COLLEGE OF ELECTORS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2025
Minutes of the College of Electors meeting held on September 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber:
PRESENT: Jennifer Dolman, (UTAA) (Chair), Brad Beveridge (Vice-Chair), Omar Bitar, Dan Bowyer, Terry Burgoyne, Michael Camacho, John Cardoso, Michelle Davis, Eileen de Villa, Saswati Deb, David Drew, Michael Gibson, Luke Jeagal, Imran Khan, Andrea Koop, Vito Labate, Idas Levato, Mathias Memmel, Anne Milochik, Andria Minicucci, Ashleigh Molloy, Herman Ng, Eric Noble, Ennio Palombizio, Maina Rambali, Mary Rusz, Christophe Shammas, Rachel Shaw-Ng, Jane Speakman, Milomir Strbac, Irene Vrckovnik, Terese Weisberg, Steve Williams, Helen Wojcinski,
REGRETS: Pavel Abdur-Rahman, Mohammad Amin, Jennifer Boucher, Ron Choudhury, Janet Fu, Jodeme Goldhar, Sandra Griffiths, Asif Mohammed, Frid Mughal, Jamie Philip, Naraindra Prashad, Rohit Singla, Jinzi Zheng
SECRETARIAT: Tracey Gameiro (Secretary), Amanda Grant (Governance Coordinator)
GUESTS: Barbara Dick, Assistant Vice-President, Alumni Relations, Joe Wong, Vice-President, International
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair welcomed everyone to the first College of Electors meeting of the year. She extended a special welcome to new members and thanked those who attended the pre-meeting Orientation Session. The Chair then introduced the Executive Committee members and also welcomed Professor Joesph Wong, (Vice-President, International), and Ms. Barbara Dick, (Assistant Vice-President, Alumni Relations). - Presentation: International Students
The Chair invited Professor Joseph Wong (Vice-President, International) to the podium. Professor Wong began by emphasizing how the University of Toronto had successfully attracted the talent of many international students. He highlighted the strategic approach to attracting and supporting international students.
Professor Wong reported that despite geopolitical challenges and shifting federal policies, U of T had maintained stable international enrolment through diversification and strategic enrolment management. The University had expanded its reach to students from over 100 countries and continued to invest in substantial financial aid, including the International Scholar Awards and Pearson Scholarships. Support services included orientation, mental health, academic advising, and study permit assistance. U of T’s study permit rate was significantly above the national average, and international students showed strong retention and graduation rates.
Professor Wong also shared his personal interest in understanding the experiences of international students when first arriving in Toronto. Inspired by this, he shared that a documentary had been created through the International Student Experience Fund and the Innovation Hub to document the first 48 hours of several international students after arriving in Toronto. The film highlighted their experiences, the wide rage of the University’s support systems, and served to celebrate the students’ incredible talent.
Discussion
A member remarked on the 70% reduction in applications from India and inquired whether a similar impact had been observed in applications from China during the deterioration of Canada-China relations. Professor Wong acknowledged that geopolitical tensions had influenced international student mobility and perceptions of ‘Brand Canada’. He stated that U of T's diversification strategy had helped mitigate these impacts, with increased enrolments from a broader range of countries.
A member asked what type of recruitment activities U of T undertakes to attract international students. In response, Professor Wong explained that U of T engaged in a wide range of complex and region-specific recruitment activities. Social media played an ever increasing central role, with tailored strategies for different regions – for example, maintaining dedicated Chinese social media channels to communicate directly with prospective students, as well as platforms specific to the U.S. market. The University also prioritized outreach through meetings with guidance counsellors, direct engagement with prospective students, and leveraging its global alumni network. These efforts were culturally informed and adapted to local contexts to ensure relevant and effectiveness in each target region.
A member queried whether international students were eligible to apply to all academic programs at the University. In response, Professor Wong noted that while international students were able to apply to most academic programs, some divisions had limited capacity due to regulatory or accreditation requirements.
