REPORT NUMBER 234 OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD
Thursday, May 27, 2021
To the Governing Council,
University of Toronto
Your Board reports that it held a virtual meeting on Thursday, May 27, 2021, at 3:10 p.m. with the following members present:
PRESENT:
Nicholas Terpstra (Chair), Douglas E. McDougall (Vice Chair), Claire Kennedy (Chair, Governing Council), Brian Lawson (Vice-Chair, Governing Council), Meric S. Gertler (President), Cheryl Regehr (Vice-President and Provost), Scott Mabury (Vice-President, University Operations and Real Estate Partnerships), Mark Schmuckler (Acting Vice-Provost, Academic Programs & Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education), A'aishah Abdul Hameed, Larry P. Alford, Catherine Amara, Laura Anderson, Aarthi Ashok, Joshua Barker, Harvey Thomas Botting, Markus Bussmann, Samantha Chang, Adanna Yvette Chigbo, Carol C. Chin, Rosa Ciantar, Caryl L. Clark, Ettore Vincenzo Damiano, Amrita G. Daniere, James Davis, Luc F. De Nil, Raisa B. Deber, Nathalie Des Rosiers, Hanna Diress, Lisa Rebecca Dolovich, Paul Downes, Stark Draper, Markus D. Dubber, David Dubins, Wendy M. Duff, Angela Esterhammer, Nicholas C. Everett, K. Sonu Gaind, William A. Gough, Janneka Guise, Daniel A. Haas, Tony Harris, Emily Hawes, Walid A. Houry, Ira Jacobs, Sarosh Jamal, Nadine Janes, Linda Johnston, Allan S. Kaplan, Grase Kim, Anil Kishen, Ronald H. Kluger, Lisa Kramer, Ernest W.N. Lam, Brigitte Lavoie, Kevin (Jingzhi) Li, Jiazhen (Diana) Li, Maureen MacDonald, Alexandra MacKay, Jan K. Mahrt-Smith, Stephane Paul Martin Demers, Nicole Mideo, Kent G.W. Moore, William Nguyen, Fabian Parsch, Dana Phillips, Jennifer Gillian Purtle, Michael J.H. Ratcliffe, Matt Ratto, Nicholas Rule, Edward (Ted) H. Sargent, Rosa Saverino, Maureen L. Simpson, Jastaranpreet (Jasty) Singh, Markus Stock, Eric Stubbs, Evan Tang, Truc Tran, Dexter Voisin, Njoki Wane, Grace Ann Westcott, Melanie A. Woodin, L. Trevor Young
REGRETS:
Nina Bascia, Adalsteinn (Steini) I. D. Brown, Jutta Brunnée, Christian Caron, Weijia Chen, George Christakis, Kenneth S. Corts, Shadi Dalili, Cathy (Hui Jie) Feng, Emily Gilbert, J. Roy Gillis, Sol Goldberg, Glen A. Jones, William Ju, Vishnu Katyal, Charlie Keil, Jeannie Kim, Daiana Kostova, Philip Kremer, Rachel La Touche, Zhiyuan (Annie) Lu, Lance T. McCready, Bonnie S. McElhinny, Mark McGowan, Don McLean, Amy Mullin, Lacra Pavel, Michael Shier, Patricia Windrim, Robert M. Wright, Vishar Yaghoubian, Christopher M. Yip
NON-VOTING ASSESSORS:
Kelly Hannah-Moffat (Vice-President, Human Resources and Equity), Trevor Rodgers (Assistant Vice-President, Planning & Budget), Wisdom J. Tettey (Vice-President and Principal UTSC)
SECRETARIAT:
Tracey Gameiro, Secretary
IN ATTENDANCE:
Julia Allworth, Manager, Innovation Projects
Steven Bailey, Director, Learning Management
Tad Brown, Counsel, Business Affairs & Advancement
Steve Easterbrook, Director, School of the Environment, Faculty of Arts & Science
Nora Gillespie, Senior Legal Counsel, Offices of the Vice-President and Provost and Vice-President Human Resources and Equity
Paul Kingston, Director, Centre for Critical Development Studies, UTSC
Hugh Laurence, Acting Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum, UTSC
Poppy Lockwood, Vice-Dean, Academic, Planning, Faculty of Arts & SCience
Andrea Russell, Director, Academic Affairs, Office of the Vice-President and Provost
Archana Sridhar, Assistant Provost, Office of the Vice-President and Provost
Rachel Tennant, Special Projects Officer, Office of the President
ITEMS 3 AND 4 ARE RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNING COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. ITEMS 6, 9, 14, 15, 16, 18 AND 19 WERE APPROVED. ALL OTHER ITEMS ARE REPORTED FOR INFORMATION.
