York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri has issued the following message to the University community:
At York University we are committed to advancing the mission, vision and core academic priorities of enhancing quality, student success and community engagement. These priorities and aspirations have been set out in institutional documents, including the White Paper, the University Academic Plan 2010-2015, the Strategic Research Plan 2013-2017 and the Strategic Mandate Agreement 2014-2017.
Over the past few years, we have witnessed an increasingly competitive landscape and an emphasis on accountability and differentiation on the part of the Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities. Combined with enrolment declines and a challenging budget situation, we have collectively taken important steps to ensure that we are well-positioned to advance our aspirations of recognition as a leading, world-class university. The Academic & Administrative Program Review (AAPR), in particular, provided an opportunity to take stock of our progress across the entire University and identify challenges, as well as initiatives to address them, that will enhance the many local efforts that have already been undertaken to advance our plans.
The AAPR evolved throughout the process to reflect input from Senate and the broader community, resulting in two Task Force Reports. These reports were subsequently integrated into our normal planning and budgeting exercises and, in combination with other relevant data-collection exercises (including enrolment trends, cyclical program reviews, administrative reviews and student surveys), have culminated in an Institutional Integrated Resource Plan (IIRP).
The purpose of the IIRP, shared with you on YU Link in draft form, is to identify a manageable set of initiatives that have the potential to further our aspirations and strengthen the financial sustainability of the University. The full benefit of these initiatives requires a pan-university approach. The IIRP will therefore complement unit-level operational plans, providing important context for the June 2015 Budget, the June 2015-2020 Call for Integrated Resource Plans at the local level and the development of the University Academic Plan 2015-2020 to commence in the fall.
I fully support the process and course of action included in the document. Our ability to reach our goals very much depends on the active participation of the entire community, and I look to you to provide input and to get engaged in the important initiatives that have been identified.
I have asked the co-leads of the IIRP process – Vice-President Academic and Provost Rhonda Lenton and Vice-President Finance and Administration Gary Brewer – to lead the community consultation and oversee the development of the action plans for the initiatives set out in the IIRP. As has been stated previously, all relevant University governance policies and procedures will be followed.
For more information on discussions that will be held across the University involving faculty, staff and students to advance these initiatives, visit the IIRP website. I encourage you to participate in the community information and discussion sessions scheduled for Thursday, June 25, from 12 to 1:30pm in the Moot Court (Osgoode) and Friday, June 26, from 12 to 1:30pm in the BMO Conference Centre on the Glendon campus.
I look forward to continuing to work together to build a stronger, more sustainable York.