    
    THAT the following recommendation be endorsed and forwarded to the Governing Council:
    
    THAT the 2024-25 tuition fees as described in the Tuition Fee Schedule for Publicly-Funded Programs 2024-25 be approved.
  3. Tuition Fee Schedule for Self-Funded Programs, 2024-25
    
    On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
    
    YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED
    
    THAT the following recommendation be endorsed and forwarded to the Governing Council:
    
    THAT the Tuition Fee Schedule for Self-Funded Programs for 2024-25 be approved.
  4. Institutional Budget Report 2024-25 and Long -Range Budget Guidelines 2024-25 to 2028-29
    
    On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
    
    YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED
    
    THAT the following recommendation be endorsed and forwarded to the Governing Council:
    
    THAT the Budget Report 2024-25 be approved, and
    
    THAT the Long-Range Budget Guidelines 2024-25 to 2028-29 be approved in principle.

CONSENT AGENDA

The Chair noted that of the items listed on the Consent Agenda, Items 4, 5 and 6 were for confirmation and item 7, the Report of the Previous Meeting of the Executive Committee was for approval. All other items were for information only.

No questions or requests to place these consent agenda items on the regular were received by the Secretary.

On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED

THAT the consent agenda be adopted and that Items 4 (a) to (f), 5 and 6, be confirmed and Item 7 be approved.

Items for Confirmation
1. Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees – UTM Student Societies Fees: Proposals for Fee Increases for 2024-25
  
  On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
  
  YOUR COMMITTEE CONFIRMED
  
  THAT, subject to confirmation of approval of the following fee change proposals by the University of Toronto Mississauga Association of Graduate Students (UTMAGS) Executive Committee, beginning in the Fall 2024 session, the UTMAGS fee be increased as follows: (a) an increase of up to $15.78 per fall and winter session (full-time & part-time) in the Mississauga Transit U-Pass portion of the fee, and (b) an increase of up to $7.89 per fall and winter session (full-time and part-time) in the Mississauga Transit Summer U-Pass portion of the fee.
  
  THAT, subject to confirmation of approval of the following fee change proposals by the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU; legally, Erindale College Students’ Union) Board of Directors, beginning in the Fall 2024 session, the UTMSU fee be modified as follows: (a) an increase of up to $1.35 per session (up to $0.04 part-time) in the society portion of the fee, (b) an increase of up to $11.23 per fall and winter session (full-time only) in the Health Plan portion of the fee, (c) an increase of up to $9.39 per fall and winter session (full-time only) in the Dental Plan portion of the fee, (d) an increase of up to $14.20 per fall and winter session and up to $17.31 per summer session (full-time & part-time) in the Mississauga Transit U-Pass portion of the fee, (e) an increase of up to $0.04 per session (full-time & part-time) in the Academic Societies portion of the fee, (f) an increase of up to $0.32 per session (full-time only) in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) portion of the fee, (g) an increase of up to $0.04 per session (full-time only) in the Downtown Legal Services portion of the fee, (h) an increase of up to $0.02 per session (full-time & part-time) in the Food Bank portion of the fee, (i) an increase of up to $0.02 per session (full-time & part-time) in the On-Campus First Aid Emergency Response portion of the fee, and (j) an increase of up to $0.07 per fall and winter session (up to $0.05 part-time) and up to $0.03 per summer session (full-time only) in the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Levy portion of the fee; and
  
  THAT, subject to confirmation of approval of the following fee change proposals by the UTMSU Board of Directors, beginning in the Fall 2024 session, the UTMSU fee charged to Mississauga Academy of Medicine students be increased as follows: (a) an increase of up to $7.09 per fall session and up to $7.10 per winter session in the Mississauga Transit Summer U-Pass portion of the fee.
2. Operating Plans and Fees: UTM Student Affairs and Services for 2024-25
  
  On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
  
  YOUR COMMITTEE CONFIRMED
  
  THAT the 2024-25 operating plans and budgets for the UTM Health & Counselling Centre; the UTM Department of Recreation, Athletics & Wellness; the UTM Student Services under the Student Services Fee, recommended by the Dean of Student Affairs, Mark Overton, and described in the attached proposals, be approved; and
  
  THAT the sessional Health Services Fee for a UTM-registered or UTM-affiliated full-time student be increased from $60.86 per session ($12.17 for a part-time student) to $77.27 ($15.45 for a part-time student) or 27.0%
  
  THAT the sessional Recreation & Athletics Fee for a UTM-registered or UTM-affiliated full-time student be increased from $211.68 per session ($42.34 for a part-time student) to $218.45 ($43.69 for a part-time student) or 3.2% ; and
  
  THAT the sessional Student Services Fee for a UTM-registered or UTM-affiliated full-time student be increased from $247.26 per session ($49.45 for a part-time student) to $283.98 ($56.80 for a part-time) student or 14.9% (resulting from a permanent increase of 2.2% and a temporary increase of 12.7%).
3. Operating Plans: UTM Service Ancillaries for 2024-25
  
  On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
  
  YOUR COMMITTEE CONFIRMED
  
  THAT, the proposed 2024-25 Operating Plans and Budgets for the UTM Service Ancillaries, as summarized in Schedule 1, the service ancillary capital budgets as summarized in Schedule 5, and the rates and fees in Schedule 6, as detailed, in the proposal dated December 1, 2023, be approved, effective May 1, 2024.
4. Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees – UTSC Student Societies: Proposals for Fee Increases
  
