Campus admin targets student retention and new academic programs as UTM sheds $250 million from its five-year revenue forecast
The Academic Affairs Committee discussed student retention, new academic programs, and ongoing enrolment challenges at its most recent session.

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UTM’s Academic Affairs Committee discussed enrolment shortfalls, new academic programs, and student advising at its September 10 meeting, as administrators outlined priorities for the 2026–27 school year amid financial pressures.

William Gough, Vice-Principal (Academic) and Dean at UTM said domestic and international enrolment remained below target. While he credited summer recruitment and retention efforts with the recruitment of 100 additional students, he noted that the university has had less success internationally.

Alexandra Gillespie, Vice-President and Principal at UTM added that enrolment changes had prompted a roughly C$250-million reduction to UTM’s five-year revenue forecast. Gillespie added the campus had responded through operational and administrative savings while increasing its academic budget, and aimed to continue protecting research and teaching.

Gough outlined plans for academic revision with a focus on recruitment, admissions, retention, and student success. He identified the International Foundations Program as one initiative intended to support international recruitment, while acknowledging that enrolment targets might need reassessment.

Proposed academic initiatives include nine additional co-op internship streams, a new academic unit and minor in Indigenous Studies, UTM’s first PhD program in Communication and Technology, and the inclusion of the Lawrence Bloomberg Nursing Program at UTM, which launched this fall with 30 students.

Other priorities include creating new Indigenous and black graduate student admissions awards and acknowledging Professor Michelle Arkin, a world-leading researcher in drug discovery as UTM’s first Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada.

Dr. France Gagnon, Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation at UTM outlined efforts to reduce barriers to grant applications, support larger research proposals and expand external partnerships. She reported that UTM had lost two Canada Research Chair allocations following earlier reductions in qualifying federal research funding, while describing more recent funding growth.

Scott Clarke, Manager of Enrolment, Retention, and Strategic Initiatives from the Office of the Registrar presented nine advising pilots since 2025, using randomized comparisons to assess support for students facing academic risks.

One pilot involved 1,008 first-year students with first-term sessional GPAs below 1.85. Students were assigned dedicated advisors, recording an 84 per cent return rate for their second year, compared with 78 per cent in the standard-advising control group. Suspension rates fell from 14 per cent to seven per cent.

A second pilot focused on 985 incoming commerce, management, and social sciences students with lower admission averages. Dedicated outreach reduced summer drop-off rates, cutting the proportion of students who accepted offers but failed to register from 20 to 15 per cent, though overall academic gains remained modest.

When the floor was opened to questions, one student at the meeting described waiting weeks or months for a response from advisors and asked whether temporary advisors could help during busy periods. Clarke acknowledged delays and said daily drop-in advising now offers same-day appointments. He shared that financial modelling was examining staffing costs alongside potential retention gains.

Clarke also identified difficulties accessing earlier warning signs, including missed assessments and disengagement from Quercus, and called for closer collaboration with academic units and faculty.

The three presentations were received for information rather than for approval. The committee approved the previous meeting’s report through its consent agenda. 

The upcoming Academic Affairs meeting for UTM will take place on October 15.

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