REPORT NUMBER 80 OF THE
UTSC ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
To the UTSC Campus Council
University of Toronto,
Your Committee reports that it held a meeting in the UTSC Council Chamber, Arts & Administration Building on September 11, 2025 with the following members present:
PRESENT: Elaine Khoo (Chair), Rachel Sturge (Vice-Chair), Linda Johnston (Vice-President & Principal, UTSC), Folakunmi Awofisayo*, Sandra Bamford, Emily Bell, Christine Bolus-Reichert, Andrea Charise, Keith Colaco, Jessica Dere, Suzanne Erb, Atiqa Hachimi, John Hannigan, Lisa Harvey*, Inaaya Imran, Mariana Jardim, Sarah King, Katherine Larson, Ainsley Lawson, Mandy Liao, Julian Lowman, Randy Lundy*, Karen McCrindle, Mike Molloy, Elizabeth O’Brien, Faith Opoku Agyemang, Anisa Persaud Silma Roddau*, Hadiya Roderique*, Mahinda Samarakoon, Michelle Silver, Ace Tabisaura
*remote attendance
REGRETS: Sukaina Abbas, Joshua Barker, Corinne Beauquis, Michelle Buckley, Christopher Cochrane, Sebastien Drouin, April Franco, Angela Hamilton, Joseph Hermer, Christine Lorence, Mary Elizabeth Luka, Alison Mountz, Julia Nefsky, Thy Phy, Karin Ruhlandt, Antonio Sorge, Sharlene Mollett, Mauricio Terebiznik, Phil Triadafilopoulos, Shelby Verboven, Jessica Wilson, Trevor Young, Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis, David Zweig
NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Kevin Mak, Karen McCrindle, Varsha Patel
SECRETARIAT: Miranda Edwards (Secretary), Amanda Grant (Governance Coordinator), Timothy Harlick
IN ATTENDANCE: Lee Bazely, Sarah Chaudhry
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair led an orientation session on the Committee’s mandate, function, and members’ responsibilities. - Presentation: Overview of University of Toronto Quality Assurance Process and 2025-26 Strategic Priorities for Curriculum Development at UTSC
Kevin Mak, Manager, Academic Program Reviews & Quality Assurance and Professor Katie Larson, Vice-Dean Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs provided the Committee with an overview of the University of Toronto Quality Assurance Process (UTQAP). The overview was intended to provide members with the contextual information necessary for them to support informed decision-making regarding academic governance proposals. Mr. Mak reviewed examples of related items of business that came forward through governance in the prior academic year. Mr. Mak also explained the intersection of the UTQAP process with the University governance pathways from proposal development to UTSC governance bodies, and onward to approval by Governing Council, the Quality Council, and the Ontario government.
Professor Larson then provided an overview of the UTSC’s strategic priorities as they relate to curriculum development. She noted it was an exciting moment for curriculum development on campus as there was a convergence of multiple institutional priorities including the culture of care, equity, anti-racism,Indigeneity, and accessibility. These principles were reflected in the 2022 UTSC Campus Curriculum Review Working Circle report and ongoing work on the curriculum review. Professor Larson emphasized the importance of cross-departmental collaboration as well as the need for higher education to respond to contemporary critical issues.
Professor Larson further noted a deepening and expansion of experiential learning, with the goal of providing every student with some kind of experiential learning opportunity during their program. She told the Committee that UTSC had been an early leader in experiential learning, and that this was a well-established strength of the campus.
Professor Larson informed the Committee that a new initiative this year was the “Health Across Disciplines” Working Group – an active working space for collective development in health-related fields across all departments. She further informed the Committee that all UTSC departments had been asked to review “dormant courses” (courses which have not been taught in 7 years or more) with a view to determining if the course should be retired.
Professor Larson told the Committee that its feedback was a valuable part of the curriculum review process. She spoke of the need for governance documentation to reflect and support pedagogical innovation, ensuring that governance processes were supportive of curriculum changes and that curriculum changes were developed within the framework of governance processes.
The Chair remarked on the impressive attention to detail and thought put into academic governance materials and further emphasized that AAC was an important forum for cross-departmental collaboration.
