PRASE Update: Phase 1 complete as PwC delivers draft report to York

Patrick Monahan, vice-president academic & provost, and Gary Brewer, vice-president finance & administration, have issued this update about York’s Process Re-engineering and Service Enhancement (PRASE) project: 

As you are aware, last fall York engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to help the University develop and implement more effective administrative processes and procedures, to help maximize our human and financial resources to better support York’s mission of academic excellence, student success and community engagement.

Since November, many of you have been engaged in the PRASE review process, either participating in community information sessions or attending workshops to discuss our existing administrative processes and procedures; identifying current strengths and weaknesses as well as providing a wide range of possible opportunities for service improvement.

In late February, York received the results of the administrative process review and preliminary recommendations from PwC. Before we make the report public to the full York community, we want to take the time needed to fully assess PwC’s findings and proposed recommendations in consultation with York senior management including the deans and vice-presidents. We expect these deliberations and consultations to be complete over the next few weeks.

On Monday, March 21, we will make the PRASE Phase 1 findings and recommendations public, by posting the report on our website. We will also be holding two community information sessions, to present the report, answer your questions and get your feedback.  The first session is scheduled for Tuesday, March 22 from 1 to 2:30pm, with the second to be held on Friday, March 25 from 10 to 11:30am.  Look for all the details in upcoming issues of YFile.

The PRASE — Phase 1 report outlines a wide range of possible service improvements, as well as highlighting areas of opportunity where significant financial and human resource benefits can be achieved. The report is based on information and analysis developed over the past three months, and many of the recommendations for service improvements suggested in the report came from the York community who actively participated in the PRASE workshops. A special thanks to everyone who took the time out of their busy schedules to participate in this important review process.

Going forward we are committed to continuing open and ongoing consultation and dialogue. We urge you take the time to read the full report and attend the community information sessions. That way we can hear and address your suggestions, opinions and concerns. In the interim you can ask any questions you might have about PRASE by contacting prase@yorku.ca.

Thank you in advance for your continued participation.