Report: UTM Campus Council - May 27, 2025

To the Governing Council,
University of Toronto,

Your UTM Campus Council reports that it held a meeting in the Council Chamber, Room 3130, W. G. Davis building on May 27, 2025, with the following members present:

PRESENT: Ann Curran (Chair), Andrew Petersen (Vice-Chair), Alexandra Gillespie (Vice-President & Principal), Heather Anderson, Robert Gerlai, Rosa Hong, David Jacobs, Ehab James, Karen Kwan Anderson, John Paul Lotesto, Latonya Ludford, Haze Schepmyer, Asif Mohammed, Eha Naylor, Laura Taylor, Anil Wasif, Ron Wener, Daniel Wright

NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Deborah Brown (Chief Administrative Officer), William A. Gough (Interim Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean), Mark Overton (Assistant Dean, Student Services and Dean of Student Affairs)

REGRETS: Jan Durkiewicz, Elliot Fabian-Fine, Claudiu Gradinaru, Nasha Sethna, Joanna Szurmak, Hana Tariq

SECRETARIAT: Cindy Ferencz-Hammond

IN ATTENDANCE: Sandy Welsh (Vice-Provost, Students), Faye Mishna (Professor, Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Chair of the Review of the Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy), Randy Boyagoda (Provostial Advisor on Civil Discourse), Alexis Archbold (Executive Director, Strategy, Programs & Operations, Office of the Vice-Provost Students), Ahmed Azhari (Managing Director, Operations, Sustainability and Asset Management), Luke Barber (Executive Director Digital & Physical Infrastructure), Megan Evans (Assistant Director, Hospitality and Ancillary Services), Alysha Ferguson (Centre for Student Engagement), Adam Fraser (Assistant Dean, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean), Vicky Jezierski (ED, Hospitality and Ancillary Services), Devi Mohabir (Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator), Amanda Pautler (Interim Executive Director of Public Affairs), Angela Treglia (Executive Director, Sexual Violence Strategy, Prevention, Support & Response)

IN CAMERA SESSION

1. Appointments: Members of the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus Council to the Standing Committees for 2024-25
   
   
   On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
   
   YOUR COUNCIL RESOLVED
   
   That the recommended appointments of members of the UTM Campus Council to the Standing Committees and related leadership roles, as recommended by the Nominating Committee, and as specified in the documentation dated May 14, 2025, be approved for one-year terms, effective July 1, 2025.
2. UTM Capital Projects Report, as of March 31, 2025
   
   
   Council received for information the UTM capital projects report, as of March 31, 2025.

OPEN SESSION

3. Chair’s Remarks
   
   
   After moving into open session, the Chair welcomed members to the last meeting of Campus Council for the governance year.
4. Report of the Vice-President & Principal
    

   Vice President and Principal Gillespie began her report by noting that at the recent meeting of the Governing Council, the Vice-President & Provost presented the University of Toronto’s annual Performance Indicators Report, highlighting that U of T surpassed all Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA) targets, notably achieving 164% of the economic impact goal. UTM contributed significantly to this success – the campus welcomed 21 companies through its new Spin Up accelerator and achieved a 53% increase in experiential education enrollment over five years.

   Professor Gillespie focused the remainder of her report on sharing UTM-specific metrics, aiming to make data on costs, student supports, and other achievements more accessible to foster informed community discussions. She reported that UTM’s five-year graduation rate improved by 9% overall and 13% for international students, with 64% of undergraduates earning degrees in five years or less, driven in part by an 80% increase in student services spending and a 58% rise in campus-specific financial aid since 2019–2020. External research funding at UTM reached $27.4 million, up 35% in the past five years compared to the prior five-year period, supported by a 15% increase in faculty complement and a 48% rise in academic investment since 2019-20. Meanwhile, administrative costs have decreased by 18% since 2022. UTM reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 34% since 1990, despite a 130% increase in built space, with the new science building cutting emissions 56% below traditional chemical wet labs.

   Providing an update on enrolment, Professor Gillespie noted that undergraduate admission acceptances rose, as of 26 May, 9% year-over-year, with domestic targets on track but international enrollment lagging, prompting enhanced anti-melt efforts like immigration support. UTM projected a $2.8 million surplus from summer enrollment, though on a lowered international target, with final figures pending. She concluded her report by emphasizing the need for granular, accessible data to better engage the community and drive continuous improvement.  She added that she would be bringing such data to Council on a more regular basis.
   
   Members had no questions.

