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An update on COVID-19 vaccines at York

Featured illustration of the novel coronavirus

The following is a message to the University community from Vice-President Equity, People and Culture Sheila Cote-Meek:

La version française suit la version anglaise.

Dear Colleagues,

We continue to be grateful for the important contributions of required services staff on our campuses. While all members of the University’s community are experiencing hardships resulting from the pandemic, to support the staff working on York’s campuses at this time we want to remind everyone to please not come on site unless it is absolutely necessary.

As part of our commitment to support vaccination efforts near Keele Campus, we are currently in active conversations with the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Health. While the University does not deliver vaccines or decide on priority groups for vaccination, we are working to confirm if those who are working on York’s Keele Campus are eligible in the new rollout plan announced by the provincial government. We will update everyone as more is known.

Shoppers Drug Mart in York Lanes continues to offer the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for those 55 years of age and older. At the present time, appointments are immediately available and can be booked by calling 416-514-0993.

Here is what you need to know for your appointment:

  • Bring a valid health card, alternative government issued identification.
  • Appointments will be scheduled 10 minutes apart, as time will be required to complete a consent form and check in with the pharmacy.
  • You will be required to wait for 15 minutes after receiving your vaccine for observation by staff, prior to checking out.

We continue to encourage all members of the York community to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. Please access the provincial booking system to find out if you can book a date to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. There are also a range of resources available to help, should you have questions about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, and we encourage all community members who belong to high-risk populations to discuss their options with a healthcare provider.

Recognizing the province’s recent decision to switch to remote learning indefinitely for school-age children, please also continue to access resources and support, including the Employee and Family Assistance Program where it may be helpful. In the meantime, please stay tuned for more updates on YU Better Together.

Sincerely,

Sheila Cote-Meek
Vice-President Equity, People & Culture

Dernières nouvelles sur les vaccins

Chers collègues, 

Nous tenons à exprimer notre gratitude aux membres du personnel essentiel qui sont présents sur nos campus pour leur contribution importante. Alors que la communauté entière de l’Université York est confrontée à des difficultés résultant de la pandémie et afin de protéger les membres du personnel essentiel, nous tenons à rappeler à tout le monde de ne pas se rendre sur le campus à moins de nécessité absolue.  

Dans le cadre de notre engagement à appuyer les efforts de vaccination aux environs du campus Keele, nous discutons actuellement avec la Ville et le Bureau de santé publique de Toronto. Bien que l’Université n’offre pas de vaccins et ne décide pas des groupes prioritaires à vacciner, nous nous efforçons de confirmer si les personnes qui travaillentsur le campus Keele de York sont admissibles au nouveau plan de déploiement annoncé par le gouvernement provincial. Nous vous informerons dès que nous en saurons plus.   

Le magasin Shoppers Drug Mart de York Lanes continue d’administrer le vaccin d’AstraZeneca contre la COVID-19 aux personnes âgées de 55 ans et plus. Actuellement, vous pouvez prendre rendez-vous immédiatement en composant le 416-514-0993. Voici ce que vous devez savoir pour votre rendez-vous : 

  • Apportez une carte de santé valide ou une autre pièce d’identité du gouvernement 
  • Les rendez-vous sont espacés de 10 minutes pour permettre aux patients de se présenter à la pharmacie et de remplir un formulaire de consentement. 
  • Vous devrez attendre 15 minutes sur place après l’administration du vaccin pour que le personnel de la pharmacie puisse vous observer. 

Nous continuons à encourager tous les membres de la communauté de York à se faire vacciner dès qu’ils sont admissibles. Veuillez accéder au système provincial de réservations pour déterminer si vous pouvez recevoir le vaccin contre la COVID-19. Diverses ressources sont également à votre disposition pour vous aider si vous avez des questions au sujet de la sécurité et de l’efficacité des vaccins; nous encourageons tous les membres de la communauté faisant partie des populations à haut risque à discuter de leurs options avec un fournisseur de soins de santé.  

Compte tenu de la décision récente de la province de l’Ontario de passer à l’apprentissage à distance pour une durée indéterminée pour les enfants d’âge scolaire, veuillez continuer à accéder aux ressources de soutien, y compris celles du Programme d’aide aux employés et aux familles qui peuvent vous être utiles. Entre-temps, restez à l’écoute en consultant les informations publiées sur le site YU Better Together.

