REPORT NUMBER 68 OF THE
UTSC CAMPUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY, April 28, 2026
To the UTSC Campus Council,
University of Toronto,
Your Committee reports that it held a meeting in the UTSC Council Chamber, Arts & Administration Building, UTSC Campus on April 28, 2026 with the following members present:
PRESENT: Brian Harrington (Chair), Dorinda So (Vice-Chair), Tim Tang (Dean, Student Experience and Wellbeing), Andrew Arifuzzaman (Chief Administrative Officer), Iaroslav Abramov, Aarthi Ashok*, Kendel Chitolie, Sandra Daga*, Kyle Danielson*, Maria de Chavez*, Mark Fitzpatrick, Jason Glover, Elaine Khoo*, Annie Kostadinova, Tanzina Mohsin*
*remote attendance
REGRETS: Linda Johnston (Vice-President & Principal, UTSC), Ramona Gonsalves, Jeff Miller, Sukaina Abbas, Syed Ahmed, Folakunmi Awofisayo, Tiffany Castell, Jirociny Consalas, Inaaya Imran, Sylvia Mittler, Stephanie Perpick, Pravina Robert Princely, Shennel Simpson, Hoorik Yeghiazarian
NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Sheila John
SECRETARIAT: Miranda Edwards (Secretary), Amanda Grant (Governance Coordinator)
IN ATTENDANCE: Sarah Abdillahi
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair welcomed members and guests to the Cycle 5 meeting. - Annual Report: Campus Safety
Tanya Poppleton, Senior Director, Campus Safety Operations presented the report for information. She noted that, over the past year, Campus Safety had taken meaningful steps to strengthen connections with the campus community and enhance best practices in a community-centred way. The office continued to be committed to, not only responding to crises, but also to learning, adapting, and supporting the campus environment.
In December 2025, UTSC experienced a devastating loss with the homicide of Shivank Avasthi, a 20-year old 3rd-year undergraduate student. This loss had a profound impact on the campus community and was a very difficult time for the Campus Safety office. Officers worked closely with Toronto law enforcement, playing an important role in supporting the criminal investigation by managing access to the campus, information gathering and sharing. Ms Poppleton noted that this tragic incident reaffirmed her office’s unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of the campus community.
In 2025, the Campus Safety Office conducted 578 community assistance calls, 159 medical assistance calls, and 214 Community Crisis Response Coordinator interactions.
Key focus areas and accomplishments in 2025 included:-
Professional Development and Certifications (1,364 hours of training completed)
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Operational Safety & Awareness
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Collaborations with other campus offices:
- Leadership, Education, and Development
- Academic Advising & Career Centre
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office
- Health & Wellness
- International Student Centre
- Joint Health and Safety Committee
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In its collaboration with the Academic Advising & Career Centre, the Campus Safety Office offered students co-op experiences that provided them with hands-on, real-world learning opportunities.
In 2025, the Office partnered with a professional graphic designer to re-imagine the format of the annual report with a view to ensuring that the format reflected a commitment to growth, transparency, and positive change. The new report included an Indigenous land acknowledgement with reflections from members of Campus Safety, demonstrating a commitment to meaningful connection with Indigenous communities. The report also demonstrated the Office’s shared responsibility in upholding the Culture of Care, team wellness, and using inclusive and culturally informed approaches.
Looking ahead, the Office was focused on implementing infrastructure upgrades, integrating new technology, expanding training and development opportunities, continuing its focus on the community, and strengthening partnerships with Toronto Police Services.
Discussion
Andrew Arifuzzaman, Chief Administrative Officer, noted the remarkable work done by the Campus Safety Office team amid difficult circumstances over the past year that included a gas leak, bomb threat, and homicide. Ms Poppleton affirmed that the loss of Shivank Avasthi had been the greatest challenge for her team in recent memory and that she was proud of each team member’s response to this crisis.
In response to a member’s question, Ms Poppleton noted that her office would welcome more student volunteers and co-op students in future.
- Closure of the Centre for Planetary Sciences as an Extra-Departmental Unit C (EDU:C) at the University of Toronto Scarborough
Professor Thy Phu, Acting Vice-Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, UTSC presented a proposal to permanently close the Centre for Planetary Sciences (CPS). The CPS was established in 2013 as a cross-departmental, tri-campus research hub in planetary sciences. Initially, it brought together 18 faculty members with the goal of fostering collaborative research and enhanced visibility of the discipline.
The proposed closure was based on the following key considerations:- The absence of identifiable administrative, academic, or outreach activities since 2019;
- A lack of active governance or administrative oversight;
- The existence of other units in the University that had the same mission as the Centre; and
- The Centre no longer met the University’s Guidelines for Extra-Departmental Units, which require active programming, clear governance structures, and demonstrable outcomes.
