Lecture to look at who’s behind the decision-making of the University

Find out who’s behind the decisions made by the University and where they get the authority to act on York’s behalf at the upcoming Stong College lecture by Harriet Lewis, titled “University Governance: What Does the University Secretary and General Counsel Really Do?”.

Lewis (BA ’69, MA ’71) became York’s first general counsel in 1988, after practising law since being called to the Ontario bar in 1977. She was also appointed University secretary in June 1988, in which capacity she oversees the governance of the University by both the Senate and the Board of Governors.

Left: Harriet Lewis

The lecture will take place Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 12:30 to 2pm, in the Samuel Beckett Theatre, 112 Stong College, Keele campus.

Lewis will discuss York’s governance processes, which are rooted in the York University Act of 1965, and how the act distributes authority among the governing bodies, University officers and many others who act as the “mind” of the institution. 

She will also share some of her observations on the legal issues and challenges of Canadian universities in general and York in particular. After graduating from York, Lewis went on to earn a bachelor of laws from the University of Toronto.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information, visit the Stong College Web site.