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UTSC Council Chamber, Arts and Administration Building
REPORT NUMBER 74 OF THE
UTSC ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024
To the UTSC Campus Council, University of Toronto,
Your Committee reports that it held a meeting in the Council Chamber, Arts and Administration Building, on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 3:10 p.m. with the following members present:
PRESENT: Rachel Sturge (Vice-Chair), Linda Johnston (Vice-President and Principal), Karin Ruhlandt (Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean), Katie Larson (Vice-Dean Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate), Alison Mountz (Interim Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation), Syed Ahmed, Iris Au, Corinne Beauquis, Dan Bowyer, Jonathan Cant, Andrea Charise, Keith Colaco, Christopher Cochrane, Angela Hamilton, Lisa Harvey, Rene Harrison, Mariana Jardim, Ainsley Larson, Gillian Mason, Alice Maurice, Karen McCrindle, Jasmine Rault, Hadiya Roderique, Mahinda Samarakoon, Arjun Yanglem, Mauricio Terebiznik, Judith Teichman, Emmanuel Taiwo, Elizabeth O'Brien, Kamini Persaud, William Nelson, Shelby Verboven
REGRETS: Elaine Khoo (Chair), Sandya Anand, Georgios Arhonditsis, Sandra Bamford, Joshua Barker, James Bremer, Shelley Brunt, Abhay Chawla, Sébastien Drouin, Suzanne Erb, John Hannigan, Joseph Hermer, Leonard Hu, Thembela Kepe, Randy Lundy, Sharlene Mollett, Sophia Mastrella, Julia Nefsky, Sonja Nikkila, Thy Phu, Anthony Ruocco, Shennel Simpson, Michelle Silver, Phil Triadafilopoulos, Lianne Tripp, Jessica Wilson, Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis, Niyonta Zulfiquar, David Zweig
NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Kevin Mak, Varsha Patel, Naureen Nizam, Suzanne Sicchia
SECRETARIAT: Emma Thacker, Megann Davidson
IN ATTENDANCE: Lee Bazely (Curriculum Coordinator), Professor Roger Mantie, Shehna Jabbar-Javeed (Assistant Registrar, Petitions), Jen Tingo (Team Lead Academic Advising and Career Centre), Lindsay Mason (Academic Learning Strategist), Jason Darby (Manager OVPRI), Sean Lockwood (Director, OVPRI)
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Vice Chair, Professor Rachel Sturge, welcomed members and guests to the meeting. She noted that Professor Elaine Khoo had sent regrets for the meeting, and that she, as Vice-Chair, would step into the Chair for the days meeting. She provided an overview of the Academic Affairs Committee seats that would become available in the Winter 2025 governance elections: 1 Librarian position, 6 Teaching Staff positions, and 7 student positions. - Presentation: Arrive UTSC, Retention Initiative
The Chair invited Varsha Patel (Assistant Dean - Student Success and Career Support) to introduce the topic and presenters. The presentation introduced a retention program called ‘Arrive UTSC.’ The program aimed to support students who were academically struggling (typically those with a cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 2.5 or lower) by enhancing both their learning strategies and personal resilience. It was based on an 8-week group-based model developed by Toronto Metropolitan University and adapted for the UTSC student population.
The team involved included Jen Tingo, the lead for academic supports, and Lindsay Mason, an academic learning strategist and psychotherapist. Lindsay led the mental health and resilience portion of the program, focusing on mindfulness, gratitude, optimism, grit, and self-compassion. The program also employed a strengths-based approach to help students build positive habits.
Data from pre- and post-program surveys showed significant improvements in students' self-efficacy, mental health, and overall academic performance. The data showed that participants' CGPA and sessional GPA improved following the program, with benefits lasting up to four semesters. Additionally, students who participated in the program twice saw even greater gains.
The discussion focused on the following topics:
Support Programs: A member asked if there was a version of the program for first-year students to intervene before academic struggles. The presenters mentioned summer programs like "Get Started" for incoming students and an upcoming program targeting those with academic challenges.
Time Commitment: Another question was about the time commitment required by the Arrive UTSC program. The response outlined that it included a weekly 1.5-hour class and a one-hour asynchronous online module. The program started in the third week of each semester, after academic standing was determined, and ran for eight weeks with a break during reading week.