A member observed that Africa appeared to be missing from the list of source countries highlighted in the presentation, and asked whether U of T considers social impact or leadership potential in its admission process, as some institutions do. In response, Professor Wong clarified that the countries listed were those with 40 or more enrolled students. Student populations from African countries did not meet that threshold. He further explained that higher study permit rejection rates for applicants from African nations remained a barrier, and increasing representation would require collaboration with federal partners to address these systemic challenges. - Presentation: Overview of Alumni Relations
Barbara Dick, Assistant Vice-President Alumni Relations provided an overview of alumni relations at the University, including progress toward alumni engagement goal achievement. Additionally, she provided insight into how alumni engagement supports the University’s mission and strategic priorities and provided some demographic insights about alumni.
Discussion
A member asked how alumni outreach was managed for students who graduate with multiple degrees from different divisions. In response, Ms. Dick explained that when alumni hold multiple degrees from different divisions, it can be challenging to determine where their strongest affiliation lies. During the pandemic, the shift to virtual programming significantly expanded engagement opportunities. This allowed for broader outreach. She explained that once an alumnus participated in an event or engaged with a particular division, they are considered part of that division’s ‘catchment’, helping the University better understand their interests. Ms. Dick noted that the move to virtual engagement helped break down internal silos and foster greater collaboration across divisions. All events that are open to alumni from across the university are listed on the Alumni Events Hub.
A member asked whether, in addition to financial contributions, the University tracked volunteer hours as part of alumni engagement metrics. In response, Ms. Dick noted that while some universities do track alumni volunteer hours, U of T did not currently have a formal mechanism in place to collect this data. U of T does monitor volunteer engagement over time, but not in terms of quantifiable hours. She acknowledged that tracking volunteer hours could be meaningful in understanding the full scope of alumni impact.
A member suggested that it might be worthwhile for the University to develop a journey map that traced the student-alumni experience, in order to better understand how diversity was reflected across different stages of alumni engagement and philanthropic support. In response, Ms. Dick assured members that alumni engagement was approached through a diversity lens. While there were specialized programs tailored to specific interests and needs, the University recognized that diversity was multifaceted and required thoughtful, informed outreach. She reported that to better understand barriers to engagement, U of T had conducted deeper consultations with self-identified diverse alumni. Regarding journey mapping, Ms. Dick shared that the University had analyzed engagement patterns among alumni who were first in their families to attend university over the past 15 years. While this group might not always be formally categorized as diverse, she noted that their engagement trajectory showed that they reach similar levels of engagement and philanthropic support as other alumni relatively quickly. -
Call for Nominations for the 2025-2026 Nominating Committee for Alumni Governors
The Chair noted the role of the Nominating Committee for Alumni Governors (NC-AG), which included five members from the Executive Committee and three members elected annually by and from the College.
Nominations for the NC-AG were invited until October 6, 2025, and interested members were encouraged to nominate themselves or others for the three available seats. The Executive Committee would review the nominations and present a recommended slate at the November 5th meeting.
The Chair invited former members of the NC-AG to share their experiences serving on the Committee. -
Report of the Previous Meeting – May 12, 2025
On a motion duly moved, seconded and carried
The minutes of the meeting of May 12, 2025, were approved. - Business Arising from the Minutes of the Previous Meeting
There was no business arising from the minutes of the previous meeting. -
College of Electors – Schedule of Meetings 2025-2026
The Chair reviewed the College’s schedule of meetings for the 2025-2026 year and highlighted key milestones for the coming year. -
Date of Next Meeting – November 5, 2025
The Chair reminded members that the next meeting would be held on November 5, 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. -
Other Business
Governing Council Calendar of Business
Members were encouraged to attend at least one meeting of the Governing Council and its various Boards and Committees, including Campus Councils. They were reminded of the importance to understand the work of the Governing Council and the fiduciary duty of its members. The next Governing Council meeting was scheduled for November 6, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
September 30, 2025