Report: Planning and Budget Committee - January 13, 2021

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Via Virtual Meeting

REPORT NUMBER 196 OF THE PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMITTEE
Wednesday, January 13, 2021

To the Academic Board, 
University of Toronto 

Your Committee reports that it met virtually on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, at 3:10 p.m. with the following members present:

PRESENT: 
Jan K. Mahrt-Smith, Chair;   Mark  Lautens, Vice Chair;  Cheryl  Regehr, Vice-President and Provost;   Scott  Mabury, Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships;  Trevor  Rodgers, Assistant Vice-President, Planning & Budget;   Adanna Yvette Chigbo;   Carol C. Chin;   Ettore Vincenzo Damiano;   Markus D. Dubber;   Sarosh  Jamal;   Ernest W.N. Lam;   Joanne  McNamara;   Nicole  Mideo;   Amy  Mullin;   Fabian  Parsch;   Matt  Ratto;   Daniel  Rozhko;   Marium Nur Vahed;   Grace Ann Westcott;   Melanie A. Woodin
 
REGRETS:

Adalsteinn (Steini) I. D. Brown; Lisa Rebecca Dolovich

NON-VOTING ASSESSORS:
 
Saher Fazilat, Chief Administrative Officer, UTM

SECRETARIAT:
 
Tracey Gameiro, Secretary 
 
IN ATTENDANCE: 
Elizabeth Cragg, Director, Office of the Vice-President University Operations 
Archana Sridhar, Assistant Provost, Office of the Vice-President and Provost

ITEM 3 AND IN CAMERA ITEM 9 ARE RECOMMENDED TO THE ACADEMIC BOARD FOR APPROVAL. ITEM 5 WAS APPROVED.  ALL OTHER ITEMS ARE REPORTED FOR INFORMATION.

Pursuant to section 33(i) of By-Law Number 2, 
Item 9 was considered in camera. 

OPEN SESSION

  1. Chair’s Remarks

    The Chair welcomed members and guests to the meeting. He encouraged active and engaged participation in the discussions.
     
  2. Assessors’ Reports

    Highlights of the reports of the Committee’s assessors included the following:

    Report of the Vice-President and Provost 

    Strategic Mandate Agreement 
  • The University had received data from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities indicating it had met all performance targets for year 1 of the third Strategic Mandate Agreement.
  • Performance metrics were retrospective, and the 2020-21 metrics did not reflect the impact of COVID-19.
  • Financial implications of performance metrics had been delayed by the Ministry until at least 2023 while the impacts of COVID-19 continued to be monitored. 

COVID-19

  • Under the new enhanced public health and workplace safety measures announced by the Ontario government on January 12, 2021, courses would continue to be delivered remotely, with the exception of those courses where face-to-face interactions are deemed essential.
  • Those who were able to work from home would continue to be supported to do so.
  • Research activities were anticipated to continue as they had during the lockdown.
  • The impact of the updated regulations on the University’s operations would continue to be assessed.

Students

  • Programs continued to be developed and refined in response to the pandemic to support student success and safety, including quarantine programs and emergency bursaries. 
  • More than 1,300 students had completed quarantine programs, with an additional 800 registered for the winter term. 
  • In 2020, more than $7.4 million in emergency bursaries were provided to more than 6,000 students. 

Academic Continuity

  • The University continued to advocate for further exceptions to virtual learning requirements, particularly for impacted programs that were critical to the health sector (e.g. dentistry), and the economic recovery of the province.
  • Faculties and Divisions had begun planning for the upcoming summer session and fall term, which would include developing contingencies for various scenarios. 

Business Continuity

  • University buildings continued to be accessible only to members of the University community and essential visitors, with all attending on campus being required to complete a health assessment. 

    Fall 2020 Enrolment Results
  • Overall enrolment results for the fall term were strong, with undergraduate enrolment up 3.4% compared to the previous year and 1.8% above expectations.
  • Graduate enrolment in masters programs had declined slightly by 0.7%, but doctoral enrolment had increased by 6.7% year-over-year. 


Report of the Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships 

The Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships, Professor Scott Mabury, provided an overview of capital projects likely to come in the remaining cycles 4, 5 and 6 of the 2020-21 governance year. 

There were no questions from members. 

  1. Capital Project: Utility Services – Devonshire-Bloor Expansion Basis of Design

     

    The Committee received a presentation from Scott Mabury and Ron Saporta, Chief Operating Officer, Property Services and Sustainability, which highlighted that current central utilities servicing the Devonshire-Bloor corridor were inadequate to provide heating and cooling to buildings in the area, especially recent and planned additions to the building stock. 
    Members were advised that the project would efficiently manage both capital and operating costs, and progress the transformation of the St. George campus to a low carbon future that benefits significantly from a district heating and cooling system

    There were no questions from members. 

    On motion duly moved, seconded and carried 

    YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED

    THAT the Utility Services – Devonshire-Bloor Expansion Basis of Design, dated July 16, 2020, be approved in principle, to be funded by Recovery from the Academic Wood Tower Project, Recovery from the Woodsworth Academic Building, Divisional Reserves, and the St George Campus Utilities Infrastructure Fund.

OPEN SESSION CONSENT AGENDA

On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried 

YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED THAT 

The consent agenda be adopted.

  1. Annual Report: Approved Endowed and Limited Term Chairs, Professorships, Distinguished Scholars and Program Initiatives, 2019-2020

    The Committee received the Annual Report: Approved Endowed and Limited Term Chairs, Professorships, Distinguished Scholars and Program Initiatives, 2019-2020 for information.
     
  2. Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 195 – October 28, 2020

    Report Number 195 of October 28, 2020 was approved.
     
  3. Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting

    There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting. 
     
  4. Date of the Next Meeting – Monday, February 22, 2021, 3:10 – 5:10 p.m.

    The Chair reminded members that the next meeting would be held on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 3:10 p.m. 


END OF CONSENT AGENDA

  1. Other Business

    There were no items of other business. 


THE BOARD MOVED IN CAMERA.
 

  1. Capital Project:  Utility Services – Devonshire-Bloor Expansion Basis of Design - Total Project Cost and Sources of Funding

    On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried 

    YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED

    THAT the Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships’ recommendation regarding the Total Project Cost and Sources of Funding for the Utility Services – Devonshire-Bloor Expansion Basis of Design, as outlined in the memorandum dated January 4, 2021, be approved.

The Committee returned to Open Session.

The Chair thanked members for their attendance and participation in the Committee meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 3:48 p.m.


January 14, 2021