York University announces new Postdoctoral Program for Black and Indigenous Scholars
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Students in building on Keele campus FEATURED image
This month, York University is launching a new Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Black and Indigenous Scholars, as part of a wider commitment to promoting justice and embracing a variety of scholarly perspectives, backgrounds and lived experiences. The program will offer emerging scholars from a range of disciplines access to the financial support, mentorship and career development opportunities needed to build the foundation for a successful professional future.
The Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars will support up to 12 successful applicants over the next four years in any field of study. With a salary of $70,000 provided each year for a two-year term, scholars will be able to dedicate their time to pursuing a proposed project, working alongside a supervisor and other mentors, while also gaining access to guidance from faculty, students and alumni.
Carl E. James
Carl James, senior advisor of equity and representation in the Division of Equity, People and Culture, says that the fellowships “will help advance the career ambitions of Black and Indigenous scholars, by providing them with additional opportunities to build their scholarship with, among other things, mentor supports, research opportunities, and important publications. These are things that we know will expand their presence in or outside of the academy.”
Prospective applicants are required to have earned their PhD within the past five years. The program has been designed to address underrepresentation in many disciplines and fields, so candidates will be admitted based on plans to pursue a career in academia and beyond.
This commitment will contribute to priorities identified within the Indigenous Framework for York University and forthcoming Anti-Black Racism Framework, both of which highlight the need to support an inclusive research culture that values diverse voices and knowledges, as well as enabling and supporting the next generation of Indigenous and Black scholars.
Applications for the inaugural intake are due on April 1 and everyone is encouraged to share within their networks and among eligible graduates who may be interested in this opportunity.
Reminder: University Town Hall scheduled for Monday, Feb. 8
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The following is a reminder to the University community from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton:
La version française suit la version anglaise.
As a result of interest expressed by our community members, the senior leadership team will now be hosting a consultation on the 2021-22 University Budget at the virtual town hall taking place on Monday, Feb. 8.
We look forward to presenting an overview of the University’s current financial framework and hearing your thoughts on urgent budget priorities, as well as the opportunities and challenges we face as we plan for the next academic year.
We encourage you to submit questions in advance of the event using this form.
For those who submitted questions related to University priorities and planning more broadly through a previous Town Hall invite, you will receive a response to your question directly.
Note: The Zoom link for this event has been updated from the version sent out in the previous Town Hall invite. Please use the link included above to access the Town Hall.
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
Jeff O’Hagan, vice-president advancement
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.
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
Mise à jour importante au sujet de la conversation communautaire prévue le lundi 8 février
En raison de l’intérêt exprimé par les membres de notre communauté, l’équipe de la haute direction tiendra désormais une consultation sur le budget universitaire 2021-2022 lors de la conversation communautaire virtuelle qui aura lieu le lundi 8 février.
Nous avons hâte de vous présenter un aperçu du cadre financier actuel de l’Université et de connaître votre opinion au sujet des priorités budgétaires urgentes et des possibilités et défis auxquels nous sommes confrontés alors que nous planifions la prochaine année universitaire.
Nous vous encourageons à soumettre vos questions à l’avance à l’aide de ce formulaire.
Si vous aviez déjà soumis des questions relatives aux priorités de l’Université et à la planification plus générale qui devaient faire l’objet de cette conversation communautaire, vous recevrez directement une réponse à votre question.
Remarque : Le lien Zoom a été mis à jour et est différent de celui envoyé dans l’invitation précédente. Veuillez utiliser le lien ci-dessus pour accéder à la conversation communautaire.
Pour m’aider à répondre à vos questions, je serai accompagnée de :
Lisa Philipps, rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques
Carol McAulay, vice-présidente aux finances et à l’administration
Amir Asif, vice-président de la recherche et de l’innovation
Jeff O’Hagan, vice-président à la promotion
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 l’utiliser ici. Le webinaire sera également diffusé en direct sur le site Web des conversations communautaires.
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 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.
