FINAL REPORT OF THE
VICE-PRESIDENT
UNIVERSITY
AFFAIRS
MUNIB SAJJAD
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION UNIVERSI
LOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION LOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS
REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS IN THIS REPORT: 1. COUNCIL ON STUDENT SERVICES 2. TASKFORCE ON CAMPUS FOOD SERVICES 3. MINISTRY OF TRAINING, COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES RELATIONS 4. UOFT GOVERNANCE 5. UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS 6. PROFESSIONAL FACULTIES 7. SOLIDARITY 8. CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS 8. FINAL NOTES
1.
COUNCIL ON STUDENT SERVICES
COUNCIL ON STUDENT SERVICES RETREAT The 2011-12 CoSS members recommended that the Council on Student Services meet earlier than it had in the past so that constructive and non-financial related discussions can be the focus of the Council. Members of CoSS and relevant divisions participated in a CoSS retreat held at Hart House on June 14. The retreat included a presentation by Vice-Provost Operations, Scott Mabury, on the University’s budget. In the presentation, Mabury continually referred to students as basic income units and international students as cash cows. COSS REPORT
COUNCIL ON STUDENT SERVICES REPORT The Union produced a comprehensive report on the findings from the presentations by Hart House, Kinesiology & Physical Education and the Office of Student Life. The document was provided to members of CoSS, made available to the general membership and presented to the Board of Directors.
COUNCIL OF ATHLETICS & RECREATION The Council of Athletics & Recreation oversees the operations and programs that are co-curricular to the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education. The Union has a representative on the Council and chose to appoint Vice-President Internal & Services, Corey Scott. Over the course of the year, the Union has repeatedly met with the Assistant Dean, Co-Curricular Physical Activity & Sport, Anita Comella. As a result, the Union was well prepared to deny an increase in ancillary fees while maintaining a positive and constructive relationship. The Union will continue to meet with representatives from the FKPE to address concerns such as access to spaces, the development of the Goldring Centre for High-Performance Sport and the development of an Athletics Guide.
HART HOUSE BOARD OF STEWARDS The Hart House Board of Stewards oversees the operations and programs of all aspects of Hart House – including the farm. The Union has a representative on the Council and chose to appoint the Vice-President University Affairs (me). Throughout the year, the Union has encouraged greater outreach to the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses and the defense of student space. Due to a lack of finances from the provincial government and the University of Toronto, Hart House has reduced student access to the east wing and has decreased groups funding to its funding level two years previous.
The Union will continue to meet representatives from Hart House to develop strategies to secure funding and student programs for the facilities.
FINAL REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION LOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS OFFICE OF STUDENT LIFE The Union has been actively meeting with the Assistant Vice-President Student Life Programs to discuss new programs, proposed changes, possible collaborations and the Office of Student Life budget. Unlike Hart House and the FKPE, the OSL does not have any oversight body (in the same sense) that the union has access to. The meetings were very productive and allowed for specific scrutiny in proposed fee increases. Unfortunately, the OSL budget is not broken down per division, which makes it difficult to determine where funds are actually being directed. The Union meets with Fromowitz frequently, usually when meeting with similar departments, but had three specific meetings to address central themes of the Office of Student Life (August 7, October 2, February 5). The Union will continue to meet with the OSL to discussion the department’s funding and programs.
COUNCIL ON STUDENT SERVICES DECISION Following direction for the Board of Directors, the Union voted against fee increases at Hart House, Kinesiology & Physical Education and the Office of Student Life on the principle that students contribute the most to each body already. Hart House receives no funding from the central university budget and the FKPE has not seen an increase in funding for more than two decades. Following the vote, the CoSS report was updated with the reasoning behind the decision. Thank you to Virginia Lomax for volunteering as the chair of the Council on Student Services, as well as fellow student committee members Corey Scott, Yolen Bollo-Kamara, Noor Baig, Grace Guo, Guled Arale, Ashleigh Ingle, Erin Oh, Asad Jamal and Susan Froom.
2.