The closure was expected to have minimal impact on stakeholders. There was currently no active teaching, learning or research activities taking place and no staff or administrative roles would require reassignment.
In response to a member’s question, Professor Phu noted that, in her office’s consultations, they heard no objections to the closure, nor any interest in reviving the Centre’s mission.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RECOMMENDED,
Subject to approval by the UTSC Campus Council and confirmation by the Executive Committee,
THAT the Centre for Planetary Sciences, an Extra-Departmental Unit C (EDU:C) at the University of Toronto Scarborough, as described in the attached proposal, be closed effective June 30, 2026.
- Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees: UTSC Student Societies - Proposals for Fee Increases
Tim Tang, Dean of Student Experience & Wellbeing, sponsored this motion that was brought forward at the request of the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) to increase the WUSC Student Refugee Program fee. The fee was used to support refugees to attend UTSC as students. The program was delivered through the International Student Centre and funds were used to cover tuition, living expenses, and other transition needs.
The proposed fee increase was approved via student referendum held in March 2026 and the process was reviewed and confirmed by the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students in compliance with University policies. There was no financial implication for the University as the program would be funded through the student society fee.
Discussion
In response to a member’s question about the 33% abstention rate in the referendum vote, Dean Tang acknowledged that the vote was slightly closer than normal for student referendums; however, abstentions were more common on votes regarding fees.
In response to a member’s question, Sarah Abdillahi, Executive Director of the SCSU, and Kendel Chitolie, International Student Immigration Advisor, informed members that the WUSC funding was awarded to one student refugee per year to receive one year of financial support.
The fee currently provided about $22,000 a year in funding which was not sufficient to support all of a student’s financial needs. As a result of lack of funding, some students could not continue their studies or needed to take breaks from their studies. The proposed fee increase would triple the amount of funding available. The SCSU hoped that, with the increase, it could afford to better support refugee students, continue support for students beyond only the first year of study, and potentially support up to two students at a time.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RECOMMENDED,
THAT, beginning in the Fall 2026 session, the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union fee be modified as follows:
The continuation of, and an increase of $1.75 per session ($0.50 for part-time students) in the WUSC Student Refugee Program portion of the fee - Capital Project: Report of the Project Planning Committee for the UTSC Field House -Project Scope and Sources of Funding
Mr. Andrew Arifuzzaman, Chief Administrative Officer, presented the Report of the Project Planning Committee for the UTSC Field House project. Field House would be an indoor sport facility for field sports such as cricket and soccer, as well providing recreation rooms, administrative offices, student society spaces, locker rooms, and rentable spaces for student groups and private groups.
Field House would be funded by the UTSC Athletic Centre Facility Levy. In 2010, a student referendum was held to approve this student levy to cover the operational and maintenance costs of the Toronto PanAm Sports Centre (TPASC). Within the referendum question, there was a provision to allow any excess funding from the levy to be used to support other campus sport infrastructure.
Since the time of the referendum in 2010, the UTSC student body grew by about 50% (from 10,000 to 15,000 students. In addition to increased demand for sporting facilities, there was currently no grass field in TPASC, meaning that students either could not play field sports in winter or had to use non-regulation equipment in order to play on TPASC’s hard floors. TPASC was also a shared facility with the City of Toronto and availability had been an issue. In contrast, Field House would be exclusive to UTSC, with spaces rented out to private groups only as capacity would allow.
Mr. Arifuzzaman described the design-build approach being used in the planning process. Completion was expected for May 2029 but with hopes that this might be expedited.
Dean Tang told members about his enthusiastic support for the project. He expected that Field House would enhance students’ campus experience, alleviate capacity pressures on sports and recreation facilities, contribute to the Culture of Care and Healthy Campus initiatives, create a sense of belonging and community, and allow the campus to expand its local community partnerships. He noted that, from the initial referendum onwards, this had been a student-led and student-supported process and that student feedback had been incorporated into the project plans.
Sheila John, Assistant Dean, Wellness, Recreation and Sport, emphasized the existing strain on capacity for student spaces, noting that, with over 300 student clubs, her office often had to turn down space requests, which ran counter to her office’s desire to encourage student participation and engagement on campus. She confirmed that the construction of Field House did not mean that UTSC intended to give up any of its time allotments at TPASC. Assistant Dean John also confirmed that her office would have oversight over Field House operations.
Discussion
A member asked if there should be a new referendum of current students to confirm the use of the levy for Field House. Mr. Arifuzzaman and Dean Tang both confirmed their opinions that the use of the levy was aligned with the spirit and intention of the original 2010 referendum question. Dean Tang also noted that current students had been consulted as recently as this year regarding the planned designs. The inclusion of student society offices and a student hub were included as a direct result of this feedback.