Pursuant to section 33(i) of By-Law Number 2,
Items 14 to 19 were considered in camera.
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair noted this was the final meeting of the 2020-2021 academic year and thanked members for their participation throughout the year.
- Report of the Vice-President and Provost
Professor Regehr began her report with an update (as of May 27, 2021), on the University’s COVID-19 response and adaptation activities. She noted that courses continued to be delivered remotely, with the exception of those deemed essential, and that support continued to be provided for all those who could work from home. The Provost then highlighted the following regarding the University’s response to the pandemic:
Vaccine Clinics
- The University of Toronto Mississauga clinic had administered more than 150,000 vaccines since opening in March, and continued to provide more than 4,000 shots daily as supply was available.
- The St. George clinic had administered more than 17,000 doses of vaccine and more than 12,000 doses at pop-up clinics, with more pop-up clinics planned in high-risk neighbourhoods.
- The St. George campus team had developed a partnership with the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health and Na-Me-Res to provide culturally appropriate and safe vaccinations to the downtown Toronto Indigenous community. A third clinic ran on May 25, 2021 and to date had provided more than 1,200 vaccinations. The one-day clinics would continue to operate throughout the summer.
- After having completed more than 80,000 COVID-19 tests since December 2020, the University of Toronto Scarborough was transforming their testing site into a vaccination clinic, with vaccinations planned to start the week of May 31, 2021.
Student International Travel
- As a result of ongoing pandemic conditions worldwide, the suspension of student international travel had been extended from September 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. The decision was made in part because many partner institutions were unable to accept exchange students for the fall 2021 term.
- The University continued to monitor pandemic circumstances, including travel restrictions on passengers from India and Pakistan, and would provide students with updated communications as public health guidelines, global travel restrictions, and Global Affairs Canada travel advisories changed.
Advocacy for Dentistry
- After months of tireless advocacy, the provincial government had agreed to lift restrictions on dentistry programs, allowing delays in the graduation of dentistry students to be avoided.
Academic Disruptions - Since the last Academic Board meeting on April 28, 2021, one course level academic disruption at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and an extension of a program level academic disruption at the Rotman School of Management, had been declared.
- The disruption provided Faculties with the authority to alter specific course and program requirements as needed.
Fall Planning
- Faculties and Divisions continued to prepare for the fall 2021 semester.
- Consultation and collaboration was under way with the broader university sector, including with the Council of Ontario Universities and Universities Canada, to approach the government on issues affecting the fall 2021 semester.
Education Presentation:
The Board received a presentation from Steven Bailey, (Director, Learning Space Management) and Julia Allworth, (Manager, Innovation Projects), on the Transforming the Instructional Landscape (“TIL”) pilot project aimed at assisting instructors navigate the new online learning environment and improve their online teaching.
The presentation highlighted the following:
- Since launching in 2015, TIL had developed partnerships and collaborations with the Innovation Hub, Facilities & Services and CTSI, and had created the TIL advisory committee to ensure the University had accessible, innovative, and effective purpose-built classrooms that addressed the needs of all stakeholders; recently adapting to the shifting needs of the University teaching community in light of the pandemic;
- 93 classrooms 21 buildings had been re-designed;
- In December 2020, TIL had launched a pilot program that had provided eight instructors from different disciplines with state-of-the-art-spaces equipped with technology, tools and equipment, and a support system to enable experimentation with new technologies;
- Principles of learner-centered design:
- personalized approach
- recognizing emotional experience of learning spaces
- transparent communication
- empowering instructors and students
- autonomy in teaching and learning
- collaborative and accessible approaches
- community-oriented approach
- Key learnings from the pilot which were helping inform processes and supports to be put in place for upcoming fall term:
- what technologies were effective in engaging students
- what technologies allowed instructors to accomplish their teaching goals
- what supports were needed to enable instructors to succeed
Mr. Bailey encouraged members to read the report on the TIL pilot Transforming the Instructional Landscape Pilot Takeaways, as well as an instructional video demonstrating the technology.
There were no questions from members regarding the TIL presentation.