Veuillez agréer mes sincères salutations,
Rhonda L. Lenton Présidente et vice-chancelière
Welcome to the February 2021 issue of ‘Brainstorm’
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‘Brainstorm,’ a special edition of YFile publishing on the first Friday of every month, showcases research and innovation at York University. It offers compelling and accessible feature-length stories about the world-leading and policy-relevant work of York’s academics and researchers across all disciplines and Faculties and encompasses both pure and applied research.
Research on COVID-19-based job loss and inequity could inform future public policy A York U economist collaborated with an American academic to study the first months of COVID-19 and consider how the pandemic affected Americans’ earning potential. The findings, as harrowing as they are, will help public policymakers on both sides of the border.
Key to tackling antimicrobial resistance: Remove big pharma and powerful elites A grad student analyses antimicrobial resistance and finds some countries handle it better than others. Success is based on disassociating from profit-minded pharmaceutical companies and political agendas – a noteworthy finding for public and global health policymakers.
Researchers peg success of high-profile healthcare facility on people and vision
A sessional instructor and business professor study the reinvigoration of a Toronto hospital and discover the secret(s) of its success from a public management perspective. They determine what this facility, which now specializes in rehabilitation and complex care cases, was doing right from the very start.
Book suggests reinventing past cultural practices could repair damaged world A Glendon scholar’s new and profoundly intradisciplinary book suggests that experimenting with traditional practices from the past could help us grapple with today’s challenging times. He profiles three such practices and investigates the restorative powers therein.
Launched in January 2017, ‘Brainstorm’ is produced out of the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation in partnership with Communications & Public Affairs; overseen by Megan Mueller, senior manager, research communications; and edited by Jenny Pitt-Clark, YFile editor and Ashley Goodfellow Craig, YFile deputy editor.
An important update on the University Town Hall scheduled for Monday, Feb. 8
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Vari Hall in the winter
The following is an important message to the University community from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton:
La version française suit la version anglaise.
As a result of interest expressed by our community members, the senior leadership team will now be hosting a consultation on the 2021-22 University Budget at the virtual town hall taking place on Monday, Feb. 8.
We look forward to presenting an overview of the University’s current financial framework and hearing your thoughts on urgent budget priorities, as well as the opportunities and challenges we face as we plan for the next academic year.
We encourage you to submit questions in advance of the event using this form.
For those who submitted questions related to University priorities and planning more broadly through a previous Town Hall invite, you will receive a response to your question directly.
Note: The Zoom link for this event has been updated from the version sent out in the previous Town Hall invite. Please use the link included above to access the Town Hall.
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
Jeff O’Hagan, vice-president advancement
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.
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
Mise à jour importante au sujet de la conversation communautaire prévue le lundi 8 février
En raison de l’intérêt exprimé par les membres de notre communauté, l’équipe de la haute direction tiendra désormais une consultation sur le budget universitaire 2021-2022 lors de la conversation communautaire virtuelle qui aura lieu le lundi 8 février.
Nous avons hâte de vous présenter un aperçu du cadre financier actuel de l’Université et de connaître votre opinion au sujet des priorités budgétaires urgentes et des possibilités et défis auxquels nous sommes confrontés alors que nous planifions la prochaine année universitaire.
Nous vous encourageons à soumettre vos questions à l’avance à l’aide de ce formulaire.
Si vous aviez déjà soumis des questions relatives aux priorités de l’Université et à la planification plus générale qui devaient faire l’objet de cette conversation communautaire, vous recevrez directement une réponse à votre question.
Remarque : Le lien Zoom a été mis à jour et est différent de celui envoyé dans l’invitation précédente. Veuillez utiliser le lien ci-dessus pour accéder à la conversation communautaire.
Pour m’aider à répondre à vos questions, je serai accompagnée de :
Lisa Philipps, rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques
Carol McAulay, vice-présidente aux finances et à l’administration
Amir Asif, vice-président de la recherche et de l’innovation
Jeff O’Hagan, vice-président à la promotion
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 l’utiliser ici. Le webinaire sera également diffusé en direct sur le site Web des conversations communautaires.
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 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.