Sincères salutations,  

Sheila Cote-Meek
Vice-présidente de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture

Students develop Schulich initiative for Black and Indigenous high school students

Schulich will soon be launching its Business Excellence Academy, a business education and mentorship program supporting 60 Black and Indigenous Ontario high school students this summer.

York University’s Schulich School of Business will soon be launching its Business Excellence Academy, a business education and mentorship program supporting 60 Black and Indigenous Ontario high school students this summer.

This program was conceived by four Schulich undergraduate students – Rebecca Jodhan (BBA ’21), Brittany Rossi (BBA ’21), Joy Zhang (BBA ’21) and Kim Tram (BBA ’21) – to help high school students discover the limitless career streams related to business. It will provide opportunities to build connections with business professionals, network with Schulich students and become more successful university applicants.

Schulich will soon be launching its Business Excellence Academy, a business education and mentorship program supporting 60 Black and Indigenous Ontario high school students this summer.
Schulich will launch the Business Excellence Academy, a business education and mentorship program supporting 60 Black and Indigenous Ontario high school students this summer

“The Schulich Business Excellence Academy is a one-of-a-kind program for high school students to discover the exciting opportunities in business – exploring topics such as marketing, finance and entrepreneurship, all under the mentorship of students from one of Canada’s top business schools,” said Rossi.

The first cohort of students will take part in an intensive one-month program in July, with two-hour classes running four evenings a week. Sessions will be a combination of guest speaker discussions followed by interactive activities led by Schulich undergraduate students. The final session will allow program participants to exercise the skills they have learned by taking part in a case competition, followed by a closing ceremony. Upon program completion, high school students will receive a certificate of completion.

“What I love about the Business Excellence Academy is that it is a student-led initiative and supported by our faculty and staff, all working together toward the shared goal of greater Black and Indigenous representation at our School,” said Interim Dean Detlev Zwick.

Registration for program participants starts in May, and we will also be hosting an information session in May. To learn more and apply, visit the official page here.

For any additional questions, reach out to BEAcademy@schulich.yorku.ca.

Professor Joel Katz earns Senior Investigator Award for contributions to psychological science

York University Professor Joel Katz, Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology and Canada Research Chair in Health Psychology, has earned a highly prestigious award that recognizes contributions to psychological science.

Joel Katz
Joel Katz

Katz, who leads the Human Pain Mechanisms Lab at York University, was named recipient of the Senior Investigator Award by the Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine section of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA).

The annual award alternates through junior career, mid-career and senior career recipients and recognizes exceptional researchers who have supported and contributed to health psychology and behavioural medicine in Canada. The senior investigator category considers nominees with 20 or more years since their highest academic degree.

“I’m delighted to have been chosen as this year’s recipient of the Senior Investigator Award and honoured to be joining the ranks alongside past award winners who have contributed to health psychology/behavioral medicine in Canada,” said Katz. “I joined the CPA Health Psychology Section when I was a graduate student at McGill University more than 30 years ago and have been a member ever since. So, it’s all the more meaningful to be recognized for my research contributions to health psychology so many years later.”

As the recipient, Katz will be invited to deliver a talk during the CPA Annual Conference which will take place virtually in May and June. Katz plans to speak about the prevention of chronic post-surgical pain and the Transitional Pain Service he and his colleagues established at the Toronto General Hospital.

Travel guidance and impact on international outbound programs for summer and fall terms

airplane travel
airplane travel

The following is an important update for York University community members:

La version française suit la version anglaise.

Dear York Community,

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present many unknowns this year with respect to travel. With the emergency of variants of concern and the varying pace of global vaccination, at this time the University is recommending that all non-essential outbound travel should be limited or delayed where possible. If you do choose to travel, please do so safely, following the latest travel advisories and guidance from your insurance provider.

The following applies to all members of the York community, whether or not they have received the COVID-19 vaccine. While we do remain optimistic that we will see improvement later this year as vaccination continues, this guidance is intended to support the health and safety of the community and avoid unnecessary trip cancellation costs during in the Summer and Fall 2021 Terms, as travel advisories remain in place. Further details are available in the FAQs on YU Better Together:

  • Faculty, researchers, instructors and others: we continue to strongly advise against all non-essential travel, in accordance with the Government of Canada’s travel advisory. While recognizing that international research, fieldwork and conference participation are fundamental to research, scholarship and the advancement of knowledge, it is unclear when travel bans will be fully removed or lifted as vaccine roll-out progresses globally.
  • University business travel: all University-related business travel outside of Canada is cancelled or postponed until further notice.
  • Interprovincial travel: current guidance for inter-provincial travel strongly advises that individuals and families self-isolate for a period of 14 days when arriving in or returning to Ontario.
  • Students participating in international outbound programs: all international travel for University-sponsored or sanctioned international programs is cancelled or postponed until Dec. 31, 2021 and guidance for Winter 2022 programs will be reviewed at the end of August 2021.This direction applies to:
    • Academic exchange, faculty-led programs, internships, research placements, community-engaged learning, practicums, co-op or any other international travel that is approved by a York faculty member, department, staff member, Faculty or non-academic unit, subject to narrow exemptions described in the FAQs.
  • Graduate student research-related travel: research-related international travel and related activities for graduate students, and travel related to academic program completion will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis, until Aug. 31, 2021. New guidance will be available for the Fall 2021 Term by July 1, 2021.
  • International students, faculty, staff and visitors (inbound to campus): for travelers arriving in Canada, a mandatory Government of Canada quarantine requirement is in place. The current requirement subjects all travelers to a mandatory quarantine for a period of 14 days, including a three-day stay in government approved accommodation. York University is providing an off-campus quarantine program for all international arrivals destined for York.
  • Visiting faculty, researchers and others: if there are essential reasons for inbound travel to Canada (as defined by the Government of Canada) for in-person and on-campus activity, any host who is either a faculty member/instructor/researcher/department or Faculty, must ensure that all health and safety protocols are adhered to, including a 14-day mandatory quarantine period, and notify the respective Decanal office, Organized Research Unit (ORU) or Vice-President Research & Innovation and York International.
  • Visiting graduate students: if there are essential reasons for inbound travel (as defined by the Government of Canada) for in-person and on-campus activity, any host who is either a faculty member/instructor/researcher/department or Faculty, must ensure that all health and safety protocols are adhered to and notify the respective Decanal office, Faculty of Graduate Studies and York International.

As travel advisories change and the roll-out of vaccinations progresses globally, we will continue to update you should this advice change. York International will also be available to provide support to assess and develop risk mitigation plans for international travel, where and when it is required. In the meantime, please continue to visit YU Better Together for regular updates.

Sincerely,

Lisa Philipps
Provost & Vice-President Academic  

Amir Asif
Vice-President, Research & Innovation

Conseils relatifs aux voyages et impact sur les programmes internationaux pour les trimestres d’été et d’automne

Chers membres de la communauté de York,

Cette année, la pandémie de la COVID-19 continue d’engendrer de nombreuses incertitudes en ce qui concerne les voyages. En raison de l’émergence de variants préoccupants et du rythme irrégulier des campagnes de vaccination mondiales, l’Université recommande de limiter ou de retarder, dans la mesure du possible, tous les voyages à l’étranger non essentiels. Si vous décidez de voyager, veuillez le faire de façon sécuritaire en respectant les derniers conseils aux voyageurs et les recommandations de votre compagnie d’assurance.  

Ce qui suit s’applique à tous les membres de la communauté de York, qu’ils aient ou non été vaccinés contre la COVID-19. Nous gardons bon espoir de voir une amélioration dans le courant de l’année tandis que la vaccination se poursuit, mais ces conseils visent à favoriser la santé et la sécurité de notre communauté et à éviter des frais inutiles d’annulation de voyage pendant les trimestres d’été et d’automne 2021 aussi longtemps que les conseils aux voyageurs resteront en vigueur. Vous pouvez trouver plus de détails à ce sujet dans la section FAQ du site Web YU Better Together : 

