To: New College Principal Bob Gazzale, New College Vice Principal Alexandra Guerson, New College Council Chair Jeffrey Newman, BPMH Director Frances Garrett
November 24, 2025
Dear Principal Gazzale,
I am a fifth-year undergraduate student in the Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health minor, writing on behalf of BPMH students. In the past couple years since the sudden announcement that the program may be closing, I have witnessed overwhelming support and appreciation for BPMH from students and faculty alike. I would like to share with you a few reasons why I and many others are deeply grateful for, and eager to continue building, the BPMH program.
I am also a Psychology specialist and Cognitive Science major. Both Cognitive Science and BPMH are fundamentally interdisciplinary programs, and I can say from firsthand experience that what you get from these integrative courses cannot be achieved by simply taking courses in the component disciplines, such as Psychology and Religion. In a world that is rapidly changing, especially with regards to human and computer intelligence, a science of the mind that is committed to creating dialogue between diverse perspectives has never been so crucial. After changing the focus of my studies multiple times in my first couple years, it was Cognitive Science and BPMH that made me really glad I chose UofT. BPMH students represent a wide variety of disciplines, and I am always fascinated to meet classmates in computer science, biology, ethics and society, etc., who all found value in the BPMH minor.
What makes BPMH unique is its research methodology and focus on mental health and wellness. BPM232 first introduced me to contemplative science, a research paradigm that addresses precisely what I felt was missing from the scientific study of the mind. I have since learned so much about how we might relate first- and third-person data to better understand the mind, how to evaluate trustworthiness and rigour in qualitative research, why mindfulness interventions can be so powerful, and what they might be missing about contemplative practice. I have had the honour of being taught by incredibly knowledgeable, kind, caring, and passionate professors. Students can also learn about meditation in the body, apply Buddhist teachings to current social issues, or study other global wisdom traditions, to name just a few examples. Most of these courses fill up with waitlists every year.
My peers have expressed especially deep appreciation for the program’s commitment to mental health and wellness on both personal and academic levels. Although the university has other wellness-themed initiatives, I cannot overstate what a difference it makes to have such a caring community of students and faculty and to have skilled mindfulness practitioners teaching in the program. On an academic level, I can think of very few things that could be more important than studying what it means for humans to flourish and be well, and how we might address barriers to this. It is a wonderful thing to walk into a seminar or lab meeting full of dozens or hundreds of people who also thought this question was worth their time. This is what I thought I was paying for when I came to university. My teachers and peers have been putting incredible work into these projects, and I cannot wait to see what we will continue to cook up together with the support of New College and UofT.
The student body would like to second the recommendations shared to New College Council from the New College Academic Affairs Committee to continue offering 10 courses per Fall/Winter term and reopen program enrolment, so that current and future students may continue to benefit from this wonderful and evolving program.
Sincerely, [signed by 7 BPMH students]