Veuillez agréer mes sincères salutations,
Rhonda L. Lenton Présidente et vice-chancelière
Youth Climate Report, documentary film project led by York faculty member Mark Terry, recognized with UN SDG Action Award
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The Youth Climate Report, a documentary film project led by Mark Terry – explorer, award-winning filmmaker and contract faculty member and course director at York University’s Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change – has earned an Honourable Mention from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2020 Action Awards. The project is the only Canadian program to be recognized this year out of a field of more than 1,000 nominated projects.
Mark Terry presenting the Youth Climate Report at COP 23, held in Bonn, Germany in November 2017
The SDG Action Awards are presented each year by the UN to acknowledge sustainability initiatives demonstrating significant impact, creativity, innovation and replicability. The UN announced the 13 winners and honourable mentions on Jan. 22, and will hold an awards ceremony at the annual SDG Global Festival of Action on March 25 and 26, taking place virtually this year.
The Youth Climate Report showcases more than 525 videos from youth filmmakers geo-located on an interactive map, providing policymakers with a wealth of visible evidence of climate research, impacts and solutions from around the world in one easily accessible digital space.
The groundbreaking film project not only gives young people a voice at UN climate summits, but offers the rare opportunity for them to directly contribute to policy creation on the global stage. Through their short documentaries, or “Mini-Docs,” youth bring attention to urgent environmental issues facing their respective communities and ecosystems, share climate research and solutions, and highlight youth-led climate action initiatives. For policymakers, the database provides important visual context that helps them gain a fuller understanding of climate issues during the two-week UN climate summits each year.
“Since the youth of the world are going to be the next generation to deal with the global issue of climate change and planetary health, it is crucial they get involved now so they will be better prepared to understand and deal with the problem going forward,” says Terry, chief engineer of the Youth Climate Report. “The youth of today are the policymakers of tomorrow and by uniting them now with the global community of science and the United Nations, we all stand a better chance of solving the climate crisis in the years to come.”
The Youth Climate Report showcases more than 525 videos from youth filmmakers on all seven continents
The Youth Climate Report represents a new form of documentary pioneered by Terry called a “Geo-Doc,” – a multilinear, interactive, database documentary film project presented on a platform of a Geographic Information System (GIS) map of the world.
The project was born after the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) requested that Terry develop a film program for the global community of youth to have their voices heard at the annual climate change conferences (COP conferences).
His PhD research at York focused on developing the Geo-Doc technology, building on his master’s studies that explored the evolution of the documentary film as an instrument of social change. The current iteration of his Youth Climate Report project was presented at the Paris climate summit in 2015 and adopted the following year by the UN as a data delivery system for the COP conferences under its Article 6 mandate for education and outreach.
The “Mini-Docs” that populate the Youth Climate Report are crowdsourced through initiatives spearheaded by the UN and York University.
Each year, the UNFCCC holds the Global Youth Video Competition, where participants between 18 and 30 years old from around the world submit a maximum three-minute video corresponding to the year’s three selected themes. The top 20 films in each of the themes are added to the Youth Climate Report map, and the winners are invited to the UN’s annual climate summit where their films are presented to a global audience including delegates and world leaders.
Mark Terry (far right) leads a press conference with young Inuit filmmakers from Tuktoyuktuk, NWT at the COP 25 climate conference in Madrid, Spain in December 2019. The young Indigenous filmmakers presented their film Happening to Us to conference delegates
York University contributes to the Youth Climate Report through an intensive filmmaking workshop called the Planetary Health Film Lab, offered by the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research (DIGHR). Led by Terry, who is also a Research Fellow at DIGHR, the week-long workshop trains young people from Canada and around the world to make Youth Climate Report videos exploring the impacts of climate change on human health and well-being in their communities. Introduced in winter 2020, the program’s first cohort included environmental activists and emerging filmmakers from Canada, Australia, Ecuador, Colombia, India and Italy.
“The Planetary Health Film Lab is the only workshop of its kind in the world where students learn not only how to make a film for the UN, but to do so in a manner that contributes directly to policy creation as a resource in the Youth Climate Report,” says Terry.
Mark Terry leading York University students during a weekly Fridays for Freedom March through downtown Toronto in April 2019
The next Planetary Health Film Lab will take place remotely in June 2021. This year, the team plans to train Indigenous youth throughout the Circumpolar Arctic as part of its endeavour to provide training and resources to under-represented communities.