Further to the Provost’s report, a member asked whether any update could be provided with regards to the Canadian Association of University Teachers’ (CAUT) recent motion of censure of the University of Toronto pertaining to the discontinued search for a professional/managerial director position for the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) at the Faculty of Law. In response, President Meric Gertler referred members to the memo sent to academic administrators from the Vice-President, Human Resources & Equity and the Provost, which outlined activities in the following three areas in which the University was engaged in response to the independent review of the Honourable Thomas A. Cromwell:
1. Advancement activities and interaction with donors.
2. Reconciliation at the Faculty of Law and a re-evaluation of requirements for the non-academic IHRP Director position.
3. Guidelines for staff hiring processes and protections for staff roles in professional experiential education.
- Proposal to Establish a Department: Centre for Critical Development Studies (EDU:B) to the Department of Global Development Studies, University of Toronto Scarborough
Following introductory remarks from the Provost, Professor Paul Kingston, Chair of the UTSC Campus Council, provided a summary of the Council’s discussion of the proposal. Professor Kingston reported that the UTSC Campus Council had received a comprehensive presentation from Professor William Gough, UTSC Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean, that had included a brief overview of the EDU and departmental structure at the University, the purpose of the conversion from an EDU to a department., and a summary of the administrative and curricular elements of the proposed Department. Members had no questions, and the proposal was recommended for approval.
In response to a Board Member’s question on Extra-Departmental Units, the Provost explained the differences between EDUs at the University, and the importance of the Centre’s designation as a Department in allowing it to appoint faculty members and manage its own budget. The distinction in status between an EDU: A and that of ‘department’ was a choice in approach left to the Division and the faculty in which the academic unit sat.
In response to a member’s question, Professors Wisdom Tetty and Bill Gough, indicated that cross-appointments of staff would not impact students’ access to courses, nor undermine UTSC’s commitment to offer courses across programs.
On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDED
THAT the Centre for Critical Development Studies (EDU:B) be converted to the Department of Global Development Studies, as described in the proposal dated April 13, 2021, be approved to be effective as of July 1, 2021.
- Proposal to Establish an Extra-Departmental Unit A: Faculty of Arts & Science, School of the Environment
The Provost introduced the proposal to establish a new EDU: A at the Faculty of Arts & Science.
The Chair then advised members that the Planning and Budget Committee had considered the proposal at it’s May 6th meeting, and that a summary of that presentation was contained in the report of that meeting. The Chair reported that the proposal had been well received, there had been no questions from members, and the Committee had recommended the proposal for approval.
There were no questions from Board members regarding the proposal.
On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDED
THAT the proposal to establish the School of the Environment, an (EDU: B), as an Extra-Departmental Unit Type A, as described in the proposal dated April 12, 2021, be approved effective July 1, 2021.
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Academic Plan: University of Toronto Libraries, 2020-2025: Barrier-Free Access to All of the Right Information
The Board received the Academic Plan for the University of Toronto Libraries (UTL), for information.
Professor Jan Mahrt-Smith, Chair of the Planning and Budget Committee, reported on the Committee’s consideration of the academic plan. He noted that Mr. Larry Alford, the University’s Chief Librarian, had provided an overview of the plan and had spoken to the extensive consultation and engagement process undertaken to develop strategic areas of focus as well as the activities planned to support UTL’s vision.
In response to a member’s question regarding open access issues, the University’s Chief Librarian stated that the University was very much engaged in national discussions on this complex issue, as well as in global conversations on how to structure a sustainable business model to provide open access. Mr. Alford reported that the University provided a free and secure research repository (“TSpace”) which allowed for compliance with the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications, (assuming the publisher allowed for it and did not claim copyright). He advised members that deep discounts had been negotiated with some publishers and that his office was working closely with the Scholarly Communications and Copyright Office to provide support to researchers in negotiating individual author agreements with publishers, and to ensure faculty could take advantage of the discounts negotiated.
OPEN CONSENT AGENDA
On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR BOARD APPROVED
THAT the consent agenda be adopted.
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Constitutional Amendments: School of Graduate Studies
On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR BOARD APPROVED
THAT subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee
THAT the proposed amended Constitution of the School of Graduate Studies, which was recommended for approval by the Graduate Education Council on April 20, 2021 be approved, effective July 1, 2021.
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Revisions to the Terms of Reference of the Planning and Budget Committee
The Board received the proposed revisions to the Planning and Budget Committee Terms of Reference for information.
