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COUNCIL CHAMBER, ROOM 3130, W. G. DAVIS BUILDING
Report Number 74 Of The Utm Campus Council
Wednesday, November 12, 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 November 12, 2025 with the following members present:
PRESENT: Ann Curran (Chair), Andrew Petersen (Vice-Chair), Melanie Woodin (President), Alexandra Gillespie (Vice-President & Principal), Charleson Cao, Aryaman Chopra, Sheree Drummond (Secretary of the Governing Council), Robert Gerlai (Chair, CAC), Rosa Hong (Chair, AAC), Sheliza Ibrahim, David Jacobs, John Paul Lotesto, Latonya Ludford, Asif Mohammed, Eha Naylor, Haze Schepmyer, Joanna Szurmak, Hana Tariq, Christopher Thompson, Ron Wener, Daniel Wright, Jack Zhang
NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Deborah Brown (Chief Administrative Officer), William Gough ( Interim Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean), Tim Fricker (Interim Dean of Student Experience and Wellbeing)
REGRETS: Heather Anderson, Claudiu Gradinaru, Farhan Majumder, Anil Wasif
SECRETARIAT: Cindy Ferencz-Hammond, Samantha Frost
IN ATTENDANCE: Sandy Welsh (Vice-Provost, Students), Angela Treglia (Executive Director, Sexual Violence Strategy, Prevention & Support), Henna Khawja (Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator), Dan Bowyer (College of Electors), Angelia Baccarella (Communications), Luke Barber (ED, Digital and Physical Infrastructure), Anthony Betts (Director, Information & Instructional Technology Services),Dan Bowyer (College of Electors), Christine Esteban (Executive Director, Budget Planning and Finance), Megan Evans (Asst. Director, Hospitality Operations, HAS), Vicky Jezierski (ED, HAS), Peili Liu (Interim Director, Finance Administrative Units, Budget, Planning & Finance), Antonia Lo (Budget, Planning & Finance), Leemor Mano Margalit (Director, Procurement, Budget, Planning and Finance), Chris Meledes (Director, Academic Finance), Sean Park (Centre for Student Engagement), Amanda Pautler (Interim Executive Director, Public Affairs).
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair welcomed members and provided a summary of the positions available in various constituencies in the upcoming 2026 governance elections. It was noted that the Deputy Returning Officer, Cindy Ferencz-Hammond, would be offering an elections information session on November 18 at 10 a.m. The Chair encouraged those interested in participating in governance to attend that session to learn more about governance, the positions available and the processes related to the elections.
The Chair welcomed the President, Professor Melanie Woodin to her first UTM Campus Council meeting. President Woodin expressed gratitude for the invitation to UTM and appreciation for the Council’s leadership and the service of its members. She reflected on her recent installation, emphasizing the upcoming 200th anniversary of the University of Toronto and the opportunity to lead the institution into its third century. She highlighted global challenges, such as geopolitical conflict, inequality, climate change, and AI risks, and called on the University community to “meet the moment” by pursuing bold discoveries and innovations in teaching and research. President Woodin encouraged collaboration across the tri-campus to help shape a strategic plan for the University that advanced excellence and impact for Canada and the world. - Report of the Vice-President & Principal
Professor Gillespie provided an update on the event organized by University of Toronto Mississauga Student Union (UTMSU) on October 7, 2025. Professor Gillespie reminded members that the UTM administration met several times with UTMSU before the event to express deep concerns about the event’s timing, which was scheduled on the anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, and about the pain it could cause to some members of the community.
UTMSU’s leadership assured the administration that they had no intention to cause fear or exclusion, and they took steps to clarify publicly that the event was meant to commemorate all victims of the conflict in Israel and Gaza. They also implemented a code of conduct for attendees.
The Vice-President & Principal reaffirmed respect for the desire to create space for grief, commemoration, and peace, but expressed regret that UTMSU proceeded with the event despite having been made aware of the distress it could cause. She noted, however, that UTMSU was an autonomous student organization. The administration was relieved that the event occurred safely.
