Report: UTM Campus Council - March 04, 2024

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COUNCIL CHAMBER, ROOM 3130, W. G. DAVIS BUILDING

REPORT NUMBER 64 OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA CAMPUS COUNCIL

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2024

 

To the Governing Council,

University of Toronto,

Your UTM Campus Council reports that it held a meeting in the Council Chamber, Room 3130, W. G. Davis building on March 4, 2024 with the following members present:

PRESENT: Ann Curran (in the Chair), Andrew Petersen (Vice-Chair), Ian Orchard (Acting Vice-President & Principal), Heather Anderson, Hassaan Basit, Wenchao Du, Robert Gerlai, Rosa Hong, Karen Kwan Anderson, Latonya Ludford, Asif Mohammed, Eha Naylor, Joanna Szurmak, Hana Tariq, Laura Taylor, Ziyaad Vahed, Ron Wener, Daniel Wright

NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Luke Barber (Acting Chief Administrative Officer), Nicholas Rule (Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean), Mark Overton (Assistant Dean, Student Services and Dean of Student Affairs)

REGRETS: Rafael Chiuzi, Jenny Cui, Ehab James, John Paul Lotesto, Phoenix Seelochan

SECRETARIAT: Cindy Ferencz-Hammond

IN ATTENDANCE: Ahmed Azhari (Acting ED, Facilities Management & Planning), Christine Esteban (Executive Director, Budget, Planning & Finance), Jeff Espie (Director, Vice-Presidential Communications), Megan Evans (Asst. Director, Hospitality and Ancillary Services), Renu Kanga Fonseca, (Assistant Dean, Enrolment Management & Registrar), Brian Hoppie (Operations Manager, Shuttle Services), Vicky Jezierski (Executive Director, Hospitality and Ancillary Services), Erin Kraftcheck (Director, Health and Counselling Centre), Antonia Lo (Director Student Services and Ancillaries, Budget, Planning & Finance), Peter Mumford (Recreation, Athletics & Wellness), Chad Nuttall (Assistant Dean of Students and International Initiatives), Thanh Phung (UTM Association of Graduate Students), Anuar Rodrigues, ED, Strategy), Jessica Silver (Director, Centre for Student Engagement), Veronica Vasquez (Director, International Education Centre)

OPEN SESSION

  1. Chair’s Remarks

    The Chair welcomed members to the Cycle 4 meeting of Campus Council.  She also welcomed members of the Campus Affairs Committee, who had been invited to listen to the budget presentation.  The Chair then announced that the governance elections had been concluded and congratulated Professor Claudiu Gradinaru for being elected and Professor Robert Gerlai, for being re-elected to the Council in the teaching staff constituency.  She noted that governance election results for the Standing Committees were available on the elections website.  Results in the student elections would be announced on April 8, 2024.  She noted that there was a call for applications for two community/alumni positions on the Campus Council and that the deadline for applications was March 8, 2024. 
  2. Report of the Vice-President & Principal

    The Vice-President & Principal reminded members that at Council’s last meeting, his report highlighted four major initiatives inspired by the Strategic Framework, including the academic advising project for student success, the implementation of the first strategic research plan, the promotion of Black belonging through Black@UTM, and the launch of the first year of the climate-positive plan. These initiatives had both immediate and long-term goals.

    He noted that the budget report item, which was next on the meeting agenda, described how the University of Toronto, at a time when almost half of Ontario’s universities were projecting significant deficits, had created a balanced budget through 2028-29. The report would also highlight significant contexts that informed long-term planning, such as the new federal immigration policy for international students and the provincial response to recommendations from the UofT submission to the Blue-Ribbon Panel.  In this report, Professor Orchard focused on a shorter time horizon, presenting a week in the life of UTM’s priorities.
  • Monday: Promoting Indigenous Entrepreneurship
    The Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program, which connected Indigenous students and alumni with training, mentorship, and holistic supports, wrapped up its recent round of applications. The program exemplified the commitment to truth, openness, and reciprocity and builds on the ongoing efforts to embed Indigeneity in campus life.
  • Tuesday: Sharing Knowledge in Community
    The Lecture Me series, featuring Professor Loren Martin discussed the social dimension of pain and the neural bases of empathy, was hosted in collaboration with the Mississauga Public Library. The event demonstrated UTM's commitment to research excellence and community engagement.
  • Wednesday: Advancing Female-Led Innovation
    Pitch with a Twist, an opportunity to promote female-led ventures at ICUBE, UTM’s home for early-stage social enterprise, was highlighted. The event showcased the inclusive excellence shaping U of T entrepreneurship year-round.
  • Thursday: Celebrating Black Storytelling
    Pages of Colour, an event organized by UTM and Black @ UTM, celebrated Black storytelling beyond Black History Month. The event featured Black spoken-word performers, poets, authors, and scholars sharing stories of Black flourishing and experience.
  • Friday: Fostering Student Success
    The Student Program Planning Interactive Exhibit, run by the Centre for Student Engagement, Office of the Registrar, and the Career Centre, aimed to support students in making intentional choices about their program of study. The event emphasized holistic support for students at key moments of transition.

