The Governing Council
September 7, 2022
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL held on September 7, 2022 at 8:45 a.m. in the Council Chamber, Simcoe Hall.
Present:
Janet L. Ecker (Chair), Anna Kennedy (Vice-Chair), Meric S. Gertler, (President), Glen W. Bandiera, David N. Bowden, Vikram Sainadh Chadalawada, Janet Cloud, Robert Cooper, Susan Froom, Mathangi (Indi) Gopinathan, Summer Hart, Paul Huyer, Sarosh Jamal, Madeline Kalda, Dveeta Lal, Mark Lautens, Scott MacKendrick, Jan K. Mahrt-Smith, Douglas E. McDougall, Joanne J. McNamara, Arman Rasekh, Veronica Marie Wadey, Mary-Agnes Wilson, Joseph Wong, Lara K. Zink
Sheree Drummond (Secretary of the Governing Council)
Regrets:
Rose M. Patten (Chancellor), Ann Curran, Teodora Dechev, K. Sonu Gaind, Alexandra Gillespie, Sandra Hanington, Maureen Harquail, Jessica Johnson, Shashi Kant, Sameer Lal, Ernest W.N. Lam, Kikelomo Lawal, Ron Levi, Rajiv Mathur, Eha Mai Naylor, Danielle Skipp, Ryan Teschner, Nhung Tuyet Tran, Grace Ann Westcott, Geeta Yadav, David W. Zingg
In Attendance:
Andrea Russell (Acting Assistant Provost), Susan Mazza (Special Projects Officer, Office of the President)
Guests:
David Palmer (Vice-President, Advancement)
Sandy Welsh (Vice-Provost, Students)
Secretariat:
Anwar Kazimi, Joanne Chou, Kata Skoko, Cindy Ferencz-Hammond, Patrick McNeill, Tim Harlick
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair introduced herself and welcomed members and guests to the first meeting of the Governing Council for the 2022-23 governance year. She offered a special welcome to the new governors and thanked them for their willingness to serve the University. She introduced the Vice-Chair and highlighted that it was a milestone year for the Governing Council, celebrating the 50th anniversary.
- President’s Report
The President opened his remarks by echoing the Chair’s welcome to the governors to the new academic year. He noted that he had spent the past few days on campus welcoming the return of our students to campus, including having the honour of cutting the ribbon to open the newly renovated Student Commons building at 230 College Street and visiting U of T’s welcome booth in the International Arrivals Hall at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The President noted the energy, excitement, and buzz on campus.
At the invitation of the President, the Provost provided a brief update on the University’s specific supports for incoming students, and the continuing measures in place to ensure a safe and supportive environment.
The Provost remarked that this fall was going to be the biggest back-to-school ever with many upper-year students on campus for the first time or returning after two years of online instruction. Back-to-school supports have been expanded with online resources such as maps and virtual campus tours.
The Provost spoke about specific initiatives that included:
- ASKme booths located at key spots across the St. George campus and UTSC
- At UTM, as of September 3, staff, librarians, faculty and upper-year students have been wearing ASKme buttons to identify themselves as friendly contacts and resource people;
- New signs and banners in prominent locations across all campuses;
- Pearson Airport Welcome Booths to welcome international students and members of the public, staffed by students who provided an array of pertinent information about U of T and the city in general;
- Many hybrid Welcome Events hosted by numerous groups that included the Divisions, UTSC, CIE, the Sexual Gender Diversity Office and the Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office, First Nations house and the Career Fair to name a few.
The Provost also noted that the pandemic remains an ongoing concern and that the University was maintaining increased ventilation measures and had implemented industry-leading standards for air changes in classrooms. Students in residences were required to be vaccinated with at least one booster dose and all members of the University community were encouraged to remain up-to-date on their vaccinations. Medical grade masks were also encouraged in high-density indoor spaces when physical distancing is not possible.
In response to a member’s question about the provision of masks, the Provost reported that masks were being provided at a number of locations across the tri-campus to ensure they were widely available.
The Chair thanked every member of the community for their hard work, patience, and dedication to the well-being of students and the mission of the University.
- Minutes of the Previous Meeting of the Governing Council
The minutes of the previous meeting for June 28, 2022 meeting were approved.
- Reports for Information
Members received the following reports for information:
- Report on Approvals Under Summer Executive Authority
The Chair informed members that, on June 28, 2022, the Council had approved the annual delegation of authority to the President to act on behalf of the Governing Council during the summer months. The Chair advised members that the Report on Approvals under Summer Executive Authority outlined the actions taken under this authority and several matters were approved.
- Report Number 533 of the Executive Committee (June 28, 2022)
The report was received by the Governing Council for information. There were no questions from members regarding these reports.
- Report on Approvals Under Summer Executive Authority
- Date of the Next Meeting – Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 4:30 p.m.
The Chair advised members that the next Governing Council meeting (Cycle 1) was scheduled for Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. and that it would be held in-person in the Council Chamber.
- Question Period
There were no questions from members.
- Other Business
There were no items of other business.
On motion duly moved, seconded and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED
THAT the meeting would move in camera and participation in the meeting would be limited to members only.
The Governing Council moved In Camera.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m.
September 7, 2022