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Résolution envers des changements positifs et un avenir solide pour l’Université York

York U Forward Action Plan

Chers collègues, chères collègues,

Beaucoup d’entre vous ont sans doute lu l’annonce du lancement du plan d’action En avant York  dans YFile. Cette initiative pluriannuelle cruciale contribuera à assurer le succès continu de notre établissement en tant qu’université d’enseignement et de recherche de premier plan consacrée à l’amélioration du bien-être des communautés que nous servons.

À l’instar de nombreux autres établissements de l’Ontario, nous sommes confrontés à des défis importants en raison d’une série de facteurs externes, notamment le gel des droits de scolarité, le plafonnement des visas pour les étudiants internationaux, l’inflation et les effets persistants de la pandémie. Parallèlement, les besoins, les intérêts et les attentes de la population étudiante ne cessent d’évoluer. Ce plan d’action trace la voie à suivre pour assurer notre viabilité financière de manière à répondre à ces changements et maintenir l’élan que nous avons pris pour réaliser la vision audacieuse de York pour l’avenir.

Notre succès dépend de l’engagement collectif de notre communauté. Nous devons passer à l’action rapidement et de façon judicieuse. Cette initiative nous oblige à nous concerter, de manière différente et créative, pour redéfinir ce que l’Université peut accomplir.

Le chemin à parcourir ne sera pas toujours facile, mais il est nécessaire. En étant transparents au sujet des défis à surmonter, nous pourrons atteindre un consensus et aller de l’avant avec les changements nécessaires si nous voulons continuer à répondre aux besoins de notre population étudiante et de la société. En adoptant ce plan, nous garantissons que notre université reste pertinente et influente.

J’encourage chaque membre de notre communauté à lire les informations contenues dans YFile et à s’engager dans le plan d’action En avant York. Votre engagement est primordial tandis que nous gérons ensemble ce processus transformateur. Nos idées nouvelles, notre ouverture au changement et nos efforts de collaboration nous conduiront vers une Université York plus forte et plus résiliente.

Merci pour votre dévouement et votre soutien indéfectible.

Rhonda Lenton
Présidente et vice-chancelière

Advancing YU empowers Black, women students

black women laptop

Advancing YU is a mentorship and scholarship program in York University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) that links Black and/or women third- and fourth-year students with experienced alumni mentors, and provides professional and personal development opportunities.

A critical component of the Advancing YU program is matching student mentees with alumni mentors who share identities and experiences, and who have faced similar barriers.

“By connecting them with alumni mentors who share aspects of their identities, and many of whom have navigated similar challenges, we provide contexts within which our participants can excel and where they receive supports to encourage success in their academic and professional pursuits,” says Michele Johnson, interim dean of LA&PS.

Advancing YU consists of two streams – Advancing Black Students and Advancing Women – and offers a $1,000 scholarship upon completion of the program requirements. The program has benefited over 300 LA&PS students since 2020.

“Advancing YU has been a game changer for our Black and women students, offering targeted mentorship and resources that are meant to address some of their specific needs and aspirations,” says Johnson.

Within the program, students are organized into “quartets” consisting of one mentor and three students. They are required to invest 40 hours total (10 hours per month) into meeting with their mentor, joining workshops and personal reflection.

The program has engaged over 70 mentors in the past three years and continues to provide accomplished Black and/or women mentors a platform to give back to the York U community.

Alumni mentor Anika Holder, vice-president of human resources at Penguin Random House Canada, had this to say about the program: “One of the reasons I wanted to participate in the Advancing YU program is because, at this point in my career, I felt it was time to reach back and lift up. It’s helpful [for students] to have a real-life example who can offer their thoughts and help them to uncover and shape their vision.”

Keisha Porter
Keisha Porter
Lynette Furtado
Lynette Furtado

Lynette Furtado, a past participant in Advancing YU who now works as a policy consultant and mental health advocate, calls the program transformative in helping her navigate post-graduation life.

“[It was] vital in allowing me to network and develop strong connections, while providing resources tailored to my needs,” Furtado says. “My mentor guided me in the complexities of the legal field and helped me explore paths available to me.”