  On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
  
  YOUR COMMITTEE CONFIRMED
  
  THAT, beginning in the Summer 2024 session, the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) fee be modified as follows: (a) an increase of $7.97 per session ($1.59 part-time) in the UTSC Sports & Recreation Complex Levy portion of the fee; and
  
  THAT, subject to confirmation of approval of the following fee change proposals by the SCSU Board of Directors, beginning in the Fall 2024 session, the SCSU fee be modified as follows: (a) an increase of up to $1.06 per session (up to $0.07 part-time) in the society portion of the fee, (b) an increase of up to $9.42 per fall and winter session (full-time only) in the Health Plan portion of the fee, (c) an increase of up to $11.90 per fall and winter session (full-time only) in the Dental Plan portion of the fee, (d) an increase of up to $1.58 per session (up to $0.47 part-time) in the Student Centre portion of the fee, (e) an increase of up to $0.32 per session (full-time only) in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) portion of the fee, and (f) continuation of the WUSC Program portion of the fee through the 2024-25 academic period.
5. Operating Plans and Fees: UTSC Office of Student Experience and Wellbeing
  
  On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
  
  YOUR COMMITTEE CONFIRMED
  
  THAT, the 2024-25 operating plans and budgets for the UTSC Student Experience and Wellbeing (including the Health & Wellness Centre, Athletics & Recreation, Student Services), as presented in the documentation from Mr. Neel Joshi, Dean of Student Experience and Wellbeing, be approved; and
  
  THAT the sessional Health & Wellness Service Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC-affiliated full-time student be increased to $86.32 per full-time student per session ($17.26 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 7.90% ($6.32 for full-time student; $1.26 for part-time student);
  
  THAT the sessional Athletics and Recreation Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC-affiliated full-time student be decreased to $144.11 per full-time student per session ($28.82 per part-time student per session); which represents a decrease of 1.62% ($2.38 for full-time student; $0.48 for part-time student);
  
  THAT the sessional Student Services Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC-affiliated full-time student be increased to $213.50 per full-time student per session ($42.70 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 3.76% ($7.74 for full-time student; $1.55 for part-time student).
6. Operating Plans: UTSC Service Ancillaries, 2024-25
  
  On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
  
  YOUR COMMITTEE CONFIRMED
  
  THAT the 2024-25 operating plans and budgets for the UTSC Service Ancillaries, as summarized in Schedule 1; the Service Ancillary capital budgets as summarized in Schedule 5; and the rates and fees in Schedule 6, as presented in the Service Ancillary Report on Operating Plans dated January 09, 2024, be approved effective May 1, 2024.
Constitutional Amendments: Factor-Iwentash Faculty of Social Work

On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,

YOUR COMMITTEE CONFIRMED

THAT the proposed amended Constitution of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, which was recommended for approval by Faculty Council on November 21, 2023, be approved, effective April 1, 2024.
Name Change of Academic Unit – Change in the name of the Faculty of Arts and Science’s Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies, an Extra- Departmental Unit B, to the Centre for European and Eurasian Studies

On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,

YOUR COMMITTEE CONFIRMED

THAT the name of the Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies, an Extra-Departmental Unit B, to the Centre for European and Eurasian Studies, effective July 1, 2024.
Report of the Previous Meeting of the Executive Committee

Report Number 547 from the meeting of February 13, 2024 was approved.
Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting

There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting.
Report for Information

Members received the following reports for information:

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

Date of next meeting – Tuesday, May 7, 2024

The Chair advised members that the next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Chairs’ Boardroom. She highlighted the proposed membership of the Presidential Search Committee in which a memorandum was circulated broadly last week for a call for nominations. She noted that per the Policy Respecting the Appointment of a President, any member of the Executive Committee or the Governing Council who has agreed to let their name be considered as a potential member of the Search Committee would be required to withdraw from the deliberations for the Executive Committee on this matter. A process would be in place to replace the member temporarily from the relevant constituency.
Other Business
Governing Council Meeting

The Chair noted that the Governing Council meeting scheduled for April 4^th would take place at UTSC.

The Committee Moved In Camera.

IN CAMERA SESSION

Items for Approval
1. Code of Behavior on Academic Matters: Recommendation for Expulsion
  
  The Committee approved the President’s recommendation for expulsion, as outlined in the memorandum and supporting documentation from the Secretary of the Governing Council, dated March 19, 2024.
2. Replacement of panel member of a Judicial Board
  
  The Committee approved a recommendation regarding the replacement of a panel member of a Judicial Board, as outlined in the memorandum and supporting documentation from the Secretary of the Governing Council, dated March 19, 2024.
3. Appointments: McLaughlin Centre Oversight Committee
  
  On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
  
  YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED 
  
  THAT Dr. Alan Bernstein be re-appointed to the McLaughlin Centre Oversight Committee for a one-year term, effective immediately until March 31, 2025 or until his successor is appointed;
  
  THAT Dr. John Dick be appointed to the McLaughlin Centre Oversight Committee effective immediately until December 31, 2026 or until his successor is appointed;
  
  THAT Dr. Anne-Claude Gingras be appointed to the McLaughlin Centre Oversight Committee effective immediately until December 31, 2026 or until her successor is appointed.
Committee Members with the President

Members of the Executive Committee, with Board and Campus Council Chairs, met with the President.
Committee Members alone

Members of the Executive Committee, with Board and Campus Council Chairs, met privately.

The Committee returned to closed session.

The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

April 2, 2024