a. These Policies and Principles apply to the recruitment and selection of students for admission to all programs of study at the University of Toronto which lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate.

b. These Policies and Principles supplement but do not supplant specific requirements for admission that are determined by individual academic divisions of the University. No specific requirement, however, may be inconsistent with or contravene these Policies and Principles.

c. These Policies and Principles govern the conduct of all persons who officially represent the University of Toronto or any one of its colleges, faculties, or schools in liaison with prospective students or secondary schools.

d. These Policies and Principles constitute a commitment on the part of the University of Toronto towards secondary schools and other post-secondary institutions to share fully the responsibility for working in the best interests of education and society generally and of students individually.

2. Statement of Policies and Principles for Selection

a. The University of Toronto admits the best possible students on the basis of academic performance and potential as required by the curricular content and, where judged relevant by the division, professional requirements of the individual degree or diploma program(s) to which the applicant seeks admission.

b. Individual colleges, faculties, and schools may recognize a variety of achievements that they deem worthy of consideration and exemplary to other students.

c. The University of Toronto admits students to its colleges, faculties, and schools in the expectation that students will be successful in achieving their academic goals or other academic objectives, and make significant personal and professional contributions to their communities.

d. With the exception of the specific conditions provided for in Section 2e., neither the University nor any of its colleges, faculties, and schools will establish requirements for admission that in any respect involve criteria, either implicit or explicit, which are based on personal characteristics such as race, ancestry, colour, ethnic origin, sex, creed, age, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, physical disability, alumni status, or actual or potential for benefaction to the University.

e. The University of Toronto in recognition of its special responsibilities to the peoples of Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, and Canada, and to the diversity of those peoples may, on occasions when they are deemed necessary by the Academic Board on the recommendation of the Committee on Academic Policy and Programs, establish special criteria and procedures for admission with the intention of specifically improving the participation of particular groups as students.

f. The rate at which students complete their secondary school programs will not be taken into account in selecting students for admission.

g. When information is available about terms of secondary school study--regular session, summer session, evening session--and about the number of times a student attempts a course, it may be taken into account in the selection process.

h. The University may take the results of standardized tests--aptitude and achievement--into account in the selection process when they are available and relevant to the program(s) to which the applicant is seeking admission. In so doing, the University will take fully into account any instructions for statistical interpretation of test results provided by the testing agency.

3. Statement of Principles for Student Recruitment and Liaison

a. The requirements for admission to each college, faculty, and school will be stated clearly and definitively.

b. The dates concerning application, notification, and candidates’ replies will be stated clearly.

c. Whenever waiting lists are employed, they will be reasonable in terms of length and applicants’ qualifications.

d. In representing the University, all publications and presentations prepared by it and any of its colleges, faculties, and schools will make honest portrayals and avoid negative comments about other institutions.

e. The University will take full responsibility for all persons who become involved formally in the recruitment process by acting as agents of the University--registrars, liaison officers, counsellors, faculty, alumni, athletic coaches, students.

f. For undergraduate programs that can be entered directly from secondary school, the University will always be prepared and willing to cooperate with secondary schools to improve the admissions process specifically and the transition from school to university generally.

g. The University will make announcements of admissions decisions promptly, and in the case of favourable decisions will wherever possible announce related decisions--student awards and residence--simultaneously.

4. Divisional Policies and Requirements

Individual faculties, schools and colleges may establish additional policies, procedures, and requirements for admission provided that they do not contravene the Policies and Principles for Admission to the University of Toronto.