Along with running the Planetary Health Film Lab, Terry also teaches the Geo-Doc technology to York undergraduate students in the course “EU/ENVS 1010: Introduction to Environmental Documentaries,” which uses his book, The Geo-Doc: Geomedia, Documentary Film, and Social Change (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020), as the principal text. The course teaches students how to create their own Geo-Doc projects based on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and some students also learn how to make the “Mini-Docs” that populate the Youth Climate Report project.
In addition to the SDG Action Award, Terry’s pioneering work on the Youth Climate Report has also been recognized with a President’s Sustainability Leadership Award from York University in 2016, as well as the York University Award for Outstanding Global Engagement and the York University Mobility Award, both in 2017. Last year, he was elected to the Royal Society of Canada for this innovative work in activist documentary filmmaking.
By Ariel Visconti, YFile communications officer
Celebrating Black History Month and recommitting to action
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Feet forward, head turned backward, the Sankofa bird reflects on the past to build a successful future. Image: Government of Canada
The following is a message to the York University community from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton, and Vice-President Equity, People & Culture Sheila Cote-Meek:
Dear Colleagues,
This February marks the 25th anniversary of the first time Black History Month was officially commemorated in Canada. Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate Black culture, and recognize the contributions made by the Black students, staff, instructors, and alumni of York University.
Indeed, we are grateful to Black community members for their insights and innovations in programming and research, which have helped us uphold the University’s mission to serve and reflect a broad diversity of lived realities. The Certificate in Black Canadian Studies, for example, was the result of advocacy from undergraduate and graduate students.
We recognize that on top of the inequities created and exposed by the pandemic last year, other forms of violent and systemic anti-Black racism have caused additional grief, pain, and frustration for Black community members. We have been undertaking community consultations to re-examine our own role in creating safer, more inclusive spaces for teaching, learning and professional work, as well as the role we must play in countering anti-Black racism more broadly.
We are grateful to community members for their willingness to share their experiences, concerns and questions with us. These honest insights on representation, knowledge creation, mental health supports, community engagement, data collection, decision-making and accountability have directly informed a Framework and Action Plan that will guide the University’s efforts in addressing anti-Black racism.
We look forward to sharing further updates on these initiatives shortly, and will continue to engage with community members for input and feedback in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Combatting anti-Black racism requires sustained effort, and the University is fully committed to this work.
We encourage all community members to find out more about the Black History Month virtual events and initiatives taking place at York, and to continue to engage with and learn about Black history, culture, and the contributions of Black people throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Rhonda L. Lenton President and Vice-Chancellor
Sheila Cote-Meek Vice President, Equity, People & Culture
Célébrons le Mois de l’histoire des Noirs et renouvelons notre engagement
Chers collègues,
Ce mois de février marque le 25e anniversaire de la première commémoration officielle du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs au Canada. Le Mois de l’histoire des Noirs est l’occasion de célébrer la culture noire et de reconnaître les contributions des étudiantes et des étudiants, du personnel et du corps professoral ainsi que des diplômées et diplômés noirs de l’Université York.
Nous sommes reconnaissants envers les membres de la communauté noire pour leurs contributions et leurs innovations en matière de programmation et de recherche, qui nous ont aidés à appuyer la mission de l’Université de servir et de refléter une grande diversité de réalités vécues. Le Certificat en études canadiennes noires, par exemple, a été créé en réponse aux demandes des étudiantes et étudiants de premier cycle et de cycle supérieur.
Nous reconnaissons qu’en plus des inégalités créées et exposées par la pandémie l’an dernier, d’autres formes de racisme violent et systémique anti-Noirs ont causé encore plus de chagrin, de douleur et de frustration pour les membres de la communauté noire. Nous avons entrepris des consultations communautaires afin de réexaminer notre propre rôle dans la création d’espaces plus sûrs et plus inclusifs pour l’enseignement, l’apprentissage et le travail professionnel, ainsi que le rôle que nous devons jouer dans la lutte contre le racisme anti-Noirs en général.