  • Membres du corps professoral, des équipes de recherche et autres : nous continuons à suivre les avis aux voyageurs du gouvernement du Canada qui recommandent d’éviter les voyages non essentiels à l’extérieur du Canada. Tout en sachant que la recherche internationale, le travail sur le terrain et la participation à des conférences sont essentiels à la recherche, à l’érudition et à la progression des connaissances, il est difficile de prévoir quand les interdictions de voyage seront levées au fur et à mesure du déploiement de la vaccination dans le monde. 
  • Voyages d’affaires pour l’Université : tous les voyages d’affaires pour des activités universitaires à l’extérieur du Canada sont annulés ou reportés jusqu’à nouvel ordre.
  • Déplacements interprovinciaux : les directives actuelles concernant les voyages interprovinciaux recommandent vivement aux voyageurs et à leurs familles de s’isoler pendant une période de 14 jours lorsqu’ils arrivent en Ontario ou en reviennent. 
  • Étudiants et étudiantes participant à des programmes à l’étranger : tous les voyages internationaux pour des programmes internationaux organisés ou sanctionnés par l’Université sont annulés ou reportés jusqu’au 31 décembre 2021; les directives pour les programmes de l’hiver 2022 seront réexaminées à la fin août 2021. Ces directives s’appliquent : 
    • aux échanges universitaires, aux programmes dirigés par des professeurs, aux stages, aux placements de recherche, à l’apprentissage communautaire, aux travaux pratiques, aux programmes coopératifs ou à tout autre voyage international approuvé par un membre du corps professoral, par un département, par un membre du personnel, par une faculté ou par une unité non académique de York. Il existe quelques exemptions qui sont décrites dans la FAQ. 
  • Voyages de recherche d’étudiants et étudiantes de cycle supérieur : les voyages internationaux liés à la recherche et à des activités connexes pour les étudiants de cycle supérieur, ainsi que les voyages liés à l’achèvement d’un programme universitaire continueront d’être examinés au cas par cas jusqu’au 31 août 2021. De nouvelles directives seront fournies d’ici le 1er juillet 2021 pour la session d’automne 2021. 
  • Étudiants internationaux, membres du corps professoral, membres du personnel et visiteurs (venant sur le campus) : une quarantaine obligatoire du gouvernement du Canada est en place pour les voyageurs arrivant au Canada. La réglementation actuelle impose à tous les voyageurs une quarantaine obligatoire de 14 jours comprenant un séjour obligatoire de 3 jours dans un lieu autorisé par le gouvernement. L’Université York offre un programme de quarantaine hors campus pour les voyageurs arrivant de l’étranger à destination de York. 
  • Professeurs et chercheurs invités et autres visiteurs : s’il existe des raisons essentielles de venir au Canada (telles que définies par le gouvernement du Canada)pour des activités en personne et sur le campus, tout hôte étant un membre du corps professoral/enseignant/d’une équipe de recherche/d’un département ou d’une faculté doit s’assurer du respect de tous les protocoles de santé et de sécurité, y compris une période de quarantaine obligatoire de 14 jours, et en informer le Bureau décanal respectif, l’unité de recherche organisée (ORU) ou le vice-président de la recherche et de l’innovation et York International. 
  • Visites d’étudiants de cycle supérieur : s’il existe des raisons essentielles de voyager à l’étranger (telles que définies par le gouvernement du Canada) pour les activités en personne et sur le campus, tout hôte étant un membre du corps professoral/enseignant/équipe de recherche/d’un département ou d’une faculté doit s’assurer du respect de tous les protocoles de santé et de sécurité et en informer le Bureau décanal respectif, la Faculté des études supérieures et York International.   

Au fur et à mesure des changements des conseils aux voyageurs et des progrès de la vaccination dans le monde, nous continuerons à vous informer en cas de modification de ces conseils. York International offrira également un soutien afin d’évaluer et de développer des plans de mitigation des risques pour les voyages internationaux, en cas de besoin. Entre-temps, veuillez continuer à visiter le site YU Better Together pour les dernières nouvelles. 

Lisa Philipps
Rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques

Amir Asif
Vice-président de la recherche et de l’innovation

Last Chance to Nominate a Colleague for the 2020 President’s Staff Recognition Awards

FEATUREDStaffRecognitionAwards

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

La version française suit la version anglaise.

Dear Colleagues,

As we come to the end of the nomination period for the 2020 President’s Staff Recognition Awards, I encourage you to reflect on the colleagues who have gone above and beyond over the past year to make York an exceptional place to study and work, and to consider nominating them for one of the following awards:

  • The Ronald Kent Medal
  • The President’s Leadership Award
  • The President’s Voice of York Award
  • The Deborah Hobson York Citizenship Award
  • The Phyllis Clark Campus Service Award
  • The Harriet Lewis Team Award for Service Excellence
  • The Gary Brewer Emerging Leader Award

Nominations will be accepted until this Friday, April 16, at 4:30 p.m.

To find out more about the awards or to submit a nomination, please visit the President’s Staff Recognition Awards website.

