Report: Executive Committee - June 12, 2025

Print as PDF
-
Chairs' Boardroom, Simcoe Hall

REPORT NUMBER 560 OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Thursday, June 12, 2025

To the Governing Council,
University of Toronto,

Your Executive Committee reports that it held a meeting in the Chairs’ Boardroom, Simcoe Hall on June 12, 2025 with the following members present:

PRESENT: Anna Kennedy (Chair), Sandra Hanington (Vice-Chair), Meric Gertler (President), Vikram Chadalawada*, Robert Cooper, K. Sonu Gaind*, Indi Gopinathan, Mark Lautens, Mary-Agnes Wilson

REGRETS: Donald Ainslie, Joanne McNamara, Cameron Miranda-Radbord, Grace Westcott

NON-VOTING MEMBER: Sheree Drummond (Secretary of the Governing Council)

SECRETARIAT: Miranda Edwards (Secretary)

IN ATTENDANCE: Ann Curran, Rajiv Mathur*

*remote attendance

Pursuant to section 38 of By-Law Number 2,
consideration of items 13 to 17 will took place in camera.

OPEN SESSION

  1. Chair’s Remarks

    The Chair welcomed members to the meeting. 
  2. Report of the President

    The President began his report by noting that the University was in the midst of its spring convocation season, and that he had attended a number of inspirational honorary degree ceremonies. He remarked on the palpable joy that had been present at every ceremony, and that he looked forward to the continued celebrations.

    Federal Matters 

    The President reported that the recent Speech from the Throne had articulated the government’s high-level priorities, including a continued capping of international student visas. He stated that the University would continue to advocate for investments in research and post-secondary education, and exclusion of international graduate students from study permit quotas

    The President had recently joined Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, where the Prime Minister announced that Canada would increase its defence spending to meet NATO’s 2% target by the end of this fiscal year. The Prime Minister had also outlined the government’s plan to create a federal Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science (BOREALIS). A key focus of the Bureau would be to advance cutting-edge research and innovation in areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and quantum computing, all areas where U of T has well-recognized strengths. He noted that it had been a highly successful event, and that the Prime Minister had had high praise for the students, faculty and alumni of the Munk School, noting their contributions to shaping Canada’s domestic and international priorities over the past two decades. 

    Provincial Matters 

    The President noted that the provincial government had recently introduced Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025. The bill contained provisions related to higher education, including new requirements that post-secondary institutions increase the transparency of their administration of ancillary services, admissions criteria, and research security policies. The Ontario government had also recently tabled the Protect Ontario by Cutting Red Tape Act, 2025, in which the government indicated its intention to consult universities and colleges on improving board governance. The President noted that together these measures appeared to signal a potentially significant intrusion into universities’ autonomy. However the University welcomed the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with the government on these matters.

    UofT Bicentennial 

    The President reported that planning was underway for celebrating the University’s bicentennial in 2027. An initial planning committee had undertaken foundational work to articulate key themes, undertake early-stage community consultations, and make recommendations for an organizational framework. The official bicentennial committee would be struck by his successor, Professor Melanie Woodin, and would focus on implementing a range of activities, including signature events, legacy initiatives, and community engagement. 

    To conclude his report, the President invited the Vice-President and Provost, Trevor Young, to provide an update on international and domestic student admissions.

    Enrolment Update

    The Provost told members that domestic applications were up 6%, with slightly fewer offers made in the current year. There was an approximately 2% increase in domestic student acceptances , about 1,000 students over target and close to 200 students more than this year. The Provost noted that no government funding would be available for students enrolled over the provincial corridor numbers.

    International student applications were down overall about 6%, and acceptances were down about 10%. After factoring in "melt” risk, the University was projecting it would be about 1,000 students below target in this category and a few hundred student below this year. There was a decrease in the number of international students applying from outside of Canada, and an increase in international applicants who attended Ontario high schools. The Provost noted that international student deadlines had been too early in the year to have been impacted by the expected increase in interest from U.S. students. He also noted that the University planned to implement a strong anti-melt strategy over the summer, including a requirement for a $3,000 deposit, which was an increase from previous deposit amounts.

    Early data released from the Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) suggested that the University was faring better than other Ontario Universites , which were experiencing average international student declines of about one-third.

    Graduate student application rates remained relatively stable year over year. There was a decrease of about 1.4% in professional master’s degree acceptances year over year, with a decrease of about 10% for international students. Acceptances for research-based master’s degrees increased by about 19%. Acceptance rates for PhD programs increased by about 28%, with acceptances for international students up by about one-third from the previous year.
  3. Item for Endorsement and Forwarding to the Governing Council
    1. Revisions to the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (CBAM)

      The Chair noted that this item had been brought forward as a recommendation of the Academic Board. She further noted that the Chair of the Board had indicated he had no report to make to the Committee. The Chair told members that the proposed revisions included updates to definitions, clarification of procedures, especially at the divisional level for students, and updated sanctions. In addition, the Code had been reformatted for accessibility and renumbered to align with standard practice for similar documents.

      Professor Heather Boon, Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life, told members that a review of the Code was prompted by recommendations from the University Ombudsperson. She provided a brief overview of the proposed Revisions to the Code.

      The Provost thanked Professor Boon for an excellent summary. He emphasized that the revised Code contained strong safeguards to ensure students experiencing mental illness were not unjustly penalized.