Clarifying the Program Name: A participant noted that the name "Arrive" could be confusing, as it might suggest it's geared toward international students. The presenters acknowledged this feedback.
Selection Process and Confounding Variables in Success: A member inquired about selection bias, wondering if only motivated students tended to join the program. The presenters explained that students with a CGPA of 2.5 or lower received an invitation, and referrals from various support services were also made. However, they acknowledged that motivated students might be more inclined to participate. The team also acknowledged many confounding variables in evaluating the program's success, such as a student's prior support systems, resiliency, and engagement with the program. - Minor Modifications: Undergraduate Curriculum Changes, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Katie Larson (Vice-Dean Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs), to present the item. Highlights of the proposal included eight out of cycle courses for the 2024-25 academic year. The Department of Arts, Culture and Media proposed seven courses: (MBTB13H3, MBTB41H3, MBTB50H3, MBTC62H3, MBTC63H3, MBTC70H3, MBTC72H3) and the Department of Historical & Cultural Studies proposed the course: GASC48H3: Partition in South Asia.
A member asked why the B-level music courses had co-requisites for all the year two courses, but the C-level courses did not, which could be confusing to students. Professor Roger Mantie (Dept of Arts, Culture and Media) explained that courses were created by Centennial College and followed their structure and sequence. Vice-Dean Larson acknowledged the members concern and agreed to look into it.
On motion duly made, seconded and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed Winter 2025 out of cycle undergraduate curriculum changes for the 2024-25 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum report, be approved, effective October 15, 2024. - Annual Report: Office of the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Alison Mountz (Interim Vice-Principal Research and Innovation), to present the Annual Report, with the following highlights:
Professor Mountz presented highlights from the past academic year's annual report. She emphasized that questions and discussions could continue beyond the presentation, with team members from the Office of the Vice Principal Research (OVPRI) also present to participate.
The report’s theme, ‘Engage,’ was chosen to highlight the importance of engagement in building thriving research communities both within and beyond the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). She discussed three ways research stories were told in the report: through numbers, stories, and visual elements. She pointed out key statistics, with the total research funding reaching nearly $20 million, a 40% increase over five years. The largest portion of this funding came from Tri-Agency grants, representing around 64% of the total.
UTSC researchers had consistently outperformed national averages in competitive grant programs, with only one minor exception in a particular grant competition. Professor Mountz highlighted the University’s interdisciplinary research centers and institutes, including those focused on sustainability, health, and inclusive economies. She mentioned UTSC’s strategic investments in research, particularly through partnerships with organizations like Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences and the Toronto Zoo.
Professor Mountz also spoke about UTSC's success in securing Canada Research Chairs and the appointment of Professor Patricia Romero-Lankao as the new Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Sustainable Transitions. Graduate students and faculty researchers achieved notable recognition, with four members inducted into the Royal Society of Canada.
The University hosted significant research events to foster collaboration and co-design new research programs. Looking ahead, the OVPRI was focusing on initiatives that embed equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into the research lifecycle. Professor Mountz concluded by thanking the OVPRI staff for their contributions to the report and their efforts to support a thriving research community at UTSC.
Members had no questions. - Annual Report: Subcommittee on Academic Appeals (2023-24)
The Chair invited Shelby Verboven (Registrar & Assistant Dean Enrollment Management), to present the Annual Report. Ms. Verboven provided the following highlights:
Assistant Dean Verboven began by acknowledging the work of Shehna Jabbar-Javeed (Assistant Registrar, Petitions), and her team. She then provided a brief overview of the petition and appeal process.
She reported an increase in petition volume over the last year, noting it as a significant rise compared to the previous year. However, it was explained that changes in the petition process contributed to this increase. Specifically, students were now required to submit separate petitions for each deferred exam request, allowing for quicker and more efficient decision-making. This rise in petitions was a trend seen across all three campuses. The number reported, around 4,600 petitions, represented approximately 2,300 unique students. Most petitions were resolved at the first level, and only a few cases were escalated to the Dean’s Advisory Committee. She also noted a slight increase in cases brought to the advisory committee due to intentional policy tightening around deadlines and documentation, as the University recalibrated standards post-COVID.
Despite the increased volume, the majority of petitions did not proceed to the final appeal stage. Assistant Dean Verboven expressed confidence in the current process and commended the petitions team for continuously improving efficiencies and integrating technology to make faster decisions, which benefited both students and faculty.
