REPORT NUMBER 84 OF THE
UTSC ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
To the UTSC Campus Council
University of Toronto,
Your Committee reports that it held a meeting in the UTSC Council Chamber on April 29, 2026 with the following members present:
PRESENT: Elaine Khoo (Chair)*, Rachel Sturge (Vice-Chair), Linda Johnston (Vice-President & Principal, UTSC), Alison Mountz (Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation), Iris Au*, Corinne Beauquis, Christopher Cochrane, Jessica Dere*, Atiqa Hachimi*, Angela Hamilton, Lisa Harvey*, Joseph Hermer Thembela Kepe, Sarah King, Katherine Larson, Ainsley Lawson, Christine Lorence, Mary Elizabeth Luka, Sherlene Mollett*, Mike Molloy*, Elizabeth O-Brien, Thy Phu, Silma Roddau, Mahinda Samarakoon, Michelle Silver*, Phil Triadafilopoulos, Shelby Verboven, Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis*
*Remote attendance
REGRETS: Karen McCrindle, Varsha Patel, Sukaina Abbas, Folakunmi Awofisayo, Joshua Barker, Emily Bell, Michelle Buckley, Andrea Charise, Keith Colaco, Sebastien Drouin, Suzanne Erb, John Hannigan, Inaaya Imran, Mariana Jardim, Mandy Liao, Julian Lowman, Randy Lundy, Julia Nefsky, Faith Opoku Agyemang, Anisa Persaud, Hadiya Roderique, Mary Silcox, Antonio Sorge, Ace Tabisaura, Mauricio Terebiznik, Karina Vernon, Jessica Wilson, David Zweig
NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Dallas Boyer, Kevin Mak, Suzanne Sicchia
SECRETARIAT: Miranda Edwards (Secretary), Amanda Grant (Governance Coordinator)
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Vice-Chair, Professor Rachel Sturge, welcomed members and guests to the Cycle 5 meeting. She informed members that she would be acting as Chair for today’s meeting as Professor Elaine Khoo was unable to attend.
Professor Sturge noted that it was the Committee’s last meeting of the 2025-26 governance year and took the opportunity to acknowledge and thank Professor Elaine Khoo for her leadership as Chair, Secretary Miranda Edwards, Governance Coordinator Amanda Grant, Vice-President and Principal Linda Johnston, Dean Karin Ruhlandt, Dean Tim Tang, Vice-Principal Alison Mountz, Vice-Dean Thy Phu, Registrar Shelby Verboven, Vice-Dean Katie Larson, Associate Dean Suzanne Sicchia, Professor Maggie Cummings, Sasha Bogin, Kevin Mak, Lee Bazely, and Sarah Chaudhry.
Professor Sturge also thanked members for their volunteerism, hard work, and dedication to the good governance of UTSC. - Annual Report: Undergraduate Student Awards, UTSC
Ms Shelby Verboven, Registrar, UTSC presented this report for information. She began by acknowledging and thanking Ms Lisa Lamanna, Manager of Awards & Scholarships, for her work.
Ms Verboven reported that 225 new awards had been established across the tri-campus in the past year. At UTSC, there were 16 new awards, 8 amended awards, and 1 withdrawn award, as listed in the report provided to members. Ms Verboven provided highlights of some of the new UTSC awards.
Members had no questions. -
Annual Report: Enrolment
Ms Shelby Verboven, Registrar presented this report for information. She reported that, overall, undergraduate enrolment for 2025-26 had been at a record high with approximately 15,000 students on campus. New intake in Fall 2026 was expected to be approximately 4,100 new students – an increase of 7% over the previous year. The average growth rate of Ontario universities was 2.4% so UTSC had exceeded the industry average. The acceptance rate of UTSC’s offers of admission had increased 13% over the previous year.
This year, UTSC did not meet its international student target as was expected due to changes in international student visa regulations and recruitment challenges caused by geopolitical events. Next year’s targets were set at 4,028 domestic students and 1,025 international students. The domestic students target remained unchanged from the previous year.
The student body continued to be diverse, representing over 71 different citizenships and with over half of students being multi-lingual. 57% of students were female, continuing an ongoing trend of the campus having a greater number of female than male students. The second-year retention rate was 90.201%. The campus continued to work towards its target of reaching a retention rate of over 90%.
In response to a member’s question, Ms Verboven explained that her office’s admissions team worked to carefully assess different educational standards from around the world in order to assess the academic qualifications of applicants. - Revisions to the Guidelines for the Assessment of Teaching Effectiveness
Professor Jessica Fields, Vice-Dean, Faculty Affairs, Equity & Success began her presentation by acknowledging the work of Professor Aarthi Ashok on the revised Guidelines.
