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Simcoe Hall, 27 King’s College Circle, Council Chamber (second floor)
Report Number 217 Of The Planning & Budget Committee
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025
To the Academic Board,
University of Toronto,
Your Committee reports that it held a meeting on May 14, 2025 at 3:10 p.m. with the following members present:
PRESENT: Mark Lautens (Chair), Markus Dubber (Vice Chair), Trevor Young (Vice President and Provost), Scott Mabury, (Vice President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships), Jeff Lennon (Assistant Vice President, Planning and Budget), Luca Calabretta, Janet Cloud, Jessica Eylon, Robert Gazzale, Rita Kandel, John Oesch, Suresh Sivanandam, Naomi Steenhof, Sali Tagliamonte, Grace Westcott*, Charmaine Williams
*participated remotely via Zoom
REGRETS: Albert Cheng, Ryan Cortez, Lisa Dolovich, David Zingg
NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Dave Lehto (Chief University Planning, Design & Construction)
SECRETARIAT: Timothy Harlick (Acting Secretary), Joanne Chou, Tracey Gameiro
IN ATTENDANCE: Douglas McDougall (Chair, Academic Board), Archana Sridhar (Assistant-Provost), Nicholas Rule (Vice-Provost, Academic Programs), Erica Walker (Dean, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education), Adalsteinn Brown (Dean, Dalla Lana School of Public Health), Elizabeth Cragg (Director, Office of the Vice-President, Operations & Real Estate Partnerships), Lachmi Singh (Director, Academic Programs, Planning, and Quality Assurance), Helen Bao (Executive Finance Officer, OREP), Jennifer Francisco (Academic Change Specialist), Emma Del Junco (Academic Reviews and Planning Specialist), David Lock (Academic Reviews and Planning Specialist), Sobhneek Hothi (DLSPH), David Cruickshank (DLSPH), Daniel Bowyer
Pursuant to section 38 of By-Law Number 2,
consideration of item 10 took place in camera.
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair welcomed members to the final meeting of the governance year and extended appreciation for their contributions.
Professor Douglas McDougall, Chair of the Academic Board, spoke on behalf of the Academic Board in expressing gratitude to Professor Mark Lautens for his years of service to the Planning and Budget Committee and Governing Council, noting his involvement since 2013 across several committees, including the Academic Board, University Affairs Board, and Executive Committee. Tracey Gameiro, Committee Secretary, then added her own reflections, highlighting Professor Lautens’ ability to guide complex discussions with clarity and focus.
Professor Trevor Young, Vice-President & Provost also commented on Professor Lautens’ commitment to the academic mission of the University and his advocacy for excellence in teaching and research. He referenced Professor Lautens’ dedication to students and their success as a defining feature of his contributions.
In recognition of his time as Chair, Professor Lautens was presented with a commemorative chair. - Assessors’ Reports
The Committee received a report from the Vice President & Provost, Professor Trevor Young.
Highlights of the Provost’s report included:
- Uncertainty following recent changes to the federal cabinet, including questions about which ministers will oversee the tri-council granting agencies. The University is monitoring how this may affect research funding processes and agency alignment.
- Ongoing concerns related to U.S. policy changes, particularly new rules regarding sub-grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which are disrupting research collaborations involving Canadian faculty. The Provost confirmed that staff in Research Services are working with affected principal investigators, and the University is continuing advocacy efforts through the U15 group and direct engagement with federal officials.
- Encouraging signs regarding faculty and postdoctoral recruitment from the U.S. in response to shifting academic and political conditions. The Provost noted increased interest from U.S.-based candidates, with some divisions exploring opportunities to hire multiple candidates under a single budget line where feasible.
- Continued focus on international travel safety. Members were reminded to use institutional resources such as Safety Abroad and International SOS. Faculty and students are encouraged to stay informed, given evolving geopolitical and regulatory conditions.
- Enrolment updates showed early fluctuations in international undergraduate confirmations. The University is tracking a 5.5% decline overall, with notable reductions from India and stable or increased numbers from China and the U.S. The introduction of a $3,000 deposit for international undergraduates is intended to reduce late-summer withdrawals. Graduate admissions, particularly at the doctoral level, are up significantly, including among international students.
There were no questions from members.
- Academic Plans
The Committee received presentations from three academic divisions as part of the continuing review of academic plans. These presentations were brought forward for information and comment, in accordance with the Committee’s terms of reference.- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
Dean Charmaine Williams presented the Faculty’s academic plan, Leading Transformative Change through Innovation, Education and Collaboration.
She began by framing the plan within the broader context of complex societal challenges, noting that the Faculty views this period as an opportunity for transformation rather than disruption. The plan emphasizes collaboration across disciplines and sectors, including with service users and practitioners, as a core strategy for responding to these challenges.
