REPORT NUMBER 70 OF THE
UTSC ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 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, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 3:10 p.m. with the following members present:
PRESENT: Sotos Damouras (in the Chair), Elaine Khoo, Gillian Mason (Vice-Chair), Linda Johnston (Acting Vice-President & Principal), Irena Creed (Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation), Rene Harrison (Vice-Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies), William A. Gough (Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean), Syed Ahmed, Muntaha Georgios Arhonditsis, Iris Au, Corinne Beauquis, Elyse Caron-Beaudoin, Shelley Brunt, Christopher Cochrane, Suzanne Erb, Angela Hamilton, John Hannigan, Irmi Hutfless, Mariana Jardim, Randy Lundy, Alison Mountz, Elizabeth O'Brien, Thy Phu, Jasmin Patel, Karen McCrindle, Sharlene Mollett, Judith Teichman, Mauricio Terebiznik, Lianne Tripp, Shelby Verboven, Niyonta Zulfiquar, David Zweig
REGRETS: Muntaha Almahjub, Sandra Bamford, Joshua Barker, James Bremer, Susannah Bunce, Dhra Chourey, Sébastien Drouin, Joseph Hermer, Suzanne Erb, Alice Maurice, Julia Nefsky, Sonja Nikkila, Kamini Persaud, Bavan Pushpalingam, Hadiya Roderique, Anthony Ruocco, Karyn Sethi, Michelle Silver, Jessica Wilson, William Nelson, Natalie Oswin, Varsha Patel, Mahinda Samarakoon, Shennel Simpson, Suzanne Sicchia, Sofia Suleman, Phil Triadafilopoulos, Liana Williams, Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis
NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Michael Souza, Naureen Nizam
SECRETARIAT: Emma Thacker (Secretary), Megann Davidson
GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE: Lee Bazely (Programs & Curriculum Coordinator), Rania Salam, Maggie Cummings, Kara Gaston
OPEN SESSION
Secretary's Remarks
The Committee Secretary, Emma Thacker, advised members that the Chair was unable to attend in person, and the Committee must approve a Presiding Officer pro tempore for the meeting.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE RESOLVED,
THAT Professor Sotos Damouras act as the Presiding Officer, pro-tempore, to Chair the Academic Affairs Committee meeting held on March 27, 2024, in the absence of the Chair, Professor Elaine Khoo.
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair (pro tempore), Professor Sotos Damouras, welcomed members and guests to the meeting. He provided an update on the governance elections, congratulating the following new and returning members to the AAC. He thanked Emma Thacker, in her role as Deputy Returning Officer, who oversaw the elections process.
Elected Teaching Staff:
Professor Corinne Beauquis (Department of Language Studies)
Professor Keith Colaco (Department of Health and Society)
Professor Lisa Harvey (Department of Management)
Professor Randy Lundy (Department of English)
Professor Mahinda Samarakoon (Department of Computer and Mathematical Science)
Professor Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis (Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences)
Elected Administrative Staff:
Ainsley Lawson (Office of the Vice Principal Academic & Dean)
2. Presentation – Sustainability Summit, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Irena Creed (Vice Principal, Research and Innovation) to the podium. Professor Creed reported on planning for the upcoming Sustainability Summit, which was scheduled for May 6 - 9, 2025, and would be hosted by UTSC. The University of Toronto was a global leader in sustainability, and UTSC was a leader in assessment, reporting, and action towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – as such, UTSC was poised to host the event. Highlights of the presentation included:
- Only 12-17% of SDGs are on track. There was a need to localize ideas and change, and to engage community in the tracking and action towards the SDGs.
- There was a need to move away from generalities and towards evidence-based actions.
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The Sustainability Summit would distinguish itself by seamlessly integrating academic research and outcomes with the collective wisdom, unique perspectives, and hands-on experiences of non-academic stakeholders to address these challenges.
- The Sustainability Summit will create a space for diverse thought leaders – ranging from researchers to representatives from the public, private and civil society sectors to policy makers – to forge innovative and inclusive solutions to address the challenges outlined by the SDGs, while developing an inclusive, equitable and sustainable framework.
- Outputs of conference:
- Deliver presentations, dialogues and debates that address various aspects of the SDG framework for achieving transformative change.
- Forge new and reinforce existing collaborations and partnerships among academia, government, industry, and community organizations to advance the SDGs.
- Share knowledge on transformations related to societal challenges that span across several SDGs.
- Ensure that the six transformations designed to achieve the SDGs will focus on societal challenges that are intentionally polarizing, inviting provocative debates and dialogues.
- Outcomes of Conference:
- Build brand awareness for U of T as leaders in the SDGs and similar frameworks.
- Commission six discussion papers that include policy and practice. recommendations, commissioned for, and discussed at the Sustainability Summit.
- Meaningfully engage community members in the discussion and action on SDGs at the local level.
- Influence the global discourse, including policies, programs, and processes, through discussion papers commissioned for, and discussed at the Sustainability Summit.
- Professor Creed thanked Gillian Mason (UTSC Campus Council and AAC Community Member) who helped to shape how the event would engage with community.
Members had no questions.
- Major Modifications: Undergraduate - Major Program in Media, Journalism and Digital Cultures (name and program changes) and Minor Program in Media Studies (program changes), Department of ACM, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Michael Souza (Acting Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs & Curriculum), to present the proposal. Highlights of the proposal included the following:
- The primary goal of the changes was to align program learning outcomes (PLOs) with degree-level expectations and incorporate principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion into the curriculum.
- This included broadening the scope of media studies, emphasizing global perspectives, intersectionality, non-Western knowledge, and digital competencies.
- The program revisions also included the introduction of three cluster areas that informed the critical study of media: 1. Media and the Arts, 2. Media and Society, and 3. Media and Institutions.