TASKFORCE ON CAMPUS FOOD SERVICES
TASKFORCE This year we worked with the University of Toronto Mississauga Students Union and students’ unions across the province to jointly investigate the poor quality and very expensive food services at our educational institutions. We began by working with member locals of the CFS Ontario to create and distribute food surveys, and we held town halls to hear from students on how they feel about the diversity and affordability of food on their campuses. As part of our ongoing campaign for affordable and diverse food options on all three UofT campuses, throughout the year we continued to push Chartwells, a food service operator at the Mississauga campus, to create a food service committee with active student representation.
PAMPHLET COLLECTION Members of the Union have been collecting Taskforce on Campus Food Services pamphlets across campus for the past few months. Several hundred pamphlets have been filled out and returned. The UTSU is looking for members to help collect feedback from residence students before the end of term.
TOWNHALL ON CAMPUS FOOD SERVICES The UTSU hosted two town halls on Food Services at the St. George Campus on February 14 and 28, and the UTMSU hosted a town hall on Food Services at the Mississauga campus on February 27. The town halls focused on soliciting feedback on food options for residence and commuter students, including diversity, affordability, and accessibility. The UTSU advertised the town halls through dining halls and general outreach, and residence councils were also encouraged to attend. Attendees mentioned the need for more town halls and continued work with residence councils.
RESEARCH ON FOOD CONTRACTS The Union has requested the University’s food contracts with Chartwells through the Freedom of Information Act to get a better understanding of the profit margins. We have received feedback from the University’s information services that the contracts will be made available to the students’ union for review. We are eager to review the food contracts and work with students to negotiate better deals and better food for students. We must ensure to maintain pressure on this endeavour as the UTM administration as well as Chartwells are still holding vital information back from students in the redacted versions of the contract.
FOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Union has participated in the Food Advisory Committee where students, staff and faculty meet to discuss food initiatives, food security and food knowledge. The meetings have been very constructive. The Union has received positive feedback on the Campus Food Services campaign, the Good Food Box and requests for Food & Clothing Bank support. While the committee is a great space to find partners and generate new ideas, it is essential to develop another organizing body that is not employed by Food Services (Chartwells, Aramark, etc) or the University.
FINAL REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION LOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS
3.
MINISTRY OF TRAINING, COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES REALTIONS
OCCUPATION OF THE MTCU MINISTER’S OFFICE In addition to conducting research and presenting lobby documents, the Union recognizes the importance of member mobilization and direct action. Members of the Union participated in two occupations of the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities during the spring and summer months. The occupations were used as an opportunity to garner media attention during periods when media sources typically look for stories about post-secondary education. The attention was aimed at criticizing the upcoming proposals for post-secondary education and the failure of the 30%-off tuition rebate. The occupation was also a response to inaction and political smokescreens that Minister Glen Murray has historically created. Both occupations were accompanied by a video from inside the office.
MTCU DISCUSSION PAPER In February 2012, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities had their “three cubed” document leaked to the public. The report was criticized for a lack of student and faculty consultation prior to its drafting, and for its recommendation to move one-third of classes online, moving towards a trimester term system and reducing degrees to three year programs (3x3). The leaked document presents blunt language that is clearly focused on austerity. Due to the unpopular attention, the MTCU rewrote the document with lighter language but the same themes and labeled it “Strengthening Ontario’s Centres of Creativity, Innovation and Knowledge.” This document was met with criticism and largely focused on receiving feedback from post-secondary administrators.
MTCU STUDENT ROUNDTABLE On September 14, 2012 Vice-President Internal & Services, Corey Scott, and I attended the MTCU Student Roundtable to discuss the future of post-secondary education in Ontario. The roundtable was scheduled after overwhelming criticism of the Ministry’s failure to create space for students to provide feedback regarding the MTCU discussion paper. Topics at the roundtable included credit transfer systems, experiential versus entrepreneurial learning and online learning. The Union stressed the importance of the Ministry to be aware of the dynamics of each campus. There was one policy staff member that was unaware that some UofT tutorials have more than two hundred members. The Union also criticized aspects of the leaked “three cubed” MTCU document and newer discussion paper.