5. 2025 Review of the Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
   
   Professor Sandy Welsh, Vice-Provost, Students, introduced the 2025 review of the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment, effective since July 1, 2017, which applied to all students, staff, faculty, and librarians. The review, mandated every three years by the policy and provincial requirements, assessed the impact of 2022 changes and sought further improvements, involving consultations led by Professor Faye Mishna and an external legal review. Professor Mishna, former Dean of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, and chair of the review, presented and summarized the consultation process, which ran from January 15 to March 28, 2025, engaging over 200 participants across U of T’s three campuses through open sessions, small group meetings, equity-focused discussions, and an anonymous online forum.
   
   The consultations, designed with a trauma-informed framework, gathered feedback on five key topics: clarity and transparency, process and communication improvements, timelines, policy scope, and education/training. Participants emphasized the need for clearer policy information, supported new online navigation tools, and suggested improved definitions (e.g., online sexual violence, retaliation) and a stronger statement condemning sexual violence. Feedback highlighted insufficient information for complainants and respondents about processes and timelines, leading to suggestions for simplified procedures, regular communication, and defined timelines in the policy. The role of case managers, introduced post-2022, was praised, though further prioritization of navigation support was recommended, alongside a new option for the Vice-Provost to impose sanctions directly for student respondents in non-expulsion cases. Clarity was sought on whether intimate partner violence fell under the policy’s scope and on alternative pathways when it did not. The community advocated for mandatory training for key roles and in-house education programs for student respondents. Proposed policy changes, incorporating the review feedback were planned to be introduced for governance consideration in fall 2025.
   
   During the question-and-answer period, a member inquired about progress since 2017, asking if complaints had increased and if their nature had evolved, particularly regarding online issues. Professor Welsh responded that reports had risen, a positive sign of a growing culture of reporting, though numbers remained small, as detailed in the annual report. She noted improved education, including a new student module on consent and boundaries, and tailored training offered by the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre (SVP&SC). She noted that other universities were seeking to replicate U of T’s approach. Another question addressed whether the policy covered guest conduct. Angela Treglia, Executive Director, Sexual Violence Strategy, Prevention & Support, clarified that while the policy applied to students, staff, faculty and librarians, the SVP&SC could explore pathways for addressing guest-related concerns based on context. Another member asked about the effectiveness of educating potential perpetrators to prevent sexual violence. Professor Mishna and Angela Treglia explained that education alone did not guarantee behavioral change but was part of a multi-pronged approach, including policy, accountability, bystander intervention, and fostering empathy, with ongoing research needed. Finally, in response to a member asking about how U of T’s findings could be shared with other organizations, it was noted that U of T shared best practices through professional networks, with their education module featured at a Canadian university conference and encouraged community partnerships and consultations via the SVP&SC to advance a culture of consent and respect.
6. Final Report of the Working Group on Civil Discourse and Administrative Response
   
   
   Professor Randy Boyagoda, Provostial Advisor on Civil Discourse, presented the final report of the University of Toronto’s Working Group on Civil Discourse, which he led starting in January 2024, involving 20 faculty and students across U of T’s three campuses. The group conducted tri-campus consultations in fall 2024, engaging 1,500 participants and receiving 100 additional responses to a draft report in spring 2025, to assess the state of civil discourse, identify challenges, and propose recommendations. Issues raised included concern over the term “civil discourse” due to its potential settler-colonial implications and control over speech, leading the group to adopt an open, living definition to avoid rigid constraints. The report highlighted issues such as faculty and student fears of managing or dissenting in classroom discussions, risking social exclusion or professional consequences, and difficulties in local academic units disagreeing constructively, exacerbated by virtual interactions post-pandemic. Additional frustrations involved perceptions of distant university leadership during events like the 2024 encampment and the impact of geopolitical issues on campus dynamics.
   
   Professor Boyagoda summarized the group’s proposed eight recommendations: four principled (institutional commitment to civil discourse, classroom support, encouraging departmental collaboration, and maintaining ongoing institutional support) and four practical (training, engagement with broader external community, leadership transparency, and event visibility). Professor Sandy Welsh delivered the administrative response, noting that the Provost accepted all recommendations and extended Boyagoda’s role for six months to implement them. Actions included integrating civil discourse education for first-year students starting fall 2025, funding faculty projects via the Learning and Education Advancement Fund (LEAF Plus) and the School of Graduate Studies and offering resources through the Office of Faculty and Academic Life and the Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation to foster dialogue skills. Professor Welsh emphasized creating communities of practice and sharing best practices across U of T, quoting the report’s call for a robust culture of civil discourse.
   
