Report: UTSC Campus Affairs Committee - February 09, 2023

1. Chair’s Remarks
   
   The Chair welcomed members and guests to the fourth meeting of the Campus Affairs Committee for the academic year. The Chair provided a brief update on elections and encouraged members to vote for their peers in the current election cycle.
    

2. Annual Report: Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees (2022-23)
   
   The Chair invited Dr. Melinda Scott, Executive Director, Office of the Vice-Provost Students to deliver the Annual Report: Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees (2022-2023). It was noted that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, campus services and student societies were invited to review their programming and services, to consider a temporary reduction in their fees. The temporary reduction would be discontinued, and this report would reflect the unreduced fees. Highlights from the report are as follows:

• The report provided an inventory of all non-academic incidental fees. Including the fee data for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years.
• The report listed fees paid by students by Division and denotes Divisional Student society fees, Central and Cross-divisional student society fees and University operated student services fees.
• Fees paid by students would vary by campus. As students would contribute to local student societies, cross divisional student societies, and campus operated student services.
  
  A member inquired as to why there were variances across the fees that students paid by division and/or campus. Dr. Scott explained that fees will differ by campus and/or division based on the services and needs of that campus. An example from UTM was provided, as UTM students contributed to the UPASS (UTM Shuttle Service) as part of their fee complement. Therefore, requiring a higher fee than UTSC students who do not have access to this service.  
   

3. Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees: UTSC Student Societies – Proposal for Fee Increases
   
   The Chair invited Nadia Rosemond, Assistant Dean - Co-Curricular Engagement & Student Leadership to deliver the report. Ms. Rosemond explained the University’s assumed obligations to students and the oversight role of the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students. She reported that the fee changes requested by the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) were subject to the Policy for Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees and the Policy on Ancillary Fees.
    

   On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
   
   YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED,
   
   THAT, beginning in the Summer 2023 session, the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) fee be modified as follows: (a) an increase of $7.66 per session ($1.53 part-time) in the UTSC Sports & Recreation Complex Levy portion of the fee; and THAT, subject to confirmation of approval of the following fee change proposals by the SCSU Board of Directors, beginning in the Fall 2023 session, the SCSU fee be modified as follows: (a) an increase of up to $1.77 per session (up to $0.11 part-time) in the society portion of the fee, (b) an increase of up to $9.42 per Fall and Winter sessions (full-time only) in the Health Plan portion of the fee, (c) an increase of up to $11.90 per Fall and Winter sessions (full-time only) in the Dental Plan portion of the fee, (d) an increase of up to $2.63 per session (up to $0.79 part-time) in the Student Centre portion of the fee, (e) an increase of up to $0.55 per session (full-time only) in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) portion of the fee, and (f) continuation of the WUSC Program portion of the fee through the 2023-24 academic period.
    

   If approved, the total Fall/Winter SCSU fee will be up to $527.00 per session (up to $56.05 part-time), charged to all UTSC undergraduate students.
   
   Members had no questions.
    

4. Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees: UTSC Office of Student Experience and Wellbeing
   
   The Chair invited Neel Joshi (Dean, Student Experience and Wellbeing) and Nadia Rosemond (Assistant Dean, Co-Curricular Engagement & Student Leadership) to deliver the presentation for this item. The Chair also reminded members that while motions for this item were separated out for transparency, the motions were an interconnected plan and would be considered with one vote.
   
   Mr. Joshi introduced the item and provided an overview of the CSS priorities and themes for 2023-24, which included: supporting the campus and institutional Strategic Plans; increasing opportunities for experiential learning and international education, increasing number of programs and students who engage in athletics & sports, actioning mental health task force and healthy campus initiative recommendations, supporting academic and career transitions for all students. Mr. Joshi also discussed the robust process to approve the operating plan, which is governed by the Protocol on Non-Tuition Fees.
   
   As part of his report, Mr. Joshi invited Amrith David (Vice - President Academics and University Affairs, Interim President for SCSU) to deliver remarks on behalf of the Scarborough Campus Student Union. Mr. David remarked that the SCSU supported the budget increase. He noted further that the added funds would positively support student success at the Scarborough Campus.
    