Members had no questions. - Introductions & Reports of the Presidential Assessors
Prof. Karin Ruhlandt, Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean
Professor Karin Ruhlandt, Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean was not able to attend. Professor Katie Larson delivered Professor’s Ruhlandt’s remarks on her behalf.
Professor Ruhlandt acknowledged and thanked colleagues for their support as she completed her first year as Dean. She explained that she managed an academic portfolio of 16 academic departments and was also responsible for admissions, strategic enrollment management, curriculum planning and reviews, faculty hiring and promotions, as well as financial operations as they related to the academic mission.
She updated the Committee that a large new class of almost 4,200 students had started this Fall, bringing the total student count at UTSC to almost 15,000. She noted that UTSC was pleased to have met its domestic enrollment goals for the first time in many years. She noted the success of the Certificate in Health Studies, with an incoming class of around 900, bringing the program’s total enrolment to almost 1,700 students after only 2 years since the program’s launch.
Current initiatives within the portfolio included the development of strategies to enhance student success, a new budget model, as well as a continuing dedicated curriculum review.
This Fall, Dean Ruhlandt’s office would be engaging in an external review of experiential learning. UTSC was currently very close to achieving the provincial government’s mandate of each student in the province having at least one experiential learning opportunity during their program.
Prof. Alison Mountz, Interim Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation
Professor Alison Mountz, Interim Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation was not able to attend. Professor Andrea Charise, Acting Associate Vice-Principal Research and Innovation (OVPRI)– Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships, delivered Professor’s Mountz’s remarks on her behalf.
Professor Charise reported that OVPRI was in the midst of external grants season and was also preparing to roll out announcements regarding seed funding of strategic priorities in the month ahead. Further updates would be provided at the Committee’s next meeting. The Office was also in the final stages of preparing research funding totals and success metrics which would also be shared at the Committee’s next meeting.
Information about the Departmental Research Fund was circulated to department Chairs over the summer. The Fund offered departments grants to fuel research by their own faculty members. The initiative had since been revised with the feedback received from Chairs. Further details would be provided in the OVRPI’s Annual Report later this year. Professor Charise reminded Chairs to submit applications by the deadline of September 26, 2025.
Professor Charise informed the Committee that OVPRI received valuable feedback at the Chairs' Retreat held in Fall 2024, particularly in relation to the “Bridge Funding” program, which was intended to address gaps in research funding for researchers who had been unsuccessful in their applications for tri-agency funds. Professor Charise noted that changes had since been made and the Office was now piloting a revised bridge funding program. Further details were available on the OVPRI website.
Professor Charise informed the Committee that OVPRI had worked closely with a Canada Research Chair Selection Committee over the last several months to select nominees for 5 Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs at UTSC, all affiliated with the federal government’s research funding agencies. Nominees had now been selected for four of the chairs and OVRPI staff were currently working on assembling the nomination packages that would go to the CRC Secretariat for adjudication later this year. Professor Charise noted that her office was pleased to announce that the five chairs would be awarded to nominees across five different departments on campus, in order to ensure parity among academic disciplines. The announcement of Chairs was expected much later in the year. - Review of Academic Programs and Units, UTSC: Specialist in Paramedicine (offered jointly with Centennial College)
Professor Larson presented the results of the cyclical review for the Specialist in Paramedicine program (offered jointly with Centennial College). The program was previously reviewed in November 2022 with a one-year requested follow-up. The external reviewers commended the program’s strong outcomes, including high success rates on the advanced emergency medical care assistant exams and near 100% employment rate immediately following graduation. The reviewers also highlighted the annual simulated disaster exercise as a signature initiative.
The reviewers recommended a number of enhancements. First, establishing a more integrated and cohesive program structure to improve the student experience. Second, providing clearer communication about physical fitness requirements for provincial certification prior to program enrolment. Third, reconsidering the administrative home of the program. Four, strengthening intra-institutional communications and collaboration.
Since the time of the review, a number of changes had been made. The program’s administrative home was transferred from the Department of Biological Sciences to the Department of Health and Society. UTSC also ratified a new Memorandum of Understanding with Centennial College which offered clarifications on governance and academic leadership. In addition, a new part-time Program Coordinator based in the Department of Health and Society was hired in 2024. Lastly, the Department of Health and Society introduced a new B-level course in community-based paramedicine to equip students with the knowledge, critical thinking, and sociological insights needed for their professions.
