Report: UTSC Campus Affairs Committee - February 10, 2022

1. Chair’s Remarks

The Chair, Dr. Tayyab Rashid, welcomed members and guests to the virtual meeting. He also provided several updates regarding the annual governance elections.

2. Annual Report: Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees (2021-22) (For Information)

The Chair invited Dr. Melinda Scott (Director, Office of the Vice-Provost, Students), to present an overview of the Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees Report. Dr. Scott reminded members that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, campus services and student societies were invited to review their programming and services, and consider temporary reductions to their fees. She noted that those temporary fee reductions were previously reported to governance and were reflected in the annual report.  She referred members to the documentation, which included the original fees as well as the fees reduced in response to COVID-19, which were primarily for the 2020-21 academic year.

Dr. Scott stated that fees were categorized into three areas: Campus Service Fees (e.g., Health and Wellness), Cross-Divisional Student Societies (e.g., The Varsity), and Divisional Fees (e.g., Scarborough Campus Students’ Union). In her presentation, Dr. Scott provided examples of these fees for full-time and part-time undergraduate, and graduate students for 2021-22 and reviewed a comparison chart of these fees among divisions at the University. She pointed to the cross divisional student society fees for graduate students and explained that the difference in the fees between undergraduate and graduate students represented the difference in the health and dental plans between the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students and the University of Toronto Graduate Student Union. 

Members had no questions.

3. Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees: UTSC Student Societies - Proposals for Fee Increases (For Recommendation)

Ms. Sheila John (Acting Dean, Student Experience and Wellbeing) introduced the proposal and invited Ms Nadia Rosemond (Assistant Dean - Co-Curricular Engagement & Student Leadership) to present the item. Ms Rosemond explained the University’s assumed obligations to students and the oversight role of the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students. She reported that the fee changes requested by the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) were subject to the Policy for Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees and the Policy on Ancillary Fees.  

Members had no questions. 

On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,  

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED, 

THAT, beginning in the Summer 2022 session, the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) fee be modified as follows: (a) an increase of $7.37 per session ($1.48 part-time) in the UTSC Sports & Recreation Complex Levy portion of the fee;

THAT, beginning in the Fall 2022 session, the SCSU fee be modified as follows: (a) an increase of $1.45 per session ($0.09 part-time) in the society portion of the fee, (b) an increase of $2.17 per session ($0.65 part-time) in the Student Centre portion of the fee, (c) an increase of $0.40 per session (full-time only) in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) portion of the fee, and (d) continuation of the WUSC Program portion of the fee through the 2022-23 academic period; and

subject to confirmation of approval of the following fee change proposals by the SCSU Board of Directors,

THAT, beginning in the Fall 2022 session, the SCSU fee be modified as follows: (a) an increase of up to $8.56 per Fall and Winter sessions (full-time only) in the Health Plan portion of the fee, (b) an increase of up to $11.44 per Fall and Winter sessions (full-time only) in the Dental Plan portion of the fee.

If approved, the total Fall/Winter SCSU fee will be up to $499.93 per session ($53.62 part-time), charged to all UTSC undergraduate students.
 

4. Operating Plans and Fees: UTSC Office of Student Experience and Wellbeing 

4a) Advice from the Council on Student Services (CSS) (For Information) 

4b) Operating Plans and Fees: Office of Student Experience and Wellbeing (For Recommendation)  

The Chair reminded members that Dean Pouyat (Dean, Student Experience and Wellbeing) had provided a detailed description of the process for the development of this service plan, at the previous meeting. He also noted that while motions for this item were separated out for transparency, the motions were an interconnected plan and would be considered with one vote. Ms. Sheila John introduced the item and provided an overview of the CSS priorities and themes for 2022-23, which included: supporting the campus Strategic Plan; supporting accessible, inclusive and safe community; building a community of belonging for all students; implementing Healthy Campus with an emphasis on mental health; and supporting academic and career transition success for all students. She discussed the robust process to approve the operating plan, which is governed by the Protocol on Non-Tuition Fees.

Ms Nadia Rosemond reported a unanimous recommendation from the CSS on the overall proposed fee decreases ($1.79 for full-time, and $0.36 for part-time). She added that the decrease factored in an increase to the Health & Wellness Service Fee, which included the addition of a additional Health and Wellness counsellor position. The overall decrease was made feasible due to a changed student experience and wellbeing landscape brought about by the pandemic.

Members had no questions. 

