Report: UTSC Campus Affairs Committee - February 07, 2024

1. Chair’s Remarks
   
   The Chair, Professor Tarun Dewan, welcomed members and guests to the virtual meeting. He provided an update on the governance elections, noting that the voting and campaign period would conclude on January 16, 2024.
    
2. Annual Report: Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees, 2023-24
   
   The Chair invited Dr. Melinda Scott (Executive Director, Office of the Vice-Provost, Students), to present an overview of the Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees Report. Dr. Scott stated that fees were categorized into three areas: Campus Service Fees (e.g., Health and Wellness), Cross-Divisional Student Societies (e.g., The Varsity), and Divisional Fees (e.g., Scarborough Campus Students’ Union, Scarborough College Athletic Association). In her presentation, Dr. Scott provided examples of these fees for full-time and part-time undergraduate, and graduate students for 2023-24 and reviewed a comparison chart of these fees among divisions at the University.
   
   A member asked for more information about the UTSC fees, compared to other divisions. Dr. Scott responded that the UTSC fees were comparable – she noted that where there was the largest difference would be the UTM student societies fee, and this was due to the UTM transit pass being included.
   
   A member asked about Hart House services for UTSC students. Dr. Scott responded that Hart House did provide additional programming on UTSC campus and virtually. Nadia Rosemond (Assistant Dean, Co-Curricular Engagement & Student Leadership) added that Hart House had collaborated with UTSC for on-campus events such as Black Student engagement. 
    
3. Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees: UTSC Student Societies - Proposals for Fee Increases
   
   The Chair invited Nadia Rosemond (Assistant Dean, Co-Curricular Engagement & Student Leadership) to present the item. Ms Rosemond explained the University assumed obligations to students and the oversight role of the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students. She reported that the fee changes requested by the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) were subject to the Policy for Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees and the Policy on Ancillary Fees.  
   
   Members had no questions.
   
   On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,   
   
   YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED, 
   
   THAT, beginning in the Summer 2024 session, the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) fee be modified as follows: (a) an increase of $7.97 per session ($1.59 part-time) in the UTSC Sports & Recreation Complex Levy portion of the fee; and
   
   THAT, subject to confirmation of approval of the following fee change proposals by the SCSU Board of Directors, beginning in the Fall 2024 session, the SCSU fee be modified as follows: (a) an increase of up to $1.06 per session (up to $0.07 part-time) in the society portion of the fee, (b) an increase of up to $9.42 per fall and winter session (full-time only) in the Health Plan portion of the fee, (c) an increase of up to $11.90 per fall and winter session (full-time only) in the Dental Plan portion of the fee, (d) an increase of up to $1.58 per session (up to $0.47 part-time) in the Student Centre portion of the fee, (e) an increase of up to $0.32 per session (full-time only) in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) portion of the fee, and (f) continuation of the WUSC Program portion of the fee through the 2024-25 academic period.
    
4. Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees: UTSC Office of Student Experience and Wellbeing
    

   1. Advice from the Council on Student Services (CSS)

   2. Operating Plans and Fees: Office of Student Experience and Wellbeing
      
      The Chair reminded members that Neel Joshi (Dean, Student Experience and Wellbeing) had described the process for developing the service plan at the previous meeting. He also noted that while motions for this item were separated out for transparency, the motions were an interconnected plan and would be considered with one vote.
      
      Dean Joshi reported a unanimous recommendation from the CSS on the total proposed fee increase ($11.68 for full-time, and $2.33 for part-time). He also provided an overview of the CSS priorities and themes for 2024-25, which included:

   • Supporting campus and institutional strategic plans (directly linked to inclusive excellence);
   • Increasing opportunities for experiential and international education;
   • Increasing number of programs and students who engage in athletics and sports;
   • Actioning the Mental Health Task Force and Healthy Campus Initiative recommendations; and
   • Enhancing academic and career support for all students.
      

Members had no questions.

On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,   

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED, 

THAT, the 2024-25 operating plans and budgets for the UTSC Student Experience and Wellbeing (including the Health & Wellness Centre, Athletics & Recreation, Student Services), as presented in the documentation from Mr. Neel Joshi, Dean of Student Experience and Wellbeing, be approved; and

THAT the sessional Health & Wellness Service Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC-affiliated full-time student be increased to $86.32 per full-time student per session ($17.26 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 7.90% ($6.32 for full-time student; $1.26 for part-time student); and

THAT the sessional Athletics and Recreation Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC-affiliated full-time student be decreased to $144.11 per full-time student per session ($28.82 per part-time student per session); which represents a decrease of 1.62% ($2.38 for full-time student; $0.48 for part-time student); and

THAT the sessional Student Services Fee for a UTSC-registered or UTSC-affiliated full-time student be increased to $213.50 per full-time student per session ($42.70 per part-time student per session); which represents a year over year increase of 3.76% ($7.74 for full-time student; $1.55 for part-time student).
 