Professor Larson told Committee members they could expect to receive a major modification proposal regarding this program that was currently in development. The modification would also factor in anticipated regulatory changes at the provincial level that may impact paramedicine credentialing requirements. - Review of Academic Programs and Units, UTSC: Department of Health and Society and its Undergraduate Programs
Professor Larson presented the results of the March 2024 cyclical review of the Department of Health and Society. The last review occurred in the 2015-16 academic year.
At the March 2024 review, external reviewers commended the Department's interdisciplinary approach to health studies as well as the use of universal design principles, and the depth of content expertise among faculty members. Following the site visit, the reviewers recommended that the department reflect on future strategic directions particularly for the population health and health policy programs. They further recommended that the Department revisit processes for course modifications and retirements and align course offerings with strategic goals and teaching capacity in order to enable sustainability; to consult with faculty to explore the allocation of temporary space to meet current needs; and to create additional opportunities and resources for community building and support within the department.
Since the time of the review, a number of changes had been made. The Department took steps to incorporate enrollment data, student feedback, and course learning outcomes more consistently into their regular curriculum reviews. It also modified its two major programs to enhance the distinctiveness of each and introduced new courses. The Dean's office also worked with the department to assess staffing supports.
Looking ahead, the Dean’s office would continue to partner with the Department to plan future program offerings reflecting the department's leadership in cross-disciplinary initiatives in the health sciences at UTSC.
The next external review of the department was scheduled for no later than the 2031-32 academic year.
In response to a member’s question, Professor Michelle Silver, Chair of the Department of Health and Society, UTSC, noted that changes to program requirements would be grandfathered, allowing upper-year students to continue following the pathways to graduation that had been set out at the time they began the program. - Review of Academic Programs and Units, UTSC: Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences and its Undergraduate Programs
Professor Larson presented the results of the March 2024 cyclical review of the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences. At the time of the review, the external reviewers commended the department's efforts to align the undergraduate curriculum with current disciplinary trends and its commitment to providing experiential learning opportunities. The reviewers also commended the department for fostering a vibrant research culture.
The review panel made recommendations. First, that the Department reflect on the future direction of the undergraduate co-op program in relation to academic goals. Second, to undertake strategic planning within the department. Third, to upgrade laboratory spaces including to improve accessibility. Fourth, to prepare for incoming cohorts of health sciences students.
Since the review, the Department has reassessed the responsibilities of teaching assistants to optimize existing resources, reassessed co-op pathways for students, and addressed capacity planning. The Department continued to work with the Arts and Science Co-op office. The department also reaffirmed its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in program and course delivery, including efforts to create safe and inclusive learning environments, integrate Indigenous knowledges and pedagogies, and reduce barriers to experiential learning and field trips.
The Dean’s office would assess the department’s co-op needs in part through the planned Experiential Learning review. It continued to represent the Department's interests in campus-level discussions about space planning and to address laboratory needs and also continued to support the Department in its efforts to enhance the visibility of its equity based and reconciliation efforts in partnership with the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the Marketing and Communications team.
The next external review of the department was scheduled for no later than the 2031-32 academic year.
Members had no questions.
CONSENT AGENDA
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED
THAT the consent agenda be adopted and that Items 7 and 8 be approved.
- Minor Modifications: Graduate Curriculum Changes, UTSC
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED
The Committee approved
THAT the proposed graduate curriculum changes for the 2025-26 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum report, be approved effective September 2, 2025. - Reports of the Previous Meetings
The reports of the previous meetings were approved: - Business Arising from the Reports of the Previous Meetings
There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting. -
Date of Next Meeting – Thursday, October 16, 2025
The Chair confirmed that the next meeting would take place on Thursday, October 16, 2025.
The Chair concluded by reminding members of the upcoming by-election for vacant AAC seats. The Call for Nominations would open on September 15, 2025 and she encouraged members to circulate this information among their colleagues and peers who might interested in volunteering for campus governance.
The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
September 26, 2025