UTM Campus Council approves proposed increases in fees — UTM Council Chambers

Arunveer Sidhu, UTM Bureau Chief

On February 24, the UTM Campus Council voted to approve a proposed $29.79 increase for full-time students and $5.96 for part-time students in operating and service fees. These fee increases await confirmation from the Executive Committee on March 12.

The sessional Health Services fee has a proposed 7.33 per cent increase — from $79.95 to $85.81 for full-time students and from $15.99 to $17.16 for part-time students.

The sessional Recreation and Athletics fee has a proposed five per cent increase — combining a permanent two per cent increase and a temporary three per cent increase that will last for three years — bringing the fee from $223.01 to $234.16 for full-time students and from $44.60 to $46.83 for part-time students. Although this fee increase was not supported by the Quality Service to Students (QSS), it was within the range allowed without student endorsement.

The sessional Student Services fee will increase from $307.70 to $320.48 for full-time students and from $61.54 to $64.10 for part-time students — a total increase of 4.15 per cent.

Additionally, the University of Toronto Mississauga Association of Graduate Students (UTMAGS) fee will be modified beginning in the summer 2026 session to reflect an increase of $4.87 per fall and winter sessions for the MiWay U-Pass portion of the fee. The MiWay Summer U-Pass portion of the fee will undergo an increase of $2.44 per fall session and $2.43 per winter session.

U of T Alumnus awarded Order of Ontario — Mississauga

Nguyen Bao Han Tran, Varsity Staff

University of Toronto alumnus Ahmad Attia has been appointed to the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest civilian honour, recognizing his leadership in strengthening communities, advancing civic engagement, and building public trust.

Attia graduated from U of T’s Electrical and Computer Engineering program in 2005 and is now CEO of Gestalt Communications. He has also held governance roles with Trillium Health Partners, Human Rights Watch Canada, and the Peel Police Services Board.

In an email to The Varsity, Attia reflected on how his time at U of T shaped his approach to leadership and public service.

“At U of T, the peers, mentors, and communities I engaged with on campus influenced how I thought about responsibility, leadership, and service,” he wrote. “My education in engineering shaped how I approach complex systems and problem-solving – skills that have remained central to my work in public service and leadership.”

Attia also pointed to the university’s Professional Experience Year (PEY) program as a pivotal moment in his career, which led to an internship at IBM and his first role at Deloitte after graduation.