Professor Gillespie also noted that another incident occurred on campus the same day, affecting Jewish students and community members who had gathered to commemorate October 7. The incident was under review, and for reasons of procedural fairness, no further comment could be made.
After the event, a Jewish community member shared with the administration that this incident and the UTMSU event highlighted the ongoing need for mutual understanding, learning, and solidarity. Professor Gillespie reiterated that antisemitism was a uniquely dangerous form of hate. She also recognized that Islamophobia and all forms of discriminatory hate were equally unacceptable. The UTM senior administrative team committed to continued listening, learning, and proactive efforts to make the campus a more inclusive and respectful space, with future actions to be brought forward for discussion.
Following the Principal’s update, a member expressed that the UTMSU event should not have proceeded, stating that in a multicultural and democratic society, common decency should guide decisions beyond legality or freedom of expression. He stressed that the exponential rise in antisemitism in Canada was concerning and called for the establishment of clear protections to promote respect and prevent harm, noting that any such protections would be ones that would extend to all communities.
Another member suggested creating a speaker series to bring renowned speakers together to promote unity, shared humanity, and collective responsibility for the future. Professor Gillespie welcomed the idea and said it would be added to the list of emerging initiatives to strengthen community understanding and dialogue at UTM.
Presentation on Cyber-security Risk:
The Chair welcomed Dr. Donna Kidwell, the University’s Chief Information Officer and Deyves Fonseca, Acting Chief Information Security Officer to the Council for their presentation.
The presenters began with an outline of the growing importance of cybersecurity in higher education, noting that Canadian institutions faced an average cost of $6.32 million per breach and experienced more than 4,000 attempted cyberattacks per week. They explained that the primary motivations behind such attacks were financial gain, such as ransomware, and espionage, targeting intellectual property, particularly within research-intensive institutions.
Dr. Kidwell highlighted the rapid rise in artificial intelligence (AI) usage across the university network, noting that ChatGPT sessions had increased from 700,000 in June to over 24 million by September. She explained that, while AI tools were being used for research, coding, and modeling, they also introduced new security challenges that had to be managed carefully.
Mr. Fonseca discussed the evolving regulatory landscape, referencing the Canadian Program for Cybersecurity Certification and Ontario’s Bill 194, which would require universities to meet minimum cybersecurity standards. He noted that compliance with these frameworks was essential to maintaining eligibility for research funding and to avoid reputational or financial risk.
The presentation also detailed several University initiatives aimed at strengthening cybersecurity, including building a cyber-aware culture, improving password management, expanding security awareness training, and enhancing incident detection and response. Dr. Kidwell encouraged the use of password managers, such as 1Password, and emphasized the importance of collaboration across departments to ensure both security and innovation.
During the discussion, members asked about opportunities to provide feedback on cybersecurity regulations, and the presenters confirmed that the University participated in consultations and provided feedback during regulatory development. Another member raised concerns about phishing and scam emails targeting students. Mr. Fonseca explained that current systems blocked approximately 98–99% of these messages but acknowledged that continued improvement, education and awareness were needed. - Status Report on Campus Strategic Priorities
The Chair reminded members that, starting in December, UTM would be discussing its budget plans with the Vice-President & Provost and would receive approval of its enrollment plans in the budget early in 2026. The University’s institutional budget would then proceed for governance consideration and it, along with the UTM campus operating budget, would be presented for information to UTM governance bodies in cycles 3 and 4.
The Chair invited Professor Alexandra Gillespie, Vice-President and Principal, to present the item for information and feedback. The presentation provided an update on UTM’s strategic objectives for 2025–26, focusing on enrollment, academic programs, research, equity initiatives, financial management, sustainability, and community partnerships.