Nous sommes reconnaissants envers les membres de la communauté d’avoir accepté de partager avec nous leurs expériences, leurs préoccupations et leurs questions. Leurs contributions sincères sur la représentation, la création de connaissances, les soutiens à la santé mentale, l’engagement communautaire, la collecte de données, la prise de décision et la responsabilité ont directement inspiré un cadre et un plan d’action qui guideront les efforts de l’Université dans la lutte contre le racisme anti-Noirs.
Nous avons hâte de partager prochainement d’autres informations sur ces initiatives. Nous continuerons de communiquer avec les membres de la communauté pour obtenir des commentaires et de la rétroaction dans les semaines, les mois et les années à venir. La lutte contre le racisme anti-Noirs exige des efforts soutenus et l’Université est pleinement engagée dans ce travail.
Nous encourageons tous les membres de la communauté à se renseigner sur les initiatives et événements virtuels qui auront lieu à l’Université York au cours du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs [https://www.yorku.ca/about/blackhistorymonth/] et à continuer à s’engager et à en apprendre davantage sur l’histoire et la culture des Noirs ainsi que sur leurs contributions, tout au long de l’année.
Sincères salutations,
Rhonda L. Lenton Présidente et vice-chancelière
Sheila Cote-Meek Vice-présidente de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture
IP Osgoode Innovation Clinic’s ChatBot ‘Isaac Pewton’ makes his official debut
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His name is Isaac Pewton, and he is a ChatBot that can provide basic intellectual property (IP) information and assistance with IP-related matters.
Isaac won’t mind, though, if you don’t call him by name, but simply think of him as a computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users, especially over the Internet.
Isaac will be the star of the show this Friday, Jan. 29 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. when the IP Osgoode Innovation Clinic officially launches the AI-powered ChatBot in Intellectual Property at an online celebration via Zoom.
Giuseppina “Pina” D’Agostino
Isaac’s debut represents more than a year of hard work by the Innovation Clinic team under the leadership of IP Osgoode founder and director, Professor Pina D’Agostino, in collaboration with Maya Medeiros and Anthony de Fazekas, Partners at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP and the legal supervisors for the Innovation Clinic, and technical experts in the Legal Technology Group at Norton Rose.
“The IP Innovation ChatBot provides free access to credible IP information in a timely, effective and user-friendly way to foster greater innovation in Canadian society,” D’Agostino says.
“Start-ups, entrepreneurs, and innovators need IP information, but don’t always have the necessary funds and resources. The IP Innovation ChatBot will alleviate some expenses and make vital IP information more accessible.”
D’Agostino said Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) provided funding assistance to develop the IP Innovation ChatBot. “This project supports the Canadian government’s National IP Strategy to increase IP awareness and education by making IP advice more accessible.”
As part of Friday’s launch celebration, there will also be a panel discussion. Nikita Iliushkin, CEO of Skygauge Robotics, the York University student start-up that the IP Innovation Clinic helped on the patent front and which just received $3.3 million in funding, will be among the leaders in Canada’s innovation space who will speak. York Vice-President of Research & Innovation Amir Asif will kick off the event with opening remarks. Innovation York has been one of the IP Innovation Clinic’s founding partners, and would not exist without its “unrelenting support,” D’Agostino noted.
The IP Innovation Clinic is a year-round, needs-based innovation-to-society intellectual property (IP) legal clinic operated in collaboration with Innovation York and supervising law firms Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Bereskin & Parr LLP and Own Innovation. Under the guidance and mentorship of the Clinic Director and supervising lawyers, law students provide one-to-one legal information services (not legal advice) to inventors, entrepreneurs, and start-up companies to assist with the commercialization processes. Through this hands-on practical experience, law students learn about common early-stage IP and business issues facing actors in the innovation ecosystem.
Save the date: First Virtual Town Hall of 2021 will take place Monday, Feb. 8
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The following is a message to the community from York President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton:
La version française suit la version anglaise.
As we begin the new year, we know that many students, staff, faculty members and instructors may have questions about what the changing provincial public health regulations mean for the University’s on- and off-campus programming, research and professional work. We also know that many community members are interested in learning more about York’s current plans and priorities for both the current winter semester and the upcoming summer semester.