EDUCATION TOWNHALL The Emergency Education Townhall was held on September 25 in response to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities discussion paper. Though the meeting was scheduled far in advanced, it was anticipated as an emergency given the due date of submissions to the MTCU, the timeframe that students are on campus, and the timeframe that students have to hear and become educated on the details. The townhall saw attendance of nearly 150 students, staff and faculty that participated in the discussion around the future of Ontario post-secondary education. The meeting consisted of an opening panel featuring Union President Shaun Shepherd, Faculty Association President Scott Prudham and Provost and Vice-President of the university of Toronto, Cheryl Misack. The MTCU Minister Glen Murray was invited to attend to hear feedback from the townhall but decided to decline his attendance twenty-four hours prior to the meeting. The feedback from the townhall guided and was integrated into the Shifting the Dialogue response document. The Union also attended the townhall hosted in Scarborough and Mississauga.
SHIFTING THE DIALOGUE: OUR RESPONSE TO THE MTCU The Union conducted thorough research and outreach in preparation for submitting a response to the MTCU discussion paper on post-secondary education. The Union collected a final set of feedback from students, staff and faculty at the Education Townhall. The response was a collective response from the UTSU, the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union, the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union and the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students. The President of the University of Toronto, David Naylor, as well as other prominent figures in the post-secondary field praised the submission. The Union’s submission was accompanied with other submissions from the Canadian Federation of Students, the University of Toronto Faculty Association and the Office of the President at the university of Toronto, to name a few.
FINAL REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION LOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS MEETINGS WITH THE MTCU The Union has had several opportunities to meet with the former Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Glen Murray. The Union has had brief conversations with the Minister upon the announcement of the 30%-off tuition rebate and during the announcement of his candidacy for the Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. The Union has had more through meetings with the Minister at the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario General Meeting, the MTCU Student Roundtable and the meeting organized by the University of Toronto Liberals. At each meeting, the Union aims to conduct itself professionally and principled in requesting action on tuition, ancillary fees and student debt in order to provide highquality education without barriers to access. At the meeting organized by the University of Toronto Liberals, the central students’ unions were principled in requesting action and intervening in off-topic and distracting dialogue. Minister Murray was presented with a hardcopy version of the Shifting the Dialogue document and other UofT sourced responses.
BRAD DUGUID: NEW MINISTER OF TCU When Kathleen Wynne formed government, she was tasked with appointing a new Minister of Training, Colleges and universities. Premier Wynne appointed Brad Duguid, Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre. When Minister Duguid was a student at the university of Toronto Scarborough he was paying $832 a year. When Premier Wynne was attending the University of Toronto she was paying $600 a year. Students are now paying aroung $6000 in tuition fees as well as a range of ancillary fees. The Union has identified that these figures should be the key information in requesting a reduction in student fees. The Union has requested an individual meeting with the new Minister on multiple occasions. Ella Henry, Faculty of Law Director, had the opportunity to sit down with the Minister with a contingent of students for the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario Lobby Week.
TUITION FEE FRAMEWORK The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities released a new tuition fee framework that will be in place for the next four years. The framework proposes an allowable three per cent increase for students in the faculty of Arts and Sciences, and an allowable five per cent increase in Professional Faculties. The framework does not reduce tuition fees or address the growing level of student debt. Thus, this is not really a new framework but a continuation of similar policy to past governments.
THE HIKES STOP HERE With the announcement of a new tuition fee framework, it is important for students to react with clear goals and strategies to create change. The goal of the Hikes Stop Here campaign is to put pressure on the Government of Ontario prior to the budget vote. The campaign focuses on online and paper submissions, and a strong social media presence due to class and exam seasons. The campaign will continue to grow and modify post-exam period when more students can engage in the goals, strategies and tactics.
4.
UOFT GOVERNANCE
GOVERNANCE REFORM In the past year, we have seen unprecedented governance reforms, which severely cut the number of student seats at the highest decision making bodies at the Mississauga and the Scarborough campuses. The student unions were quick to react and helped create a coalition made up of the University of Toronto Faculty Association, Canadian Union of Public Employees 1281, Associate of Part Time Undergraduate Students, the Graduate Students Union, Scarborough Campus Students Union, the University of Toronto Mississauga Students Union and our own University of Toronto Students Union. In this coalition we created proposals that made changes to the reforms proposed by the UofT Task Force on Governance that allowed for more student seats, more faculty seats and more librarian seats on the University’s governing bodies. We were able to successfully lobby Campus Councils to include designated seats for students, faculty and librarians beginning in September 2013. The UTSU, along with the coalition, continues to lobby the University and the Ontario Government to pursue reforms to the University of Toronto Act which would allow for greater student, faculty, and librarian representation on all decision making bodies at the University of Toronto.