The Dean outlined five strategic directions: amplifying the Faculty’s local, national, and global research impact; co-designing innovative learning experiences; strengthening relationships with practice communities; fostering well-being across the profession; and advancing diverse approaches to social and environmental justice and human rights. She also noted that principles of truth and reconciliation are integrated throughout the plan, in recognition of social work’s specific responsibilities under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action.
Dean Williams described the planning process as highly consultative, involving faculty, staff, students, alumni, field instructors, and community partners. She emphasized the Faculty’s leadership position, citing its ranking as the top social work school in Canada and second globally, and highlighted its role in driving innovation within the discipline.
There were no questions from members.
The Chair thanked Dean Williams for her presentation.
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Dean Erica Walker presented the academic plan of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, titled Leading for the Future: A Vision for Transformative Education and Human Development.
She described the plan as the result of an eighteen-month consultation process that engaged faculty, staff, students, alumni, and institutional partners, including the OISE Lab School. The process included community discussions, focus groups, and surveys, which informed the development of a shared academic planning framework.
The plan is organized around three central themes: cultivating inclusive, collaborative, and creative communities; broadening impactful research and knowledge mobilization; and advancing education for sustainable social change across both formal and informal learning settings. Dean Walker noted that OISE’s renewed purpose reflects its longstanding role as a leader in education research and professional training, with a global ranking among the top ten faculties of education and the top position in Canada.
She identified three priority areas for the initial implementation phase: expanding support for Black and Indigenous students and faculty, as well as others from underserved communities; developing foundational research training for emerging researchers; and increasing OISE’s public engagement and influence on major education and human development issues.
Discussion
In response to a question regarding how OISE would assess its commitment to well-being across the community Dean Walker responded by pointing to a dedicated wellness website, integration of mental health content in teacher education courses, and a variety of ongoing wellness initiatives. Another member asked whether provincial discussions about shortening teacher education programs would affect OISE’s offerings. Dean Walker noted that OISE’s programs are at the graduate level and attract a distinct student population, making any impact unlikely.
The Chair thanked Dean Walker for her presentation.
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Dean Adalsteinn Brown presented the School’s second academic plan. He noted that the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, as the University’s youngest faculty, undertook an internally driven planning process that included divisional consultations, benchmarking with other schools and global organizations, and strategic planning exercises.
In framing the plan, Dean Brown described the current moment for public health as one marked by intersecting crises ranging from weakened public sector infrastructure and declining public trust in expertise, to the growing influence of non-university actors offering public health training. He stressed that these overlapping dynamics demand a coordinated academic and institutional response.
The plan is organized around five thematic priorities: removing internal and external barriers to collaboration, reinforcing trust and resilience within systems and communities, building leadership and capacity for impact, strengthening institutional infrastructure, and applying long-range planning tools to anticipate and manage emerging challenges. Among the initiatives highlighted were the expansion of cross-program course access, enhanced partnerships with government and industry, and the continued development of the School’s senior fellows’ program to support student learning and mentorship.
Discussion
In response to a question from a member, Dean Brown noted that some professional associations and other groups had been entering the training space with low-cost offerings that lack appropriate academic standards. He emphasized the importance of differentiating the School through the quality of its programs and its commitment to a strong student experience.
The Chair thanked Dean Brown for his presentation.
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
CONSENT AGENDA
On motion duly made, seconded and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED
THAT the consent agenda be adopted and that Item 6, the Report of the Previous Meeting, be approved.
- Annual Report: Executive Committee on the Capital Project Space Allocation Committee (CaPs)
The Annual Report: Executive Committee on the Capital Project Space Allocation Committee, was provided for information. - Annual Report: Design Review Committee (DRC)
The Annual Report: Design Review Committee, was provided for information. - Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 216 – April 9, 2025
The Report of the Previous Meeting was approved. - Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting.
- Date of the Next Meeting: September 18, 2025, 3:10 – 5:10 p.m.
The Committee was reminded that its meeting would take place on September 18, 2025, at the regular meeting time from 3:10 p.m. to 5:10 p.m.
END OF OPEN SESSION CONSENT AGENDA
- Other Business
No items of other business were raised.
THE BOARD MOVED IN CAMERA
- Report on Capital Projects as of March 31, 2025
Professor Scott Mabury, Vice-President, Operations & Real Estate Partnerships, and Mr. David Lehto, Chief, University Planning, Design & Construction, presented the Capital Projects Report for the period ending March 31, 2025. The report included a comprehensive list of capital projects under construction and in design.
THE COMMITTEE RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION
The meeting adjourned at 4:21 p.m.
May 20, 2025