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Council Chamber, Simcoe Hall
THE GOVERNING COUNCIL
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2024
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL
Thursday, December 19, 2024, 4:30 p.m.
Council Chamber, Simcoe Hall
PRESENT: Anna Kennedy (Chair), Sandra Hanington (Vice-Chair), Meric S. Gertler, (President), Trevor Young (Provost), Sharleen Ahmed, Donald Ainslie, Aarthi Ashok, Glen Bandiera, Amanda Bartley, Jovan Bursac, Luca Calabretta, Vikram Chadalawada, Janet Cloud, Robert Cooper, Ann Curran, Liam Dravid, Samuel Elfassy, Ramy Elitzur, K. Sonu Gaind, Indi Gopinathan, Ankita Goyat, Maureen Harquail, Thomas Hofmann, Paul Huyer, David Jacobs, Sarosh Jamal, Linda Johnston, Audrey Karlinsky, Kikelomo Lawal, Ron Levi, Scott MacKendrick, Brian Madden, Rajiv Mathur, Douglas McDougall, Joanne McNamara, Cameron Miranda-Radbord, Eha Naylor, Andrew Petersen, Maya Povhe, Danielle Skipp, Grace Westcott, Mary-Agnes Wilson, Geeta Yadav, David Zingg
Sheree Drummond (Secretary of the Governing Council)
REGRETS: Wesley Hall (Chancellor), Laurent Bozec, Indi Gopinathan, Ankita Goyat, Linda Johnston, Akina Lalla, Mark Lautens, Rajiv Mathur, Joanne McNamara, Danielle Skipp, William Verreault, Mary-Agnes Wilson
Guests In Attendance: Heather Boon (Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life), Dan Bowyer (College of Electors), Elizabeth Church (Director, Stakeholder Relations), David Curtin, Chris Lang (Director, ADFG), Kim Eija (College of Electors), Leah Cowan (Vice-President, Research & Innovation), Nadina Jamison (Chief Strategy Officer, Office of the President), Ihab Khalil (Chief Operations Officer, PSEC), Julie McAlpine Jeffries (Associate University Counsel), Ann Perry (Senior Issues and Media Relations Strategist), Archana Sridhar (Assistant Provost), Jeff Lennon (Assistant Vice President, Planning and Budget), Kelly Hannah-Moffat (Vice President, People Strategy, Equity and Culture), Bryn MacPherson (Assistant Vice-President, Office of the President & Chief of Protocol), Susan McCahan (Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education), Scott Mabury (Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships), David Palmer (Vice-President, Advancement), Christine Szustaczek (Vice-President, Communications), Kristin Taylor (University Counsel & Chief Legal Officer), Nicholas Rule (Vice-Provost, Academic Programs), Terese Weisberg (College of Electors), Sandy Welsh (Vice-Provost Students), Joseph Wong (Vice-President International)
Secretariat:
Emma Thacker (Recording Secretary), Cindy Ferencz-Hammond
IN CAMERA SESSION
The Governing Council moved in camera.
- Chair’s Report
The Chair addressed the matter of the interpretation of Section 53 of By-Law Number 2. -
Report Number 68 of the Committee for Honorary Degrees
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED
THAT the recommendations contained in Report Number 68 of the Committee for Honorary Degrees be approved; and
THAT the Chancellor and the President be empowered to determine the degree to be conferred on each candidate and the date of the conferral. - Senior Appointment
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED
THAT, David Palmer’s appointment as Vice-President, Advancement be extended to December 31, 2027.
The meeting moved to open session.
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair welcomed members and guests to the cycle two meeting of the Governing Council. She thanked guests for their patience while the Council met in camera. The Chair reported on the extension of David Palmer’s term as Vice-President, Advancement, a senior appointment which was approved during the in camera session, and thanked him for his exceptional leadership.
The Chair provided a brief update on the status of the Presidential search. She reported that the nomination period had closed on November 17, 2024, and thanked all who took the time to nominate potential candidates. She indicated that the process of considering the names before the Committee was underway. The search was proceeding according to schedule, and it was anticipated that the Committee would bring forward a recommendation in the spring.
The Chair spoke to the upcoming 2025 election to fill seats on the Governing Council and its bodies. The nomination period would open on January 7, 2025. Attendees were encouraged to contact Tim Harlick, Chief Returning Officer, or visit the Governing Council website for information on vacant seats, deadlines, and procedures.