Institutional Performance and Reputation
UTM’s success was closely aligned with U of T’s global standing. Times Higher Education ranked the University of Toronto first in Canada and 21st globally. U of T’s distinct strength, excellence at scale, was highlighted: i.e., exceptional research and teaching across every field shared with many more students, from all cultures and backgrounds, than any of its global peers.
Academic Programs and Student Success
UTM continued to prioritize student success through academic innovation and growth. New program proposals included the PhD in Media, Communication, and Technology, the MFA in Creative Theatre Practice, and a specialist in Accounting and Finance. New domestic undergraduate enrollment surpassed 3,000 new students for the third consecutive year, a 30% increase from six years ago, while graduation rates also improved. International enrollment remained steady year-over-year, though below UTM’s budgeted target; UTM planned to adjust its intake targets to maintain stability going forward. Infrastructure investments such as the new 400-bed residence opening in 2026, the Student Services Hub, and the revitalized Health and Counselling Centre further supported the student experience.
Research and Innovation
UTM achieved record levels of research activity in 2024-25, reaching $22.3 million in external funding, which was a 70% increase, as compared to the three-year average from 2017 to 2019. The new Science Building, alongside the pre-engineered building for robotics and forensic science, strengthened research capacity, while the SpinUp life sciences accelerator hosted 21 startups, creating strong links between research, innovation, and experiential learning. The number of Canada Research Chairs at UTM grew by 60% over eight years, reflecting the campus’s expanding leadership in research and innovation.
Equity, Inclusion, and Well-Being
The campus advanced work on its Well-being and Belonging Plan following extensive consultations. These efforts aligned with U of T’s anti-racism reports and UTM’s Black Flourishing Framework. Initiatives such as the Connect and Refresh series continued to foster inclusion and dialogue across the community, strengthening the sense of belonging among faculty, librarians, and staff.
Financial Sustainability
UTM maintained a balanced budget for five consecutive years, despite the financial challenges affecting the postsecondary sector. This stability was attributed to the University of Toronto’s overall institutional strength and prudent financial planning. Earlier in the year, UTM delivered another balanced budget that included investments in key academic priorities. Since the provincial tuition freeze in 2019, which reduced the real value of domestic tuition revenue by 27%, UTM has nonetheless increased academic investment by 48%, including regular faculty salary increases and the creation of new positions. Faculty complement had grown by approximately 15% during this period.
UTM had already implemented significant savings measures, achieving approximately $323 million in savings since 2020–21 through, among other things, consolidating carryforwards, reducing non-compensation expenses, and limiting capital investments. These efforts allowed the campus to maintain balanced budgets without any budget-related layoffs, while still expanding faculty positions and increasing student financial aid by 77%.
With respect to staffing levels, it was explained that between 2000 and 2020, UTM’s enrollment nearly tripled, and its faculty complement more than doubled, but staff positions did not grow at the same rate. This led to an unsustainable 40:1 student-to-staff ratio, far higher than other U of T divisions and peer institutions. Since 2020, UTM had worked to address this imbalance, lowering the ratio to about 28:1, which remained lean compared to other divisions.
Looking ahead, it was noted that, while UTM needed to find further savings to balance future budgets, it would remain guided by its strategic principles: honesty and transparency, commitment to student success and research excellence, care for its people, operational efficiency and sustainability, and a focus on local impact for global good. Budgets would continue to prioritize support for teaching, research, and student financial aid.
Sustainability and Campus Development
UTM achieved about 70% of its 10-year sustainability goals within five years, completing significant energy retrofits and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% compared to levels in 1990. The campus remained committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2043.