Keisha Porter, a recent mentee in the Advancing Black Students stream, echoes that being accepted into the program was life changing, both professionally and personally.

“Aside from building great contacts and networks, this program has taught me how to show up and advocate for myself in a variety of situations and environments. As a result, I am empowered and prepared to face both future obstacles and victories.”

“This program exemplifies our commitment to supporting diverse groups within our community and creating pathways for the advancement of Black and women scholars,” says Johnson.

Advancing YU student applications are open now until Oct. 4. Students must be in their third or fourth year of study in an LA&PS program, with a minimum of 54 credits completed. To learn more and apply for the 2024-25 Advancing YU program, students can visit the Student Information page.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to share Advancing YU program information and the application deadline with students.

Committing to positive change and a strong future for York University

York U Forward Action Plan

Voir la version française

Dear colleagues,

Many of you will have read about the launch of the York U Forward Action Plan in this morning’s YFile – a crucial multi-year initiative that will help to ensure our University’s continued success as a leading teaching and research university committed to enhancing the well-being of the communities we serve.

Along with many other institutions in Ontario, we are facing significant challenges due to a range of external factors including a tuition freeze, international student visa caps, inflation and the lingering effects of the pandemic. At the same time, the needs, interests and expectations of students are changing. This action plan provides a path forward for financial sustainability in ways that will continue to respond to those changes and maintain the momentum that we have achieved towards realizing York’s bold vision for the future.

Our success hinges on the collective engagement of our entire community. We must act thoughtfully and without delay. This initiative requires us to think together, differently and creatively, to redefine what our University can achieve.

The path ahead may not always be easy, but it is necessary. Transparency around the challenges we face will help us reach consensus and move forward with the changes that are required if we are to continue to meet the needs of our students and of society. By embracing this plan, we are ensuring that our University remains relevant and impactful.

I encourage every member of our community to read the information in YFile and engage with the York U Forward Action Plan. Your commitment is crucial as we navigate this transformative process together. Our fresh ideas, openness to change and collaborative efforts will lead us to a stronger, more resilient York University.

Thank you for your dedication and unwavering support.

Rhonda Lenton
President and Vice-Chancellor

York U Forward Action Plan website launches

York U Forward Action Plan

A new website outlines initiatives and opportunities for the community to create a path to a financially sustainable university of the future.

At the April 10 town hall, York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton provided an overview of the initiatives the University is undertaking in order to address current financial pressures while ensuring York U continues to grow as a top-ranked international teaching and research university committed to enhancing the well-being of the communities it serves.

The York U Forward Action Plan is a multi-year strategy consisting of 17 projects divided into three important streams: Program Enhancement and Sustainability; Enrolment Recovery; and Administrative Projects. York U, like many institutions, has been managing financial challenges due to a number of external factors that have led to lower enrolment and lower revenues. The action plan will find new and creative ways to boost revenue and reduce costs.

“Recent unexpected policy decisions at both the provincial and federal levels have heightened the urgency in working together in a transparent and collegial way to ensure that we transform these challenges into new opportunities to accelerate the momentum that York has created over the last number of years towards realizing our vision and priorities,” emphasizes Lenton. “The needs, interests, and expectations of students and of society are changing. The York U Forward Action Plan, while essential for the financial sustainability of the institution, also creates the potential for us to align our efforts with those changes to better serve society and enhance our impact.”

As the University seeks to align its administrative and academic expenditures with enrolment and enrolment revenue, it has already introduced a number of cost-containment initiatives that will contribute directly to the deficit reduction targets, as outlined in the three-year budget plan approved on April 30 by the Board of Governors.

Steps already taken include reduced spending on travel, hospitality, and professional development, along with postponed and essential hiring only. Earlier this month, the University took steps to reduce the total compensation packages for management (i.e. CPM) and senior executives (i.e. president and vice-presidents) over the next year by 3.6 per cent, with projected savings of approximately $5 million. The University is prepared to take similar steps in subsequent years if needed to support the institution’s financial sustainability.

The action plan is moving forward with initiatives such as a new pathway program for students building their English language proficiency, a collegial Forum on Student Retention and promotion of accelerated degree formats for international students, all of which exemplify York’s proactive approach to enhancing program offerings and student support.