The Chair reported that the Secretariat had received two speaking requests for the meeting. The first request pertained to the Secretariat’s Guidelines on Attendance at Meetings. The request was discussed with the Executive Committee, and members agreed that the Chair should reach out directly to the individual to clarify the matter and answer any questions. The Chair had since contacted the individual and had a constructive conversation. The second request was from the PEARS Project and was regarding the upcoming review of the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment. As the matter was not on the agenda and the request was not from a recognized student group under the Policy on the Recognition of Student Groups, it was declined.
Finally, the Chair reported that at its meeting on December 3, 2024, the Executive Committee had considered a motion on antisemitism that a member had requested be placed on the Governing Council agenda. As was detailed in the Report of the Executive Committee, the Committee had had an extensive and thorough discussion of the proposed motion. The Chair reported that members expressed clear condemnation of antisemitism and support for the University’s antidiscrimination efforts. She indicated that there was broad consensus that the motion passed by the Executive Committee in October 2024, which required reporting by the administration on its activities and initiatives to combat antisemitism, was the appropriate approach for governance. She noted that the President had reiterated to the Committee that he was resolutely against antisemitism, that he had repeatedly condemned it and would continue to do so, and that the University would continue to take clear actions. The President had also drawn members’ attention to the recently released draft Guide to Law and Policy regarding Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Discrimination at the University of Toronto and encouraged members to submit feedback. It was decided that the motion would not be brought forward to the Governing Council. The Chair referred members to the Report for further details. - Report of the President
Nobel Prize
The President began by reporting that University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton had officially received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics on December 10 in Stockholm, Sweden. He said that a group of colleagues from the University of Toronto had accompanied Professor Hinton to celebrate this outstanding achievement. In addition to attending Professor Hinton’s Nobel Lectures in Physics and Chemistry, the President had indicated that he had had the privilege of attending the Nobel Prize Ceremony and Banquet hosted by the King and Queen of Sweden. He said it had been an honour to witness the historic occasion.
Other highlights had included a Scientific Panel co-hosted by U of T and the Embassy of Canada in Sweden on ‘The Canadian Advantage & Future of AI’. The Ambassador of Canada had also hosted a special reception in honour of Professor Hinton with members of Swedish civil society in attendance, including university leaders, researchers, elected officials and business leaders. He said that the time in Sweden had also provided an opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships and forge new relationships with Swedish institutions.
The President reported that back in Toronto the University had held a ‘Nobel Week at U of T’ to foster pride in Professor Hinton’s monumental accomplishment and to create an opportunity for the community to celebrate together. This had culminated in community watch parties across all three campuses that had been enjoyed by students, faculty, staff, and librarians. He remarked that the University of Toronto had been in the spotlight as a result of Professor Hinton’s win.
Rankings
The President reported that in the recent annual Shanghai Ranking Consultancy’s subject rankings, the University of Toronto had placed among the top 10 universities globally in five subjects: sociology (2nd), medical technology (5th), public health (7th), finance (8th), and management (10th). U of T had ranked in the top 100 in 42 subjects, a feat that had been accomplished by only one other institution, the University of Michigan. He commented that this was all the more remarkable considering that the Shanghai Ranking did not include Humanities disciplines, where the University of Toronto was world-leading in many fields. He highlighted as an example the Department of Philosophy which was ranked 7th in the English-speaking world in the 2024 edition of the highly respected Philosophical Gourmet ranking. He said that in his view these exceptional results reflected the University’s academic excellence across an extremely broad range of fields.
In the recent Times Higher Education (THE) Global Employability Ranking, U of T had ranked 1st in Canada again and 14th in the world. Among public universities, U of T had ranked 8th worldwide and 1st among public universities in North America. This ranking was based on a survey of more than 13,000 recruiters or managers from 33 countries. He remarked that while U of T was often celebrated as a research powerhouse, the THE Employability Ranking confirmed once again that U of T was also recognized globally as an educational powerhouse.
Finally, he referred to the annual QS Sustainability ranking that had been released on December 10. For the second year in a row, the University of Toronto had been ranked first in the world. He explained that the QS ranking measured the degree to which institutions were “demonstrating a commitment to a more sustainable existence”. He said that factors that were considered included the impact that alumni were making in science and technology to solve climate issues, the research being done across the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the University’s commitment to sustainability education, and the measures that had been taken to make operations more sustainable. The President remarked that it had been truly gratifying to see that the University’s comprehensive efforts and leadership in this area had been recognized once again.