CHANCELLOR APPOINTMENT Michael H. Wilson, UofT alumni and former Minister of Finance, was appointed as the new Chancellor of the University of Toronto. Members of the Union were invited to attend the welcoming ceremony on November 11, 2012. At the ceremony, the union was able to speak with governors and administrators regarding ongoing governance reform.
FINAL REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION LOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE & APPOINTMENT University of Toronto President David Naylor term ends in October 2013. Throughout the year, the Union has been in communication with the Presidential Search Committee that was seeking feedback from campus stakeholders on values, skills and experience the next President should have. The Union meet with the committee on September 27, 2012 to answer a series of questions and provide feedback on preferential qualities for undergraduate students. Additionally, the Union attended public forums to engage with other stakeholders about these qualities. It was unfortunate that the public meetings were not better advertised to students at the University of Toronto. The new President of the University of Toronto will be Meric Gertler, the current Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and the dean during the implementation of Flat Fees and the proposed School of Languages and Literatures at UofT (SLLUT). A search committee has been created to hire a new Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. David Cameron, a professor in Political Sciences, has been named the interim Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT DAVID NAYLOR & VICE-PROVOST STUDENTS JILL MATUS The Union meet with the President of the University of Toronto, David Naylor, at the beginning of the year to discuss the Union’s priorities, requests and collaborations. The meeting was largely constructive and discussion around OHIP for International Students was received very positively. Most of the work and follow up has been redirected to the Vice-Provost Students, Jill Matus and members of her staff including David Newmann, Mark McGowen, Lucy Fromowitz and Shannon Howes. The Union has been meeting monthly with the Vice-Provost Students to discuss ongoing collaborations, projects and requests. The meetings have proven to be a successful line of communication between the students’ union and the university administration. Topics have included access to membership lists, reducing sexual and misogynist assaults on campus, developing a mobile kiosk, prioritizing water stations across campus and securing funding for Orientation.
MEETINGS WITH VICE-PROVOST HUMAN RESOURCES & EQUITY ANGELA HILDYARD In addition to meeting with the Vice-Provost Students, the Union has also met with the Vice-Provost Human Resources and Equity to address the concerns of students, staff and faculty have with the Men’s Issues Awareness group at UofT. Representatives of the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students, the Graduate Students’ Union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3902 and some members of the Board of Directors have accompanied meetings with Vice-Provost. The meetings have been largely cyclical rather than address the short and long-term threats that students, staff and faculty have identified.
5.
UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
i.
STUDENT LIFE
OFFICE OF STUDENT LIFE OPEN HOUSE The Office of Student Life hosted an open house on August 22, 2012 where the Union was able to meet and engage with members of the Student Life staff. Members of the union were able to exchange cards and set up meetings with staff members in the various divisions of Student Life.
HOUSING SERVICES The Union has been working with Housing Services to develop a stronger outreach and campaign strategy for tenant rights and safe practices. The Union has called on the service to implement a database verification system that ensured landlords were valid landlords.
HEALTH & WELLNESS The Union has been working with the Health & Wellness Centre on a number of initiatives this year. The Union participated in the Centre’s Mental Health Fair, and has been in touch with the Centre in the development of a mental health awareness campaign.
MULTIFAITH CENTRE
The UTSU has a great working relationship with the Multifaith Centre. The Multifaith Centre has continued to support the Union through providing weekly space for the Food & Clothing Bank and preparation space for the exam destressors. The Centre has also been a great partner in fostering interfaith dialogue and supporting faith space on campus.
FINAL REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION LOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS CAMPUS GROUPS REFORM The Union has been working with the Office of the Vice-Provost Students and Campus Groups staff of the Office of Student Life to reform the campus groups’ policy. The administration has indicated an interest in syncing their recognition timelines with the Union timeline. Additionally, the union has been meeting with the Campus Groups office as need be to resolve issues with campus groups. The Union also participates in the Committee for the Allocation of Student Activity Space. The Union has appointed Vice-President external, Abigail Cudjoe, and former Associate University Affairs, Ali Saeed, to sit on the committee that determines club space at the Sussex Clubs House.