A member sought clarification on the role of faculty members in the petitions and appeals process. The response highlighted that faculty interaction varied depending on the nature of the petition. For instance, sometimes additional information from faculty was necessary to make informed decisions, especially in cases like late submissions of term work, where understanding the context was essential for maintaining academic integrity.
Another member inquired about cases involving students registered at another campus taking a course at UTSC. The response emphasized that the student's home division governed the petition and appeals process.
When asked about the common reasons for appeals, it was noted that factors such as illness—both physical and mental—along with complex personal and family situations, frequently influenced students’ requests. The Registrar’s Office reassured faculty that extensive consultations with academic strategists and disability consultants occurred before granting petitions, ensuring due diligence in the process. - Reviews of Academic Programs and Units, UTSC (Department of English and its Undergraduate Programs)
The Chair advised that the protocols and governance for reviews of academic programs was outlined in the AAC Terms of Reference and the University of Toronto Quality Assurance Process (UTQAP). She invited Professor Katie Larson (Vice-Dean Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs), to present the item. Professor Larson shared the following highlights of the review:
The Department of English underwent a review during an in-person site visit on April 4th and 5th, 2023. The reviewers commended the quality and breadth of the Department's course and program offerings in literature, creative writing, and film. They acknowledged ongoing efforts to diversify the faculty and enhance research, teaching areas, and curriculum, particularly in Indigenous literatures, critical studies, and queer studies.
The reviewers made several recommendations to further strengthen the department and its programs. They suggested that the Department of English engage with other UTSC departments to expand interdisciplinary offerings, including developing writing courses across various disciplines. They also recommended establishing a network for current and former Co-op students to connect and support each other and continuing to collaborate with the UTSC library on resources for the upcoming Film Studies major, which was set to undergo an external site visit the following week.
In response to these recommendations, the Department consulted with the Arts and Science Co-op Office to review upcoming changes to the Co-op programs and planned to organize feedback and networking sessions for students. Additionally, the Department aimed to collaborate with other units, the Dean's office, and the Registrar's Office to explore options for expanding interdisciplinary course offerings. Discussions were also planned with library representatives and IIT regarding media and technology support for the proposed Film Studies major. Professor Alice Maurice, Chair of the Department of English, was present to answer any questions from the committee.
Members had no questions. - Report of the Presidential Assessors
The Chair invited Dean Karin Ruhlandt to present her report.
Dean Ruhlandt began by sharing her experiences since arriving on July 1, expressing happiness in getting to know the UTSC community. She had held meetings with chairs and had started meeting with academic departments. She was pleased with the warm welcome for the fall and highlighted the success of SAMIH, which the province had recognized for growth. This recognition led to an increased target number for domestic undergraduate students, and they were close to reaching these targets.
She reported a shortfall in international student enrollment, falling short of the target due to changes in immigration regulations. She emphasized the need to ensure this issue would not repeat in the following year, as enrollment shortfalls had long-term effects. SAMIH would open to international students one year earlier than planned. She acknowledged the geopolitical situation also affecting enrollment. Dean Ruhlandt mentioned ongoing curriculum renewal efforts and the development of a marketing campaign to support enrollment goals. She highlighted support to academic areas where student interest had declined.
A student member expressed appreciation for discussing the challenges faced by international students, particularly regarding financial implications and the impact of new policies. They highlighted the unique contributions of graduate students, especially in research programs, and emphasized the potential negative effects of the new policies on Canada’s knowledge economy and diversity in classrooms.
Dean Ruhlandt responded by acknowledging ongoing lobbying efforts to address these concerns, noting that international students significantly contributed to the economy and education. She mentioned a study showing that international graduates from the University of Waterloo earned higher starting salaries than their domestic peers. Dean Ruhlandt also expressed disappointment over visa changes and affirmed the University's commitment to supporting international students. She added that the University was exploring strategies to boost enrollment across all disciplines. - Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 73 – September 12, 2024
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 Next Meeting – January 9, 2025, 3:10 p.m.
The Chair advised members that the Committee would meet again on January 9, 2025, at 3:10 p.m. - Other Business
No other business was raised by members.
The meeting adjourned at 5:03 p.m.
October 30, 2024