REPORT NUMBER 83 OF THE
UTSC ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
To the UTSC Campus Council
University of Toronto,
Your Committee reports that it held a meeting in the UTSC Council Chamber on March 10, 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), Karin Ruhlandt (Dean, Academic), Iris Au*, Emily Bell*, Michelle Buckley, Christopher Cochrane, Keith Colaco*, Jessica Dere, Sebastien Drouin*, Inaaya Imran*, Thembela Kepe, Katherine Larson, Ainsley Lawson*, Julian Lowman, Mary Elizabeth Luka, Randy Lundy*, Sherlene Mollett*, Elizabeth O-Brien*, Faith Opoku Agyemang, Thy Phu, Silma Roddau, Hadiya Roderique*, Mahinda Samarakoon, Mary Silcox, Mauricio Terebiznik, Shelby Verboven, Jessica Wilson, Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis*
REGRETS: Karen McCrindle (Non-Voting Assessor), Sukaina Abbas, Folakunmi Awofisayo, Joshua Barker, Corinne Beauquis, Andrea Charise, Suzanne Erb, Atiqa Hachimi, Angela Hamilton, John Hannigan, Lisa Harvey, Joseph Hermer, Mariana Jardim, Sarah King, Mandy Liao, Christine Lorence, Mike Molloy, Julia Nefsky, Anisa Persaud, Michelle Silver, Antonio Sorge, Ace Tabisaura, Phil Triadafilopoulos, Karina Vernon, Trevor Young, David Zweig
*Remote attendance
NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Dallas Boyer, Kevin Mak, Varsha Patel, Suzanne Sicchia
SECRETARIAT: Miranda Edwards (Secretary), Amanda Grant (Governance Coordinator)
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair welcomed members and guests to the Cycle 4 meeting. -
New Degree: Bachelor of Computer Science, University of Toronto Scarborough
Professor Katie Larson, Vice-Dean Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs, presented this item for information. The proposed Bachelor of Computer Science was a tri-campus initiative to bring forward a new, four-year honours undergraduate degree. The proposal reflected the fact that Computer Science had expanded as a field over the past few decades to become a broad, interdisciplinary field; the new degree would align the University with this trend. She noted that this was a tri-campus collaborative effort that drew on expertise and resources from all three campuses. No concerns were raised in the consultation phase.
Members had no questions. -
New Program: PhD in Interdisciplinary and Applied Biology, University of Toronto Scarborough
Professor Thy Phu, Acting Vice-Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, presented a proposal for a new research thesis-based doctoral program designed to train researchers in interdisciplinary and applied biology. The program would include four key training components: 1) a research based thesis; 2) flexible course work; 3) 4-month practicum with partner organization; 4) culminating colloquium to present thesis research and reflections from the practicum.
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
THAT the new PhD in Interdisciplinary and Applied Biology, in the Department of Biological Sciences, UTSC as described in the attached proposal, be approved effective September 1, 2027. - Minor Modifications: Graduate Curriculum Changes, UTSC
Professor Phu presented minor modifications for graduate programs in the Department of Management and the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences.
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed graduate curriculum changes for the Graduate Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, as detailed in the respective curriculum report, be approved effective September 1, 2026; and
THAT the changes for the Graduate Department of Management, as detailed in the respective curriculum report, be approved effective May 1, 2027. - Minor Modifications: Undergraduate Curriculum Changes, Double Degree Programs, UTSC
Professor Larson presented curriculum changes for the BBA program in the Department of Management and the Department of Psychology.
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed Double Degree 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: Humanities
Professor Larson presented curriculum changes for the Department of Arts, Culture, and Media.
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED
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 Department of Anthropology and the Department of Human Geography.
In response to a member’s question, it was clarified that the new cultural heritage course would focus on the methods of studying cultures themselves and concept of cultural heritage.
Members discussed the intersection of the new courses with social science data studies and agreed that further conversation would continue between departments.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
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 Biological Sciences.
In response to a member’s question, it was confirmed that there would be lab experience opportunities available to students as part of the new courses.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
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. - Presentation: Update from the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies
Professor Phu highlighted activities that took place over the past year. She noted that the Office continued to partner with different units on campus to provide professional development opportunities, including the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
Renovations were underway at the new Meeting Place with plans to open a new lounge in May 2026.
A major new initiative in the GPS Office was the financial and administrative transition of EDU-Cs to the GPS office, which were previously in the Office of Research & Innovation. There were four proposals for new EDU-Cs and two proposals for the closure of existing EDU-Cs. Three of the proposals for new EDU-Cs were currently in circulation for consultation across the tri-campus. Professor Phu urged department Chairs to participate in this consultation with their colleagues. She noted the importance of feedback from across the tri-campus.
She noted it had been a very busy year for postdoctoral fellowships with new opportunities being announced at a rapid-fire pace. Her office had been working collaboratively across the tri-campus to develop fair and transparent processes to adjudicate applications. She thanked Chairs for their response to this process.
Members had no questions. - Reports of the Presidential Assessors
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Professor Karin Ruhlandt, Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean
Professor Ruhlandt provided members with an overview of the sixteen faculty searches currently in progress. She remarked that UTSC was fortunate to have been awarded an excellency grant that enabled the campus to proceed with hiring new faculty members. She further noted that the campus was currently undertaking a search for the Ibrahim Chair in Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Management.
Members had no questions.
-
Prof. Alison Mountz, Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation
Professor Mountz reported on the new “Canada Impact Plus” program that was announced in December 2025. This was a federal government investment of $1.7 million allocated to Canadian universities to recruit global research talent.
Canada Impact Plus Chairs were allocated by the government to universities based on their market share of tri-agency research funding. Within the University of Toronto, funds received under this program were allocated to divisions as a reflection of their market share of tri-agency funding; as a result, UTSC was allocated $1.5 million, which has now been allocated to searches for three Canada Impact Plus Chairs. The intention is for these roles to maximize tangible research impact at UTSC.
In the Office of Research and Innovation, staff continued to lead the UTSC Engage initiative, which supported researchers in sharing and narrativizing their work. As part of this initiative, Professor Mountz reported that her office led several high-impact events and programs, including an event called “Made in Scarborough” which took place in February. The event showcased nine Scarborough-based research projects and drew about forty participants, including some Scarborough community partners.
In response to a member’s questions, Professor Mountz indicated that details of further Canada Impact Plus funding was dependent on the federal government.
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CONSENT AGENDA
- Calendar Copy Changes: Master of Teaching Combined Degree Programs, UTSC
The Committee received this report for information. - 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 be approved effective September 1, 2026. - Report of the Previous Meeting - Report Number 82 (January 26, 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, April 29, 2026, 3:10-5:10 p.m.
The Chair confirmed that the next meeting would take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 3:10-5:10 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
March 12, 2026