Report: UTSC Campus Council - May 24, 2023

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Council Chamber (AA160)

Report Number 58 Of The Utsc Campus Council

May 24th, 2023

To the Governing Council,
University of Toronto Scarborough,

Your Council reports that it met on May 24, 2023, at 4:10 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Arts and Administration Building, Room 160, with the following members present:


Present:

Sotirios Damouras (In the Chair), Wisdom Tettey (Vice-President & Principal), William A. Gough (Vice-Principal Academic & Dean), Tarun Dewan, Fatima Formuli*, Edward Henley*, Irmi Huftless*, Elanie Khoo*, Gillian Mason, Sonja Nikkila, Paulina Rousseau* Rachel Sturge*, Dorinda So, Hoorik Yeghiazarian

Regrets:

Andrew Arifuzzaman (Chief, Administrative Officer), Rana Bezhadi, George Cree, Jason Glover, Qusai Hassan, Imran Khan, Sameer Lal, Michelle Lone, John Ramdeen, Silma Roddau

In Attendance:

Irena Creed (Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation) *, Jennifer Adams-Peffer (Campus Architect and Director of Architecture, Planning and Project Development), Kelly Crawford (Assistant Director, Indigenous Initiatives)

Secretariat:

Lydia Gill (Secretary), Tracey Gameiro
 

OPEN SESSION
 

  1. Chair's Remarks

    Professor Sotirios Damouras, Vice-Chair of the Campus Council, welcomed members and guests to the Council meeting. It was noted that the Chair, Ms Grace Westcott, had an unavoidable conflict, and as such Professor Damouras would Chair the meeting.

    Professor Damouras noted the results of the recent by-election for the administrative staff seat (1) on the Campus Council. The winner, Hoorik Yeghiazarian, was declared elected on May 3rd, 2023, and her term began on the same day. The Chair welcomed Hoorik Yeghiazarian to the Campus Council.
     

  2. Report of the Vice-President & Principal, UTSC (for information)

    The Chair invited Vice-President & Principal Wisdom Tettey to provide his report. Principal Tettey noted that members of the UTSC administration and the Office of the Vice-President, International, visited with international partners in Africa. The trip included visits to South Africa, Ghana, and Botswana to strengthen and formalize relationships with international partners and Universities.

    Principal Tettey also remarked on the recent announcement of the major gift and partnership with Sam Ibrahim. The $25-million investment would help to establish the new Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Principal Tettey noted that this gift would catapult the efforts that were underway to expand access to entrepreneurship opportunities for UTSC students and the broader Scarborough community.

    Presentation on the UTSC Sub-Committee on Indigenous Placemaking by Jennifer Adams-Peffer, Campus Architect and Director of Architecture, Planning and Project Development and Kelly Crawford, Assistant Director, Indigenous Initiatives

    Principal Tettey invited Jennifer Adams- Peffer, Campus Architect and Director of Architecture, Planning and Project Development and Kelly Crawford, Assistant Director, Indigenous Initiatives in their role as the Co-Chairs for the Sub-Committee on Indigenous Placemaking to deliver a presentation about the work of the Committee. Highlights from the presentation were as follows:

    • In November 2021, UTSC would begin the process of renaming spaces on campus, including the MW Building (Social Sciences Building), Rock Walk, Scholars Walk, and the Valley Land Trail
    • It was recommended that four Indigenous languages were prioritized in the renaming process (Anishinaabemowin, Cree, Mohawk, Wendat) and that Elders, Knowledge Keepers and language speakers were engaged in the naming process
    • MW Building (Social Sciences Building):
      • Elder Josh Eshkawkogan proposed language translation for MW building based on the agreed upon ethos; Kina Wiiya Enadong that translated to ‘Everyone Spirit Mind’
         
    • Valley Land Trail:
      • The Placemaking Sub-Committee met with Andrew Wesley, Elder, Council of Aboriginal Initiatives, to walk the trail and reflect on selected themes for the name.
      • Elder Andrew proposed the following Cree name; Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail that translated to "people coming together with the land for healing restoration/to enjoy he environment/peace/water for healing".
        ​
    • Scholar’s Walk would be translated to Inuktitut by Naulaq LeDrew: ilinniaqtiup aqqutinga​ that translated to ‘Scholar’s Walk’
    • Rock Walk would be translated to Mohawk by Tahohtharátye Joe Brant: Tsi Yonnenyakéhtó:ten translating to ‘The place where rocks stick out’.
    • ​The subcommittee would develop a communications plan to communicate the names and narrative behind the process for naming and renaming the spaces on campus, including but not limited to, QR Codes with audio clips of the new names, social media videos and events/ceremonies. New signage would be erected to reflect the naming and renaming, as well as new directional signage for ease of navigation across campus.
       

    Members had no questions.
     

  3. Annual Report: Office of the Vice-Principal Research & Innovation

    The Chair invited Professor Irena Creed (Vice-Principal Research and Innovation, UTSC) to deliver the annual report. Highlights from Professor Creed’s report, entitled Transforming U of T Scarborough, are as follows:

    • There were Five Design Aspirations that were guiding the Transformation at UTSC:
      • Leverage Our Place
      • Model the Way
      • Capitalize on Strengths
      • Empower Action
      • Catalyze Social Change
         
    • The proposed Institutes for Resilient and Inclusive Societies and Ecosystems (iRISE) was one of the primary ways that UTSC was advancing the transformation on campus.
    • iRISE would be an organizing framework and an administrative home for its three constituent and interrelated institutes and was the product of extensive community consultations and evidence-based review of the campus’ scholarly record during the development of UTSC’s Strategic Plan,Inspiring Inclusive Excellence.
    • The three inaugural institutes of iRISE are:
      • Institute for Environment, Conservation & Sustainability
      • Institute for Inclusive Health & Well-Being
      • Institute for Inclusive Economies & Sustainable Livelihoods
         