Questions about the awards and the nomination process can be sent to president@yorku.ca.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Lenton
President & Vice-Chancellor

Dernière chance de mettre des collègues en nomination pour les prix 2020 de la Présidente pour la reconnaissance du personnel

Chers collègues,

La période de mises en nomination pour les prix 2020 de la Présidente pour la reconnaissance du personnel touche à sa fin. Je vous encourage à penser à des collègues qui se sont surpassés l’année dernière pour faire de York un lieu exceptionnel d’étude et de travail et à envisager de les proposer pour l’un des prix suivants :

  • La médaille Ronald Kent
  • Le prix de leadership de la Présidente
  • Le prix Voice of York de la Présidente
  • Le Deborah Hobson York Citizenship Award
  • Le Phyllis Clark Campus Service Award
  • Le Harriet Lewis Team Award for Service Excellence
  • Le Gary Brewer Emerging Leader Award 

La date limite des mises en nomination est le vendredi 16 avril 2021 à 16 h 30.

Pour en savoir plus sur chacun de ces prix et pour faire des mises en nomination, veuillez visiter la page Web President’s Staff Recognition Awards.

Vous pouvez envoyer vos questions liées aux prix de reconnaissance du personnel et au processus de mise en nomination à president@yorku.ca.

Sincères salutations,

Rhonda Lenton
Présidente et vice-chancelière

Join York’s president for ‘The York U of the Future’ virtual conversation, April 30

PresidentConversationFutureFEATURED IMAGE
Featured image for the Conversation about the York U of the Future

Decorative image for the President's conversation about the York U of the futureOn Friday, April 30 at 12 p.m. ET, join York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton, York University Alumni Board Chair Francesca Accinelli (BFA ’92), York alumni and staff for The York U of the Future, a special virtual conversation about the opportunities, challenges and priorities for the University in 2021 and beyond.

In the face of unprecedented challenges created by COVID-19, York University has adapted, innovated and persevered, allowing the University to continue pursuing academic, research and professional excellence. York University remains a community of change leaders, who are using teaching, research, volunteerism, entrepreneurship and innovation to build more inclusive and resilient communities, both here at home and around the world.

Topics that will be covered at this event include how the University is working to expand York’s leadership in higher education, strengthen its impact on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and drive positive change in local and global communities.

A panel of guests will join Lenton to discuss how to build a better future for all Canadians through action on sustainability, social justice and global engagement. The event will also include a spoken word performance by Luke Reece (BA ’15), AMPD alumnus and recipient of York’s inaugural Top 30 Changemakers Under 30 list.

Panelists taking part in the event are:

  • Dean of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design Sarah Bay-Cheng,
  • Joseph Smith (BA ’11, BEd ’12, MEd ’14), alumnus and consultant/facilitator at Morneau Shepell,
  • Hanaa Ameer, a fourth-year undergraduate student in the health management program.

Guests have the opportunity to ask questions in advance of and during the event. Questions can be submitted to alumni@yorku.ca before April 16.

Tickets are complimentary, but registration is required. A link to the virtual event will be provided to registered guests. Register through this link.

York University researchers leading national infectious disease modelling efforts

Featured illustration of the novel coronavirus

Researchers in York University’s Faculty of Science have been awarded federal government funding to lead national disease modelling efforts that will help better predict, prevent and respond to emerging infectious disease.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, and the Minister of Health Patty Hajdu, announced an investment of $10 million in funding on Friday, including $2.5 million over two years for the One Health Modelling Network, led by York University mathematics Professor Huaiping Zhu.

They also announced $3 million in funding for Mathematics for Public Health (MfPH) led by University of Toronto mathematics Professor V. Kumar Murty and co-led by York University mathematics Professor Jianhong Wu.

The projects are among several multidisciplinary infectious disease modelling networks being funded through the Emerging Infectious Diseases Modelling Initiative, established through a partnership between the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

One Health Modelling Network

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Zhu is building a new network of researchers and collaborators who will bring a “One Health” approach to disease modelling to better predict, prevent and respond to emerging infectious diseases.

Huaiping Zhu

The One Health Modelling Network for Emerging Infections/Réseau Une Seule Santé sur le modélisation des Infections (OMNI/RÉUNIS) will use multidisciplinary knowledge about the connections between environmental, animal and human health to refine the disease modelling that is used to identify pathogens early.

“We are grateful for the federal government’s investment in the OMNI network, which will support researchers and collaborators from York University and institutions across the country as they work together to better predict, prevent and respond to emerging infectious diseases,” said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton. “The Canadian Centre for Disease Modelling, hosted by York University, is a leader in modelling emerging and infectious diseases, and will provide a strong foundation of expertise to support Professor Zhu and the other members of the OMNI network as they work to protect the health and well-being of our local and global communities.”

