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Prevent respiratory viruses with layers of protection

Mother and child grocery shopping with masks on

As Canadians, bundling up in winter gear to shield ourselves from the harsh elements is second nature, but it can be easy to forget to take measures to keep ourselves healthy this season, as the spread of respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, RSV and the flu are on the rise.

Experts recommend using the following layers of protection for respiratory illness prevention:

  • consider wearing a mask in indoor public settings, especially if it is crowded and/or there is poor ventilation;
  • keep a physical distance from others when possible, especially indoors;
  • stay home if you are sick or have symptoms of illness, even if mild; and
  • stay up to date with your vaccinations, including COVID-19 boosters.

To help keep the community safe and combat the spread of these respiratory viruses, York University is offering vaccination clinics throughout the winter season at both its Keele and Glendon campuses, with both COVID-19 (Moderna and Pfizer) and flu shots available. OHIP is not required at these clinics and vaccines are free of charge. The clinics are walk-in; first come, first served. Free masks and rapid antigen test kits are also available while supplies last. And for those who are curious, yes, it is safe to get both the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines at the same time.

Anyone with new symptoms of illness, or who has recently tested positive for COVID-19, is encouraged to complete the Ontario Ministry of Health’s self-assessment tool for further direction and guidance before visiting a vaccination clinic.

For those with questions regarding respiratory virus protocols, students can contact SCHW@yuoffice.yorku.ca and employees can contact SFCCM@yorku.ca. The hours of operation for these resources are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information about upcoming vaccination clinics, staff and faculty can visit yorku.ca/hr/covid19 and students can visit students.yorku.ca/health/communicable-diseases/covid-19.

Help shape York’s 2024-25 budget

Black student in front of Vari Hall

La version française suit la version anglaise. 

Dear colleagues, 

I am pleased to invite you to the 2024-25 York University community budget consultation. For the last seven years, we have held budget consultations to provide the community with an overview of the University’s finances, an update on the current budget and an opportunity to provide input about priority areas for investment.   

Following individual consultations with Faculties, departments/units, employee groups and student groups across our community, we are culminating the budget consultation process with a community consultation on Tuesday, Feb. 20. We are inviting all students, faculty, instructors, and staff to join President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton, Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps, and Vice-President Finance and Administration Carol McAulay for a community-wide budget consultation before the development of annual budgets for our next fiscal year.  

Tuesday, Feb. 20 
3:15 to 4:30 p.m. 
REGISTER TODAY 

During the consultation, you will learn about York’s budget model, current financial framework, planned investments and challenges to be considered for the year ahead. You will then have the opportunity to voice your perspective about what is important to you, and how York should consider allocating investments going forward to advance our collective strategic priorities.  

On behalf of the Budgets & Asset Management department, we look forward to hosting you for an engaging and informative discussion. 

Sincerely,  

Wendy Miller, 
Interim Assistant Vice-President, Budgets and Asset Management 

Contribuez à l’élaboration du budget 2024-2025 de York

Chers collègues, chères collègues, 

J’ai le plaisir de vous inviter à la consultation communautaire sur le budget 2024-2025 de l’Université York. Au cours des sept dernières années, nous avons organisé des consultations budgétaires afin de fournir aux membres de la communauté une vue d’ensemble des finances de l’Université, une mise à jour du budget actuel et l’occasion de donner leur avis sur les domaines prioritaires d’investissement.   

À la suite de consultations individuelles avec les facultés, les départements et unités, les groupes étudiants et de membres du personnel à l’échelle de notre communauté, nous clôturerons ce processus par une consultation de la communauté le mardi 20 février. Nous invitons tous les membres de la communauté étudiante, du personnel et des corps professoral et enseignant à se joindre à la présidente et vice-chancelière Rhonda L. Lenton, à la rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques, Lisa Philipps, et à la vice-présidente des finances et de l’administration, Carol McAulay, pour une consultation communautaire avant d’élaborer les budgets annuels de notre prochain exercice financier.  