    • UTSC would be seeking approval for an Institutional Strategic Initiative (ISI) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). The ISI would be part of the larger iRISE ecosystem at UTSC.
    • UTSC had submitted a proposal for a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Sustainability Transitions. The research program would be entitled Just Urban Sustainability Transitions Centred in Equity (JUSTICE).
    • There were seven Cluster of Scholarly Prominence (CSPP) at UTSC spanning multiple disciplines.
    • OVPRI would invest in the development of UTSC Core Facilities to ensure that researchers had the infrastructure, tools and techniques needed.
    • UTSC researchers had outperformed national averages as it pertained to securing tri-agency funding. OVPRI would continue to engage UTSC faculty to encourage increased participation in the application for tri-agency funding.
    • The SWITCH program offered through the Environment and Related Technology Hub (EaRTH) district in partnership with the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) would introduce high school and post-secondary students to new careers in the field of Vehicle Innovation and Electronic Vehicles.
    • In November, UTSC partnered with the Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR) to co-design and facilitate a one-day event committed around publicly engaged scholarship across the university and community to move recommendations into action from the UTSC working paper,Publicly Engaged Scholarship & Innovation: Towards Inclusive Excellence in Research. ​
    • UTSC was developing a Publicly Engaged Scholarship & Innovation Framework (PESI) Strategy and Action Plan.
    • Several faculty at UTSC were the recipients of national and international awards for research and innovation.
    • OVPRI had identified 10 strategic priorities to further advance the research vision of the campus in the coming year.
       

    A member inquired about where the University would report on their work towards meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Professor Creed responded noting that there were members of the University faculty and administration that were involved at the federal level to share the University’s efforts toward meeting the SDGs. It was further noted that the new Institutional Strategic Initiative on SDGs at UTSC mentioned in Professor Creed’s presentation would help to galvanize an institutional framework around meeting the UN SDGs at U of T.
     

  4. Overview of the UTSC Campus Operating Budget, 2023-2024

    The Chair reminded members that the committee received an overview of campus strategic priorities in February and in Cycle 4; a presentation on the University’s Budget Report 2023-24 and Long-Range Budget Guidelines 2023-24 to 2027-28 was also provided. He noted that these earlier items culminated in the campus operating budget presentation today. The Chair noted that Ramona Gonsalves, Senior Director, Financial Services would be delivering this presentation on behalf of Andrew Arifuzzaman, Chief Administrative Officer, UTSC. Highlights from Ms. Gonsalves presentation were as follows:

    • 96% of the Campus revenue came from student tuition. This included both international and domestic student tuition.
    • UTSC had set a target of 32% for international student enrolment and was steadily meeting this target.
    • Doctoral enrolment continued to steadily grow.
    • Between 60-65% of the gross revenue was funded through international student enrolment. This was primarily a result of the stagnation on domestic student tuition fees and provincial grants. The CAO portfolio continued to strategize new ways of diversifying the revenue streams for the campus.
    • Between 2015 – 2022, UTSC had made significant investments into academic infrastructure and spaces, campus wide renovations and upgrades, and the Office of the Vice-Principal Research & Innovation portfolio.
    • Key themes for 2023 -2024 would be:
      • Academic experience and technology
        • There would be continued improvements to improve classroom technology.
           
      • Research facilities and support
      • Space and space use
      • Mental health – students, faculty and staff
      • Life on campus and in our community
      • UTSC 60THAnniversary
         
    • Key Priorities for 2023-2024
      • Investment in new faculty positions
      • Research – Start up, new positions in partnership and core facilities.
      • Cluster of Scholarly Prominence and Centers of Excellence
      • Student Supports – Mental Health
      • Infrastructure
        • New Capital Projects
        • Space Plan – Student Space and Campus Upgrades
        • New North Residence
           
      • Community Partnerships
         

    Members had no questions.

    CONSENT AGENDA**
     

    On motion duly made, seconded and carried,

    YOUR COUNCIL APPROVED

    THAT the consent agenda be adopted and that Item 5, the Report of the Previous Meeting, be approved.
     

  5. Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 57 - March 8, 2023 (For Approval) *
     

  6. Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
     

  7. Reports for Information *

    1. Report Number 58 of the UTSC Agenda Committee (May 15, 2023)

    2. Report Number 63 of the UTSC Academic Affairs Committee (March 22, 2023)

    3. Report Number 64 of the UTSC Academic Affairs Committee(May 1, 2023)

    4. Report Number 52 of the UTSC Campus Affairs Committee (May 10, 2023)
       

  8. Date of the Next Meeting –

    June 21, 2023, at 4:10 p.m. (reserve date only)
     

  9. Question Period

    No questions were raised for the administration.
     

  10. Other Business

    The Chair thanked all members for their participation and engagement in governance over the last year.

The Council moved In Camera.

11. Appointments: 2023-24 UTSC Campus Council, Community Members

On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

YOUR COUNCIL APPROVED,

THAT the appointment of Irmi Huftless, be approved to serve a three-year term as a community member on the UTSC Campus Council, effective July 1, 2023; and,

THAT the appointment of Tiffany Castell, be approved to serve a three-year term as a community member on the UTSC Campus Affairs Committee, effective July 1, 2023.

12. Appointments: 2023-24 UTSC Campus Council, Campus Council and its Standing Committee

On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

YOUR COUNCIL APPROVED,

THAT the 2023-24 UTSC Campus Council Standing Committee assignments, as recommended by the UTSC Nominating Committee, be approved, effective July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.

 

The meeting adjourned at 5:37 p.m.