REPORT NUMBER 54 OF THE UTSC ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
January 10, 2022
To the Campus Council,
University of Toronto Scarborough,
Your Committee reports that it met virtually, on Monday, January 10, 2022 at 3:10 p.m., with the following members present:
Present: Sonja Nikkila (Chair), Gillian Mason (Vice-Chair), Wisdom Tettey (Vice President and Principal), William A. Gough (Vice-Principal Academic & Dean), Irena Creed (Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation), David Zweig (Acting Vice-Dean Recruitment, Enrolment & Student Success), Katie Larson (Vice-Dean, Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs), Mary Silcox (Vice-Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies), Syed Ahmed, Sandra Bamford, Beheshta Ali Dad Khan, Corinne Beauquis, Glenn Brauen, Shelley Brunt, Elyse Caron-Beaudoin, Marc Fournier, April Franco, Vina Goghari, Angela Hamilton, John Hannigan, Irmi Hutfless, Daniel Lysak, Sharlene Mollett, Karen McCrindle, Laura Risk, Paulina Rousseau, Sofia Suleman, Jinny Tsang, Phil Triadafilopoulos, Shelby Verboven, Kenneth Welch, Liana Williams, Jessica Wilson, Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis
Non-Voting Assessors: Annette Knott, Hugh Laurence, Varsha Patel
In Attendance: Aarthi Ashok, Shehna Jabbar-Javeed, Douglas Kong, Rania Salem, Judith Teichman
Regrets: George Arhonditsis, Shadi Dalili, Barry Freeman, Vina Goghari, Connie Guberman, Paula Hastings, Joseph Hermer, Faizah Islam, Jubayer Jalal, Thembela Kepe, Margaret Kohn, Neil ten Kortenaar, Patricia Landolt, Randy Lundy, Michael Molloy, Juvenal Ndayiragije, Michelle Ramnaraine, Malaika Rashid, Mahinda Samarakoon, Larry Sawchuk, Sonja Sedivy, Michelle Silver, Michael Souza
Secretariat: Emma Thacker (Secretary), Tracey Gameiro
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
Professor Sonja Nikkila, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, welcomed members and guests.
- Minor Modifications to Undergraduate Curriculum, Social Sciences, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Katie Larson, Vice-Dean, Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs, to present the item. Professor Larson explained that the new courses were proposed to be taught in the 2022-2023 academic year. The curriculum changes were proposed from the Departments of Anthropology (2 new courses), Global Development Studies (5 new courses), and Health & Society (2 new courses). Members had no questions.
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed Social Sciences undergraduate curriculum changes for the 2022-23 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum reports, be approved.
- Minor Modifications to Graduate Curriculum, Management (Out of Cycle), UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Mary Silcox, Vice-Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, to present the item, brought forward from the Department of Management regarding the Master of Accounting and Finance (MAccFin) program. Professor Silcox provided highlights of the proposed changes which were regarding the timing of the course requirements. The changes were proposed to become effective as of May of 2022 to align with the incoming cohort. Members had no questions.
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed curriculum changes in the Master of Accounting and Finance (MAccFin) program, for the 2021-22 academic year, as detailed in the respective proposal, be approved.
- Changes to Undergraduate Academic Regulation: 2022-2023 Academic Calendar, Section 5.5, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Katie Larson, to present the item. Professor Larson explained that the UTSC Office of the Registrar was proposing to amend Section 5.5 of the Academic Calendar, which addressed exceptions to academic regulations. The proposed changes would clarify the existing regulation related to late submission of term work and would bring the regulation into alignment with another that governed deferred exams, for which a time limit was approved with the 2021-22 Calendar. Shelby Verboven (UTSC Registrar) and Shehna Jabbar-Javeed (Assistant Registrar, Petitions) were in attendance to respond to any questions. Members had no questions.
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed changes to the UTSC Undergraduate Academic Regulation, Section 5.5, as detailed in the proposal dated November 22, 2021, be approved, effective for the 2022-2023 academic year.
- Reviews of Academic Programs and Units, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Katie Larson, to present an overview of the reviews of three academic units and their programs: Department of Biological Sciences and its undergraduate programs; Centre for Critical Development Studies (Global Development Studies) and its undergraduate programs; Department of Management and its undergraduate programs.
Professor Larson provided highlights of the reviewer’s comments and recommendations. For example, reviewers for the Department of Management commented on the high percentage of overload teaching in the Department. Two new tenure stream faculty positions were approved in Management in 2020-2021 to address enrollment pressures. The Management review also resulted in updated learning outcomes for the BBA core curriculum and a completed curriculum mapping exercise. Reviewers for the Department of Biological Science recommended the exploration of formalizing research aspects of the curriculum and commented on student raised concerns regarding the sequencing and frequency of required courses. The Centre for Critical Development Studies (now Global Development Studies) reviewers praised the programs co-op program, and strong research output. The reviewers recommended a comprehensive strategic planning exercise, and increased clarification and consensus among the faculty about future directions for graduate program offerings. Professor Larson thanked current and past Chairs, faculty, and support staff for their exceptional work on the reviews. Members had no questions.
- Report of the Presidential Assessors
The Chair invited Professor William Gough, Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean, to present his report.
Professor Gough commented that he had hoped the campus would be back to in-person at the start of the winter session. He noted that many factors and groups were being considered to make decisions, based upon principles, and he acknowledged that decisions to move forward would not be met with agreement by all. Students had been advised that they would be de-enrolled from their in-person component courses shortly, without an uploaded (to UCheck) proof of vaccination (or exemption). Steps had been taken to reduce the number of large in-person courses, and now, courses with only in-person exams may move fully online if this was the desire of the instructor. While the recent pivot back to online delivery was a disappointment to many, Dean Gough expressed confidence that there would be a return to campus soon, even if delayed.
The Chair invited Professor Irena Creed, Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation (OVPRI) to present her report. Professor Creed reported that the Institute for Globalization, Transnationalism and the Advancement of Resilient, Inclusive Suburbs and Economies (GTA-RISE) was taking shape, with the hiring of its three Directors was well underway. Regarding research activities and the pandemic, research spaces were moved back to ‘Phase 2’, and all research that could be done remotely, would be done remotely. New mask guidelines were forthcoming. Professor Creed reported that a new Fund was available for UTSC teaching staff (up to $8K per graduate student) to support research activities; to date the OVPRI had received 22 applications. An upcoming Health Symposium was also noted, however it was currently unclear if the event would be virtual or in person. The OVPRI had posted for three additional contract staff positions (strategic project officers) which reflected the current portfolio priorities.
A member asked for clarification regarding the graduate student’s affiliation related to the new fund. Professor Creed responded that the graduate students could be enrolled in any tri-campus graduate program.
A member asked about the community partners for the Health Symposium. Professor Creed responded that the Scarborough Health Network, Centennial College, and the Toronto Zoo were partners.
CONSENT AGENDA
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the consent agenda be adopted and that Item 9 - Report of the Previous Meeting, be approved.
- Minor Modifications to Undergraduate Curriculum, Sciences, (Out of Cycle), UTSC
- Minor Modifications to Undergraduate Curriculum, Social Sciences, UTSC
- Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 53 – October 21, 2021
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 – February 9, 2022 at 3:10 p.m.
The Chair advised members that the Committee would meet again on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 3:10 p.m.
- Other Business
No other business was raised by members.
The meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m.