Rhodes Scholars
The President reported that two U of T students, both at Victoria College, had been awarded 2025 Rhodes Scholarships. One of the recipients, Noah Rudder, was studying in the Peace, Conflict, and Justice program at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, with an additional major in Drama. The other recipient, Amy Mann, was completing a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and statistics. They joined nine other Canadian students who had been awarded the prestigious scholarship in 2025. The President noted that U of T had had twelve Rhodes Scholars in the past decade and that half of them had been from Victoria College.
Defy Gravity Campaign Event
The President reported that earlier that week, the University had announced its progress in the Defy Gravity Campaign. He reminded members that the Campaign had had two main goals: a fundraising goal of four billion dollars (the most ambitious target in the history of Canadian philanthropy), and an alumni engagement goal of inspiring 225,000 alumni to contribute their time and talent to get involved with their alma mater and collectively to contribute their time and talent one million times over the course of the Campaign. He said that he was proud to report that 172,283 alumni had engaged with the University so far and that this represented 75 percent of the engagement goal. He also said that collectively, these alumni had engaged 771,878 times, which represented 77 percent of the target. On the fundraising front, the University had raised $2,054,043,037, a remarkable amount which represented just over 51 percent of the target of $4 billion. He also commented on the fact that this had been achieved at an unprecedented pace and that it was a truly remarkable accomplishment for the U of T community, consistent with its excellence and aspirations.
Federal Matters
The President noted the shift in the federal landscape with the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland just hours before the release of the Fall Economic Statement (FES). He said that there had been some good news in the FES, particularly in previously announced initiatives, including details about the disbursement of the $2 billion AI Compute Access Fund, which would support computing infrastructure for universities, research centers (e.g., Digital Research Alliance of Canda, Vector Institute for AI), and private industry. Additionally, Talent for Innovation Canada had announced a $29.2 million investment over three years, starting in 2025-26, focused on training and deploying top talent across key sectors. Thirty million dollars had also been allocated to the VITAL project, based at U of T’s partner St. Michael’s Hospital, to pilot secure digital AI infrastructure to leverage Canadian health data. With respect to the international student file, he referenced the major changes to the International Student Program and to the study permit allocation process which had been announced in September and then re-announced in the FES: the further 10% reduction in overall numbers, and the inclusion of new PhD and Master’s students in the quota for Fall 2025. He noted that U of T had fared better than all other universities in Ontario as a result of effective efforts to diversify its intake as well as other strategies that had been undertaken to maximize international admissions for September 2024. He indicated that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada had not yet released the provincial quotas, but that they were expected to do so soon.
Working Group on Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian Discrimination
The President advised members that the University had recently announced the formation of a new Working Group on Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian Discrimination, with a mandate to review current programming, activities, processes and practices in place and make recommendations to advance inclusion and belonging for these community members. He reported that the Working Group had a mandate to engage in consultations with the University community in winter 2025 and to deliver a final report with recommendations to senior leadership.
Guide to Law and Policy Regarding Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Discrimination
The President also advised members that the University had recently released a Draft Guide to Law and Policy regarding Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Discrimination at the University of Toronto. He said that recognizing the troubling increase in antisemitism across society, including in academic settings, the Guide was intended to assist the University community in better understanding the legal and policy framework regarding antisemitism and anti-Israeli discrimination and to reaffirm the University’s commitment to providing an inclusive learning, research, and work environment. The document offered a draft operational approach to identifying antisemitism appropriate for an academic environment. He explained that this approach followed the recommendation of the Antisemitism Working Group, which had noted that existing external definitions do not acknowledge the University’s specific policy and legal context, including its fundamental commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression. He said that the deadline for feedback, which was welcome from all members of the community, was January 31, 2025.
Retrospective Analysis of the Encampment
Finally, the President closed his remarks with a brief update on plans to commission a retrospective analysis of the encampment experience from May and June of 2024. He advised members that Deloitte LLP had been retained to assist with the analysis. He said that Deloitte would review the structures and practices which had informed the University’s critical incident response based on the encampment experience. He advised that the work would focus on a current state assessment and gaps analysis and would identify opportunities to improve further response planning. He said that the work had already commenced and that the Deloitte team was expected to complete its analysis and reporting by Spring 2025.