    Professor Orchard concluded his report by noting that the week's activities showcased UTM's role within the tri-campus system, emphasizing both short-term actions and long-term impacts towards its strategic goals.

  1. Budget Report 2024-25 and Long-Range Budget Guidelines 2024-25 to 2028-29

    Trevor Young (Vice President & Provost), and Jeff Lennon (Assistant Vice-President, Planning and Budget), gave a comprehensive presentation addressing the Budget Report for 2024-25, and the Long Range Budget Guidelines 2024-25 to 2028-29. 

    As part of his introductory remarks, the Provost noted that the University continued to be in strong financial position, although challenged by pressures related to recent significant compensation increases and continued constraints and uncertainty on primary sources of operating revenues.
    The Provost prefaced the presentation by reporting that in response to the Blue-Ribbon Panel recommendation for increased funding for the sector, the government announced $1.3 billion in financial supports over three years, including $700 million to be distributed across all universities and colleges. The Provost estimated this to be a 7% increase in operating grants by the third year.  The province also announced a continuation of the freeze on Ontario-resident domestic tuition for another three years.  He noted that the University was in a balanced position for the next five years, with a total operating budget of $3.52 billion, representing a $164 million increase over the previous year. Provincial support now constituted only 20% of U of T’s operating revenue, the lowest among publicly funded universities in Canada. While initiatives like enrollment expansion in nursing and at the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health had been helpful, the base funding remained relatively frozen. He noted that the government's announcement of additional operating grant funding was appreciated, however, the financial benefits were somewhat offset by the continuation of the freeze on domestic tuition fees. Anticipating a $20 million increase in funding for the next year, roughly equal to the revenue loss due to tuition freezes, the University was eagerly awaiting more details on potential new allocations for the University of Toronto.

    Other highlights of the presentation of the Budget report included:

  • The 2024-25 operating budget projected $3.52 billion in planned revenue (a 4.9% increase over 2023-24), balanced against an equal $3.52 billion in planned spending for future priorities.
  • Projected revenue growth rate for 24-25 was at an average of 4.9%, with significant variations across the divisions.
  • Growth was anticipated to slow to around 3% per year over the five-year plan; reflecting slowing enrolment growth and continued constraints on tuition and operating grants.
  • A significant portion of revenue growth was from strong returns on short- and medium-term investments, which were expected to be significantly higher than in recent years.
  • The Federal Government’s announcement of a two-year reduction in international student permits posed some risk to intake plans for 2024-25.
  • Compensation would make up 64% of the operating budget, including the contingency for pension risk, an increase of $154 Million over 2023-24.
  • The University Fund would be directed toward classroom technology upgrades and renewals, inclusive interdivisional research networks, research related initiatives, and support to divisions to help manage cost pressures associated with compensation increases and fund their priorities.
  • 7% was set aside for contributions to capital projects.
  • The University had approximately $4.1 billion in major capital projects in various stages of planning over the next five years, including at UTM, the planned F2 building and Phase IX Residence.
  • Budgetary risks included inflationary pressures, the cap on international student visas, deferred maintenance, operating reserves, and continued diversification of the student population.
  • Total undergraduate FTE enrolment in 2023-24 (including both domestic and international students) had a slight variance to plan at 1.1% (767).
  • Graduate enrolment was lower than planned primarily due to weaker than expected domestic enrolments.
  • Overall, international undergraduate students made up 31.1% of the undergraduate student body, with slightly higher rates in direct entry programs.
  • A growth of approximately 1,200 international student spots and 2,500 domestic students, was planned over the five-year planning period.
  • $90 Million was set aside in 2024-25 for international scholars and Pearson Scholarship programs.
  • Non-Ontario domestic tuition in undergraduate programs would increase by 5%, consistent with the frameworks in place since 2021-22.
  • Budget initiatives in academic divisions included investments in supporting student success, research and innovation, building inclusive cities and societies and hiring of up to 30 incremental faculty positions.

    Following the presentation, a member raised the issue of potential risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on intellectual property and copyright. Professor Young responded by noting that efforts were being made to address these concerns, including the appointment of an advisor and the establishment of a working group. The complexity of AI-related challenges was emphasized, especially those of ensuring academic integrity. 

    Another topic of discussion involved faculty housing, with members noting its rise as a retention and recruitment issue. The challenges posed by affordability in Toronto and the GTA was acknowledged, ongoing initiatives were outlined, such as the Site 1 Gateway project, which would be the largest university housing development of its kind in Canada for faculty, student families and senior staff. The discussion underscored the university's commitment to finding solutions and responding to the specific needs of faculty members.