- New courses would be introduced, and the sequencing of courses would be optimized to provide students with clearer pathways.
- A notable aspect of the proposal was the change in program name from ‘Media, Journalism, and Digital Cultures’ to ‘Media and Communication Studies.’ This change was intended to better reflect the focus of the program and to reduce confusion by distinguishing it from the Specialist Program in Journalism.
- Feedback from the previous cyclical program review, curriculum mapping exercises, and student surveys have played a crucial role in informing these proposed modifications. In addition, the modifications were aligned with the UTSC Strategic Plan, and the Report of the UTSC Campus Curriculum Committee.
- Overall, the proposal sought to modernize the curriculum, enrich student learning experiences, and address emerging trends and challenges in the dynamic field of media studies. These changes were proposed to take effect on September 1, 2024.
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE RESOLVED,
THAT the program modifications to the Major Program in Media, Journalism and Digital Cultures, offered by the Department of Arts, Culture and Media, as described in the proposal dated March 4, 2024, be approved, effective September 1, 2024, AND
THAT the program modifications to the Minor Program in Media Studies, offered by the Department of Arts, Culture and Media, as described in the proposal dated March 4, 2024, be approved, effective September 1, 2024, AND
THAT the Major Program in Media, Journalism, and Digital Cultures, be renamed the Major Program in Media and Communication Studies, as described in the proposal dated March 4, 2024, be approved, effective September 1, 2024.
- Minor Modifications: Graduate Curriculum, Program and Admission Requirements - Master of Accounting and Finance (MAccFin), Graduate Department of Management, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Rene Harrison (Vice Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies) to present the item. The program modifications included changes to program and admission requirements, curriculum/courses, and the introduction of two news emphases. Highlights of the proposal included the following:
- 5 new Courses (MAF3007H, MAF3008H, MAF5005H, MAF5006H, MAF5007H).
- 3 course modifications (MAF4001H, MAF4002H, MAF5002H).
- 1 course retirement (MAF5003H).
- Program modifications included the addition of two new emphases:
- Canadian Accounting and Finance, and
- International Accounting and Finance Emphasis
- Change to Admission Requirements: add “or finance” to the undergraduate admission requirements.
- Change to Program Requirements: change timing for flexibility of course sequencing; and reduce the requirements common for all students from 8.5 FCE to 7.5 FCE
A member asked for more clarification on the ‘International Accounting and Finance’ emphasis. It was noted that the two different emphases supported the completion of two different designations (International (ACCA) and Canadian (CPA)) which would support two pathways to the industry. It was also clarified there were no language implications for the international emphasis.
A member asked how the changes would impact enrolment numbers. Professor Harrison responded that the department hoped to double program enrolment.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed graduate curriculum changes for the 2024-25 academic year, as detailed in the respective documentation, be approved, effective September 1, 2024, AND
THAT the two proposed emphases, Canadian Accounting & Finance, and International Accounting & Finance, as detailed in the respective proposal, be approved, effective September 1, 2024.
- Minor Modifications: Undergraduate Curriculum Changes – Social Sciences, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Michael Souza to present the item. Highlights of the proposal included the following:
- Department of Anthropology proposed 4 new courses (ANTC29H3, ANTC65H3, ANTD18H3, ANTD33H3).
- Department of Global Development Studies proposed two program modifications and 1 course (IDSD05H3).
- Department of Health and Society proposed 1 program modification to the Certificate in Pathways to Health Professionals.
- Department of Sociology proposed 3 new courses (SOCA05H3, SOCA06H3, SOCC32H3).
A member asked for clarification on the purpose of the certificate program. Professor Souza responded that the certificate was intended to augment students’ education in the Life Sciences with courses that expose them to new ways of thinking. There was a suite of 90 courses in four categories.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed Social Sciences undergraduate curriculum changes for the 2024-25 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum reports, be approved.
- Minor Modifications: Undergraduate Curriculum Changes – Department of English, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Michael Souza to present the item. The Department of English proposed 6 program modifications, 6 new courses (ENGC49H3, ENGC60H3, ENGC61H3, ENGC62H3, FLMB80H3, FLMC81H3), and 21 course code renumbering’s.
Members had no questions.
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed Department of English undergraduate curriculum changes for the 2024-25 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum reports, be approved. - Report of the Presidential Assessors
The Chair invited Professor Gough (Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean) to share his report.
Dean Gough thanked those who attended the March 23, 2024, ‘March Showcase’ USTC open house. The event was important for prospective students. Moving to labour updates, the Dean remarked that following the recently ratified agreement for CUPE 3902 Unit 1, there was a moratorium on the use of departmental evaluation forms for Teaching Assistants. The evaluation process and forms (i.e., questions) would be reviewed and recommendations would be made to improve. There was also a retroactive increase for postdoctoral fellows compensation. The Dean reported on the appointment of the new Dean, Professor Karin Ruhlandt as Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean, UTSC, effective July 1, 2024. Professor Gough reflected on his years as Dean and his substantial role in governance, as he had now reached his ‘decanal twilight.’
Professor Creed shared with members about opportunities for research training around entrepreneurship and creative problem solving.
Members discussed the moratorium on TA evaluations and their experiences with inappropriate (e.g., racist, homophobic) feedback.
CONSENT AGENDA
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED
THAT the consent agenda be adopted and that Item 9, as detailed in the agenda, be approved.
- Minor Modification: Undergraduate Curriculum Changes – Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, UTSC (for information)
- Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 69 – February 8, 2024
- Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
- Date of Next Meeting – May 7, 2024, 1:10 p.m.
- Other Business
No other business was raised by members.
The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
April 10, 2024