Report: UTSC Campus Affairs Committee - January 11, 2023

1. Chair’s Remarks
   
   The Chair welcomed members and guests to the third meeting of the Campus Affairs Committee for the academic year. The Chair provided a brief update on elections and encouraged members of the UTSC community to connect with Lydia Gill, Deputy Returning Officer for further information.
    

2. Capital Project (Level 3): Report of the Project Planning Committee for SAMIH (Scarborough Academy of Medicine & Integrated Health), UTSC – Project Scope and Sources of Funding.
   
   The Chair invited Vice-President & Principal Tettey to introduce the Report of the Project Planning Committee for SAMIH (Scarborough Academy of Medicine & Integrated Health), UTSC – Project Scope and Sources of Funding. Principal Tettey remarked on the transformative impact of the SAMIH project for UTSC and the Eastern-GTA region. He noted its significant impact on the institution through the proposed project’s multi-divisional partnerships, and the ability for the University to leverage its location and positively impact its local communities. Inclusive excellence would continue to be a cornerstone of this project through a deliberative focus on integrated health and access to health professions for communities that traditionally do not see themselves within post-secondary institutions.
   
   Principal Tettey then invited Therese Ludlow, Director of Director of Business Operations and Campus Development Operations, UTSC and Jeff Miller, Director of Facilities Management, UTSC to deliver a presentation on the Scarborough Academy of Medicine & Integrated Health (SAMIH). During their presentation, they shared the following highlights about the capital project:

• Consultation with the Government of Ontario had begun in 2017 to discuss the development of a medical school in Scarborough to support the growth of the population and the lack of medical resources in the region.
• In early 2022, the Government of Ontario announced funding for the project.
• In September 2022, the province confirmed that the University would receive funding for an additional 30 undergraduate seats and 45 post-graduate positions, and 300 new health related life science graduates.
• The SAMIH building would be located on the North Campus, at the intersection of Morningside Avenue and Military Trail, directly South of the TPASC Building and North of the new Instructional Centre (IC2).
• SAMIH would host classrooms, teaching and research laboratories, including an innovative health and humanities laboratory and an FMRI space.
• There would be faculty, research, graduate, administrative and student office space. Student lounges, study spaces and a food outlet would also be housed within the building.
• Occupants would include SAMIH partners, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine (MD, PA and PT programs), Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner program), Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, the UTSC Department of Health and Society and include fMRI facilities and an EEG laboratory for the UTSC Clinical Psychology.
• In addition to the internal partners, SAMIH would be supported through partnerships with:
  • Scarborough Health Network
  • Lakeridge Health
  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  • Michael Garron Hospital
  • Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
  • Community Based Agencies and Health Care facilities
  • Family Health Teams and Community Health Centres
• Construction of SAMIH would begin in October 2023 with a targeted occupancy in August 2026.

  
  In the discussion, the Vice-Chair inquired about the timelines for welcoming the first cohort of students. It was noted that some students would begin studies in advance of the completion of the SAMIH building. Principal Tettey clarified that the plan was to have the first cohort of students begin in fall 2024. These students would begin their studies at the St. George Campus but would be designated as SAMIH students. Upon completion of construction, the transition of the students to the physical space would be initiated. Due to challenges with space restrictions, the administration would be taking a phased approach to the introduction of the first cohort. Each program and partnering faculty would take a different approach to welcoming their first cohort, as each program would be delivered differently.
  
  A member inquired about lecture space and research labs to accommodate for the projected 300 life science students associated with the SAMIH project. Principal Tettey noted that by 2024 the IC2 building would be completed and would therefore significantly increase the number of classrooms available on Campus. He also remarked that efforts were being made to review scheduling opportunities to maximize the use of lecture and lab spaces on campus, inclusive of IC2. A follow-up question was asked about plans to build a lecture hall that had a seat capacity greater than 500. Jennifer Adams Peffer (Campus Architect and Director, Architecture, Planning and Project Development) responded and explained that UTSC did not have any lecture halls in development that would be larger than a 500-seat auditorium. However, with the establishment of IC2, it would double classroom capacity at UTSC.
  
  A member asked how the timeline for the construction of the SAMIH project would fit in with the adjacent projects such as the re-routing of Military Trail. Ms Adams Peffer remarked that the new Military Trail re-routing would be an ongoing discussion with the TTC and the City. There was not a set date for the re-routing.
  
  In response to a member’s question about whether there would be dedicated seats in the MD program at SAMIH for international students, Principal Tettey clarified that the University was working within a unique set of parameters set out by the provincial government that only provided funding for domestic seats in the MD program.

  On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
  
  YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
  
  THAT the project scope of the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) as identified in the Report of the Project Planning Committee for the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), dated November 17, 2022, be approved in principle; and,
  
  THAT the project totaling 10,801.5 gross square metres (gsm), be approved in principle, to be funded through: the UTSC Infrastructure Fund; Lawrence S. Bloomberg School of Nursing, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Provostial Funding Sources, Donor and UTSC Financing.
   

3. Report of the Presidential Assessors
   
   There were two reports that were brought to the attention of this Committee. The first, was delivered by Neel Joshi (Dean, Student Experience and Wellbeing), and the following were the highlights:

• The Council on Student Services (CSS) recently met and would be reconvening later in January to take a vote on the budget for student services.
• The Residence Life Building was still under construction. The Residence Life team would be seeking to expand their team to support the increasing number of students who were expected to live in-residence.
• The Health & Wellness Team continued to offer services both online and in-person. Uptake of in-person appointments was at 70% and requests for online appointments remained at 30%. Dean Joshi recognized the efforts of the Health & Wellness Centre in supporting students with additional counselling sessions being offered after hours in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
• Dean Joshi thanked Principal Tettey, Jennifer Curry (Director, Office of the Vice-President & Principal) and Sheila John (Assistant Dean, Wellness, Recreation and Sport) for their leadership in securing the Healthy Campus designation for UTSC through being a signatory of the Okanagan Charter.
  
  The Chair invited Jeff Miller (Director of Facilities Management) to provide a report on behalf of Andrew Arifuzzaman on the Sustainability Efforts taking place at UTSC. Highlights from his report were as follows:
• UTSC was participating in tri-campus committees dedicated to sustainability.
• UTSC was working on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through storytelling and engagement. UTSC was using SDGs as a framework to evaluate the team’s work on advancing the strategic plan.
• Construction activities on Campus were meeting a very high level of environmental objectives as it pertained to energy consumption. UTSC continued to work toward lowering the carbon emissions on Campus.
• Sustainability Week was slated for February along with Sustainability Modules for students.
   

4. Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 49 – September 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 – February 9^th, 2023, 3:10 pm  
   
   The Chair reminded members that the next meeting was scheduled for February 9, 2023.
    
7. Other Business
   
   Members had no other business.
   
   The Committee moved In Camera.

IN CAMERA SESSION

8. Capital Project: SAMIH (Scarborough Academy of Medicine & Integrated Health), UTSC - Total Project Cost and Sources of Funding (For Recommendation) +

   On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
   
   YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED,
   
   THAT the total project cost of the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) as described in the Report of the Project Planning Committee for the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) dated November 17, 2022 be approved in principle.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:28 p.m.