    Next, members sought clarification on the elements and impact of the redesigned UTAPS program, which provided financial assistance to students. It was explained that the program was needs-based, with recent changes aimed at enhancing our ability to estimate financial need, decouple assessments from the OSAP program, and allow for local factors such as the higher cost of living in the GTA. The conversation highlighted the university's continuous efforts to support students financially.

    The government's funding announcement of 7% increase to operating grants over three years was also discussed and it was clarified that while the University was hoping that the funding would be in base, there was uncertainty about what might happen beyond the three-year period. The need to build a compelling case for continued funding was acknowledged.  

    Deferred maintenance was another topic of discussion with members expressing concerns about the $1.2 billion overall liability. The magnitude of the problem was acknowledged, and it was noted that some of the deferred maintenance costs would resolve themselves as buildings reached the end of their life and planned demolitions took place. There were also ongoing efforts to balance priorities and explore opportunities for additional funding to address this complex issue.
  1. Operating Plans and Fees: UTM Student Affairs and Services for 2024-25

    At the invitation of the Chair, Mr. Overton provided a presentation of the proposed operating plans and fees. Mr. Overton discussed the development process of campus fees related to student services and UTM student societies' fees. He highlighted the consultation process with students and student government representatives through the QSS or Quality Service to Students committee.

    Mr. Overton presented the proposed fee increases, with a focus on maintaining and enhancing services while managing costs. QSS’s endorsement of the proposed fee increases for Health Services and Recreation, Athletics & Wellness was discussed, along with feedback about not endorsing the student services bundle fee.   Ms Maëlis Barre, Chair of QSS was invited to provide feedback on behalf of QSS.

    Mr. Overton continued the presentation by providing an overview of each student service area and examples of the enhancements planned based on the proposed fees as follows:
  • Health and Counseling Centre: intended to maintain service levels, including same-day mental health care. It also supported the ongoing operation of the newly renovated and expanded clinic space starting in 2024.
  • Recreation, Athletics, and Wellness: plans were aimed at expanding operating hours and supporting renovations and capital improvements.
  • Career Centre: plans to support increased academic partnerships, connections with employers and alumni, and enhancements to services.
  • International Education Centre: plans aimed to retain existing staff and increase support for international and global learning initiatives.
  • Center for Student Engagement: directed towards enhancing student staff compensation and developing/expanding summer programming.

    Mr. Overton then presented a table with specific fee amounts for each service area and noted that there was a proposed decrease in childcare fees to zero due to increased government support, and signaled interest to maintain a portable grant to assist student families with daycare expenses.  He noted that the proposed fee increases were less than what the university indexes might consider reasonable, demonstrating a commitment to controlling costs. The presentation also included a comparison of UTM's student service fees with those of St. George and Scarborough campuses, highlighting the differences and specific services covered by each campus.

    Next, the Chair of the Campus Affairs Committee provided a summary of the discussion that had occurred on this item at that committee.

    During the discussion that followed, a member expressed her appreciation for Dean Overton and his office's advocacy for students, particularly in keeping the Childcare Centre open and accessible without creating a burden for students who did not need it. Another member raised a question regarding the proposed student services bundle, specifically inquiring about the increases in the Career Center and the International Education Center. The response highlighted that these increases were primarily due to salaries, as both departments operated as services-based entities. The International Education Center faced a decline in reserves, necessitating an increase to sustain services amid rising demand and immigration-related advising demand. The Career Center emphasized its success in working closely with academic departments and outlined plans to continue customized programs, which, although costlier, offered significant payoffs. The collaborative efforts of the Center for Student Engagement, Career Center, and Tri-Campus Advising Project were noted to make it easier for students to pursue restricted enrolment programs and unique combinations of studies, requiring increased coordination. Overall, Dean Overton emphasised the strategic allocation of resources to enhance student support services.

    On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

    YOUR COUNCIL RESOLVED

    THAT Subject to Executive Committee Confirmation

    THAT the 2024-25 operating plans and budgets for the UTM Health & Counselling Centre; the UTM Department of Recreation, Athletics & Wellness; the UTM Student Services under the Student Services Fee, recommended by the Dean of Student Affairs, Mark Overton, and described in the attached proposals, be approved; and

    THAT the sessional Health Services Fee for a UTM-registered or UTM-affiliated full-time student be increased from $60.86 per session ($12.17 for a part-time student) to $77.27 ($15.45 for a part-time student) or 27.0%

    THAT the sessional Recreation & Athletics Fee for a UTM-registered or UTM-affiliated full-time student be increased from $211.68 per session ($42.34 for a part-time student) to $218.45 ($43.69 for a part-time student) or 3.2% ; and

    THAT the sessional Student Services Fee for a UTM-registered or UTM-affiliated full-time student be increased from $247.26 per session ($49.45 for a part-time student) to $283.98 ($56.80 for a part-time) student or 14.9% (resulting from a permanent increase of 2.2% and a temporary increase of 12.7%).
  1. Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees: UTM Student Societies - Proposals for Fee Increases for 2024-25

    The Chair noted that student society fees were subject to the terms and conditions of the Policy on Ancillary Fees and the Policy for Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees.