Community Partnerships and Engagement
The campus strengthened community relationships through several initiatives. UTM worked with the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing to launch a joint nursing program in 2026, supported by $500,000 in provincial funding and 30 funded seats. Experiential learning opportunities were growing across the board, up 53% by full-course enrolments since 2020 and would continue to be supported by UTM’s strong relationships with regional employers. UTM also advanced Indigenous engagement through plans for a new Indigenous building, the development of an Indigenous Studies program, and the implementation of the calls to action of Weheechetowin. Public art, murals, and cultural events, such as powwows, further celebrated Indigenous identity and learning. - Revisions and Review of the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment
The Chair reminded members that this item was presented for Council’s information and feedback at the last meeting. She invited Professor Sandy Welsh, Vice-Provost, Students to present the proposed revisions to the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment which would receive final governance consideration at the Cycle 2 meeting of the Governing Council.
Professor Welsh presented the final version of the revised Policy, which would proceed to the University Affairs Board and Governing Council for approval. She explained that the revisions incorporated extensive internal consultations from the previous year, feedback from the external legal expert Gillian Hnatiw, and a second round of community feedback collected between September 23 and October 8. That second consultation generated 25 responses and approximately 150 individual comments, many of which helped refine the policy language.
She noted that key updates included adjustments to several definitions, clarification of procedural fairness and protections against reprisal, expanded wording on who was considered a member of the university community, clarification of the 12-month timeline for concluding a sexual-violence process, and explicit confirmation that interim measures are non-disciplinary. Additional feedback not directly related to the policy would be addressed in the navigation guideline.
Professor Welsh concluded by thanking all contributors for their input throughout the consultation process.
Members had no questions. - Annual Report: Office of the Ombudsperson, and the Administrative Response, 2024-25
The Chair indicated that the Report of the University Ombudsperson, and the Administrative Response were presented annually to the Campus Council for information.
Former Ombudsperson, Professor Kidd, presented his final annual report, highlighting the 50th anniversary of the Office of the Ombudsperson, which was established in 1975. The office served as an independent resource to ensure procedural fairness, equity, and accountability in University decision-making for students, faculty, and staff. He remarked that the anniversary underscored the University’s long-standing commitment to fair and transparent practices and polices.
Turning to the annual report, Professor Kidd noted that in 2024–25, the Office received 357 requests for assistance, including 56 from UTM, an increase of 9% (37 cases) from the previous year. The cases reflected a wide range of issues across all constituencies. Complaints about international fee exemptions doubled (9 cases in 2024-25, compared to 4 in each of the previous two years) and while no unfairness was found, the report identified an opportunity to improve communications regarding decisions provided to students. Incivility complaints continued to decline, dropping from 46 to 27 cases. The University’s ongoing efforts to promote respectful dialogue and implement recommendations from Professor Randy Boyagoda’s Working Group on Civil Discourse, may have been helpful in this regard.
Professor Kidd reported that complaints related to graduate student financial aid, awards, and other fees increased slightly. However, there was a notable decline in complaints related to website accuracy and communication, with only 21 cases compared to 53 the previous year and 82 the year before that. Professor Kidd commended the administration for improving website management and ensuring accurate contact information, which was a major step toward transparency and fairness. He also praised the administration for reviewing key statements and policies, including the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment, the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, and the Statement on Prohibited Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment. The addition of hyperlinks to policies and documents was recognized as a small but impactful improvement in accessibility.
Professor Kidd emphasized the strong collaborative relationship between his office and the administration, despite the office’s independence, noting that both worked toward a fairer and more transparent university. He concluded by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve in this important role.
A member asked about the sharp decline in student services complaints (from 69 to 16) and possible reasons for this improvement. Professor Kidd attributed the decrease to better coordination and communication within student-facing offices.
The Chair thanked Professor Kidd for his dedicated service and contributions to promoting fairness and civility at the University.
CONSENT AGENDA
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED
THAT the consent agenda be adopted and that Item 7, report of the previous meeting, be approved.
- Reports for Information
- Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 73 – October 6, 2025
- Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
- Date of the Next Meeting – Tuesday, February 24, 2026
- Other Business
There was no other business.
Council adjourned at 5:41p.m.
November 18, 2025