Strategic Mandate Agreement

What is the Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA)?

Strategic Mandate Agreements (SMAs) are documents established through negotiations with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) that provide universities and colleges an opportunity to communicate priorities, identify areas of institutional strength/focus, and set performance metrics. 

In the 2019 budget, the Ontario government announced that they would be moving forward with a performance/outcomes-based funding system for all universities and colleges. By 2024-25, the Ontario government will allocate 60% of existing post-secondary funding based on the achievement of targets on 10 metrics that align with the government’s stated priorities of improving skills, focusing on job outcomes, and promoting community and economic impact. 

Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) and the Ministry signed the 2020-2025 Strategic Mandate Agreement on August 31, 2020. Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) had previously undertaken community consultations, including town halls, to provide information about the 2020-25 Strategic Mandate Agreement process and its implications, and to solicit input that guided the university’s response to the Ministry.