    At the invitation of the Chair, Mr. Overton advised members that the fee increases requested by student societies adhered to their internal approval processes which met University standards. He further explained that the primary element of both societies’ fees was the annual increase in the cost of the U-Pass, which was the universal transit pass provided in cooperation with the City of Mississauga that allowed for fare-free use of Mississauga Transit by UTM students. 

    Next, the Chair of the Campus Affairs Committee provided a summary of the discussion that had occurred on this item at that committee.

    During the discussion, a member asked whether there were any considerations for enhancing bus services to the campus. It was noted that an improved bus service might help in making the U-Pass more acceptable, especially considering the observed decline in service reliability and overall quality since the onset of COVID-19. Dean Overton explained that there was ongoing conversation about the conversion of U-Pass to a digital product under the Presto system, and that this transition would yield a rich dataset that could be utilized to identify areas for transit service improvement. The intention was to analyze the data during the upcoming U-Pass negotiations with MyWay to address issues that might be uncovered, such as high-demand times and areas, low service levels, and challenges in adherence to schedules. The ultimate goal was to use this information to significantly enhance the overall quality of bus services to the campus.

    On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

    YOUR COUNCIL RESOLVED

    THAT Subject to Executive Committee Confirmation

    THAT, subject to confirmation of approval of the following fee change proposals by the University of Toronto Mississauga Association of Graduate Students (UTMAGS) Executive Committee, beginning in the Fall 2024 session, the UTMAGS fee be increased as follows: (a) an increase of up to $15.78 per fall and winter session (full-time & part-time) in the Mississauga Transit U-Pass portion of the fee, and (b) an increase of up to $7.89 per fall and winter session (full-time and part-time) in the Mississauga Transit Summer U-Pass portion of the fee.[1]

    THAT, subject to confirmation of approval of the following fee change proposals by the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU; legally, Erindale College Students’ Union) Board of Directors, beginning in the Fall 2024 session, the UTMSU fee be modified as follows: (a) an increase of up to $1.35 per session (up to $0.04 part-time) in the society portion of the fee, (b) an increase of up to $11.23 per fall and winter session (full-time only) in the Health Plan portion of the fee, (c) an increase of up to $9.39 per fall and winter session (full-time only) in the Dental Plan portion of the fee, (d) an increase of up to $14.20 per fall and winter session and up to $17.31 per summer session (full-time & part-time) in the Mississauga Transit U-Pass portion of the fee, (e) an increase of up to $0.04 per session (full-time & part-time) in the Academic Societies portion of the fee, (f) an increase of up to $0.32 per session (full-time only) in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) portion of the fee, (g) an increase of up to $0.04 per session (full-time only) in the Downtown Legal Services portion of the fee, (h) an increase of up to $0.02 per session (full-time & part-time) in the Food Bank portion of the fee, (i) an increase of up to $0.02 per session (full-time & part-time) in the On-Campus First Aid Emergency Response portion of the fee, and (j) an increase of up to $0.07 per fall and winter session (up to $0.05 part-time) and up to $0.03 per summer session (full-time only) in the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Levy portion of the fee; and

    THAT, subject to confirmation of approval of the following fee change proposals by the UTMSU Board of Directors, beginning in the Fall 2024 session, the UTMSU fee charged to Mississauga Academy of Medicine students be increased as follows: (a) an increase of up to $7.09 per fall session and up to $7.10 per winter session in the Mississauga Transit Summer U-Pass portion of the fee.

CONSENT AGENDA

On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

YOUR COUNCIL APPROVED

THAT the consent agenda be adopted and that Item 9, report of the previous meeting, be approved.

  1. Capital Project Report as of December 31, 2023
  2. Reports for Information
    1. Report Number 63 of the Campus Affairs Committee – February 8, 2024
    2. Report Number 64 of the Agenda Committee – February 26, 2024
  3. Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 63 – January 24, 2023
  4. Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
  5. Date of the Next Meeting – Monday, April 15, 2024
  1. Other Business

    There was no other business.

[1] Further to UTMAGS’ request, Mississauga Transit U-Pass fees will not be charged to Master of Forensic Accounting (MFAcc) and Master of Management and Professional Accounting (MMPA) students.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.

March 7, 2024