The following is a welcome message to the University community from York President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton:
I am delighted to welcome you all to a new academic year at York University!
Whether you are joining the University for the first time or are a returning student, staff or faculty member, I encourage you to think big, to be bold, and to embrace York’s unique identity as one of the most diverse and comprehensive universities in the world.
Today, we are recognized for our impact and excellence in research, transdisciplinary studies and sustainability, and we are also known internationally for our progressiveness, our commitment to social justice, accessibility and inclusivity. We are proud to be innovators, inside and outside of the classroom.
In your own role at York, you are uniquely positioned to uphold York’s defining values. In your class discussions, in the research you conduct, in your work and in the ways that you engage with your colleagues, I encourage you to embrace diverse perspectives, welcome challenging ideas and inspire open dialogue within our community.
Globalization and technology has had a significant impact on higher education and the ways in which students access knowledge. York is committed to ensuring that the student learning experience continues to evolve with these changes through the advancement of technology-enhanced learning, experiential education, internationalization and other pedagogical innovation that inspires self-directed learning.
We are equally committed to ensuring that all community members feel welcome on campus, and this includes feeling safe to engage in dialogue and share views which may not be popular or which may differ from those of others.
York is a university with purpose, and a university seeking to make a positive societal impact locally, regionally and globally. As I begin my first year as York’s President and Vice-Chancellor, I look forward to supporting you in the many different ways that you will make your own impact here.
I invite you to take a look at my welcome video to learn more about me and my vision for York University. You can also keep in touch with me on social media at @YorkUPresident, or by email at president@yorku.ca.
I wish you the very best this year, and I look forward to seeing you on campus.