In response to a member’s question, Mr. Arifuzzaman noted that it would cost millions of dollars to maintain grass through winter to meet the regulations of high performance sports; so that was not a viable alternate option.
In response to a member’s question, Mr. Arifuzzaman and Assistant Dean John confirmed that student clubs would not be required to pay any space rental fees for Field House facilities.
Members discussed the importance of the campus’ evolution into a hub for athletics, recreation and wellness in the Scarborough community as well as the importance of ensuring that UTSC students had comparable and equitable facilities as St. George campus students.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RECOMMENDED,
THAT the project scope of the UTSC Field House, as identified in the Report of the Project Planning Committee for UTSC Field House, dated April 10, 2026, totaling 7,194 gross square metres (6,332 net assignable square metres), be approved in principle to be funded through the UTSC Athletic Centre Facility Levy. - Reports of the Presidential Assessors
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Tim Tang, Dean, Student Experience & Wellbeing)
Dean Tang reported on highlights of his office’s year-end activities, including the successful March Break Open House for prospective students and their families. He noted that over 500 individuals attended the residence tours - a 52% increase from the previous year – indicating that demand for student housing was expected to remain strong. The UTSC Letter Awards were expected to take place on June 1st to recognize students who made significant contributions to the UTSC community. Dean Tang noted that his office had received over 350 nominations so far.
Dean Tang further reported that his office had reached out to the newly elected SCSU leadership and was looking forward to a strong collaboration.
Members had no questions.
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Andrew Arifuzzaman, Chief Administrative and Strategy Officer
Mr. Arifuzzaman reported that several capital projects were moving forward. He was expecting that SAMIH and the Parking & Retail Commons would both reach substantial completion soon.
112 new geothermal wells were currently being installed. These wells were being drilled underneath the campus forest lands and would capture ground heat and cooling to be pumped into buildings with no carbon emissions. This project would support the Campus Sustainability target to achieve a carbon neutral campus by 2030.
Mr. Arifuzzaman reported to members that his office was overseeing a pilot project for a Faculty Hub. Faculty members had shared feedback that they often felt isolated when working at UTSC, particularly if they were appointed to multiple campuses and didn’t have a UTSC work community, or if they were located in offices with many hybrid workers. In response, Mr. Arifuzzaman’s office, in collaboration with Professor Jessica Fields, Vice-Dean Faculty Affairs, Equity & Success, and Jennifer Adams-Peffer, Campus Architect and Director, Architecture, Planning and Project Development, designed the pilot Faculty Hub with bookable spaces, a café, meeting rooms, soundproof phone booths, and seating areas. The Hub would be located in Highland Hall and construction work was planned to begin in Fall 2026. In response to a member’s question, Mr. Arifuzzaman clarified that faculty who wished to participate in the pilot program would not be required to give up their designated office spaces. In future, faculty might be given the option of either having an office or being a member of the Hub. His office was currently studying similar projects at other Universities and was open to the idea of building additional hub spaces or launching additional pilot projects in future.
Mr. Arifuzzaman also reported to members that he was overseeing a review of the use of AI in administrative processes in an effort to streamline and find efficiencies. He noted that everyone involved in this effort was being careful and mindful and would develop AI guidelines as part of the process.
In response to a member’s question, Mr. Arifuzzman confirmed that the LAMP Project (UTSC Centre for Literatures, Arts, Media and Performance) planning was still underway and he was hoping to bring it forward to governance next year. The project would likely require significant fundraising and/or external partnerships.
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CONSENT AGENDA
- Annual Report: Recognized Student Groups
Members received the report for information. - Report of the Previous Meeting – Report Number 67 (March 11, 2026)
The Committee voted to approve the report of the previous meeting. -
Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting. -
Date of Next Meeting – September 10, 2026.
The Chair confirmed that the next meeting would take place on September 10, 2026.
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
- Other Business
Members had no items of other business.
IN CAMERA SESSION
- Capital Project: Report of the Project Planning Committee for the UTSC Field House – Total Project Cost and Sources of Funding
On motion duly moved, seconded and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED,
THAT the recommendation of the UTSC Chief Administrative Officer, as outlined in the memorandum dated April 10, 2026, regarding the Total Project Cost and Sources of Funding for the UTSC Field House, be approved in principle
Chair’s Concluding Remarks
The Chair concluded the meeting by thanking members; assessors and their staff; Vice-Chair, Dorinda So; Governance Coordinator, Amanda Grant; and Committee Secretary, Miranda Edwards, for their contributions to the Committee over the past year.
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
April 29, 2026