   On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
   
   YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED,
   
   THAT, the 2023-24 operating plans and budgets for the UTSC Student Experience and Wellbeing (including the Health & Wellness Centre, Athletics & Recreation, Career Services, Academic Support, Student Buildings and Other Student Services), as presented in the documentation from Mr. Neel Joshi, Dean of Student Experience and Wellbeing, be approved; and
   
   THAT the sessional Health & Wellness Service Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC- affiliated full-time student be increased to $84.99 per full-time student per session ($17.00 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 7.11% ($5.64 for full-time student; $1.13 for part-time student);
   
   THAT the sessional Athletics and Recreation Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC- affiliated full-time student be increased to $149.23 per full-time student per session ($29.85 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 3.27% ($4.72 for full-time student; $0.94 for part-time student);
   
   THAT the sessional Career Services Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC- affiliated full-time student be increased to $91.59 per full-time student per session ($18.32 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 1.05% ($0.95 for full-time student; $0.19 for part-time student);
   
   THAT the sessional Academic Support Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC- affiliated full-time student be increased to $54.20 per full-time student per session ($10.84 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 1.40% ($0.75 for full-time student; $0.15 for part-time student)
   
   THAT the sessional Student Buildings Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC- affiliated full-time student be decreased to $31.85 per full-time student per session ($6.37 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year decrease of 1.76% ($0.57 for full-time student; $0.11 for part-time student);
   
   THAT the sessional Other Student Services Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC- affiliated full-time student be increased to $20.39 per full-time student per session ($4.08 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 0.21% ($0.04 for full-time student; $0.01 for part-time student)
    

5. Operating Plans and Fees: Service Ancillaries, UTSC
   
   The Chair invited Mr. Andrew Arifuzzaman (Chief, Administrative Officer) to introduce the item. Mr. Arifuzzaman reminded members of the three primary types of funding available at the campus: the operating fund budget, student service fees, and ancillary budgets. He further noted that the ancillary budgets must be fully self-funded, provide services to both internal and external users, and must also adhere to four financial objectives: they must operate without subsidy from the University’s operating budget, provide for all costs of capital renewal including deferral maintenance, create and maintain an operating reserve, and contribute net revenues to the operating budget.
   
   Mr. Arifuzzaman invited the Director’s of each portfolio within the Services Ancillaries Units at UTSC to present their budget. Greg Hum (Director, Housing and Residence Life) remarked on some key accomplishments for the Housing and Residence Life unit, which included expanding the existing Residence Curriculum to include academic achievement, successfully navigated a housing overflow situation and acquired off-campus units, and successfully transitioned to a fully in-person school year while navigating the challenges of a global pandemic. Mr. Hum noted that in 2023-2024 there would be a decrease in income and an increase in expenses. He explained that this was due to maintenance projects to improve the existing residence spaces and the restoration and reduction of shared spaces in Joan Foley Hall to create a more desirable setting for upper-year and graduate student residence spaces. Ms Fran Wdowczyk (Director, Business Development & Special Advisor to the CAO Operations and Special Projects) provided an overview of the ‘Retail and Conference Services’ and ‘Food and Beverage Services’ ancillary budgets and highlighted several accomplishments which included: Camp UTSC hitting a record high in registrations, Film continued to be a strong source of revenue for the unit and partnering departments, the completion of the RFP process, capital funds have been made to operationalize new residence and renew and refresh all retail locations, and enhancing student meal experiences through community partnerships (pop-up partnerships with local vendors). Ms Tanya Poppleton (Director, Campus Safety), highlighted the current plans of the ‘Parking Services’ ancillaries’ unit. Ms. Poppleton shared a key achievement for the unit as being able to successfully manage an increased number of returning parkers with a decreasing number of parking spaces. Moreover, an overview of the proposed ‘Retail and Parking Commons’ capital project was shared, and the 2023/24 proposed parking permit fee increases (10%) in preparation for the for the construction of the new parking structure.
   