In the discussion that followed a member congratulated the President on the success of the Defy Gravity campaign and inquired about the University's plans to potentially access some of the $2 Billion announced by the federal government for investing in AI infrastructure. The President confirmed that the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships, was actively engaged in discussions within the University and with some of the University’s partners on plans to tap into these funds. A member inquired about the University’s stance on the definition of antisemitism, particularly in light of the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition by the federal and provincial governments. The member expressed concern with the University adopting its own definition, suggesting that as a public institution it was subject to the IHRA definition. He said that there were significant numbers of antisemitic incidents on campus and that in this context he did not want to see the IHRA definition weakened. In response, the President noted that the University was an autonomous organization though subject to directives and policies of the provincial and federal governments, and that the adoption of the IHRA definition by the provincial and federal governments was non-binding. He said that the University's Antisemitism Working Group had consulted extensively with the community, finding diverse opinions, and that a particular concern was the risk that adopting the IHRA definition would impose unreasonable limits on freedom of expression and academic freedom. The Working Group had ultimately come to the view that the IHRA definition should not be adopted within an academic context. The President acknowledged that the University had issues that it had to address and that it needed to provide guidance to staff and faculty who received complaints. He said that this was the motivation behind the proposed Guide, which would be grounded in existing laws, and would aim to provide concrete examples. He concluded by noting the University had already received many submissions in response to the call for feedback on the draft Guide, and that the administration also continued to consult with academic experts in the field. The Chair thanked members for their questions and the President for his report. - Presentation: Budget Update
The Chair invited Trevor Young (Vice-President & Provost) and Jeff Lennon (Assistant Vice President, Planning & Budget) to the podium. She noted that while it was not the typical practice to provide a mid-year budget update, as there had been a lot in the media about universities running deficits, an update was warranted.
The Provost began by noting that as the academic budget reviews had recently been completed this had given the administration a good sense of where things were at. He assured members that the plan was still for a balanced budget for 2024-25 academic year with projected revenue of $3.52 billion—an increase of 4.9% or $164 million from the previous year. Two-thirds of the revenue came from tuition and fees, while 20% came from the provincial government. He noted that the majority of expenses were related to compensation and highlighted that 11% was for student aid.
He said that domestic student demand was strong and had surpassed targets by 8%. However, international student intake had decreased by 6%, though he noted that this was better than the significant declines that had been experienced by other institutions. Retention rates for both domestic and international students were higher than planned, helping offset the financial impact of lower international intake.
He explained that the variance to budget was expected to be about $23 million below the plan, which would be manageable within the $3.5 billion budget. However, the decrease in international student intake would affect next year’s budget, with revenue growth expected to be under 2% due to smaller international student intake. He said that academic divisions were planning within this envelope and that a balanced budget would be presented for 2025-2026.
The Provost also highlighted the cut to international study permits and that graduate students now needed to go through the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) process as did graduates of Canadian high schools. He remarked that the concerns around international students applying for asylum in Canada did not apply to U of T students as only three of the 12,500 students who applied for asylum had been from U of T.
The Provost spoke to the planning for the next Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA) – SMA4. He noted that the metrics were reduced from 10 to 8. As for enrollment, he said that the Ministry had expressed an interest in STEM programs and that, as such, this was an area for potential growth. He concluded by indicating that while the University's current financial status was stable, there was a need for restraint and for a focus on efficiencies and that this had been communicated to the Deans and Chief Academic Officers.
In the discussion that followed, members inquired about international student tuition, which accounted for 42% of the University's revenue (by category). Several questions were raised regarding the institution's reliance on international tuition, the impact of increasing tuition fees, the University’s strategy to mitigate the associated risks and the challenges with the PALs. Concerns were also expressed about funding from provincial and federal sources, particularly in the context of global trends and changing legislation. The Provost responded that while international student tuition presented a risk, there were significant benefits to international students, including the University’s openness to the rest of the world and to its global reputation. He said that the University’s approach had been to balance growth with sustainability, cautiously planning for potential declines in certain areas. The President highlighted the University’s ongoing strategic efforts to diversify the geographic intake of students across a broader range of countries to manage these risks. He also emphasized the institution's commitment to improving accessibility for international students through increased funding for international student scholarships.