   During the question-and-answer period, and in response to a member’s comment about the lack of a fixed definition of civil discourse, Professor Boyagoda clarified that the report included a robust, dynamic “living” definition to avoid rigidity, prioritizing flexibility over a finalized term. Another member asked how the framework would address an extreme case, citing a professor’s inflammatory remarks during the 2024 encampment. In response, Professor Boyagoda explained that such cases, indicating a breakdown in civil discourse, would be handled by existing university processes (e.g., through deans or chairs), while the project focused on upstream prevention via departmental discussions and syllabus statements on civil discourse. Professor Gillespie added that in such cases, privacy laws limited transparency on disciplinary actions, reinforcing the need for upstream education. Another member inquired about sharing civil discourse practices with high schools. Professor Boyagoda reported that there were ongoing discussions about using such programming to boost GTA enrollment, citing interest from the Toronto District School Board members, independent schools, and parent councils, emphasizing that reaching high school students early could enhance recruitment and impact.
7. Update on UTM Capital Projects
   
   
   At the invitation of the Chair, Luke Barber, Executive Director, Digital & Physical Infrastructure, and Ahmed Azhari, Managing Director, Operations, Sustainability & Asset Management, provided a presentation updating members on UTM's capital projects for the fiscal year 2024-25.
   
   The presentation was divided into two sections: Level One projects, which were under $10 million and managed at UTM, and Major Capital Projects, which exceed $10 million and are managed by U of T’s tri-campus team in University Planning, Design, and Construction.
   
   Mr. Barber first discussed, Spigel Hall Phase 2, a level one project, scheduled to open in May 2025. Spigel Hall had been under a multi-phase renovation over the past two years. The first phase focused on updating the kitchen, which had not seen significant upgrades since the Davis Building was completed in 1972. The second phase aimed to complete the kitchen and introduce a new multi-use student space. This 200-square-meter (2,000-square-foot) area was designed as a flexible, configurable environment that could be used for religious gatherings, lectures, breakout sessions, or socializing. It featured bookable and drop-in capabilities, movable partitions, soft and event seating, and upgraded ablution stations nearby. The furniture was user-movable to reduce operational overhead.
   
   The next project discussed was the Pre-Engineered Building located on Principal’s Road, within a cluster of structures including the grounds building, the crime scene house, and the paleomagnetism building. Mr. Barber noted that this was believed to be the first building at U of T to use a pre-engineered construction approach, utilizing custom-fabricated components assembled on-site. The structure, spanning over 10,000 square feet, was designed to support teaching, research, and experiential learning. Initially, it would accommodate interdisciplinary robotics research, including drone work between the biology and geography areas, as well as forensic science teaching spaces. Construction had recently begun, and the building was expected to open in May 2026.
   
   UTM had also continued investments in heavily serviced research areas, including the decommissioning and reallocation of spaces in the Davis Building and the deployment of new spaces in the recently completed science building. Principal investigators had moved into the new science building, and updates were made to improve services and infrastructure. For example, a new inorganic chemistry lab in the Davis A block had come online within the past year.
   
   Next, the presentation covered progress in the student housing master plan, specifically the townhouse block renewal. In year four of this fifteen-year plan, UTM was undertaking major renovations in the MaGrath Valley block. This followed similar upgrades to Leacock Lane, which included interior and exterior renovations along with sustainability improvements. MaGrath Valley Phase 1 was under construction with completion expected in summer 2025, while Phase 2 was in design for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
   
   The presentation then transitioned to sustainability, with Ahmed Azhari, Managing Director of Operations, Sustainability, &  Asset Management, delivering an update. He emphasized UTM's continued commitment to sustainability, aligning with the university’s Climate Positive Plan released in 2024. UTM aimed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2043 and become climate positive by 2050. Project Shift was central to this effort, involving deep energy retrofits at the central utilities plant and a transition away from fossil fuels.  Phase One of Project Shift included electrifying hot water heating boilers, converting the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre from steam to hot water heating, installing a 45 kW solar photovoltaic system, retrofitting LED lighting, and commissioning systems in 12 major buildings. These upgrades were projected to reduce carbon emissions by over 2,000 tons while enhancing energy efficiency and occupant comfort.   Mr. Azhari reported that UTM's science building had recently won the Pharmaceutical Sciences Group Sustainability Award, highlighting its green building design. The campus also achieved a STARS Gold Rating for sustainability performance in higher education. Four of thirteen targeted energy conservation measures had been completed, with the remaining nine underway. Notably, the CCT building envelope retrofit was expected to cut emissions by 600 tons, and five Davis building air handling units were upgraded. These projects collectively contributed to a 4% year-over-year reduction in greenhouse gas emissions despite campus growth.
   