On Monday, Feb. 8, we will be bringing the York community together for a virtual town hall, where our senior leadership team will provide updates on University operations and directly address your questions. As always, we encourage you to submit questions in advance of the event using this form.
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,
Jeff O’Hagan, vice-president advancement, and
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.
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
RÉSERVEZ LA DATE : La première conversation communautaire virtuelle de 2021 aura lieu le lundi 8 février
En ce début d’année, nous sommes conscients que beaucoup d’étudiants, de membres du personnel, du corps professoral et du corps enseignant ont sans doute des questions au sujet des répercussions des changements des règlements provinciaux sanitaires sur les programmes, la recherche et le travail professionnel de l’université sur le campus et hors campus. Nous comprenons aussi que de nombreux membres de la communauté aimeraient en savoir plus sur les plans et priorités actuels de York, tant pour le trimestre d’hiver en cours que pour le trimestre d’été prochain.
Le lundi 8 février, nous réunirons la communauté de York pour une conversation communautaire virtuelle durant laquelle la haute direction fournira des mises à jour sur les opérations de l’Université et répondra directement à vos questions. Comme toujours, nous vous encourageons à soumettre vos questions à l’avance à l’aide de ce formulaire.
Pour m’aider à répondre à vos questions, je serai accompagnée de :
Lisa Philipps, rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques
Carol McAulay, vice-présidente aux finances et à 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
Jeff O’Hagan, vice-président à la promotion
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 l’utiliser ici. Le webinaire sera également diffusé en direct sur le site Web des conversations communautaires.
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.
Veuillez agréer mes sincères salutations,
Rhonda L. Lenton Présidente et vice-chancelière
York University releases summary of its new economic and social impact report
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Vari Hall new image
York University contributes $4.4 billion to Ontario’s economy, according to Driving Positive Change: The York University Economic and Social Impact Report 2020 Summary, a new report released today.
The summary, which is based on a 72-page report, profiles the University’s economic, fiscal and social impact in the GTHA, Ontario and beyond. It documents the magnitude of York University’s economic impact on the region, province and nation through access to education, employment, innovative research and as a global gateway.
York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton
“Driving Positive Change: The York University Economic and Social Impact Report 2020Summary measures and quantifies the significant economic and social benefits generated by York University, and tells the story about the difference we are making – for our students, our communities, and the world,” says York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton.
“This report demonstrates how the University serves as a ladder of opportunity for students, an engine for social progress, and a driver of economic growth for Ontario and Canada,” adds Lenton. “It illustrates how, with strong partnerships both locally and internationally, we are continuing to amplify our research, scholarship and creative activities, and expand our innovation and entrepreneurship network to increase our contributions to the social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being of our local and global communities.”
To prepare the report, the University engaged the independent firm Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) to work with York’s Office of Institutional Planning and Analysis to conduct surveys of first-generation students and alumni. The resulting document presents an inspiring portrait of a modern post-secondary institution committed to positive change.
The cover of Driving Positive Change: The York University Economic and Social Impact Report Summary
Here are some of the key findings provided in Driving Positive Change: The York University Economic and Social Impact Report 2020 Summary:
Access to a university education is an important factor for many of York University’s students. In fact, a total of eight per cent of York University students believe they would not attend university if they could not attend York.
A large share of the University’s alumni aged 25 to 64 affirm they were access students (8.5 per cent), resulting in 21,226 individuals within the age range of 25 to 64 years with university degrees who would not have had an opportunity to earn a degree without the access and opportunity offered to them by York University. The economic impact created by York University’s effect on expanding access for alumni approached $2.2 billion and 1,621 jobs.
York University’s reputation for diversity and inclusion is valued by learners, leading them to choose it over other institutions. Its wide array of policies and programs, including articulation agreements with local colleges and bridging programs, offer a place for access students to launch their professional or scientific careers.
Higher income, improved well-being and greater civic engagement are all qualities that students and alumni among the survey groups attribute to York University. Among alumni, the aggregate benefits associated with a York degree were more than $1.1 billion in additional income and 1,338 additional jobs in 2018.