There was also discussion about the estimated 1.6% budget pressure, the enrolment-based revenue variance which is partly based on higher than expected summer enrolment, and more generally the different budget impacts for each of the three campuses. - Presentation: Institutional Strategic Initiatives and the Climate Positive Energy Initiative
The Chair invited Professor Leah Cowen (Vice-President of Research, Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives) to provide an update on the University of Toronto’s Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISIs) and the Climate Positive Energy (CPE) initiative.
Professor Cowen highlighted the growth of ISIs, which had been established in 2019 to enhance the University’s ability to support interdisciplinary research aimed at addressing societal challenges. She indicated that over the past five years, these initiatives had raised the University's profile, attracted talent, and secured significant research funding.
One notable success was the CPE initiative, which had focused on transforming energy systems through collaboration among scientists, social scientists, engineers, economists, and policymakers. The initiative supported Canada's Net Zero 2050 targets and aimed to make Canada a global clean energy leader. She reported that CPE had hosted a sold-out event in February 2024 with over 60 researchers, policymakers, and industry experts, highlighting innovations in carbon capture and utilization. Additionally, CPE was instrumental in establishing the Grid Modernization Center. This center was set to collaborate with over 50 partners to address carbon emissions and support the transition to clean energy. CPE also had announced a partnership with Siemens Canada to transform the energy grid and contribute to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Further developments included CPE’s role in the CANSTOREnergy project, which was focused on seasonal energy storage and converting carbon-based emissions into useful products.
In the discussion that followed a member raised a concern that the initiative seemed to focus only on clean energy, while energy efficiency—using less energy—was also an important element to addressing climate change, with many U of T researchers working in this area. Professor Cowen expressed her agreement and noted that there were ongoing conversations on this matter and that she was open to more.
Another member asked about the criteria for evaluating partnerships and ensuring alignment with the academic mission. Professor Cowen explained that partnerships were typically driven by faculty members’ academic research and scholarship. The University had a guiding policy, the Statement on Research Partnerships (2007). She emphasized that a thoughtful consultation process ensured that all prospective partners’ missions and values were aligned with the University's, and that they benefitted the University community. - Presentation: Artificial Intelligence Task Force Update
The Chair invited Professor Susan McCahan (Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Digital Strategies) to provide an update on the University of Toronto's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force.
Professor McCahan reported that the Task Force was gathering information on how faculty, staff, and students were using AI for administrative tasks, research, and assignments. The Task Force’s goal was to assess AI's impact on teaching, research, student services, and operations, to ensure that AI aligned with the University's human-centered values.
The Task Force, composed of multiple working groups, had been meeting since Spring 2024 and aimed to develop AI recommendations by Spring 2025. The focus was on responsible, transparent, and safe AI use, supporting AI literacy, and ensuring access to AI tools. Resources for faculty and students had already been created, including guidelines for AI use in teaching, research, and administration.
Professor McCahan emphasized that the University’s approach to AI should prioritize human development, and the Task Force was consulting with stakeholders to shape a strategic vision for the future use of AI at the institution. Finally, Professor McCann highlighted ongoing opportunities for community engagement, including monthly AI roundups, town halls, and other AI-related events. The Task Force shared updates regularly and encouraged community members to submit questions and feedback through a dedicated hub.
In the discussion that followed, a member inquired about how the University could provide students with high-quality AI tools, especially considering that such tools were often monetized. Professor McCahan acknowledged the importance of equitable access to frontier models, emphasizing that subscription costs were a concern, particularly for students. The University had already made a protected version of Microsoft Copilot available to all students, faculty, and staff. She indicated that the University continued to assess other tools that could be both cost-effective and secure, but no additional tools had been selected yet. - Revocation of the Policy with Respect to AIDS for the University of Toronto (1989)
The Chair invited Professor Kelly Hannah-Moffat (Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity and Culture) to present the item. Professor Hannah-Moffat reported that the Policy with Respect to AIDS was outdated and no longer required. She explained that other U of T policies and the Ontario Human Rights Code addressed workplace issues with respect to health accommodations and freedom from discrimination, thereby eliminating the need for a policy related to this specific health condition.