FIRST NATIONS HOUSE The Union has had a great working relationship with First Nations House this year. The Union partnered with FNH to host a National Aboriginal Day event on the UTSU lawn, sponsor Idle No More week on campus and sending students to the Idle No More rally in Ottawa.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP & MENTORSHIP The Union worked with Student Leadership and Mentorship Services in the production of NewU 2012 at Chestnut Residence. The Union was appreciative for the invitation to help organize the leadership conference for student societies.
COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES The Union has been working with members to develop a survey and campaign that identifies some of the limitations of CAPS. A motion was served at the General Meeting that requested a campaign be created to address the hardships of students with chronic symptoms. The Union intends to keep CAPS involved in a constructive dialogue to address services, while also ensuring the campaign addresses structural barriers and stress-inducers – ie. tuition fees.
CO-CURRICULAR TRANSCRIPT The UTSU and the students’ unions across the three campuses have been advocating for the creation of a co-curricular record that would accompany their academic transcript when applying to graduate schools and be apart of their permanent record. This year we have worked hard with the Office of Student Life to ensure that this project would be ready for students to take advantage of immediately. Unfortunately, the Office of Student Life was also planning to impose a $1 fee onto students at the St. George campus in order to facilitate and the co-curricular record. However, the Scarborough and Mississauga campuses will not have to pay as their respective Offices of Student Affairs will be incorporating the administrative fees of the co-curricular record into their budget. The University should not be charging students in order to recognize their extra-curricular efforts on campus, especially when the funds required to facilitate the program can easily be covered within the university’s own operating budgets. The UTSU continues to work with the University to find a way to facilitate the program without downloading the cost to students.
WORKSTUDY In 2012, The Ontario Government removed over $10 million in funding for the Ontario Work Study Program. At the University of Toronto alone, the over $3 million was removed and thousands of work-study student positions were left in jeopardy. As the University moved to reinstate funding for the Work Study program, the University administration chose to change the policy so that students could not benefit from work done in student organizations. Groups affected include all of the central student unions across the three campuses as well as ALL levy groups that provide essential services and events to thousands of students across the university. We met with the director of the Office of Student Life who time and time again pushed back and said the departments are choosing not to fund student service groups. Throughout the year, we have been collaborating with all levy groups on pursuing a campaign for the university to reinstate funding back to the Work Study program. Next year we are looking to launch a campaign which shows that student-run organizations that provide services to our members just as worthy of Work Study support as student services provided by the university.
CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE The Union has had a wonderful relationship with the Centre for international Experience. The Union collaborated in presenting workshops at the International Students’ Orientation and creating a participation opportunity to be in the UTSU parade.
FINAL REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION LOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS
5.
UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
ii. ACADEMIC ACCESS COPYRIGHT In January 2012, the University of Toronto signed a contract with an organization called Access Copyright. The agreement claims that it will protect the university from being liable to infringement of the Copyright Act. The University decided to sign this agreement without consulting students, faculty or librarians. To make matters worse, the fee was downloaded onto students: as of May 2012, students were forced to pay a $26 fee for Access Copyright – a protection that we used to only pay $3.38 for. This agreement is set to renew in December 2013. Furthermore, in June 2012 the Supreme Court ruled that the use of copyrighted published materials by the students would not infringe on the Copyright Act. In other words, the “protection’ is already granted to us, just by virtue of being students. Many major universities across the country decided to opt-out of signing into the agreement to choose their own paths of navigating through copyright legislation and law. This year the Union teamed up with the Graduate Students Union, Association of Part Time Undergraduate Students, Scarborough Campus Students Union, University of Toronto Mississauga Students Union and the University of Toronto Faculty Association to speak out against Access Copyright. We spoke at Governing Council, we had UTSU representatives Yasmeen Emadi, Cullen Brown and Shaun Shepherd ask questions from head librarians and faculty members of their stances and lobby members of Governing Council, and we continue to meet with senior administrators to address the issue of Access Copyright, to defend the rights of students, who should not be paying this fee. The Union continues to actively fight for students’ right to access knowledge under the principles of fair dealing. As December 2013 approaches, we have the opportunity to change the way in which the University of Toronto protects the rights of its’ students. We continue to push the university to not re-sign onto the Access Copyright agreement, and to look into alternative paths of dealing with accessing copyrighted work that are beneficial to the academic community, and do not preemptively penalize students for exercising their right to learn.