Mardi 20 février 2024 
De 15 h 15 à 16 h 30 
INSCRIVEZ-VOUS AUJOURD’HUI 

Au cours de la consultation, vous découvrirez le modèle budgétaire de York, le cadre financier actuel, les investissements prévus et les défis à envisager pour l’année à venir. Vous aurez la possibilité d’exprimer votre point de vue sur les questions qui sont importantes pour vous et sur la façon dont York devrait envisager d’allouer ses ressources à l’avenir pour faire progresser ses priorités stratégiques collectives.  

Au nom du Département des budgets et de la gestion des actifs (BAM), nous nous réjouissons de vous accueillir pour une discussion constructive et informative. 

Sincères salutations,  

Wendy Miller, 
Vice-présidente par intérim des budgets et de la gestion des actifs 

Watch the Jan. 23 town hall

Laptop with York U webpage

Students, faculty, instructors, course directors and staff at York University were invited to a virtual town hall on Jan. 23.

The event provided community members with an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about the University’s progress on key goals and initiatives for the year ahead.

The town hall was presented by York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton.

The full video of the town hall is now available and can be viewed here.

Outdoor recreation program returns with winter fun

Cross-country skiing

Looking to get active this semester without committing to the gym or a sports team? Check out Athletics & Recreation’s Outdoor Experience Program, back for its second term and open to York University students and community members. Adventure seekers of all kinds are invited to immerse themselves in Canadian culture beyond York’s borders, with staff taking participants by bus to off-campus locations to participate in a variety of fun winter activities, from cross-country skiing and snow tubing to hiking and more.

The program’s second event of the term, snow tubing at Horseshoe Valley Resort, takes place on Feb. 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., with the activity itself lasting three hours. Travelling by bus, participants will head to the resort in Barrie, Ont., where they will receive a hill pass that grants them unlimited access during the allocated time slot. Snow tubing is a thrill-seeking activity that requires no skill or previous experience. You’ll fly down the hill in a single-person tube and be taken back to the top by the “magic carpet,” a type of conveyer belt for people. Participants will also be able to warm up in the resort’s chalet and purchase food from the various restaurants and eateries. This is a great opportunity to meet new people, try something new, and get the health and well-being benefits of being active outdoors.

The other upcoming events this term include:

  • Winter Hike at Kelso Conservation Area, March 10 (register by March 2); and
  • Farm Xperience at Riverdale Farm, April 27 (register by April 19).

For more information about the Outdoor Experience Program, including pricing, and to register, visit the program website. The prices of the events cover transportation, entry to the experience, required equipment and a snack. All York University community members are welcome to participate.

York to test its emergency notification system on Jan. 24 

York University prioritizes the safety and security of its community.  To ensure that all community members know what to expect and do in an emergency situation, the Department of Community Safety will be conducting its bi-annual test of York University’s Emergency Notification System (ENS) on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at noon.

This test is taking place in accordance with York’s emergency management policy with the intent to promote the safety of students, faculty, staff, and visitors and help ensure the continuance of critical University operations during emergency scenarios.  

It will include email, push notifications and alerts through the YorkU Safety App, digital messaging screens on campus, and the public announcement (PA) system. To clearly indicate that it is a test, the word “test” will precede the alert on all devices. In case of a real emergency, the test will be cancelled and the community will be notified. 

Testing the emergency notification system may cause anxiety or stress for some members of our campus community. If you are experiencing difficulties or need support, please visit https://www.yorku.ca/well-being/finding-help/.  

Download the York U Safety App to ensure you receive timely and important community safety notices. 

FAQ 

Why is York testing the emergency notification system? 

York tests its emergency notification system twice a year to ensure all community members know how they will be notified in the event of an emergency situation. This test will also confirm functionality of all components of the system as part of regular emergency preparedness activities.  

How long will the test be? 

The test is scheduled to last for approximately 10-15 minutes. It is important to note that while efforts will be made to ensure the test runs on schedule, there may be slight variations to the anticipated timing.  