   A member asked Ms. Wdowczyk to provide a few highlights of the planned renovations to the food services. Ms. Wdowczyk listed a few examples of renovations to food services across campus. Including, but not limited to, a renovation of Tim Hortons, the addition of ordering stations and mobile app ordering, a renovation to Starbucks and the Meeting Place. Another member followed up with a question regarding renovations and maintenance of the residence buildings. Mr. Arifuzzaman explained that the infrastructure investments would depend on the condition of the residence. Mr. Arifuzzaman and Mr. Hum further noted that investments were being made into the development of desirable housing for graduate students.
   
   Another member inquired about the consideration of the diversity of food offerings on campus throughout the RFP process. Ms Wdowczyk explained that there was significant consideration placed on the diversification of food offerings on campus. She further noted that this was supported by a committee comprised of students, staff and faculty that advised on the types of offerings and special programs on campus. Moreover, where there were gaps in vendor offerings through the RFP process, the team would seek out food trucks and pop-up services to fill in the gap.
    

   On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
   
   YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED,
   
   THAT the 2023-24 operating plans and budgets for the UTSC Service Ancillaries, as summarized in Schedule 1; the Service Ancillary capital budgets as summarized in Schedule 5; and the rates and fees in Schedule 6, as presented in the Service Ancillary Report on Operating Plans dated January 04, 2023, be approved effective May 1, 2023

6. Status Report on Campus Strategic Priorities
   
   The Chair invited Mr. Arifuzzaman (Chief, Administrative Officer) back to deliver the presentation for this item. Highlights from Mr. Arifuzzaman’s presentation are as follows:

• The UTSC Strategic Priorities for the upcoming year were:
  • Continue to invest in faculty and diversity hiring
    • Continued investments would be made to strategically diversify the faculty complement. Including through the recent launch of the Report of the UTSC Campus Curriculum Review Working Circle 2020-2022 and its calls for continued attention to educational access and decolonizing and anti-racist education.
  • Supporting domestic enrolment
  • Completion of student enhancement projects
    • Investments into modernization projects would continue across campus in laboratory and research spaces, student and public spaces, and library and learning commons.
  • Development of indicator framework
    • UTSC would develop a set of clear indicators that measure progress of the UTSC Inspiring Inclusive Excellence Strategic Plan.
  • Building partnerships with other faculties – interdivisional teaching
  • Occupy and operationalize new buildings
  • Developing programs to support life sciences growth
    • The new Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) program had also awarded UTSC with 300 graduating life science students per year.
       
      In the discussion, a member inquired about the possibility for a partnership with the new Medical School that had been announced in Brampton, Ontario. Mr. Arifuzzaman noted that the new Medical School that would launch in Brampton would be affiliated with the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and would have its own separate set of partnerships. Whereby, UTSC SAMIH would be expanding on an existing Medical School program through the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Vice-President & Principal Tettey added that there could be opportunities for research focused partnerships in the future.
       

7. Report of the Presidential Assessors
   
   There were two reports for the committee’s attention.
   
   Mr. Andrew Arifuzzaman (Chief, Administrative Officer) provided a brief report on the work of his unit. Mr. Arifuzzaman reported that the team would be closing the RFP process for the SAMIH project. He also noted that there was a decrease in the inflationary costs associated with construction projects.
   
   Next, Mr. Neel Joshi (Dean, Student Experience and Wellbeing) provided an update from his unit. Mr. Joshi acknowledged the work of the team that supported the successful launch event for the Healthy Campus Initiative that was held on January 31^st, 2023. He also recognized the Scarborough Campus Students Union (SCSU) and the OSEW team for their efforts on coordinating a calendar of events for Black History Month.
   
   A member inquired as to the reason for the decrease in inflation on the construction materials and services. Mr. Arifuzzaman explained that as the industry has come out of the pandemic and the supply chain issues have begun to be resolve, there is more competition in the market, and this has helped to drive inflation and some pricing down.  
    
8. Report of the Previous Meeting
   
   The Report of the Previous Meeting was approved.
    
9. Business Arising from the Report of the Meeting
   
   There was no Business Arising.
    
10. Date of the Next Meeting – March 23^rd, 2023 at 3:10 p.m.
     
11. Other Business
    
    There was no Other Business.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:42 p.m.

February 15, 2023