INSTITUTIONAL COURSE FRAMEWORK Since October 2012, the Union has participated in a review of the new online course evaluations meeting with the Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation (CTSI). The new program shows an increase in participation and more thorough responses from students. Concerns were raised regarding participation by students enrolled in fewer courses, students with part-time jobs and disengaged students. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding the long-term sustainability of the new framework. Only a few faculties are currently using the new framework. Of the faculties, the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses have a substantially lower participation rate. The new framework is expected to be implemented in all programs by 2014. If the framework continues to grow and the staff compliment remains the same, the quality of the framework will not be as successful or well promoted.
DROP CREDIT The drop credit campaign is a large-scale project that requires a long timeline to conduct research, lobby stakeholders, develop policies and convince governing bodies. The Union has worked diligently to prepare a discussion paper with some preliminary research of current policies at Ontario, national and international comparative institutions. The discussion paper is the first stage for soliciting feedback from stakeholders on what type of grade forgiveness strategies would work for which campuses. The drop credit policy is growing in interest as Faculty of Arts and Sciences Council candidates have run on a platform to working on its implementation.
TRANSITIONAL YEAR PROGRAM The UTSU Transitional Year Program Director has been diligently working with the UTSU, the Equity Studies Students’ Union and other campus groups to develop strategies to address the University’s vision to reduce and amalgamate the program. Students, staff and faculty of the program continue to express their fear for the future of the program due to a number of ongoing tactics aimed at minimalizing the program, and the decision to move the program out of its current space. The Union has assisted in hosting a Townhall on the future of the program and will continue to assist in other initiatives planned by the Transitional Year Program Preservation Alliance.
FINAL REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION LOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS UNPAID INTERNSHIPS The Union has been working with students on a campaign to address the growth unpaid internships and their damaging effects on both the student experience and the economy at large. It was discussed how there are relatively few articling positions available when compared to graduates of law. In an attempt to resolve this issue, industry and government have been discussing the promotion of unpaid internships as s means to address this deficit. With students graduating with $37,000 to $100,000 in debt, promoting unpaid internships exacerbates the financial hardships faced by students. As the result of a motion passed at the UTSU Special General Meeting, we are in the process of initiating a campaign to combat the use of unpaid internships as part of the labour force and education of students in Ontario. We look forward to continuing this campaign into the 2013-14 year, and working with our allies in the Labour Movement to ensure that all workers rights are respected, whether they are students, interns, or part of the full-time workforce.
5.
UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
iii.
CENTRAL GOVERNANCE
CODE OF CONDUCT The UTSU joined students’ union representatives from SCSU, UTMSU, the GSU and APUS to discuss concerns with the Code of Student Conduct and a Companion Document the administration created to clarify concerns with the Code. Representatives continued to voice concerns in regards to the Code of Conduct that remain in spite of the companion document. Students also took issue with the administration’s selective history they published in the companion document. The administration asked the students’ unions to provide feedback in writing, and the UTSU did so. We have yet to hear a response from the administration.
ANCILLARY REVIEW During the summer months, the Graduate Students Union uncovered that some undergraduate category 5 and 6 ancillary fees that were being charged did not seem to meet the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities’ (MTCU) guidelines, and lacked regulation by or accountability to any formal body. The central students’ unions were invited to lead an investigation on the ancillary fees being charged to all students across the three UofT campuses. The SCSU, GSU and UTSU submitted reports highlighting many fees that were found to be in contravention of the MTCU Protocol of Ancillary Fees. In our review, we concerns were raised over system access fees, co-op fees, copyright fees, lab equipment fees, field trip fees, uncapped international student fees and building access fees to name a few. Through our investigations, we were successful in the removal of many of the illegal fees that were being charged. Items such as building access fees, and opt-out student administrative fees will be removed or placed with notifications and restrictions on notice of fees that are refundable beginning in September 2013. However, the University has yet to commit to a plan on how to create more transparency in the organization and approval or dismissal of ancillary fees that do not meet the guidelines outlined in the MTCU Protocol on Ancillary Fees.
