Call for nominations: Search committee for York’s next president

Susan Gapka, Chair of Student Senator Caucus, York University Senate, has issued the following statement to the York community calling for nominations for two students (one graduate and one undergraduate) to serve on the search committee for the next president of York University.


As you know, the search for the next president of York University is beginning and will proceed over the next 12 months. The search committee is being assembled with nominees of both the York University Board of Governors and the York University Senate.


According to the protocol governing presidential searches, the search committee will have 14 members:



  • Seven members nominated by the York University Board of Governors, one of whom shall be Chair, one of whom shall be an alumnus or alumna of the University and one of whom shall be a non-academic staff member.
  • Seven members nominated by the York University Senate following election by senate, to include five faculty members, one undergraduate student and one graduate student.

The York University Senate is seeking nominations to serve on the committee. The protocol anticipates a list of student nominees to be compiled by the Student Senator Caucus and recommended to the York University Senate Executive Committee which will then create a slate according to the guidelines for senate nominations and the criteria set out herein. Along with the election of the faculty members on the search committee, the York University Senate will elect both the undergraduate and graduate students from the slate of nominees.


This is a call for nominations of respected and trusted individuals who are currently registered and enrolled students at York, both in undergraduate and graduate studies. Students enrolled in the LLB program at Osgoode Hall Law School are considered graduate students for the purpose of this nominations process.


All search committee members will be expected to serve as individuals rather than as representatives of constituencies and must not have conflicting obligations that might compromise their ability to so serve. Candidates should appreciate and accept both the considerable time commitment required of members of the committee and the requirement of the highest level of confidentiality concerning the search documents and deliberations. (Note that the search is expected to culminate in or about December 2006 so students who expect to graduate prior to that time should not stand for election.)


It is intended that the search committee as a whole should reflect the University’s diversity and should include both those who have a deep experience of York and those whose involvement with the University will be largely during the term of the next and future presidents.


If you wish to be considered for nomination, or wish to nominate someone, you may do so by sending a written nomination to the Secretary of the University, Harriet Lewis, c/o N945 Ross Building or hlewis@yorku.ca.


The nomination should be accompanied by the consent of the nominee to nomination and to the time and confidentiality requirements, and a brief description of the nominee’s relevant characteristics and qualities.


For more information visit the York University Secretariat Web site, click on What’s New to view the document “Principles to Govern Presidential Search Committees”, or contact Susan Gapka by e-mail at yu271063@yorku.ca or by telephone at 416-760-2776.


Nominations will be open until the close of business on Sept.12, 2005.