Professor Fields told members that, in November 2024, her office had launched a review of the existing Guidelines which had not been previously updated since 2018. The review emerged from the work of the UTSC Teaching Stream Working Group (TSWG), which met from February 2022 to April 2023, and issued twenty-one recommendations to the UTSC academic community, one of which was a recommendation to review and update the Guidelines.
Professor Fields told members that the revisions provided clarifications as to how teaching effectiveness was interpreted, documented, and assessed. The revisions also clarified evaluations processes, reflected contemporary realities of online and hybrid teaching models, and provided a more user-friendly re-organization of the previous document. She emphasized that there were no changes to core teaching standards.
Professor Fields noted that the revisions process had been highly consultative and collaborative. Peer reviewers met with faculty and academic administrators across the tri-campus.
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RECOMMENDED
THAT the revised UTSC Guidelines for the Assessment of Effectiveness of Teaching be approved effective July 1, 2026. - Proposed Changes to Academic Regulation, UTSC: Dean’s List Assessment
Ms Verboven presented a proposal to change the assessment methodology by which students were deemed to be eligible to receive the Dean’s List designation. The current methodology admitted students with a CGPA of 3.50 or higher only in cases where the student completed a minimum of 1.50 credits the previous Fall, Winter, or Summer session. The proposed new approach would align UTSC with UTM and St. George campuses in granting the Dean’s List designation to students who achieved a CGPA of 3.50 or higher at the end of the session in which they completed their fifth, tenth, fifteenth, and twentieth credits. In addition, students completing a Double Degree Program would have an additional assessment at the end of the session in which their twenty-fifth credit was completed.
Ms Verboven noted that this proposal was part of UTSC’s ongoing work to align its academic regulations with those at UTM and St. George campuses.
Members discussed the differing eligibility for Dean’s List, Distinction, High Distinction, and Honours distinctions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED
THAT the proposed academic regulation changes concerning Dean’s List assessment, as described in the attached proposal, be approved effective September 1, 2026. - Proposed Changes to Academic Regulation, UTSC: Return from Absence
Ms Verboven presented a proposal to change the “Return from Absence” regulation. Under current policy, when students took time away from their studies and then wished to return to the University, there was no clear framework to determine whether those students needed to re-apply or simply re-enroll.
Under the proposed new policy, students who took a leave of absence from the University for any amount of time, without studying at another institution, would only need to re-enroll. Students who took a leave of absence from the University for more than 12 months, and who studied at another institution during that time, would be required to re-apply to the University. This policy would not apply to students who studied at another institution with a pre-approved Letter of Permission, or as part of a University-endorsed study abroad program or joint program. This policy would also not apply to students on academic suspension or probation who chose to take courses at another institution during their suspension or probation period.
The proposal would bring UTSC policy into alignment with UTM and St. George campuses as well as most other U15 universities. Ms Verboven noted that this proposal was part of UTSC’s ongoing work to align its academic regulations with those at UTM and St. George campuses.
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RECOMMENDED
THAT the proposed changes to the Return from Absence (Voluntary Leave or Withdrawal) policy, as described in the attached proposal, be approved effective September 1, 2026. - Major Modification: Repointing of Identified Programs Currently Leading to the Honours Bachelor of Science Degree to the New Bachelor of Computer Science Degree, UTSC
Professor Katie Larson, Vice-Dean Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs, presented a proposal for the Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences to repoint its existing Specialist and Major programs in Computer Science to the proposed new Bachelor of Computer Science program which was currently awaiting final governance approval by the Executive Committee. If the new degree program were to be approved, the program and this repointing would be effective September, 2027. Professor Larson noted that this proposal did not entail any changes to curriculum, program structure, enrollment, or resource allocation.
A member inquired about the implications for double major students and Professor Larson confirmed there would be no changes.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED,
Subject to approval of the proposed new Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) by the Executive Committee,
THAT the repointing of the identified programs in the Department of Computer Science and Mathematical Sciences, UTSC, from the Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) to the Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS), as described in the attached proposal, be approved effective September 1, 2027. - Major Modification: New Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Stream within the Specialist and Specialist (Co-op) in Computer Science, UTSC
Professor Larson presented a proposal for a new Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning stream within the Specialist and Specialist (Co-op) in Computer Science program. This would become the fifth stream option within this Specialist program, responding to growing student demand for programs rooted in practical AI expertise. This stream was also part of the broader cluster of AI and machine learning curriculum initiatives across UTSC
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED,
THAT a new stream in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning within the Specialist and Specialist (Co-op) programs in Computer Science (Undergraduate), in the Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, UTSC, as described in the attached proposal, be approved effective September 1, 2026. - Major Modification: Specialist (Joint) in Paramedicine, UTSC
Professor Larson presented a proposal for changes to the Joint Paramedicine Specialist program offered with Centennial College. She provided highlights of these changes including updated learning outcomes, the removal of courses which overlapped with those already offered by Centennial College, and the addition of new required courses.