6.
PROFESSIONAL FACULTIES
PROFESSIONAL FACULTIES COMMITTEE The Union held several professional faculty committee meetings throughout the year. The meetings were very helpful in planning service and communication plans with the faculties. Additionally, the committee was helpful in anticipating academic and policy changes that arose on campus. The committee has recommended earlier meetings with faculty societies and potentially a summit in the fall. Next year, the committee should attempt to meet more than once a month at multiple times to ensure that all directors can make meetings regardless of differing schedules. Thank you to all the committee members that came out to meetings and planned outreach schedules.
PROFESSIONAL FACULTY LUNCH & LEARNS The Union hosted several professional faculty Lunch & Learns that focused on informing second entry program students of the services, events and campaigns the Union hosts. The Lunch & Learns were also a great opportunity to develop new campaigns and new services that reflect the needs and interests of members. The Union created new materials, distributed ISICs and provided refreshments at these events. Thank you to the directors that made these events so successful. Faculty of Dentistry: Thursday, September 20, 2012 Faculty of Pharmacy: Monday, September 24, 2012 Faculty of Nursing: Monday, October 22, 2012 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education: Wednesday, February 13, 2013
FINAL REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION LOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS
7. SOLIDARITY QUEBEC STUDENT STRIKE The Union supported student organizing in Quebec around increasing tuition fees. Over the course of the summer, members of the Union participated in organizing rallies, forums, casseroles and actions. In September, the Quebec government failed to get re-elected into government.
IDLE NO MORE The Union worked with First Nations House, the Native Students’ Association and other campus partners to support Idle No More initiatives on the University of Toronto campus. Additionally, the Union supported members of the Native Students Association who attended the Idle No More rally in Ottawa by contributing to a bus rental. Members of the Union also supported a motion served at the Special General Meeting to endorse and work in collaboration with the national movement. The motion also called for the Union to cowrite a letter with the Native Students’ Association to the Prime Minister of Canada to oppose Bill C-45 for its lack of consultation and blatant attack on aboriginal and treat rights.
FIRES OF RESISTANCE On Wednesday July 4th, The Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA), UTSU, the Pakistan Development Fund, and the South Asian Development Council co-hosted the fifth annual Fires of Resistance conference on grassroots youth organizing. The conference was an opportunity to network with other students, recent graduates, and youth who are interested in community development, women’s and LGBTQ organizations, and student unions. Workshops and panels were hosted by youth who work with different organizations or independently in local social justice initiatives within the local South Asian community in the GTA. Attendees included high school students, University students, and people involved in initiatives within their own communities, including students involved within the UofT community. For this particular conference, the Union was fortunate enough to facilitate a workshop on the history of the Canadian Student Movement and Current Issues in Post-Secondary Education. We received high praise and many UofT students were excited to join the many initiatives that the Union conducts.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO FACULTY ASSOCIATION FORUM The University of Toronto Faculty Association invited the UTSU to participate in a forum on governance on Thursday, October 11, 2012. The forum included speakers Peter Simpson from the Canadian Association of University Teachers, Professor Randy Martin from New York University, and Professor Glen Jones, OISE professor and Ontario Research Chair in Postsecondary Education Policy and Measurement, and a question period. The forum focused on the history of governance at the University, different governance structures that included members of faculty and students, and a dialogue on how to move forward with governance restructuring at UofT.
MARCH AGAINST RACISM On Sunday, November 4, the Union partnered with 32 local community organizations, including some based at U of T to support the March Against Racism. The march was being organized in response to an honourary degree being presented to Jason Kenney, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. Supporting groups include members of the Roma community, who have faced increased discrimination with the introduction of Kenney’s policies.
RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY The University of Toronto Students’ Union participated in the January 26, 2013 Rally for Rights and Democracy hosted by the Ontario Federation of Labour. The rally was in response to continual efforts to impose austerity measures on workers, and specifically Bill 115, which sought to strip public teachers, and education workers of their right to strike and collectively bargain with their employers. The rally ended at the Ontario Leader Party Convention at Maple Leaf Gardens.