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Revisions to the Terms of Reference of the Committee on Academic Policy and Programs
The Board received the proposed revisions to the Planning and Budget Committee Terms of Reference for information.
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Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 233 – April 28, 2021
Report Number 233, from the meeting of April 28, 2021 was approved.
-
Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting.
-
Reports for Information
Members received the following reports for information:-
Annual Report: Council of Ontario Universities Academic Colleague, 2021
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Semi-Annual Report: Academic Appeals Committee, Individual Reports, Spring 2021
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Semi-Annual Report: University Tribunal, Information Reports, Spring 2021
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Report Number 276 of the Agenda Committee – May 7, 2021 (Special Meeting)
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Report Number 277 of the Agenda Committee – May 18, 2021
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Report Number 209 of the Committee on Academic Policy and Programs – May 5, 2021
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Report Number 199 of the Planning and Budget Committee – May 6, 2020
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END OF CONSENT AGENDA
- Date of the Next Meeting: October 12, 2021, 3:10 – 5:10 p.m.
The Chair reminded members that the next meeting, the first of the upcoming governance year, would be held on October 12, 2021.
- Other Business
No matters of Other Business were raised.
Appreciation of Members
The Chair expressed his appreciation to all those who had contributed to the work of the Board during the past year. He thanked the assessors who brought matters forward to the Board and Committees, including the voting assessors and the non-voting assessors.
The Chair ended by thanking those whose terms on the Board would end as of June 30th.
THE BOARD MOVED IN CAMERA.
IN CAMERA CONSENT AGENDA
On a motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR BOARD APPROVED
THAT the in camera consent agenda be adopted and that the items requiring approval (items 14, 15 and 16) be approved.
- Appointments: University Professors Recipients
On motion duly moved, seconded and carried
YOUR BOARD APPROVED
THAT Professor Dan Breznitz and Professor Aephraim Steinberg be promoted to the rank of University Professor for 2020-21.
- Appointments: President’s Teaching Award Recipients
On motion duly moved, seconded and carried
YOUR BOARD APPROVED
THAT Professor Jennifer Campbell and Professor Jamie Kellar receive the President’s Teaching Award for 2020-2021.
- Annual Report: Nominating Committee for the University of Toronto Tribunal and Academic Appeals Committee – 2021-2022
On motion duly moved, seconded and carried
YOUR BOARD APPROVED
Ms. Omo Akintan, Ms. Johanna Braden, and Ms. Shantona Chaudhury be re-appointed as co-chairs of the University Tribunal for the period July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024; and
THAT Mr. Andrew Bernstein, Ms. Alexandra Clark, Ms. Harriet Lewis, Ms. Joelle Ruskin, Ms. Indira Stewart, and Ms. Karen Symes be appointed as new co-chairs of the University Tribunal, for the period July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024.
THAT Professor Hamish Stewart be re-appointed as the Senior Chair of the Academic Appeals Committee for the period July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022; and
THAT Ms. Sara Faherty, Mr. John Monahan and Professor Stephen Waddams be re-appointed as Chairs of the Academic Appeals Committee for the period July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022; and
THAT Professor Andrew Green and Ms. Erika Murray be appointed as Chairs of the Academic Appeals Committee for the period July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.