Will the test take place at all of York’s campuses? 

Email and YorkU safety app notification will occur for community members across all campuses. Testing of the public address system and digital messaging screens will take place on Keele and Glendon campuses only.  

Will the public address system be heard in classrooms? 

The public address system test will be heard anywhere there are speakers installed, including hallways, common areas and large classrooms.  

Join the York community for a virtual town hall on Jan. 23

Laptop with York U webpage

Dear York community,  

On behalf of the president of York University, we invite you to attend a virtual town hall on Tuesday, Jan. 23 to share ideas, questions and comments related to the “Value for Money Audit: York University Operations and Capital” report, which was released by the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario in December 2023. The full report can be accessed here.  

We appreciate receiving the community’s feedback on how we can all work together to drive positive change and to promote a more sustainable future for the University. 

Participants are required to register for the town hall in advance using their York U email.

Questions and comments can be submitted prior to and during the event by emailing conversations@yorku.ca.

Learn more about the upcoming event on the Community Conversations website. 

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 23 

Time: 2 to 3:30 p.m.     

Link to register:  yorku.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4AV833ZUQYa5LsB4Hfkcmg 

     
Sincerely,     

Rhonda Lenton  
President & Vice-Chancellor    

Le 23 janvier, joignez-vous à la communauté de York pour une conversation communautaire virtuelle 

Chers membres de la communauté de York,  

Au nom de la présidente de l’Université York, nous vous invitons à participer à une conversation communautaire virtuelle le mardi 23 janvier pour exprimer vos idées et vos commentaires et poser vos questions sur le rapport « Audit de l’optimisation des ressources : opérations et immobilisations » publié en décembre 2023 par le Bureau du vérificateur général de l’Ontario. Le rapport complet est disponible ici.  

Nous aimerions recevoir les commentaires de la communauté sur la façon dont nous pouvons travailler ensemble pour susciter des changements positifs et promouvoir un avenir plus viable pour l’Université. 

Pour participer, il faut s’inscrire à l’avance à la conversation communautaire avec son adresse courriel de l’Université York.

Vous pouvez soumettre vos questions et vos commentaires avant et pendant l’événement en envoyant un courriel à conversations@yorku.ca.

Pour en savoir plus sur l’événement, visitez le site Web des Conversations communautaires. 

Date : Mardi 23 janvier 2024 

Heure : 14 h à 15 h 30     

Lien pour s’inscrire :  https://yorku.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4AV833ZUQYa5LsB4Hfkcmg 

Sincères salutations,     

Rhonda Lenton  
Présidente et vice-chancelière    

Workshop to support employee mental health, well-being 

group of people holding each other banner

On Jan. 24 at 10 a.m., the Division of Equity, People & Culture is offering a training workshop for employees that aims to support community members’ sense of well-being, specifically those who may want to learn more about how to stay well when bearing witness to suffering.

The session is facilitated by TEND, an organization that provides tools and strategies for helping professionals in high-stress environments, and titled Secondary Traumatic Stress & Empathic Strain: Understanding the Foundational Concepts of Trauma-Exposed Work. It will also dive into questions around the impact of hearing, seeing, and reading about daily trauma and unpacking how this can lead to experiences of secondary traumatic stress and empathetic strain – also known as compassion fatigue.

Expected learning outcomes include: 

  • identifying your risk factors for secondary traumatic stress and empathic strain;
  • developing strategies to take stock, reduce trauma exposure and reset; and
  • making a plan for sustainable change. 

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAoc-GvrzIrGdWTmoJuK0Gnd-UI3i2DrT37. 

Employees must register with their York University email address to access the training. All participants who register will have access to a recording of the training for 30 days and will receive credit for attending on their YU Learn record if they attend on the day of the live training. Employees must advise their manager if they plan to attend the training.   