On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,  

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED, 

THAT, the 2022-23 operating plans and budgets for the UTSC Student Experience and Wellbeing (including the Health & Wellness Centre, Athletics & Recreation, Career Services, Academic Support, Student Buildings and Other Student Services), as presented in the documentation from Mr. Desmond Pouyat, 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 $79.35 per full-time student per session ($15.87 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 2.12% ($1.65 for full-time student; $0.33 for part-time student);

THAT, the sessional Athletics and Recreation Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC- affiliated full-time student be decreased to $144.51 per full-time student per session ($28.90 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year decrease of 1.89% ($2.78 for full-time student; $0.56 for part-time student);

THAT, the sessional Career Services Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC- affiliated full-time student be increased to $90.64 per full-time student per session ($18.13 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 1.71% ($1.52 for full-time student; $0.31 for part-time student);

THAT, the sessional Academic Support Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC- affiliated full-time student be decreased to $53.45 per full-time student per session ($10.69 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year decrease of 0.21% ($0.11 for full-time student; $0.02 for part-time student);

THAT, the sessional Student Buildings Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC- affiliated full-time student be decreased to $32.42 per full-time student per session ($6.48 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year decrease of 6.35% ($2.20 for full-time student; $0.44 for part-time student);

THAT, the sessional Other Student Services Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC- affiliated full-time student be increased to $20.35 per full-time student per session ($4.07 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 0.64% ($0.13 for full-time student; $0.03 for part-time student).
 

5. Operating Plans and Fees: Service Ancillaries, UTSC (For Recommendation) 

The Chair invited Mr. Andrew Arifuzzaman (UTSC Chief Administrative Officer), to introduce the item. Mr. Arifuzzaman reminded members of the University’s four financial objectives – to operate without subsidy from the University’s operating budget; to provide for all costs of capital renewal including deferred maintenance;​ to create and maintain an operating reserve; and​ to contribute net revenues to the operating budget. The proposed budgets for the 2022-23 year assumed that on-campus activity returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Mr. Andrew Arifuzzaman invited Mr. Greg Hum (Director, Housing & Residence Life) to present. Mr. Hum presented the proposed fee increases for 2022/23 and highlighted several key accomplishments from the ‘Student Housing and Residence Life’ ancillary unit, which included: increased occupancy from 20% (20/21) to 97% (21/22); launched Residence First-Year Learning Communities in partnership with Student Life​; completed important facilities maintenance; and ensured health & safety during the global pandemic. Ms Fran Wdowczyk (Director, Business Development & Special Advisor to the CAO Operations and Special Projects) provided an overview of the ‘Retail and Conference Services’ and ‘Food and Beverage Services’ ancillary budgets and highlighted several accomplishments which included: provided a virtual camp and doubled registration from 2020​; maintained film shoot revenues​; staffed University welcome desks and provided campus wide support during lockdown e.g., set up vaccine clinic; enhanced student meal experiences through community partnerships (Summer Grocery Program). Ms Tanya Poppleton (Director, Campus Safety), highlighted the current plans of the ‘Parking Services’ ancillaries’ unit. This included an overview of the proposed ‘Retail and Parking Commons’ capital project, and the 2022/23 proposed parking permit fee increases (10%).

Members had no questions. 

On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED,

THAT the 2022-23 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 04, 2022, be approved effective May 1, 2022.

6. Report of the Presidential Assessors

The Chair invited Professor William A. Gough (Vice-Principal Academic & Dean) to present his report.  Professor Gough reported that the first phase of the return to in-person learning was underway, noting that a second wave of students would return to campus following Reading Week. He noted that 20% of offerings would continue online for the remainder of the term, with increased summer offerings. Some vaccine non-compliant students had been de-enrolled from their in-person component courses (3% of UTSC students). Of this group, 2/3rd had since uploaded their vaccine status, and were re-enrolled in their courses.

The Chair invited Ms. Sheila John, to present her report. Ms. John reported that the Office of Student Experience and Wellbeing (OSEW) was looking forward to welcoming more students back to campus. She acknowledged the differing levels of uncertainty about the return to campus and noted that the OSEW was working hard to support students across all its services. Ms John noted that while in-person services had returned, virtual offerings would also continue as some students had expressed this was a preference. Lastly, it was reported that the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre was open.  

A member asked for more information about the recently updated University Mask Guidelines and asked how it would be enforced. Mr. Arifuzzaman reported that the guidelines recommended medical masks at this time, which should hold a rating of ASTM Level 2 or 3. He added that several initiatives were being put in place to increase accessibility (e.g.: mask vending machine). With regard to compliance, Mr. Arifuzzaman commented that the guidelines followed Public Health, and that education was the approach.

A member asked if waste management had been considered, with regard to community mask use. Mr. Jeff Miller (Director, Facilities Management & Capital Projects) confirmed that several protocols were in place, for example, procedures for the safe pick-up of discarded masks.

4.         Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 46 – January 13, 2022

The report of the previous meeting was approved.

5.         Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting

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

6.         Date of Next Meeting – March 24, 2022 at 3:10 p.m.

The Chair advised members that the Committee would meet again on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 3:10 p.m.

7.         Other Business

Members had no other business.

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The meeting adjourned at 4:14 p.m.

February 18, 2022