A member commended the administration for bringing forward this policy for revocation. He added that while some may view the removal of an old policy as mere housekeeping, he saw this action as correcting a historical wrong. The member highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by individuals living with HIV and AIDS and praised the U of T Health and Wellness Centre for providing much needed support.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
IT WAS RESOLVED,
THAT the Policy with Respect to AIDS for the University of Toronto be revoked, effective immediately.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Chair noted that of the items listed on the Consent Agenda, one item, Item 10, was for approval. All other items were for information only.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED,
THAT the consent agenda be adopted, and that Item 10 be approved.
- Minutes of the Previous Meeting of the Governing Council – November 7, 2024
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved. - Reports for Information
Members received the following reports for information:- Review of Academic Programs and Units – Part 1
- Follow-up Report from Previous Review: UTSC Specialist in Paramedicine (offered jointly with Centennial College)
- Report Number 66 of the UTSC Campus Council (November 12, 2024)
- Report Number 68 of the UTM Campus Council (November 13, 2024)
- Report Number 281 of the Business Board (November 27, 2024)
- Report Number 253 of the Academic Board (November 14, 2024)
- Report Number 243 of the University Affairs Board (November 21, 2024)
- Report Number 553 of the Executive Committee (December 3, 2024)
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
- Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
The Chair reported that at the previous meeting, there was a robust discussion on whether a motion could be brought forward from a member and voted on in the same meeting. This was in reference to the interpretation of Section 53 of By-Law Number 2. As reported in the earlier in camera session, the Chair had requested University Counsel obtain a legal opinion from external counsel on the matter. The legal opinion from Tory's LLP affirmed the interpretation of Section 53 as being reasonable and consistently applied. - Date of the Next Meeting – February 27, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.
The Chair advised members that the next Governing Council meeting (Cycle 3) was scheduled for Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 4:30 p.m., at the University of Toronto Mississauga. -
Question Period
A member noted the importance of student consultation in relation to university policies and with regard to the selection of the next president and asked what efforts were being made to ensure that the University listened to students. The President acknowledged the importance of the issues raised by the member and highlighted the University's efforts to create opportunities for consultation and engagement, including through working groups and other mechanisms. He reiterated the administration's commitment to having a policy structure and practices in place to create an environment that effectively supported teaching, learning, and working.
A member raised a question about the work of the AI Task Force and how U of T could support global standards through its consultations and reports. They emphasized the importance of making the work on AI usage in education and research institutions public to benefit educators across Canada and globally. The President responded by affirming that the University anticipated that much of the Task Force’s work would be made publicly available and shared in scholarly formats, and he expressed confidence in the potential positive impact of its work. - Other Business
A member referred to a motion that he had proposed at a Governing Council meeting in the spring to condemn the acts of antisemitism at the encampment and on the University’s campuses. The member noted that despite positive efforts from the administration, institutional occasions of antisemitism had continued to occur and that he would like the following motion to be considered by the Council at its next meeting:
THAT the Governing Council of the University of Toronto condemns the acts of antisemitism that occurred at the encampment as well as ongoing acts of antisemitism on its campuses.
Another member seconded the motion. The Chair reminded members that a matter may be proposed for discussion with two-thirds of members present voting in favour of doing so, and that should the vote carry, the matter would be discussed and based on that discussion the motion could be placed on the agenda of the next meeting. The Vice-Chair noted that consistent with its role, the Executive Committee had discussed this matter thoroughly and had determined that a similar motion not be brought forward to Governing Council. The reasons for this had been detailed in the Report of that meeting. The member stated that Section 53 of the By Law was to enable the Governing Council to set its own agenda absent interference from the Executive Committee. In response to questions from members about what they were being asked to vote on, the Chair explained that a vote in favour meant that the matter would be discussed briefly and then it would go to the Executive Committee to bring forward to the Governing Council at its next meeting. The vote was taken. The motion to discuss the matter was defeated.
Before adjournment, it was noted that Emma Thacker was leaving her role as Assistant Secretary of the Governing Council to take on the full-time position as Ombuds Officer for the St. George campus. Gratitude was expressed for her work as Recording Secretary for the Governing Council and for her support of the UTSC governance bodies. On behalf of members the Chair offered best wishes to Ms Thacker in her new role.
The Chair thanked members and guests for attending the meeting and offered best wishes for the holiday season.
The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
January 24, 2025