The University has resources and supports that are available to every York community member. The Employee & Family Assistance Program, which is available to all York staff, faculty and their dependents, is a confidential service that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

York campuses offer four vaccine clinics throughout January

A syringe with a vaccine bottle

For those interested in getting vaccinated this winter, flu and COVID-19 vaccinations will be available on York University’s Keele and Glendon campuses throughout the month of January.

Glendon Campus clinics

  • Tuesday, Jan. 16, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Centre of Excellence lobby.
  • Tuesday, Jan. 30, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Centre of Excellence lobby.

Keele Campus clinics

  • Wednesday, Jan. 17, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Central Square, Bear Pit.
  • Wednesday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., location to be determined.

It is safe to get both the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines at the same time, if eligible. Ontario Health Insurance Plan is not required and vaccines are free of charge. The clinic is walk-in; first come, first served. Free masks and rapid antigen test kits are available while supplies last.

Anyone with new symptoms of illness, or who has recently tested positive for COVID-19, is encouraged to complete the Ontario Ministry of Health’s self-assessment tool for further direction and guidance.

  • SCHW@yuoffice.yorku.ca remains available for students with questions regarding respiratory virus protocols.
  • SFCCM@yorku.ca remains available for employees with questions regarding respiratory virus protocols.
  • Hours of operation for these resources are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information, staff and faculty can visit yorku.ca/hr/covid19. Students can find more information at students.yorku.ca/health/communicable-diseases/covid-19.

Celebrating 2023: revisit York’s top 10 moments

best of yu, diverse group of students at bench

York University celebrated transformative moments in 2023, with each one contributing to its drive to make positive change. From groundbreaking research milestones to community-driven initiatives, the University selected its top 10 moments that uphold York’s mission and values.

As a multi-campus University, York’s Faculties, divisions, units, faculty members, staff, and students take pride in their successes and deserve to be recognized. Faculty and students at York ignited new horizons in research, unravelling mysteries and pioneering solutions that shaped our world. Staff dedication paved avenues of inclusivity and support, fostering an environment where every voice resonates. The York community collaborated with external partners to become a driving force, channelling boundless energy into initiatives that reverberated locally and globally.

These monumental milestones weren’t just moments; they were movements. They reshaped narratives, empowered communities and redefined what it means to drive change.

These top 10 moments encapsulated the spirit of unity and teamwork, embodying diverse talents and visions and putting them into action. They stand as testaments to York’s commitment to excellence and its unwavering resolve to shape a brighter future together.

See the Best of YU for 2023.

Welcome to the Winter 2024 term

Students walking outside Vari Hall

La version française suit la version anglaise. 

Dear York community, 

On behalf of all of us here at York, it is my pleasure to offer a very warm welcome to all our returning students, course instructors, faculty and staff members, and to all of you who are starting a new chapter with us.

I hope you are rested and ready for an exciting year ahead, full of opportunities to access and share new knowledge, form valuable connections, pursue excellence, and uplift one another and the world around us through purposeful action.  

At York, diversity in perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences has both helped our university thrive and given us opportunities to reassert our commitment to promoting inclusivity and a sense of belonging for all. By working together for the public good, we have consistently ranked as one of the top 40 universities in the world for contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. 

Looking ahead, I am confident that we will find new ways of catalyzing positive change, including through:  

  • our new Markham Campus, set to open its doors to students in Fall 2024, which promises new avenues for 21st-century learning, research, innovation and community engagement in areas such as digital media arts, engineering, biotechnology and entrepreneurship;
  • our proposal for a new School of Medicine, focused on preparing a new generation of primary care physicians trained to work within integrative, comprehensive primary health-care teams;
  • a deeper integration of decolonizing, equity, diversity and inclusion (DEDI) principles, practices and actions into the fabric of our institution to ensure no talent is left behind; and
  • advancement of our sustainability leadership by actioning our goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2040 and supporting new projects through our new $1-million Sustainability Innovation Fund.