   The presentation was then continued by Mr. Barber, on the topic of major capital projects. The Residence Phase 9 project—a six-story, 400-bed dormitory—had broken ground in July 2024. Construction had progressed to the second-floor slab, and the building was on track for completion in September 2026. The project was managed using a construction management approach, which had proven effective in current market conditions. The second major project was the Campus Heart and Indigenous Build. Phase One included designing a public gathering space informed by Indigenous teachings and constructing a 500-square-meter Indigenous structure. This space was to be built where the volleyball and tennis courts currently stood with the goal of completing construction by 2027.  The third major project was the Central Utilities Plant 2 (CUP2), intended to support the district energy master plan. Mr. Barber noted that this geothermal energy plant was designed to support west campus growth and provide energy redundancy. It would eventually supply Deerfield Hall, Maanjiwe nendamowinan, and the new residence building with clean energy, enabling them to transition off fossil fuels. The project team also aimed to incorporate teaching and research opportunities into the plant’s design. CUP2 was targeting design-build approval in early 2025–26, with completion expected by the 2028–29 academic year.
   
   During the question-and-answer session, a member asked whether the “Campus Heart” site, currently a sports field, would remain a sports area. Mr. Barber clarified that the North Field, along with tennis and volleyball courts, would be relocated to an updated South Field under a feasibility study for a new “Rec Zone.” He added that there were plans to consolidate sports facilities for safety and engagement, potentially including a multi-sport court and tennis courts. The member inquired if this capital project would come to the council, it was confirmed that it would, likely by the end of 2026, though budget constraints for the Rec Zone and the Campus Heart projects were noted. Professor Gillespie added that the Indigenous Build was fully funded, but the related project, intended as a green commons on the site of U of T’s first geothermal field, required careful financial planning to retain sport fields capacity critical for student well-being. It was noted that the exploration of a potential Rec Zone was under way, aimed to enhance outdoor sports facilities at UTM, which lagged peers like U of T Scarborough and St. George.  A member commented on the importance of retaining outdoor sports facilities in another location considering the Indigenous Build project’s location.
   
   Another member asked about the naming process for the new Residence Phase 9, given its progress. Mr. Overton explained that a thoughtful consultation exploring the possibility of an Indigenous-based name had begun. When asked about donor involvement, the presenter noted that donor-named residences were uncommon in Ontario although UTM was always open through the Office of Advancement to explore opportunities.

CONSENT AGENDA

On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried

YOUR COUNCIL APPROVED

THAT the consent agenda be adopted.

8. Reports for Information
   1. Report Number 71 of the Campus Affairs Committee – May 7, 2025
   2. Report Number 58 of the Academic Affairs Committee – May 8, 2025
   3. Report Number 72 of the Agenda Committee – May 14, 2025
9. Report of the Previous Meeting – Report Number 71, April 22, 2025
10. Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting

11. Date of the Next Meeting – Monday, October 6, 2025
    
    
    The chair reminded members that the next meeting would take place on October 6, 2025, at 1:10 p.m.
12. Other Business
    
    
    The Chair expressed gratitude to those who served in UTM governance roles during the year, particularly acknowledging Vice-Chair Professor Andrew Peterson and the chairs and vice-chairs of standing committees: Professor Robert Gerlai (Chair) and Professor Claudiu Gradinaru (Vice-Chair) of the CAC, and Professor Laura Taylor (Chair) and Professor Rosa Hong (Vice-Chair) of the AAC. Special recognition was given to Laura Taylor, whose term ended, for her service as AAC Vice-Chair (2017–2020) and Chair (2020–2025). Presidential assessors, including Senior Assessor Professor Gillespie and non-voting assessors Professor William Gough, Deborah Brown, and Mark Overton, were thanked for their diligent work.
    
    Mark Overton, retiring in September 2025, was honored for his 24-year tenure as UTM’s Dean of Student Affairs and Assistant Principal, Student Services (2001–2025), following roles as Acting Dean and Registrar at Erindale College (1996–2001).
    
    Outgoing Council members were also recognized and thanked for their service. A student member, Ehab James shared a heartfelt comment, thanking the Council for treating him as an equal and fostering a respectful environment.