      Members discussed the parameters for confiscation of unauthorized technological aids in exam settings. Professor Boon confirmed that exam adjudicators were trained to de-escalate such situations and that a student’s refusal to comply with a request to turn over an unauthorized aid would be noted on their exam record.

      Some members spoke in support of the proposed revisions, commending the Administration’s balanced, pragmatic approach and a perceived increase in overall fairness.

On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

YOUR COMMITTEE RESOLVED

THAT the following recommendation be endorsed and forwarded to the Governing Council:

THAT the proposed revisions to the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, dated May 12, 2025, be approved, effective July 1, 2025.

CONSENT AGENDA

  1. Items for Confirmation

    1. Name Change of Academic Unit – Change in the name of the Department of Psychology to the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, UTM

      On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

      YOUR COMMITTEE CONFIRMED THE DECISION OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD

      THAT the name of the Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, be changed to the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, effective July 1, 2025.
       

    2. New Program Proposal: Master of Management, Rotman

      On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

      YOUR COMMITTEE CONFIRMED THE DECISION OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD

      THAT the proposed degree program, Master of Management, as described in the proposal from the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management dated April 15, 2025 be approved effective May 25, 2026.
       
    3. Program Closure: Master of Health Science (MHSc) in Clinical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering

      On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

      YOUR COMMITTEE CONFIRMED THE DECISION OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD

      THAT the proposed closure of the Master of Health Science in Clinical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, dated March 26, 2025, to which admissions were administratively suspended on January 1, 2021, be approved with an anticipated program closure date of August 31, 2025.
  2. Item for Endorsement and Forwarding to the Governing Council

    1. Revisions to the Terms of Reference of the Academic Appeals Committee

      On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

      IT WAS RESOLVED

      THAT the following recommendation be endorsed and forwarded to the Governing Council:

      THAT the proposed revised Academic Appeals Committee Terms of Reference be approved, effective immediately, replacing the Terms of Reference previously approved on February 17, 2011.
       

    2. Summer Executive Authority (for approval)

      On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

      IT WAS RESOLVED

      THAT the following recommendation be endorsed and forwarded to the Governing Council:
      1. THAT until the start of the fall 2025 academic term (September 2, 2025), authority be granted to the President for:
        1. decisions on other matters the urgency of which does not permit their deferral until the next regular meeting of the Governing Council or its appropriate standing committee or board,
        2. appointments to categories 2,[1] 3,[2] and 5[3] of the Policy on Appointments and Remuneration approved by the Governing Council of the University of Toronto, dated May 30, 2007;[4]
        3. approval of such additional curriculum changes as may arise for the summer and September 2025; and
      2. THAT all actions taken under this authority be approved by the Chair of the Governing Council prior to implementation and reported to the appropriate committee or board for information.
  3. Report of the Previous Meeting - Report Number 559 of the Executive Committee (May 6, 2025)

    The Committee approved the report of the previous meeting.
  4. Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting

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

  5. Minutes of the Governing Council Meeting (May 22, 2025)

    The Committee received the minutes of the previous Governing Council meeting for information.

  6. Business Arising from the Minutes of the Governing Council Meeting

    There was no business arising from the Minutes of the Governing Council meeting.

  7. Reports for Information

    Members received the following reports for information.

    1. Report Number 257 of the Academic Board (May 29, 2025)

    2. Report Number 247 of the University Affairs Board (May 21, 2025)
    3. Report Number 72 of the UTM Campus Council (May 27, 2025)
    4. Report Number 69 of the UTSC Campus Council (May 26, 2025)
    5. Semi-Annual Reports of Reviews of Academic Programs and Units
  1. Date of Next Executive Committee Meeting – June 24, 2025, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

    The Chair advised members that the Committee would next meet on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
  2. Other Business

    Members had no items of other business.

The Committee moved in camera.

IN CAMERA SESSION

  1. Risk Dashboards

    The Committee received the Risk Dashboards dated June 9, 2025 for information.
  2. Item for Approval

    1. Appointments: University Pension Plan (UPP) Representatives+

      On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

      YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED

      THAT Professor Kelly Hannah-Moffat and Trevor Rodgers be reappointed to represent the University of Toronto on the Employer Sponsor Committee of the University Pension Plan (UPP) for two year and three-year terms respectively, effective July 1, 2025. 

  3. Item for Endorsement and Forwarding to the Governing Council 
    1. Naming Proposal+ 

      The Committee approved the motion as it appeared on the cover sheet provided to Committee members.

  4. Committee Members with the President

    Members of the Executive Committee, with Board and Campus Council Chairs, met privately with the President.

  5. Committee Members Alone

    Members of the Executive Committee, with Board and Campus Council Chairs, met privately.

The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

June 20, 2025

[1] Category 2 includes the positions of Vice-President, Secretary of the Governing Council, and University Ombudsperson, which are subject to the approval of the Governing Council.
[2] Category 3 includes the positions of Deputy Provost, Associate and Vice-Provosts, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Legal Counsel and Deputy Secretary of the Governing Council, which are subject to the approval of the Executive Committee and are reported for information to the Governing Council.
[3] Category 5 includes the head of Internal Audit (approved by the Business Board) and the Warden of Hart House (approved by the University Affairs Board); such appointments are reported for information to the Governing Council.
[4] Approval of Academic Administrative Appointments until the next regular meeting of the Agenda Committee of the Academic Board shall be approved by electronic ballot and shall require the response of at least five members of the Agenda Committee.