The action plan also includes a variety of collaborative efforts to enhance student housing options, increase our attraction to out-of-province domestic students, and identify software licences that are duplicative or redundant.

Work is just beginning to mobilize the community behind the action plan. Looking ahead, York University is gearing up to launch several key initiatives, with ongoing community engagement and updates planned to keep faculty and staff informed and involved. Discussions on campus optimization and potential new programs underscore the University’s commitment to strategic growth and innovation.

“This is a pivotal moment for the entire York University community,” stresses Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps. “It demands our full engagement to envision the future of York. Together, we will overcome the current challenges and build an even more impactful University for the generations of students to come.”

As the York U Forward Action Plan unfolds, the University community is encouraged to actively participate in this transformative journey. Through collaboration and adaptability, York University aims to realize its vision and maintain its position as a leader in higher education.

Pest control treatments scheduled for July 19 to 21

Aerial view of York Keele campus summer

Pest control applications at the Keele and Glendon campuses for Food Services-contracted areas will begin on Friday, July 19 at 5 p.m. and end on Sunday, July 21 at 5 p.m.

Work is undertaken using accepted practices and approved materials by Professional PCO Services, which holds an Eco Green Ergonomic Extermination certificate from the Ministry of the Environment. A work permit has been submitted and approved by York University’s Health, Safety & Employee Well-Being office.

Monitoring and treatment of component applications will be carried out in the Food Services locations listed below:

LocationCampusBuilding Name
Glendon Campus Marché CafeteriaGlendon CampusYork Hall
Glendon Campus Tim HortonsGlendon CampusYork Hall, A Wing
Bergeron MarketKeele CampusBergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence
Central Square CafeteriaKeele CampusCentral Square
Central Square Tim HortonsKeele CampusCentral Square
Central Square Booster JuiceKeele CampusCentral Square
Central Square Pizza PizzaKeele CampusCentral Square
Central Square StarbucksKeele CampusCentral Square
Central Square SubwayKeele CampusCentral Square
Centre for Film & Theatre StarbucksKeele CampusCentre for Film & Theatre
Dahdaleh CafeteriaKeele CampusVictor Phillip Dahdaleh Building
Dahdaleh Tim HortonsKeele CampusVictor Phillip Dahdaleh Building
Lassonde Palgong TeaKeele CampusLassonde Building
Osgoode Hall BistroKeele CampusIgnat Kaneff Building, Osgooge Hall
Stong College Orange SnailKeele CampusStong College
Stong College CafeteriaKeele CampusStong College
William Small Centre Tim HortonsKeele CampusWilliam Small Centre
Winters College Country StyleKeele CampusWinters College
Winters College CafeteriaKeele CampusWinters College
Grad LoungeKeele CampusRoss Building
PodKeele CampusCurtis Lecture Halls

For further information, contact John Leva, manager of grounds, fleet and waste management, Facilities Services, at jleva@yorku.ca; or Tom Watt, director of food services, Ancillary Services, at watttm@yorku.ca.

Parking and traffic modifications for National Bank Open tennis

YFile featured image by Photo by Kelly L from Pexels shows a parking lot

The 2024 National Bank Open tennis tournament will take place at the Sobeys Stadium on York University’s Keele Campus from Sunday, Aug. 4 to Monday, Aug. 12. While every effort is made to minimize the disruption of operations on the Keele Campus, the following parking and traffic modifications will be in effect.

Reserved parking for tennis pass holders:

  • Founders Road West Lot
  • Northwest Gate Lot (north/middle)
  • Arboretum Lane Parking Garage
  • Student Services Parking Garage
  • Shoreham Drive Lot

Patrons and participants are required to have a virtual Tennis Parking Pass to access these lots/garages. All lots, with the exception of the Shoreham Drive Lot, will be occupied for this event from Sunday, Aug. 4 at 6 a.m. until Monday, Aug. 12. at 12 a.m. The Shoreham Drive Lot will be closed for this event from Friday, Aug. 2 at 6 a.m. until Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 6 a.m.

York U parking permit holders

Permit holders with the exception of Shoreham Lot permit holders, will not be displaced during this event. A predetermined quantity of parking spaces have been reserved for community members who must be on campus during this time. Shoreham Lot permit holders will be moved to Arboretum Lane Parking Garage from Friday, Aug. 2 until Tuesday, Aug. 13 inclusive.

York U visitor/short-term parking

Visitor and short-term parking will be available in the following places:

  • Vanier Lot
  • Founders Road East Visitor Lot ($10 flat rate)
  • Northwest Gate South lot ($10 flat rate)
  • Calumet Lot ($15 flat rate)
  • York Lanes Parking Garage
  • Atkinson Lot
  • Passy Crescent
  • Assiniboine Road
  • Fine Arts Road
  • Physical Resources Building Lot South
  • Thompson Road Lot West
  • Thompson Road Lot East
  • University Street
  • Lumbers Visitors Lot
  • Student Services Parking Garage

There will be no short-term parking in the following places:

  • Arboretum Lane Parking Garage
  • Northwest Gate Lot (north/middle)
  • Shoreham Lot

Traffic restrictions on campus

The following road restrictions will be in place from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. from Sunday, Aug. 4 to Monday, Aug. 11 and from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 12 inclusive:

  • Shoreham Drive will be closed for the duration of the event.

For more information or if any special parking arrangements are required, contact Parking Services at parking@yorku.ca.

YSpace alum triumphs at startup pitch competition

Asees Kaur, VoxCell’s business operations co-ordinator and the winning pitcher at Collision 2024's PITCH competition.

Victoria-based startup VoxCell BioInnovation, winner of the YSpace Technology Accelerator program’s Demo Day in 2021, were recognized in this year’s Collision conference PITCH competition, which took place last month in Toronto. The annual technology conference – one of the biggest of its kind in North America – attracts startups, investors and industry leaders from around the globe.

VoxCell offers what it calls a Universal Bioink Kit, which promises to innovate the 3D bioprinting field by replicating the extracellular matrix of living tissues to assist with drug screening.

VoxCell co-founder Karolina Valente (left) and VoxCell’s business operations co-ordinator and the winning pitcher, Asees Kaur (right), after being announced as the PITCH winner at Collision 2024 in Toronto. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Collision via Sportsfile.
VoxCell BioInnovation’s mechanical engineer Megan Chisling (left) and business operations co-ordinator Asees Kaur (right) after being announced as the PITCH winner at Collision 2024 in Toronto. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Collision via Sportsfile.

“VoxCell’s journey is deeply inspiring as they drive towards revolutionizing the industry,” said Nafis Ahmed, associate director of entrepreneurship at YSpace. “We take great pride in the team’s achievements and eagerly await what the future holds for them.”

For VoxCell’s team members, they say the competition win gives them a welcome boost in confidence, purpose and exposure.

“It reaffirms our mission to revolutionize drug development,” said Asees Kaur, VoxCell’s business operations co-ordinator and the winning pitcher, “and has further increased our brand awareness as we focus on commercializing our Universal Bioink Kit and securing partnership contracts with pharmaceutical companies for the use of our cancer tissue models as advanced drug screening platforms.”

YSpace’s Technology Accelerator program, which VoxCell benefited from in 2021, nurtures innovative startups through comprehensive support, including mentorship, resources and networking opportunities. It supports startups in executing go-to-market strategies, acquiring customers and preparing for fundraising.

“VoxCell’s recent success is a testament to their relentless innovation and commitment to excellence,” said David Kwok, director of entrepreneurship and innovation at YSpace. “We are incredibly proud to see our alumni making such a profound impact on the global stage.”

University wraps up Service Excellence Program Office 

Keele campus pond

York University’s Service Excellence Program (SEP) wraps up after four transformative years, in response to current fiscal conditions.

York University established the SEP in 2020 to uphold its vision for service excellence and enhance administrative services. Designed as a multi-year initiative, the program aimed to embed a culture of continuous improvement across the University.   

Over the past four years, the SEP has attained that goal, achieving significant milestones, including streamlining purchasing and payments, expense reimbursement, staff recruiting and hiring, and service request ticketing. These enhancements have made work processes simpler, faster and more efficient. The program also spearheaded the creation of the University Services Centre (USC), a shared services centre that provides a single point of contact for high-volume administrative tasks. The USC now includes specialized teams in Finance, Human Resources and University Information Technology. It has also implemented numerous process improvements in response to community members’ feedback and recommendations.  

As the SEP evolved, there was careful consideration of how best to sustain these improvements within the University’s structure. York, like many institutions, has been managing financial pressures amidst reduced revenues and multi-year deficit reduction targets, as outlined in the three-year budget plan approved on April 30 by the Board of Governors. In light of these budget considerations, the decision was made to conclude the SEP by the end of October. This includes phasing out roles in the program’s central operational team. This is part of a broader effort to streamline administrative activities based on data-driven insights and community consensus. 

At the April 10 town hall, President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton shared with the community an overview of the University’s action plan to continue to advance the University Academic Plan and achieve financial sustainability. The action plan consists of 17 projects divided into three important streams: Program Enhancement and Sustainability; Enrolment Recovery; and Administrative Projects.  

The SEP has laid the foundation for the additional improvements that will stem from the action plan, each one guided by a functional lead responsible for administrative services. The USC will maintain its leadership role in facilitating continuous improvement in high-volume administrative services. 

“While change can be challenging, transitioning responsibility for service excellence to the functional leads reflects the University’s balanced approach to cost containment and long-term financial sustainability,” acknowledges Provost and VP Academic Lisa Philipps. “We are grateful to the SEP operational team for their efforts over the years and look forward to ongoing improvements that will benefit our community.” 

The decision to wind down the SEP Office at this time underscores York’s commitment to optimizing resources in response to fiscal constraints, while maintaining its commitment to service excellence and improving the well-being of the communities served by York University. 

President Lenton takes on role as Chair of eminent advocacy council for higher education in Canada

Rhonda Lenton

York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton was announced as the new council Chair for the Council of Ontario Universities (COU). The two-year appointment came into effect on July 1.

As council Chair, Lenton will help advance COU’s mission, which is to collaborate and advocate for the success of students, communities and the province of Ontario. 

“I am delighted to be assuming the role of COU council Chair, where I can continue to advocate for the higher education sector and quality education that is accessible and inclusive for all students studying in Canada,” says Lenton. “Universities have never been more important to produce the talent, research and creative activities needed to enhance the well-being of the communities we serve. I look forward to collaborating with leaders in higher education, government and industry to enhance our collaboration in addressing what is an increasingly volatile and uncertain time.” 

President Lenton has been a strong proponent for the financial sustainability of universities as well as for 21st-century learning and knowledge for the future, including strengthening York’s impact on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This past year, York was ranked among the world’s top 35 institutions for its impact on the SDGs. A dedicated proponent of community engagement and innovative partnerships, Lenton has championed co-operation both among post-secondary education institutions and across sectors locally and globally to advance the complex challenges the world faces, including climate change, poverty and inequality.  

In addition to taking on this new role as Chair, Lenton continues to advance the post-secondary sector through her roles on Universities Canada’s Internationalization Committee, the Association of Commonwealth Universities’ Executive, the Canada India Business Council Advisory Board, the Loran Scholars Board, the Business and Higher Education Roundtable Board, and the Conference Board of Canada.  

Lenton joined York University in 2002 as dean of the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. She then served as York’s inaugural vice-provost academic from 2009 to 2012, and then as the University’s vice-president academic and provost from 2012 until April 2017.  As president, she continues to advance York’s vision and priorities, raising the University’s presence and profile as a leader in post-secondary education.  

In pictures: Spring Convocation celebrates Class of 2024

convocation

Spring Convocation for York University’s Class of 2024 ran from June 7 to 21, and featured ceremonies at both the Keele and Glendon campuses.

This year’s Spring Convocation began on June 7 with a ceremony at York University’s Glendon Campus, and continued with a dozen more in the following weeks at the Keele Campus. More than 7,000 graduands received their degrees during ceremonies overseen by the 14th chancellor of York University, Kathleen Taylor.

View photos from the Class of 2024 ceremonies below:

York Spring Convocation Class of 2024