As principal investigator on the OMNI/RÉUNIS project, Zhu, a professor in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics in York’s Faculty of Science, will bring together 72 project co-applicants from 23 Canadian universities and 49 collaborators from 28 national and international organizations. Their expertise ranges from public health, infectious diseases and epidemiology, to human health, animal health and wildlife, as well as climate-related health outcomes. They will focus on five areas: early detection, early warning systems, early response, and mitigation and control of developing epidemics.

“We are in the midst of an unprecedented emerging infectious disease crisis with the spread of COVID-19, and we need to evolve accordingly,” said Zhu. “The OMNI network will focus on developing models and capacity to inform prevention, surveillance and response. We will ‘follow the bug’ from its place of origin to its introduction and establishment.”

The OMNI network will build on the strong modelling history and multi-disciplinary expertise of the Canadian Centre for Disease Modelling, based at York, and includes many collaborators from the university: Faculty of Science Professors Iain Moyles, Jude Kong, Hongmei Zhu, Jane Heffernan, Carly Rozins and Hanna Jankowski; Lassonde School of Engineering Professors Marina Freire-Gormaly, Manos Papagelis and Aijun An; and Professor Sean Hillier of the Faculty of Health.

Models developed from the new network are expected to lead to identification of critical data and modelling gaps from a One Health perspective. By identifying the gaps, the network will be able to target surveillance and data and use the data in the disease modelling. For example, the network, which includes Indigenous collaborators, will work with Indigenous communities to address their specific concerns in the modelling and improve early warning capacity.

The Mathematics for Public Health (MfPH) initiative

The Mathematics for Public Health (MfPH) initiative is a collaboration between The Fields Institute, the Atlantic Association for Research in Mathematical Sciences (AARMS), the Centre de Recherches Mathématiques (CRM), and the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences (PIMS). It establishes a pan-Canadian, Emerging Infectious Disease Modelling (EIDM) network that aims to apply advanced mathematical techniques to help achieve public health objectives.

York University Distinguished Research Professor Jianhong Wu Faculty of Science. Photograph by Paola Scattolon
Jianhong Wu. Photograph by Paola Scattolon

The MfPH group is comprised of 48 co-investigators, 21 Canadian institutions and more than 20 national and international collaborators in fields such as epidemiology, mathematical modelling, infectious disease, and public health. It will mobilize a national network that uses state-of-the-art techniques to advise on public health policy with the long-term goal of boosting future epidemic preparedness and improving Canada’s resilience in emergency situations.

“The establishment of this network is critical at this time,” says Wu. “It will accelerate our ability to respond to the current pandemic swiftly and accurately, and prepare for future public health emergencies.”

York University brings an interdisciplinary perspective to this national network and modelling platform, with expertise including mathematical modelling, disaster management and emergency operations, smart transportation systems, economic and financial risk assessment, and computational epidemiology.

Including Wu, there are eight York University co-applicants involved in this project: Professors Seyed Moghadas, Shengyuan (Michael) Chen, Ed Furman, and Jude Kong, all from the Department of Mathematics & Statistics; Professor Peter Park, Lassonde School of Engineering; and Ali Asgary, and Ida Ferrara, professors in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

What the provincial emergency and stay-at-home order means for York

Vari Hall new image
Vari Hall new image

The following is a message from Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps and Vice-President Research and Innovation Amir Asif:

Dear York community,

Last week, the Ontario government declared a third Provincial State of Emergency, issuing a stay-at-home order and additional public health restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19, effective Thursday, April 8 at 12:01 a.m. Under these orders, everyone will be required to remain at home with the exception of essential trips, such as for groceries or medications, or for essential work. These restrictions are expected to remain in place for the next four weeks.

From the start of the pandemic, York has been committed to the safety and well-being of our staff, faculty, instructors and students. We support all efforts to mitigate risk and strongly encourage everyone not to come to campus unless it is absolutely necessary. In order to protect the health and safety of the community, discretionary attendance on campus is discouraged during this phase of the pandemic, as it is very important to limit in-person contact with those residing outside of our households.