- Quarterly Report on Donations: February 1 – April 30, 2021
Members received the Quarterly Report on Donations for information. END OF IN CAMERA CONSENT AGENDAIN CAMERA AGENDA
- Appointment of an Assistant Secretary to the University Tribunal
- Annual Report: Striking Committee – Academic Board, 2021
On a motion duly moved, seconded and carried
YOUR BOARD APPROVED
THAT the following be appointed to the Board for a one-year term from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, unless otherwise specified
Administrative and Professional Staff
Adam Fox, Senior Advancement Research Officer (three year term: July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024)
Alumni
Maureen Simpson, Faculty of Law*
Eric Stubbs, University College*
Students
Full-time Undergraduate
Bisma Ali, University of Toronto Scarborough (Health and Society)
Maryanna Diab, Faculty of Arts & Science (Social Sciences)
Seema Gupta, University of Toronto Mississauga (Anthropology)
Eloise Hirst, Faculty of Law
Natalie Lung, Faculty of Arts & Science (Health Studies; French Language and Linguistics)
Zhino Maanavi, University of Toronto Scarborough (Neuroscience, Psychology, Biology)
Evan Tang, Temerty Faculty of Medicine*
Graduate
Ashley Ahuja, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
Samantha Chang, PhD, Art*
Moses Cook, Temerty Faculty of Medicine (Medical Biophysics)
David Tieu, University of Toronto Mississauga (Biotechnology)
Part-time Undergraduate
Anna Djapa, New College (Health & Disease)
Membership of Committees of the Board
On a motion duly moved, seconded and carried
YOUR BOARD APPROVED
THAT the following be appointed to committees of the Board- 2021 – 2022 Committee on Academic Policy and Programs (AP&P)
Administrative Staff
Adam Fox, Senior Advancement Research Officer
Alumni
Maureen Simpson, Faculty of Law*
Eric Stubbs, University College*
Students
Ana Djapa, New College (Health & Disease)
Maryanna Diab, Faculty of Arts & Science (Social Sciences)
Zhino Maanavi, University of Toronto Scarborough (Neuroscience, Psychology, Biology)
Moses Cook, Temerty Faculty of Medicine (Medical Biophysics)
David Tieu, University of Toronto Mississauga (Biotechnology)
Teaching Staff
Ernie Lam, Faculty of Dentistry, Governor, was recommended as Chair, past AP&P member*
Catherine Amara, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education*
Christian Caron, Faculty of Arts & Science*
James Davis, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, past AP&P member*
Raisa Deber, Dalla Lana School of Public Health*
Angela Esterhammer, Victoria College, past AP&P member*
Robert Gibbs, Faculty of Arts & Science
Walid Houry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine*
Nadine Janes, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing*
Gretchen Kerr, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Jeannie Kim, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, past AP&P member*
Fabian Parsch, Faculty of Arts & Science*
Rosa Saverino, Faculty of Arts & Science*
Markus Stock, University College*
Aarthi Ashok, University of Toronto Scarborough, Vice-Chair, past AP&P member*
- 2021 – 2022 Planning and Budget Committee
Administrative Staff
Alumni
LGIC
Two government appointees, two student governors, two teaching staff governors, and one administrative staff governor, and will serve on P&B in 2021-22. As such, no co-opted administrative staff, alumni, or LGIC members were needed.
Students
Bisma Ali, University of Toronto Scarborough (Health and Society)
Teaching Staff
Jan Mahrt-Smith, Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, Governor, was recommended to serve as Chair, past P&B member*
Carol Chin, Woodsworth College*
Ettore Damiano, Faculty of Arts & Science, past P&B member*
Lisa Dolovich, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy*
Markus Dubber, Faculty of Law*
Daniel Haas, Faculty of Dentistry*
Tony Harris, Faculty of Arts & Science
Nicole Mideo, Faculty of Arts and Science*
Amy Mullin, University of Toronto Mississauga*
Rita Kandel, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Melanie Woodin, Faculty of Arts & Science, past P&B member*
Mark Lautens, Faculty of Chemistry, Governor, was recommended as Vice-Chair, past P&B member*
Additional Members of the Agenda Planning Group
Ettore Damiano, Faculty of Arts and Science, past P&B member*
Carol Chin, Woodsworth College*
- 2021 – 2022 Agenda Committee
Student
Evan Tang, Temerty Faculty of Medicine*
Teaching Staff
Professor Linda Johnston, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
Professor Nicholas Rule, Faculty of Arts & Science*
2021 – 2022 Discipline Appeals Board
YOUR BOARD APPROVED
THAT the following be appointed to the Discipline Appeals Board for 2021-2022:
Students
Amin Kamaleddin, PhD, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering (Biomedical Engineering)
Samantha Chang, PhD, Faculty of Arts & Science (Art History)
Alena Zelinka, PhD, Temerty Faculty of Medicine (Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology), past DAB member
Teaching Staff
Ramona Alaggia, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, past DAB member
Aarthi Ashok, University of Toronto Scarborough, past DAB member*
Allan Kaplan, Faculty of Medicine, past DAB member*
2021 – 2022 Advisory Committee on the University of Toronto Library System
YOUR BOARD APPROVED
THAT the following be re-appointed as the Board's representatives on the Advisory Committee on the University of Toronto Library System for 2021 - 2022:
Jennifer Purtle, Faculty of Arts & Science*
Matt Ratto, Faculty of Information*
- 2021 – 2022 Committee on Academic Policy and Programs (AP&P)
The meeting adjourned at 4:19 p.m.
June 1, 2021