5. Operating Plans and Fees: Service Ancillaries, UTSC 
   
   The Chair invited Mr. Andrew Arifuzzaman (Chief Administrative Officer), to introduce the item. Mr. Arifuzzaman noted that ancillary budgets must be fully self-funding, provide services to all internal users as well as external users, and adhere to the University’s four financial objectives – to operate without subsidy from the University’s operating budget; to provide for all costs of capital renewal including deferred maintenance;​ to create and maintain an operating reserve; and​ to contribute net revenues to the operating budget. There were four ancillary units at UTSC. The presentation included the following highlights:

• Student Housing and Residence Life (SHRL) – key accomplishments this year:
  • Opened Harmony Commons, adding 746 additional beds to the campus.
  • Created new roles and expanded the SHRL staff to meet the demands of a larger residence.
  • Aligned campus orientation programs in collaboration with SCSU and the Department of Student Life.
• Retail and Conference Services (RCS) – key accomplishments this year:
  • The Green Path program continued to be a large client of RCS, with plans to diversify and host the GP Principals and Directors and a Summer Camp program this year (which is the program’s 20-year anniversary);
  • Increasing academic and community-based conferences e.g., Building Communities through Inclusive Health;
  • Collaboration with the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC) would give an added boost to summer business;
  • Increases continued in external and internal events including, Swim Canada, Black Excellence STEM conference, and Scholars in Residence;
  • A current challenge continued to be the availability of workable meeting spaces on campus.
• Food and Beverage Services – key accomplishments this year:
  • A successful opening of Harmony Commons with an all-access meal plan;
  • All-access plan offered students' variety, value and community on the UTSC campus;
  • Food partnerships offered business model that drives both revenue and net surplus for the long term;
  • New retail location renovations added more student choices and a better dining experience on campus.
• Parking Services – goals and objectives:  
  • Operate and maintain UTSC’s surface parking lots while preparing for the operation of the Retail and Parking Commons, which was scheduled to open in 2026-27;
  • Plan and prepare alternate parking entry and exit solutions during the construction of the Retail and Parking Commons;
  • Achievement - Continued to manage an increased number of returning parkers with a decreased number of parking spaces; and maintained a strong partnership with TPASC offering overflow parking, amongst construction site changes.
     

A member asked how the 20% increase to the visitor weekly (accommodation) rate, compared to UTM and St. George rates. Mr. Hum responded that the rate was in line with the other campuses, and on the lower end of the tri-campus rates. Mr. Arifuzzaman added that lower rates could be negotiated with a package deal for groups. 

A member asked about the parking costs compared to UTM. Mr. Arifuzzaman responded to say that they were aware of the slightly lower parking costs at UTM, and that the UTSC parking fees would stabilize in the coming years once the new multi-level parking structure was completed.

On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,   

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED, 

THAT the 2024-25 operating plans and budgets for the UTSC Service Ancillaries, as summarized in Schedule 1; the Service Ancillary capital budgets as summarized in Schedule 5; and the rates and fees in Schedule 6, as presented in the Service Ancillary Report on Operating Plans dated January 09, 2024, be approved effective May 1, 2024.
 

6. Report of the Presidential Assessors
   
   The Chair invited Dean Neel Joshi to provide his report. Dean Joshi reported on the success of the ‘Dean’s Circle.’ The Dean’s Circle was a new student initiative designed to propel UTSC's upper-year student leaders toward excellence. In addition, the ‘Dream Big’ series of thought leaders launched last month. Black History Month and Lunar New Year offered upcoming student activities. The Office of Student Experience & Wellbeing was planning for its move to a new location on the fifth floor of the Sam Ibrahim Building. They were also working to increase awareness of health and wellness resources to students (e.g., social media, newsletters, daily post).
   
   Mr. Andrew Arifuzzaman offered a brief update with respect to the budget. He reported that the postsecondary education sector was still waiting for the province's formal response to the Blue-Ribbon Panel Report (published in November 2023). He also advised members of the recent federal announcement regarding a reduction of international student visas for some new students – to which the sector also awaited a response from the provincial government. These two key items may impact the budget; however, the sector was waiting for the Ministry response.
    
7. Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 55 – October 18, 2023
   
   The report of the previous meeting was approved.
    
8. Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
   
   There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting.
    
9. Date of Next Meeting – March 25, 2024, 3:10 p.m.
   
   The Chair advised members that the Committee would meet again on March 25, 2024, at 3:10 p.m.
    
10. Other Business
    
    Members had no other business.

The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

February 13, 2024