Report: UTSC Academic Affairs Committee - May 27, 2021

-
Via Virtual Meeting

THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH CAMPUS COUNCIL
 REPORT NUMBER 51 OF THE UTSC ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

May 27, 2021
 

To the Campus Council,
University of Toronto Scarborough,

Your Committee reports that it met virtually, on May 27, 2021 at 3:10 p.m., with the following members present:

Present:
Sonja Nikkila (Chair), Shadi Dalili (Vice-Chair), Bernie Kraatz (Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation), Katie Larson (Vice-Dean, Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs), Mary Silcox (Vice-Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies), Corinne Beauquis, Christine Bolus-Reichert, Shelley Brunt, Radhapriya Chawla, Curtis Cole, George Cree, Jamie Donaldson, Sarah Guay, Alen Hadzovic, Angela Hamilton, John Hannigan, Margaret Kohn, Parsa Mahmud, Michael Molloy, Gillian Mason, Karen McCrindle, Laura Risk, Natalie Rothman, Larry Sawchuk, Michelle Silver, Phil Triadafilopoulos, Liana Williams, Jessica Wilson, Betel Woldu, Xiaoyu Yuan

Non-Voting Assessors:
Annette Knott, Hugh Varsha Patel, Shelby Verboven

In Attendance:
Joshua Brandt, Elyse Caron-Beaudoin, Genevieve Dewar, Vina Goghari, Melissa Pullara, Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis 

Regrets:
Wisdom Tettey (Vice President and Principal), William A. Gough (Vice-Principal Academic & Dean ), Grace Skogstad (Interim Associate Vice-Principal, Research - Strategic Initiatives), Rakiya Abdullahi, Syed Ahmed, George Arhonditsis, Sandra Bamford, Glenn Brauen, Suzanne Erb, April Franco, Barry Freeman, Paula Hastings, Thembela Kepe, Neil ten Kortenaar, Jacob Koudys, Patricia Landolt, Hugh Laurence, Brenda Librecz, Daniel Lysak, Andrew Mason, Juvenal Ndayiragije, Silma Roddau, Paulina Rousseau, Sonja Sedivy, Michael Souza, Changmiao Yu

Secretariat:
Emma Thacker (Secretary), Cindy Ferenz Hammond


OPEN SESSION

  1. Chair’s Remarks

    The Chair, Professor Sonja Nikkila, welcomed members and guests to the final meeting of the academic year. She provided several highlights of the Committees accomplishments over the year, noting several new curricular offerings. 
     
  2. Presentation – Campus Curriculum Committee

    The Chair invited Professor Katie Larson, Vice-Dean, Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs and Professor Mary Silcox, Vice-Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, to present the item for information. Professor Larson reported that the revision of the Campus Curriculum Committee (CCC) Terms of Reference had been underway over the course of the year and the revision process was now complete. She provided an overview of the context and history for the changes. She commented that the CCC held an advisory function intended to support curriculum proposals in development, yet in practice, the Committee structure did not support this function optimally. The CCC Terms of Reference revisions aimed to ensure a more fulsome consultation process before proposals come to governance; to advise on the content, quality, and feasibility of proposed curricular changes; to identify any potential issues; and to identify and analyze trends in curriculum. The CCC’s work would also embed an inclusive excellence lens, including accessibility, anti-racism, and student well-being in consideration of all new curricular items. Members had no questions.
     
  3. Minor Modifications: Undergraduate Curriculum Changes, Out-of-Cycle Courses

    The Chair invited Professor Larson to present the item proposed by the Department of Historical and Cultural Studies. Professor Larson explained that a double-numbered pair of courses (CLAC94H3 and HISC94H3) were being proposed out of cycle, to be effective for the 2021-2022 academic year. Professor Larson noted that Professor Natalie Rothman (Chair of the Department) was in attendance to respond to any questions. Members had no questions.

    On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,    

    YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,

    THAT the proposed Humanities undergraduate curriculum changes for the 2021-22 academic     year, as detailed in the respective curriculum report, be approved.
     
  4. Reviews of Academic Programs and Units, UTSC
     
    1. Department of Computer & Mathematical Sciences, and its Undergraduate Programs

      The Chair invited Professor Larson to present the review of the Department of Computer & Mathematical Sciences (CMS) and its undergraduate programs. Professor Larson provided highlights of the reviewers comments on strengths (e.g., strong collegiality of the faculty), challenges (e.g., highly competitive admissions), and recommendations (e.g., increasing student research opportunities). She explained that the unit had already implemented much of the recommended action. Professor Larson noted that Professor Michael Molloy, Chair of CMS, was in attendance to respond to questions. Members had no questions.

       
    2. Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science, Counselling and Clinical Psychology program, field in Clinical Psychology

      The Chair invited Professor Silcox to present the item. Professor Silcox provided highlights of the reviewer’s comments on strengths (e.g., impressive clinical training program; high rate of student granting success) and recommendations (e.g., develop UTSC local practicum sites). She explained that the unit was planning to discontinue the use of the GRE, and would review its memorandum of understanding with OISE. Professor Silcox noted that Professor Vina Goghari, Graduate Chair of the Department, was in attendance to respond to any questions. Members had no questions. 
       
  5. Minor Modifications: Undergraduate Curriculum Changes, Humanities, UTSC

    The Chair invited Professor Larson to present the item proposed by the Department of Philosophy. Professor Larson explained that the item was a minor modification, reported for information. She described the item, and noted that the course change would become effective for the 2021-2022 academic year. Professor Larson noted that Professor Joshua Brandt was in attendance to respond to any questions. Members had no questions. 
     
  6. Report of the Presidential Assessors

    The Chair advised members that there was no Assessor’s Report. 
     
  7. Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 50 – April 27, 2021 

    The report of the previous meeting was approved.
     
  8. Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting

    There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting.
     
  9. Date of Next Meeting – September 13, 2021 at 3:10 p.m.

    The Chair advised members that the Committee would meet again on September 13, 2021 at 3:10 p.m. 
     
  10. Other Business

    No other business was raised by members. The Chair thanked the Vice-Chair, Professor Dalili, the Assessors, and the Secretariat for their support over the past year. She also thanked members of the Committee for their engagement and recognized those whose terms had ended. Vice-Dean Larson also shared comments of thanks and acknowledgement. On behalf of Principal Tettey, Emma Thacker expressed his attendance regrets (due to a governance meeting conflict), and his thanks to members for their service. 


The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

June 3, 2021