LABOUR MOVEMENT
The University of Toronto Students Union has been a strong advocate for workers rights and for the fair and just wages for workers everywhere. We have been building strong relationships with the Ontario Federation of Labour, the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, the United Steel Workers Local 1998, Canadian Union for Public Employees Local 3902, Unite Here Local 75.
In the next year, we must remain consistent in our interactions with these organizations, as they have time and again proven themselves to be allies in the fight against austerity, the underfunding of education and our worker and student rights.
FINAL REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION LOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS
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CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SYMPOSIUM Fifteen of our local members attended the 12th annual Skills Development Symposium at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus. Skills was created by the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario to assist with developing the organizational skills of the folks who are part of unions. We participated in nine workshops, including how to create and run a successful campaign, event planning, meeting facilitation, and representing diversity.
ACTIVIST ASSEMBLY On Friday, October 12 and Saturday, October 13, the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario hosted the second Activist Assembly on the UofT St. George campus. Hundreds of activists were in attendance, and were given the opportunity to learn about organizing campaigns and large-scale movements. The Assembly included workshops on public speaking, the corporatization of education, and the purposes of direct action. UTSU Executives and our Executive Director facilitated workshops throughout the Assembly. The keynote speakers included Clayton Thomas Muller of the Indigenous Environmental Network and a panel with organizers of the student movements in Chile, Greece, Spain and Quebec.
NATIONAL LOBBY WEEK From October 22 through October 24, the Union had the opportunity to participate in the National Lobby Week hosted by the Canadian Federation of Students in Ottawa. The week included meetings with Members of Parliament and Senators to explain the vision that students have for post-secondary education. Our lobbying efforts were accompanied by a new lobby document: “Public Education for the Public Good”. The document outlines a national vision for Canada’s post- secondary education system by addressing aboriginal and international student issues, the effect of increasing student debt load, reinvesting in graduate students, census collection, and developing a Federal Post-Secondary Education Act (similar to the Canada Health Act ) which would regulate the state of post-secondary education. The full lobby document can be found here: http:// cfs-fcee.ca/downloads/Public_Education_for_the_Public_Good_2012.pdf
PROVINCIAL LOBBY WEEK From March 18 - 20 the Union participated in the provincial lobby week hosted by the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. The participants representing Local 98 included Ella Henry, Munib Sajjad, and Corey Scott. Attendees met with Members of Provincial Parliament, Ministers and their staff, where they encouraged increased investment in post-secondary education and the implementation of a new tuition fee framework that would gradually reduce tuition fees. The UTSU has also requested a separate meeting with the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Brad Duguid, to address concerns specifically within the University of Toronto such as professional faculty fee frameworks, legislation for new elementary and high school teachers coming out of OISE, ancillary fee concerns and the effect high tuition fees have on urban commuter campuses. The full lobby document can be found here: http://cfsontario. ca/downloads/CFS-ChangingPriorities-En.pdf.
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FINAL NOTES
I would like to take the time to thank each and every volunteer that has ever worked for a UTSU Initiative. Our Union is absolutely nothing with you. I’d like to thank our over 400 campus clubs and groups, you are the backbone of the students union and bring the culture and life to this campus that is always welcomed by students. I’d like to thank our Directors on the UTSU, those who took their responsibilities seriously surely saw the fruit from their hard work. I’d like to thank all of the staff that we have at our students union who work tirelessly to work for the students and provide services and help run campaigns and events along with the executive. Without our staff, our union would not be what it is today. And finally, I’d like to thank my executive team. Shaun, Noor, Corey, Yolen and Grace, you all gave me strength and inspiration when I needed it most. As I depart into the next year as the next President of the UTSU, my inspiration next year will be the hard work our executives, board, volunteers and our campus partners embody. Our success will only occur when we build a movement based on collaboration, respect, educated debate and communication. UofT is ours and it is the students who are given the responsibility to fight for the best student experience possible.
In solidarity, Munib Sajjad Vice-President University Affairs University of Toronto Students’ Union
FINAL REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS