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A message from the Board of Governors Chair: President Lenton reappointed for second five-year term

Rhonda L. Lenton

The following is an important message to students, faculty and staff at York University from Board of Governors Chair Paul Tsaparis:

La version française suit la version anglaise.

Dear York Community,

Paul Tsaparis
Paul Tsaparis

On behalf of the University’s Board of Governors, I am pleased to share the news that President Rhonda Lenton has been re-appointed to a five-year term beginning July 1, 2022. President Lenton became York’s eighth president and vice-chancellor on July 1, 2017 and is currently serving the fourth year of her first term. Her vision for positive change is foundational to the University’s ongoing success, and her leadership has inspired community members to live our values while embracing our motto: Tentanda via – The way must be tried.

President Lenton is a thoughtful leader deeply committed to advancing York’s progressive values, and throughout the ongoing global pandemic, she has led the University with empathy, clarity of purpose and courage. During her first term, she has articulated a clear and differentiated vision for York that informed the 2020-2025 Academic Plan: Building a Better Future. Her consequential achievements to date include: the creation of a new Division of Equity, People and Culture, the expansion of diverse and innovative research and academic collaborations, delivered balanced budgets, securing support for York’s Markham Centre Campus, and a new Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change was approved in 2020. York’s growing international recognition, supported by an Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy, has helped the University secure a global top 75 spot in the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking for three years running.

Rhonda L. Lenton
Rhonda L. Lenton

President Lenton has been a community-engaged president, introducing and participating in an unprecedented number of community and stakeholder consultation meetings, hosting interactive President’s Townhalls, and launching the University’s first (now annual) pre-budget consultation process in 2018. Many of York’s impressive recent achievements are captured in the President’s annual report Creating Positive Change and I encourage you to read it.

The president’s re-appointment follows a rigorous and consultative process that was conducted by the University Secretariat in accordance with the York University Act (1965) and the Procedures Governing the Renewal of the Presidential Term. I was pleased to see such strong support for her renewal from many colleagues throughout the process.

As we find ourselves looking ahead to a very bright future, the Board has full confidence that President Lenton is the best person to meet the moment and create new opportunities.

Sincerely,

Paul Tsaparis
Chair, Board of Governors

Message du conseil d’administration au sujet du renouvellement de la présidente de l’Université

Chers membres de la communauté de York,

Paul Tsaparis
Paul Tsaparis

Au nom du conseil d’administration de l’Université, j’ai le plaisir de vous annoncer que la présidente Rhonda Lenton a été reconduite dans ses fonctions pour un mandat de cinq ans à compter du 1er juillet 2022. Le 1er juillet 2017, la présidente Lenton est devenue la huitième présidente et vice-chancelière de York et elle exerce actuellement la quatrième année de son premier mandat. Sa vision du changement positif est essentielle à notre succès et son leadership a inspiré les membres de la communauté à mettre en pratique les valeurs de l’Université et sa devise : Tentanda via : Ouvrir des voies nouvelles.

La présidente Lenton est une dirigeante réfléchie et résolument engagée dans la promotion des valeurs progressistes de York. Tout au long de la pandémie mondiale actuelle, elle a dirigé l’Université avec empathie, lucidité et courage. Durant son premier mandat, elle a développé une vision claire et différenciée pour York qui a inspiré le Plan académique 2020-2025 : Bâtir un avenir meilleur. Parmi ses réalisations majeures à ce jour, mentionnons la création de la nouvelle Division de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture, l’expansion de collaborations universitaires et de recherche diverses et novatrices, le bouclage de budgets équilibrés, l’obtention de soutiens pour le campus Markham Centre et l’approbation de la nouvelle Faculté de changements environnementaux et urbains en 2020. La reconnaissance internationale croissante de York, appuyée par une stratégie d’internationalisation et d’engagement a permis à l’Université de se classer parmi les 75 premières au monde au palmarès Times Higher Education en matière d’impact, et ce, pendant trois années consécutives.

Rhonda L. Lenton
Rhonda L. Lenton

La présidente Lenton s’investit dans la communauté. Elle a tenu de multiples conversations interactives avec les membres de la communauté et d’autres parties intéressées. En 2018, elle a mis en œuvre le premier processus (désormais annuel) de consultation prébudgétaire de l’Université. Plusieurs réalisations récentes de York dignes de mention figurent dans le rapport annuel de la présidente intitulé « Creating Positive Change » que je vous encourage à parcourir.

Le renouvellement du mandat de la présidente est l’aboutissement d’un processus consultatif rigoureux mené par le Secrétariat de l’Université conformément à la Charte de l’Université York (1965) et aux Procédures régissant le renouvellement du mandat présidentiel. J’ai été heureux de constater le fervent soutien en faveur de son renouvellement de la part de nombreux collègues tout au long de ce processus.

Alors que nous nous tournons vers un avenir prometteur, le conseil d’administration de l’Université est convaincu que la présidente Lenton est la personne la mieux placée pour répondre aux exigences de la situation et créer de nouvelles possibilités.

Veuillez agréer mes sincères salutations,

Paul Tsaparis
président du conseil d’administration de l’Université

From Keele Street to Bay Street, powered by experiential education

pexels-guillaume-meurice-2529179
FEATURED image for experiential learning story YFile

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) now has a better understanding of how to attract international students to its services, thanks to a class of York University graduate students in the Master of Financial Accountability (MFAc) program.

Amy Kwan, assistant professor in the teaching stream at the School of Administrative Studies, teamed up with a part-time faculty member from RBC to offer the graduate students in her Performance Measurement Systems class an experiential education (EE) opportunity, and the results have been beneficial to all parties involved.

Amit Brahme, senior director, Newcomer & Cultural Client Segment at RBC, who teaches a management accounting course at York, together with his colleague Lara Beauvais, senior manager, Performance Optimization & Early Talent Strategy, challenged students in Kwan’s class to determine how RBC could better connect with international students. This substantial segment – 640,000 students across Canada – is desirable for RBC to connect with, especially since 60 per cent of these students have expressed a desire to remain in Canada post-graduation.

Kwan_LtoR-Beauvais-Kwan-Brahme
Top, from left: Lara Beauvais and Amy Kwan. Bottom: Amit Brahme

Most of the students enrolled in Kwan’s class this spring were international students and related immediately to the problem put before them. “This hit home for them,” Kwan said. “Many of them have walked that ‘new incoming international student’ journey.”

The students regularly work on case studies, but this was a chance to “see how the tools and building blocks that they’ve learned get applied in industry,” Kwan said. “They are able to see how they will be able to leverage their knowledge in a future career.”

Brahme and Beauvais asked the students how RBC could connect better with international students during their journey; what resources could the bank make available to improve their outreach to this market segment and how could the bank measure its success in such endeavours? They attended an online class session to present the challenge, and the students collaborated in work teams to provide RBC with insights.

“It was a great opportunity to get some perspective from actual newcomers and see the issues from fresh perspectives,” said Beauvais. “They all had great ideas and did a lot of research.”

Brahme said it was an opportunity for excellent feedback. “We had an opportunity to see how students looked at banks,” he said. “We don’t usually get this level of feedback unless we use a marketing firm. The students gave us a lot of information about the things that appealed to them and did comparisons with other banks. Their input has already been useful to our marketing and product teams.”

The students were delighted to get some hands-on experience.

“This was the best part of the course,” said Ladan Hafezi, who immigrated to Canada from Iran with her family. “It was useful to work on a case study that was live. We learned a number of things we’ll be able to use in our careers as we did research, talked about improving customer service and practised communicating with management.”

Junrui (Sherwin) Gao, a student from China, said the EE assignment helped him improve his writing, speaking, and presenting skills. “Many international students are shy,” Gao said. “Although we have great ideas, we may not feel comfortable using our second language to speak up. Our skills will really improve if we’re forced to speak and present via a live case study.”

Raunak Kher, who was born in India and has lived all over the Middle East, said it was “a golden opportunity to share our perspective.”

He and his group did a lot of research on immigration, but they were also able to speak from personal experience. “We wanted to show RBC how to welcome international students,” Kher said, “and suggested they should consider a financial settlement advisor who can educate students about housing options using GIC (guaranteed investment certificate) funding and about the community, as well as an incentive to make using their credit card worthwhile.”

The feedback from RBC was also valuable, Kher noted. “We wanted constructive feedback. They helped us understand what we need to work on, and the experience assisted us with transferable skills for future presentations.

“Theory trains our minds to learn, but students also need to know how to execute, and EE is good for that.”

Beauvais said it was undoubtedly valuable for the students to be forced out of their comfort zones to make a presentation to strangers. “It was definitely a real-world experience,” she said, “although one that they were able to do in a safe and trusting environment.

“The students had to decide what direction to take and what the outcome would look like. Giving, taking, deciding and negotiating are all foundational skills that are really important, as well as the hard skill of working with data.”

Brahme was impressed with the professional approach the students brought to the experience. He noted that one of the ideas the students put forth, a student price card, is something RBC is seriously considering. “It wasn’t on our radar, but we’re actively looking at implementing one,” Brahme said.

Kwan is delighted by the outcome and is looking forward to continuing her relationship with RBC for this fall’s iteration of the course.

“I call this going from Keele Street (York Campus) to Bay Street,’” Kwan said. “It helps students plan their journey between classroom and career. The energy of presenting to actual executives has a different feel to it than making a presentation to your professor.”

Join the York Community for a Virtual Town Hall, May 12

People walk through Vari Hall, which is located on York U's Keele campus

The following is a message to the York University community from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton:

La version française suit la version anglaise.

Dear Colleagues,

Following the overwhelming interest we received in last month’s event, we are pleased to announce that we will be holding another Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, May 12, where we will discuss the University’s plans for a return to on-campus activities in the Fall and address questions from our community members.

We invite all students, staff, course instructors, and faculty to attend, and encourage you to submit questions in advance of the event using this form.

Date: May 12
Time: 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Zoom Webinar: https://yorku.zoom.us/j/93321495395?pwd=dnF4SEFxanQwOGx6SUZSNlA3NEpqZz09
Webinar ID: 933 2149 5395
Telephone Dial-In: (647) 374-4685
Password: 312990
Link to Livestream: https://conversations.info.yorku.ca/

 To help answer your questions, I will be joined by:

  • Lisa Philipps, vice-president academic and provost
  • Carol McAulay, vice-president finance and administration
  • Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation
  • Sheila Cote-Meek, vice-president equity, people & culture
  • Lucy Fromowitz, vice-provost students

If you have any accessibility needs, notes or comments, please let us know.

We will be hosting this town hall via the video conferencing platform Zoom Webinar. You can learn about downloading and using Zoom here. The Webinar will also be livestreamed on the Town Hall website.

You can add the town hall to your Outlook calendar using the attached .ics file.

If you have attended a past Town Hall, we would like your feedback through this short survey. If you were unable to attend previous town halls, you can access all of them here.

The latest community updates, resources and answers to frequently asked questions can always be found on our YU Better Together website.

I look forward to your questions.

Sincerely,

Rhonda L. Lenton 
President & Vice-Chancellor

Joignez-vous à la conversation communautaire virtuelle de York le 12 mai

Chers collègues

En raison de l’intérêt considérable suscité par l’événement du mois dernier, nous avons le plaisir de vous annoncer que nous organiserons une autre conversation communautaire virtuelle le mercredi 12 mai, durant laquelle nous discuterons des plans de l’Université pour le retour des activités sur le campus à l’automne et nous répondrons aux questions des membres de notre communauté.

Nous invitons la population étudiante et les membres du personnel, du corps enseignant et du corps professoral à se joindre à nous et nous les encourageons à soumettre leurs questions à l’avance à l’aide de ce formulaire.

Date : Mercredi 12 mai 2021
Heure : de 15 h à 16 h 30
Zoom Webinar : https://yorku.zoom.us/j/93321495395?pwd=dnF4SEFxanQwOGx6SUZSNlA3NEpqZz09
Code du webinaire : 933 2149 5395
Numéro de téléphone : (647) 374-4685
Mot de passe : 312990
Lien pour la diffusion en direct : https://conversations.info.yorku.ca/

Pour m’aider à répondre à vos questions, je serai accompagnée de :

  • Lisa Philipps, vice-présidente aux affaires académiques et rectrice
  • Carol McAulay, vice-présidente des finances et de l’administration
  • Amir Asif, vice-président de la recherche et de l’innovation
  • Sheila Cote-Meek, vice-présidente de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture
  • Lucy Fromowitz, vice-rectrice aux affaires étudiantes

Si vous avez des besoins, des remarques ou des commentaires en matière d’accessibilité, veuillez nous le faire savoir.

Cette conversation communautaire aura lieu grâce à la plateforme de visioconférence Zoom Webinar. Vous pouvez télécharger Zoom et apprendre à vous en servir ici. Le webinaire sera également diffusé en direct sur le site Web des conversations communautaires.

Vous pouvez ajouter la conversation communautaire à votre calendrier Outlook à l’aide du fichier .ics en pièce jointe.

Si vous avez déjà assisté à une conversation communautaire, nous aimerions connaître votre opinion avec ce bref sondage. Si vous n’avez pas pu assister aux conversations précédentes, elles sont affichées ici.

Vous trouverez les dernières mises à jour, ressources et réponses aux questions fréquemment posées sur notre site Web YU Better Together.

J’attends vos questions avec impatience.

Sincères salutations,

Rhonda L. Lenton
Présidente et vice-chancelière 

York University and CAMH launch Canadian Guide on Mental Health Literacy for Autism

writing notes schulich

York University researchers, in collaboration with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), have launched a first-of-its-kind mental health literacy guide to address the knowledge gap in supporting autistic adults. The 200-page document provides a definition of autism in adulthood, how to identify mental health problems and mental health solutions for this community, and seeks to dispel misconceptions. It is free for anybody to access online, and combines input from research and first-person accounts of autism in Canada.

Jonathan Weiss
Jonathan Weiss

“One of the biggest myths we try to dispel in this guide is that autism is a mental health problem. Autism is not a mental health problem; it is a different way of being,” says Dr. Jonathan Weiss, associate professor in the Faculty of Health and York Research Chair in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disability Mental Health at York University and project lead on the guide. “It’s a different way of communicating and understanding other people and interacting with other people, but it’s not less than, and it’s certainly not a psychiatric illness as is often traditionally conveyed.”

The guide follows two years of consultation with 29 autistic adults and family members of autistic adults from across Canada who spoke about their personal lived experiences. The advisers informed the structure, topics and content of the guide, including chapters on the definition of mental health, what it’s like to grow up autistic in Canada, strategies to maintain good mental health, appropriate identity-first language to use to talk about autism, signs of mental health problems and ways to promote well-being. The guide also includes information on the pandemic’s impact on autistic people.

“The pandemic has impacted everyone including autistic adults and their families,” says Dr. Yona Lunsky, director of the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at CAMH and project co-lead. “Now is the time to amplify mental health resources for this group, developed by them and for them. I believe this can help all of us to support mental health with an autistic lens, which is so needed during the pandemic and also to help us as we plan our pandemic recovery. This project was community-based, and community-building. We need more of this during Autism Acceptance Month and every month after.”

Mental Health Literacy Guide for Autism
Mental Health Literacy Guide for Autism

Mental health literacy is described in the guide as knowing about mental health and having skills and support to apply that knowledge, including how to prevent mental health problems, the kinds of problems that can develop, effective self-help and community strategies for mild-to-moderate problems and explanations of how to help others.

Approximately half of autistic adults will have at least one mental health or addiction diagnosis in their recent past and autistic adults are three times more likely to have a suicide attempt compared to non-autistic adults. Researchers say previous mental health literacy materials did not talk about the intersections between well-being, mental health problems, and what it’s like to be autistic.

The content is targeted toward autistic adults and their family members, professionals, policymakers and leaders to increase their understanding about mental health within the context of autism, and to provide information about the mental health systems across Canada.

“Let’s talk about what we’ve experienced. Let’s talk about what’s worked for us and what hasn’t worked for us. What are some of the barriers to accessing mental health? What are some of the key terms that we want other people to know? We can use our experience and our knowledge to help other autistic people make that step towards asking for help, building a toolkit for themselves to help themselves through mental health crises, or just the highs and lows of mental health as you go through life,” says Elsbeth Dodman, adviser on the guide.

Weiss says when the pandemic struck, many of the stressors of COVID-19 were already impacting mental health for the public-at-large and some of these also had a unique impact on autistic people. The guide’s chapter “Navigating Crises, Emergencies and Pandemics,” includes autistic advisers’ experiences during the pandemic.

“A number of autistic people have particular routines in their lives that are helpful, and COVID-19 represents one of the largest disruptions to this sense of routine. At the same time, COVID has made some things in society more accessible and less sensory intrusive for them, such as being able to work from home or having less people in public places, and some advisers have reported that they are doing better,” says Weiss.

“We hope this guide increases the knowledge of mental health within the context of autism in Canadian society,” says Paula Tablon Modica, master’s student in Public Policy, Administration and Law in Weiss’ lab and project coordinator for the guide. “Our goal is to ensure the guide educates people and to promote a more accepting and inclusive environment related to autistic mental health. We also highlight the need for more autistic-informed mental health supports for autistic adults here in Canada and internationally.”

The guide was funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Autism Spectrum Disorder Fund.

York professor awarded prestigious 3-M National Teaching Fellowship

Andrea Davis
Andrea Davis

Central to Professor Andrea Davis’ transformational work as a teacher and academic is the belief that “racism is a refusal to really learn,” and the philosophy of “teaching as activism.” Her 20-year career embodies both and, now, she has been recognized with Canada’s most prestigious award for teaching, leadership and innovation.

Davis, an associate professor of humanities in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) and special advisor on LA&PS’ Anti-Black Racism Strategy, is one of the 10 recipients of a 2021 3M National Teaching Fellowship. The fellowships were created in 1986 by the Society of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education to recognize “educators who show leadership in enhancing post-secondary education and a sustained dedication to undergraduate education.”

Andrea Davis
Andrea Davis

“I am deeply honoured by the award and the recognition it brings,” said Davis, who has received previous commendations, including the President’s University-wide Teaching Award. “I’m thrilled for York and my Faculty and encouraged that the kind of labour that often goes unseen has been acknowledged. This award is also a tremendous recognition for my students because it validates what is meaningful to them; they feel recognized and heard and it shows that the interventions I bring to the academy are meaningful. I believe that everything we do in the university—research, service or teaching—must positively impact the lives of students. I am pleased to see that when you pour love and care into your students, that can be rewarded.”

“Professor Davis’ devotion to education and critical thinking has, indeed, positively impacted and transformed the lives of thousands of LA&PS students,” said J.J. McMurtry, dean of LA&PS. “She inspires her students to challenge the status quo, to interrogate our histories and to recognize the inherent value of diversity.

“While this award recognizes Professor Davis’ outstanding teaching, it is amazing that she is also able to lead in every aspect of our work as a Faculty, including forthcoming publications and serving as special advisor on LA&PS’ Anti-Black Racism Strategy.”

Davis comes from a background in literature and literary studies, but her courses are interdisciplinary.

“I use diverse texts to help students think about the world and to use that knowledge to imagine a different kind of future,” said Davis, former chair of the Department of Humanities. “I encourage them to think about what different possibilities might exist.

“I think about how to use humanities to help bring Black ideas, thoughts and cultures into the centre of the academy so when we look at Black writers and ideas, we think of them the same way we would the work of Western European men. In my role as special advisor, too, I am working to move the university toward a more just version of itself.”

As part of her passion for justice and equity, Davis developed a Black Canadian Studies certificate at York and is working to create a pan-University Black Studies major. It is work that many other institutions are studying and seeking to emulate, looking to a professor and a university that seek positive change and a just future.

“It is terrific to see Dr. Davis recognized for her commitment and unique talent as a teacher,” said Provost Lisa Phillips. “From launching the Black Canadian Studies Certificate to her work on a pan-university interdisciplinary Black Studies Major, she extends her leadership in teaching across and far beyond the York community, in ways that value justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.”

Professor Andrea Davis and students Giovanni Samuel and Niloofar Abedzadeh
Professor Andrea Davis and students Giovanni Samuel and Niloofar Abedzadeh

Davis believes that her simple presence in the classroom is hopeful for many members of York’s racialized student body; it’s another way of leading.

“Just walking into a classroom and seeing a Black professor model a career that you didn’t think possible before might seem so small, but it is profound in ways I can’t even give voice to,” said Davis.

“Professor Davis teaches in a way that empowers and inspires her students,” said Ravi de Costa, associate dean with the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. “She is a revered instructor, a leading academic in Black diasporic studies and a respected colleague. Her love of teaching and commitment to social justice is apparent in all her work, in and outside the classroom.”

Davis nurtures the students who have been told by others that “they have no future,” and “loves seeing them grow.” As she has grown in her academic career, Davis has also mentored graduate students and younger colleagues with the same care and attention.

“Not only is Professor Davis an outstanding educator; she is also a leader in creating pathways for students to nurture their academic talents, smoothing their way as they enter university and later consider post-graduate studies,” said Professor Will Gage, York’s associate vice-president, teaching and learning. “We value her contributions to teaching and learning at York and look forward to having her continued energy and creativity enhance our academic programs.”

University teachers are also scholars and Davis is no exception. Her most recent work is a book that will be published by Northwestern University Press this year. In Horizon, Sea, Sound: Caribbean and African Women’s Cultural Critiques of Nation, Davis uses the expressive cultures of Caribbean and African women in Canada to imagine new affiliations of community among Black, Indigenous, and other racialized women.

As the recipient of a 3M Fellowship, Davis hopes “this award will encourage another generation of teacher activists. I want them to see that you can teach from your own place of truth and academia can recognize and honour that.”

By Elaine Smith, special contributing writer, teaching and learning

York University recognized as a global leader in 2021 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

UN THE Banner for YFile FEATURED
UN THE Banner for YFile FEATURED

The following is an important message to the community from York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton and Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps:

La version française suit la version anglaise.

Dear Colleagues,

The 2021 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings were released earlier Wednesday and York University has once again been recognized as a global leader in furthering the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

While a growing number of universities are competing in the Impact Rankings, York has ranked in the top 75 institutions in the world for the third consecutive year. York’s vision and values are reflected in our top 100 rankings in 12 of the 17 SDG categories.

Of particular note are our impressive results in the following categories: 

  • 24th in the world for SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • 27th in the world for SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
  • 31st in the world for SDG 15: Life on Land
  • 55th in the world for SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

York’s strong performance in the rankings this year is a result of the extraordinary efforts of our students, faculty, course directors, staff and alumni, whose dedication to our communities and our planet has helped us make great strides in furthering the UN SDGs. It also reflects our progress in advancing the University Academic Plan 2020–2025, which challenged us to build a better future, bringing our unique capacities to bear on the most urgent issues facing the world, while deepening our collective contributions to the SDGs.

We would like to thank all of you for the significant contributions you have made over the past year to advancing our University Academic Plan and addressing complex global issues — from climate change to inequality to the pandemic — and congratulate you on this achievement.

We are proud of the way our community has come together in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, and sincerely grateful for your passion, enthusiasm, and continued commitment to driving positive change in our local and global communities.

Warmest regards,

Rhonda Lenton
President and Vice-Chancellor 

Lisa Philipps
Vice-President Academic and Provost

L’Université York est reconnue comme un chef de file mondial au palmarès Times Higher Education en matière d’impact

Chers collègues,

Le palmarès du Times Higher Education en matière d’impact a été dévoilé en début de journée et, une fois de plus, l’Université York est reconnue comme étant un chef de file mondial dans l’avancement des 17 objectifs de développement durable (ODD) des Nations Unies.

Alors qu’un nombre croissant d’universités rivalisent chaque année, York se classe parmi les 75 meilleures institutions mondiales pour la troisième année consécutive, maintenant sa position parmi les 6 % des institutions mondiales les mieux placées. La vision et les valeurs de York sont reflétées dans 12 catégories sur 17 où elle occupe l’une des 100 premières places. Ses résultats dans les catégories suivantes sont particulièrement impressionnants :

  • 24e au monde pour l’ODD 11 : Villes et communautés durables
  • 27e au monde pour l’ODD 17 : Partenariats pour la réalisation des objectifs
  • 31e au monde pour l’ODD 15 : Vie terrestre
  • 55e au monde pour l’ODD 16 : Paix, justice et institutions efficaces

Les résultats solides de York au palmarès de cette année sont le fruit des efforts extraordinaires du corps étudiant, du corps professoral, de nos directeurs et directrices de cours, de notre personnel ainsi que de nos diplômés et de leur dévouement constant envers nos communautés et la planète, qui nous a permis de faire de grands progrès dans l’atteinte des ODD de l’ONU. Ces résultats témoignent de nos avancées dans la réalisation du Plan académique de l’Université 2020-2025, qui nous a mis au défi de bâtir un avenir meilleur, en mettant nos talents au service des problèmes mondiaux les plus pressants, tout en renforçant nos contributions collectives aux ODD.

Nous tenons à vous exprimer notre gratitude pour vos contributions significatives au cours de l’année écoulée afin de faire progresser le Plan académique de l’Université et de gérer des questions mondiales complexes — allant du changement climatique aux inégalités en passant par la pandémie — et à vous féliciter pour ces réalisations.

Nous sommes fières de la façon dont notre communauté s’est rassemblée pour appuyer les objectifs de développement durable. Nous vous remercions sincèrement pour votre passion, votre enthousiasme et votre engagement continu envers la création de changements positifs dans nos communautés locales et mondiales.

Cordialement,

Rhonda Lenton
Présidente et vice-chancelière

Lisa Philipps
Vice-présidente aux affaires académiques et rectrice

York University recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for a ninth time

Image shows a hand holding a pine cone against a lush backdrop of greenery

York University has received the designation of being one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the ninth consecutive time, a testament to its dedication to sustainability through action, research, education and partnerships.

Selected by Mediacorp Canada Inc., the 2021 Canada’s Greenest Employers title recognizes organizations who make strides to reduce their ecological footprint, a commitment York has long been a leader in and holds as one of its core values.

Green Employers logo
For the ninth time, York University has been named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers

“Being selected as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the ninth consecutive year is both a celebration of the accomplishments that have been made, and a source of inspiration to continue forging towards making things right for our communities, our planet and our future,” said Carol McAulay, vice-president finance and administration. “In a time of global uncertainty, institutions are being challenged to reaffirm their commitment to sustainability. York is proud of its continued dedication and leadership in this space and will continue to do its part through collaboration, engagement and innovation, with opportunities to make an impact in our local and global communities.”

The title of Canada’s Greenest Employers is awarded to national organizations in recognition of exceptional sustainability initiatives, work and commitment toward meeting sustainability goals, and the development of a culture of environmental awareness.

“Equity, diversity and inclusion principles extend to sustainability and employee engagement in workplace innovation,” said York Vice-President Equity, People and Culture Sheila Cote-Meek. “I am proud of all York University community members for their collective commitment and leadership in improving the University’s carbon footprint and engagement in personal and institutional sustainability.”

The editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers select which organizations will be named Canada’s Greenest Employers every year based on the development of unique environmental initiatives and programs, their success rate in reducing the organization’s own environmental footprint and in engaging employees in these environmental efforts. They also look at how closely the institution’s public identity is linked to these sustainable initiatives, and their ability to attract new employees and clients as a result.