As part of our community of changemakers, I encourage you to learn more about these exciting initiatives. For example, York is offering a free DEDI toolkit (Part 1), which marks the first step to discovering ways you can advance DEDI on campus. You can also take an active role in living sustainably by taking this open-access Microlectures Series. And on Feb. 24, I invite you to join us for a Markham Skate Day for a day of fun. 

Both individual and collective contributions play a crucial role in realizing a brighter, inclusive and sustainable world. I hope you will make the most of every opportunity that comes your way during this new term and feel empowered to seek any of the numerous supports we have available – including those listed on our Well-being website – if you ever need assistance.

I wish you the very best in 2024 and look forward to seeing you all on campus!   

Sincerely,    

Rhonda Lenton  
President & Vice-Chancellor   

Bienvenue au trimestre d’hiver 2024

Chers membres de la communauté de York, 

Au nom de toute l’Université York, j’ai le plaisir de souhaiter une chaleureuse bienvenue aux étudiants et étudiantes qui poursuivent leurs études, aux membres de nos corps enseignant et professoral et du personnel, ainsi qu’aux personnes qui entament un nouveau chapitre à nos côtés.

J’espère que vous avez rechargé vos batteries en prévision d’une année passionnante, riche en occasions d’accéder à de nouvelles connaissances et de les partager, mais aussi de nouer des liens précieux, de rechercher l’excellence et de vous soutenir mutuellement — ainsi que le monde qui nous entoure — grâce à des actions ciblées. 

À York, la grande diversité des points de vue, des origines et des expériences nous permet de prospérer et de réaffirmer notre engagement à promouvoir l’inclusion et un sentiment d’appartenance commun. En œuvrant ensemble pour le bien collectif, nous nous classons régulièrement parmi les 40 meilleures universités mondiales en matière de contribution aux objectifs de développement durable (ODD) des Nations Unies. 

Je suis convaincue que nous trouverons de nouveaux moyens de catalyser les changements positifs notamment grâce à :

  • Notre nouveau campus Markham, qui ouvrira ses portes en automne 2024; il tracera de nouvelles voies pour l’apprentissage, la recherche, l’innovation et l’engagement communautaire au 21e siècle dans des domaines comme les arts médiatiques numériques, l’ingénierie, la biotechnologie et l’entrepreneuriat.
  • Notre proposition d’école de médecine est axée sur la préparation d’une nouvelle génération de médecins de première ligne formés pour travailler au sein d’équipes de soins de santé primaires intégrés et complets.
  • L’enracinement des principes, pratiques et actions de décolonisation, d’équité, de diversité et d’inclusion (DEDI) dans notre établissement afin qu’aucun talent ne soit laissé pour compte.
  • L’avancée de notre leadership écoresponsable en concrétisant notre objectif d’atteindre la neutralité carbone d’ici 2040 et en soutenant de nouveaux projets grâce à notre nouveau Fonds d’innovation durable, doté d’un million de dollars. 

En tant que membres de notre communauté d’artisans du changement, je vous invite à en apprendre davantage sur ces initiatives passionnantes. Par exemple, York propose une boîte à outils DEDI gratuite (1re partie) qui constitue une première étape pour découvrir les moyens de faire progresser l’initiative DEDI sur les campus. Vous pouvez également participer activement à l’adoption d’un mode de vie écoresponsable en écoutant cette série de microconférences en libre accès. Par ailleurs, je vous invite à vous joindre à nous le 24 février pour une belle journée de patinage à Markham. 

Les contributions individuelles et collectives jouent un rôle essentiel dans la réalisation d’un monde plus radieux, inclusif et écoresponsable. J’espère que vous tirerez le meilleur parti de toutes les possibilités qui se présenteront à vous au cours de ce nouveau trimestre et que vous n’hésiterez pas à utiliser l’une des nombreuses ressources à votre disposition — y compris celles répertoriées sur notre site Web du Bien-être — en cas de besoin.

Je vous souhaite une excellente année 2024 et j’ai hâte de vous voir sur les campus!

Sincères salutations,    

Rhonda Lenton  
Présidente et vice-chancelière