The report estimates that post-secondary access alumni from York University earned approximately 140 per cent or $63,253 more than Toronto Census Management Area (CMA) high school graduates, while the University’s alumni earned 86 per cent or $47,395 more than Toronto CMA college graduates.
York University’s local communities are also experiencing benefits as alumni are 13.5 per cent more likely to volunteer their time than graduates of other universities in the GTHA. In terms of civic engagement, some 56 per cent of York University alumni report they had pursued volunteer activities that benefit schools, religious organizations, sports or community associations within the past year.
Support for entrepreneurship was also reported by York graduates, with 21 per cent of alumni entrepreneurs, a total of 16,491 individuals, indicating they became entrepreneurs because of York University. Additionally, 30.2 per cent report their ventures were more successful because of York.
Two of the commercialization success stories highlighted in the report include Droplet Lab, a startup commercializing an image-based surface tensiometer using a smartphone, and Bitnobi Inc., a startup focused on commercializing a privacy-protected data-sharing technology.
Advancing the public good through research that contributes to communities is a focal point of York University’s research activities. To support this direction, in 2018-19, York University received $45.87 million in partnership research funding through more than 800 agreements. A large portion of this funding, $26.75 million, was provided by the Government of Canada and its agencies. Not-for-profit organizations such as health-related groups or other universities contributed $8.95 million in funding during the same period.
Research conducted by York University’s thought leaders extends beyond the borders of Canada and has a global impact. Many projects are focused on developing creative and innovative solutions to the most pressing concerns faced by Ontario, Canada and the world.
“Ontario and the world are facing challenges that no single government, business or university can solve,” says Lenton. “Through partnership and collaboration, York University is embracing its role as a hub for innovative solutions to inequality, pandemic recovery, climate change and a host of other complex issues, and driving positive change in our communities and around the world.”
Welcome to the January 2021 issue of ‘Innovatus,’ a special issue of YFile that is devoted to teaching and learning innovation at York University.
Happy New Year!
Will Gage
This issue of ‘Innovatus’ focuses on the unique approach that the Glendon Campus takes to experiential education and enriching the student experience in a bilingual environment. There are days as I write this note to you, where I wish I could turn back time. Imagine learning about Indigenous languages, ceremonies and culture through a video game offered in a university course! It is an exciting and innovative project underway at Glendon and it is led by Professor Maya Chacaby.
As well, as we are into another province-wide lockdown due to the pandemic, the work by Glendon staff and faculty to engage students online and in their homes is remarkable and heroic. You can read about the many innovative approaches taken by Glendon to build meaningful connections between students, complex subjects and the community in this issue.
Thank you again for the many wonderful comments about our 2020 issues. I would like to take the opportunity to wish each one of you a happy and healthy 2021. Please continue to reach out to me with your comments as I value each of your responses.
Gaming offers deeper understanding of Anishinaabe language and culture Protecting Indigenous language and culture is at the heart of a new instructional video game developed for students by Glendon Assistant Professor of Sociology Maya Chacaby. The game “Biskaabiiyaang: the Quest for the Language” is a massively multi-player online role-playing game.
Glendon students turn their backyards into labs Biology students need to learn fieldwork techniques, pandemic, or no pandemic, so Laura McKinnon, an associate professor in Glendon’s bilingual biology program decided to send them out into their backyards to practise and the results of this unique experiential education initiative were outstanding.
Exploring the European Union through a Dutch Lens The Netherlands and Europeanization course offered by Glendon Professor Willem Maas gives students a good understanding of the Netherlands and the European Union (EU). Maas, who is a Jean Monnet Chair, pivoted the course to an online format that offered students an opportunity to interact with an impressive list of speakers with real-world experience in the EU.
Glendon’s community-based initiatives improve language skills while breaking isolation To lessen the social isolation caused by the pandemic, faculty and staff at the Glendon Campus have sought ways to build connections among students and the community. Three programs have decreased social isolation, fostered a strong sense of community, while giving students a chance to practise their non-dominant official language (English or French) in unique experiential education settings.
‘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
Welcome to the January 2021 issue of ‘Innovatus,’ a special issue of YFile that is devoted to teaching and learning innovation at York University.