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED,
THAT the major modification proposal for the Joint Specialist in Paramedicine as described in the proposal dated April 22, 2026, be approved effective September 1, 2026. - Major Modification: New Freestanding Minor in Social Data Science, UTSC
Professor Larson presented a proposal for a new freestanding Minor in Social Data Science (Arts). This program would replace the Certificate in Computational Social Science (CSS), which would now be phased out.
This program would form part of the coordinated cluster of AI-related initiatives at UTSC, including the Minor in Artificial Intelligence, Mind and Society (Philosophy) and the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning stream within the Computer Science Specialist programs (Computer and Mathematical Sciences). The Minor was intended to be an interdisciplinary program that would equip students with technical, analytical, and ethical skills to examine complex social issues through data-informed approaches.
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED,
THAT the new freestanding Minor in Social Data Science (Arts) (Undergraduate), in the Department of Sociology, UTSC, as described in the attached proposal, be approved effective September 1, 2026. - Minor Modifications: Undergraduate Curriculum Changes, UTSC: Humanities
Professor Larson presented curriculum changes for the Departments of Philosophy, which included the addition of three new courses in AI.
In response to a member’s question, Professor Larson noted that these program changes had emerged because interpretive social sciences and humanities needed to be in dialogue with technical advances in AI.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED,
THAT the proposed Humanities undergraduate curriculum changes for the 2026-27 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum report, be approved effective September 1, 2026. - Minor Modifications: Undergraduate Curriculum Changes, UTSC: Social Sciences
Professor Larson presented curriculum changes for the Departments of Health and Society and Sociology.
Members discussed the intersectionality between some of the new proposed Sociology courses with Political Science and agreed to ensure future discussions took place between those departments.
Members discussed the experiential learning components of the “Sociology of Neighbourhoods” course.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED,
THAT the proposed Social Sciences undergraduate curriculum changes for the 2026-27 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum report, be approved effective September 1, 2026. - Minor Modifications: Undergraduate Curriculum Changes, UTSC: Sciences
Professor Larson presented curriculum changes for the Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences.
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
IT WAS RESOLVED,
THAT the proposed Sciences undergraduate curriculum changes for the 2026-27 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum report, be approved effective September 1, 2026. - Reports of the Presidential Assessors
Prof. Alison Mountz, Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation- Applications submitted to CIHR had a 33% success rate and $1.9 million awarded;
- Applications submitted to SHRC partnership development funds had a success rate of 50% and $297,000 awarded;
- Applications submitted to SHRC Insight Grants had a 59% success rate and $649,000 awarded;
- Applications submitted to NSERC Research Tools and Instruments Grant Program had a 33% success rate and $287,000 awarded;
- Applications to the NSERC Discovery Grant Program had a 85.7% success rate and $762,000 awarded.
Professor Mountz reported on the latest outcomes of UTSC’s grant applications, as follows:
These success rates were above the national average and above the tri-campus average. She offered her congratulations to all successful applicants.
In response to a member’s question about participation rates, Professor Mountz noted that the most recent data she had was from 2023-24, which indicated the following participation rates by academic discipline: Humanities at 57%, Life Sciences at 90%, Physical Sciences at 94%, Social Sciences at 60%. She stated that her office’s goal was to increase these rates across the board. Her office prepared data-books for each department every year and visited departments in-person, welcoming opportunities to increase engagement and discussion.
In response to a member’s questions, Professor Mountz confirmed that participation rates data included both successful and unsuccessful applications.
A member noted that the overall amounts awarded in dollar figures were relatively small. Professor Mountz confirmed that smaller award amounts from the tri-councils had been noted nationally and was the topic of debate among institutions and research leaders. It was not yet clear whether this was a trend caused by researchers requesting smaller amounts or caused by the tri-council’s decision to award grants of smaller amounts. She stated that her office had not yet conducted a deep analysis for the cause of this at UTSC but would do so.
Members discussed transparency and reporting across the campus regarding research grants and other funding sources. Members also discussed the potential benefits of tracking funding sources to students, not just to faculty and researchers. Professor Mountz agreed and confirmed that her office was aware of the benefits of this idea, and would continue to look into it, but noted there were challenges in data tracking.
CONSENT AGENDA
- Minor Modifications: Undergraduate Curriculum Changes, UTSC
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the Report – Undergraduate Minor Curriculum Modifications for Consent Agenda changes for the 2026-27 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum report, be approved effective September 1, 2026. - Report of the Previous Meeting - Report Number 83 (March 10, 2026)
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.
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
- Date of Next Meeting – Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 3:10-5:10 p.m.
The Chair confirmed that the next meeting would take place on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 3:10-5:10 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
April 30, 2026