Additional York sustainability highlights:

  • The University’s Academic Plan (2020 to 2025) is a University-wide challenge to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in everything the University does. This is just one example of how York upholds sustainability, both environmental and societal, as a compass for its decisions. York will continue to do its part to address the growing environmental crisis through collaboration, engagement, leadership and innovation.
  • As a leader in sustainability, York is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 and to becoming carbon neutral on or before 2049. This University-wide challenge will create positive change, locally and globally, for our students, the communities we serve, and the world around us.
  • The new Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building, part of the Schulich School of Business, received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification – one of the highest standards of sustainability for a building. To attain LEED gold, a building must be designed to meet several sustainability criteria, including water efficiency, the reduction of CO2 emissions, and indoor environmental quality.
  • As a testament to York University’s commitment to sustainability, it is ranked 33rd in the world for the Times Higher Education 2020 Impact Rankings. These global rankings look at how well 768 universities from 85 countries are accomplishing the UN SDGs.
  • York’s new brand strategy incorporates a commitment to contribute to the UN SDGs by tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues, such as inequality, racism and climate change.

Read more about York’s commitment to sustainability: http://sustainability.info.yorku.ca/

York history Professor Joan Judge awarded prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship

Joan Judge
Joan Judge

History Professor Joan Judge from York University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) is among 184 artists, writers, scholars and scientists in Canada and the United States awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. Professor Judge was recognized for her work in East Asian Studies.

“I am delighted to see Professor Judge recognized for her exceptional scholarship and research,” said LA&PS Dean J.J. McMurtry. “A gifted researcher and teacher, Professor Judge is an outstanding and deserving recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship.”

Joan Judge
Joan Judge

Recipients are appointed based on a record of achievement in a diversity of fields. Successful candidates were approved by the Board of Trustees of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and chosen from a group of almost 3,000 applicants.

“I am thrilled to announce this new group of Guggenheim Fellows, especially since this has been a devastating year in so many ways,” said Edward Hirsch, president of the Foundation. “A Guggenheim Fellowship has always been meaningful, but this year we know it will be a lifeline for many of the new Fellows at a time of great hardship, a survival tool as well as a creative one. The work supported by the Fellowship will help us understand more deeply what we are enduring individually and collectively, and it is an honor for the Foundation to help them do what they were meant to do.”

Judge is a member of the Royal Society of Canada and a cultural historian of modern Chinese print and knowledge. Her research has focused on the materiality of ideas, and on the interpenetration of Chinese and Western epistemologies of nation, gender and the body from the turn of the 20th century. Her current book-length research project, “China’s Mundane Revolution: Cheap Print, Vernacular Knowledge, and Common Reading in the Long Republic, 1894-1955,” asserts the historical value of intellectual detritus. A descent into an increasingly lowly register of texts, it asks what crude print editions, their seemingly random assemblages of knowledge, and their inquiring readers can teach us about the vagaries – and failures – of China’s iconic 20th century revolutions.

About the Guggenheim Fellowship

Since its establishment in 1925, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has granted nearly $400 million in fellowships to over 18,000 individuals, among whom are more than 125 Nobel laureates, members of all the national academies, winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Fields Medal, Turing Award, Bancroft Prize, National Book Award, and other internationally recognized honors.

For more information on the 2021 Fellows, please visit the foundation’s website at www.gf.org.

Welcome to the April 2021 issue of ‘Innovatus’

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Innovatus featured image

Welcome to the April 2021 issue of ‘Innovatus,’ a special issue of YFile devoted to teaching and learning at York University. This month, ‘Innovatus’ explores some of the exciting innovations happening in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change.

Will Gage
Will Gage

It is my distinct pleasure to present this collection of stories to you. Here’s why. As we continue to navigate what is an epoch-defining pandemic, there’s much to be considered when we think about the future of our planet. The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) is taking a future-forward approach to educating and preparing the changemakers of tomorrow who will carry the responsibility of leading our world through the many challenges brought into focus by the pandemic. Future generations are facing unprecedented hurdles, including climate change and its associated forced migration of peoples, working in a warming world, food security, urbanization, environmental degradation, habitat loss, and so much more. And yet, I remain so hopeful and this is in large part due to the extraordinary work in teaching, learning and the student experience that’s happening within EUC and York University.

In her letter to the community, EUC Dean and Professor Alice Hovorka speaks to the Faculty’s focus on hands-on experiential learning in providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to be sustainability champions and global leaders. The saying “walk the talk” is fully evident in the wonderful stories presented in this issue of ‘Innovatus.’ The appreciation of diverse ways of knowing, the power of innovation, the importance of collaboration and creativity are all evident in the stories in the April issue of ‘Innovatus,’ which by no mere coincidence is being published in advance of Earth Week.

As you read these stories, take a moment to think about your personal role as a changemaker. How can you enhance your own approach to sustainability and using only what you need? How will you become a sustainability champion? I will leave you to consider those questions.

Thank you, as always, for the many suggestions and comments about the stories and concepts presented in ‘Innovatus.’ Please keep them coming.

Featured in the April 2021 issue of ‘Innovatus’

Dean’s letter to the community: Transformative change through hands-on learning
n her letter to the community, Dean Alice J. Hovorka writes about the inaugural year of the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) and its focused approach to hands-on learning aimed at empowering students to be champions of sustainability and justice. Read full story. Read full story.

Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change students are all about planning
Students in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change are working with the Climate Risk Institute, in partnership with Ontario Professional Planners Institute and Risk Sciences International, on climate change adaptation to extreme weather events and training for professional planners in a win-win experiential education endeavour. Read full story.

Student experiences benefit the planet
Environmental and Urban Change students are engaged in valuable experiential education opportunities designed to give students practical training on precision agriculture, climate change solutions and local sustainable development strategies, using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and the Earth Charter as guidelines. Read full story.

Unique course has students seeing the land blossom online
Since Black Creek Community Farm (BCCF) is within shouting distance of York University’s Keele Campus, it seemed odd for Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change Assistant Professor Sarah Rotz to be taking her Land and Food Politics class there virtually, but such is life during the pandemic. Rotz has embraced the challenge and the result is a meaningful experience for her students. Read full story.

From conversation to action: powerful collaboration yields impactful report
The Public Involvement in Planning: Engaging Black People and Power course, created and taught by Jay Pitter, an award-winning placemaker, author, and urban lecturer, provided students with the opportunity to collaborate with Black urbanists to create a collective book of case studies, policy analysis and recommendations for how to engage Black people and power. Read full story.

‘Innovatus’  is produced by the Office of the Associate Vice-President Teaching & Learning in partnership with Communications & Public Affairs.

I extend a personal invitation to you to share your experiences in teaching, learning, internationalization and the student experience through the ‘Innovatus’ story form, which is available at tl.apps01.yorku.ca/machform/view.php?id=16573.

Will Gage
Associate Vice-President, Teaching & Learning

Open Up to Open Education at May 6 conference

Open Education Week
Open Education Week

While York University has been formally exploring open education for a couple of years, current pandemic pressures have highlighted how open educational resources (OER) can provide students with access to free, openly licenced course learning materials from the first day of classes.

Will Gage
Will Gage

Join Will Gage, associate vice-president, teaching & learning, and Joy Kirchner, dean of libraries, on May 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. for a non-traditional conference, Open Space for Open Education, to help shape the University’s further engagement with open educational practices and OER.

If you’re not familiar with Open Education, now is a perfect time to get your feet wet. You’ll get a sense of what is already happening with regard to Open Education at York and will be able to explore possibilities for getting involved yourself, either alone or in conjunction with colleagues.

Open education is a pedagogical philosophy that removes access barriers to education. OER are foundational to the open education movement as they use open licences, such as Creative Commons licences, to make educational content freely available for faculty, students, and the public. Open education deconstructs barriers by making educational content readily available to the public and increases opportunities for society to engage in new ways of learning and creating knowledge.

“Open education makes possible the ability to reuse, revise, remix and redistribute content, creating new pedagogical opportunities that are changing the relationship instructors have with teaching and students have with learning,” says Gage.

Joy Kirchner
Joy Kirchner

Under the leadership of Gage, Kirchner and the Open Education Steering Committee, York University is coordinating and promoting the creation, mobilization and discovery of OER produced by the broader York University community. The committee is also investigating avenues towards adopting open and/or affordable course materials to enhance the student experience at York University. Your feedback and perspectives will help inform York’s actions.

“Open education is a gateway to innovative pedagogical opportunities,” says Kirchner. “It provides an avenue to pursue evolutionary teaching practices and reimagined course delivery by making content co-creation possible through open practices, while also creating a pathway for affordable education.”

Of course, there’s no need to take our word for it. Come and discover more about open education and OER for yourself on May 6. You’ll hear briefly from:

  • Sophie Bury, director, Learning Commons and Reference Services;
  • Iris Epstein, assistant professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health;
  • David Gelb, Chair and associate professor, Department of Design, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design;
  • Paul Maharg, distinguished professor of practice, Faculty, Osgoode Hall Law School;
  • Students of Professor Dominique Scheffel-Dunand, Department of French Studies, Faculty of LA&PS.

An Open Space Technology event (sometimes called an unconference) is unlike any meeting you’ve attended previously. Following the presentations from colleagues with experience in open education, the agenda of topics will be co-created by you and the other attendees. You will then be invited to participate in free-flowing discussions. You can virtually wander from one breakout session to another, finding conversations that intrigue you and taking away bits and pieces of various discussions to ponder.

A facilitator will be on hand to guide you through the Open Space experience, allowing you to tailor your exploration to your own needs and interests.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to help create a more inclusive future for education at York. Register now at https://oesc.library.yorku.ca/upcoming-events/open-space-for-open-education/.

If you’re interested in learning more about York’s involvement with open education, check out the recording of the Open Education Steering Committee’s March 25, 2021 event, Exploring Open Education at York University.

By Elaine Smith, special contributing writer