As a result of the precautions we have already taken, these latest changes do not impact current on-campus operations, including on-campus classes that have been planned for the Winter or Summer 2021 terms. However, please be advised of the following:

  • If you do need to come to campus, you must request access through the Campus Access system or have pre-existing approval to access campus spaces. Completion of daily screening is also part of this process and guidance is available here.
  • In-person research continues to be suspended at this time and while researchers with approved access can continue on-campus research, everyone is advised to consider whether their activities on campus are essential. If there is an opportunity to not come to campus, please stay home.
  • If you do come to campus, you are required to comply with all public health requirements, maintaining a two-metre physical distance from others, following mask/face covering requirements and must practice frequent hand washing.
  • Libraries will remain open for contactless curb-side pickup and students with exceptional needs requiring access to book lockers, research appointments, digitization services, photocopiers and computers can contact askusyul@yorku.ca for assistance.

This is a very challenging time for the York community. School closures have added more responsibilities to those who are trying to balance work with childcare or other caregiving roles. We would like to remind everyone to please speak with your manager if you need some flexibility in scheduling and timelines for work requests to be completed. We encourage leaving between 12-1pm unscheduled and free of meetings to both support general wellbeing and to help those who need to care for others, including young children. A gentle reminder to staff, instructors, faculty and researchers that resources and support are available at this time, and you may also wish to access the Employee and Family Assistance Program.

We are currently in active conversations with the City of Toronto on how we can help them in their vaccination efforts around the Keele Campus and will update the community as we have more information. That said, we are pleased to confirm that new direction from the province indicates that students living in residence are now eligible to book a vaccination date here, as residents of group living settings. Information on how to book vaccine appointments for those not in residence but living in hot spot neighbourhoods as identified by the province, will be provided by the government in the near future. 

The University does not deliver vaccines or decide on priority groups for vaccination. We are in the process of confirming with Toronto Public Health if those who are working on York’s Keele campus are also eligible in this new rollout plan and will update staff members as soon as more is known. In the meantime, please continue to monitor the FAQs on YU Better Together for information on vaccines and YU Better Together for ongoing updates.

Sincerely,

Lisa Philipps
Provost & Vice-President Academic

Amir Asif
Vice-President, Research & Innovation

Ce que la situation d’urgence et l’ordre de rester à domicile signifient pour York

Chers membres de la communauté,

Hier, le gouvernement de l’Ontario a déclaré une troisième situation d’urgence, a émis un ordre de rester à domicile, et a mis en place des restrictions sanitaires supplémentaires pour limiter la propagation de la COVID-19, et ce, à compter du jeudi 8 avril à 0 h 01. Dans le cadre de ces mesures, tout le monde doit rester à la maison sauf pour des motifs essentiels, tels que pour se rendre au supermarché ou à la pharmacie ou pour effectuer un travail qui ne peut être fait à distance. Il est prévu que ces restrictions restent en place durant les quatre prochaines semaines.

Depuis le début de la pandémie, York s’engage à assurer la santé et le bien-être des membres de son personnel, du corps professoral, du corps enseignant et du corps étudiant. Nous appuyons les efforts visant à atténuer les risques et nous invitons tous nos membres à ne pas venir sur le campus, à moins de nécessité absolue. Afin de protéger la santé et la sécurité de la communauté, toute présence occasionnelle sur le campus est découragée durant cette phase de la pandémie, car il est très important de limiter les contacts personnels avec des personnes autres que des membres de nos ménages.

Grâce aux précautions que nous avions prises, ces derniers changements n’ont pas de répercussions sur les activités actuelles sur le campus, y compris les cours sur le campus prévus pour les trimestres d’hiver ou d’été 2021. Veuillez toutefois prendre note de ce qui suit :

  • Si vous avez besoin de venir sur le campus, vous devez demander une autorisation d’accès en utilisant le système Campus Access, ou vous devez avoir une autorisation préalable d’accéder aux espaces du campus. Effectuer un dépistage quotidien fait également partie de ce processus; vous pouvez trouver des conseils à ce sujet ici.
  • Les recherches en personne restent suspendues pour le moment; même si les chercheurs ayant un accès approuvé peuvent poursuivre leurs recherches sur le campus, nous conseillons à chaque personne de se demander d’abord si ses activités sur le campus sont essentielles. Si vous avez la possibilité de ne pas venir sur le campus, veuillez rester chez vous.
  • Si vous venez sur le campus, vous devez respecter toutes les exigences de santé publique, comme rester à 2 mètres des autres, porter un masque/couvre-visage et laver fréquemment vos mains.
  • Les bibliothèques restent ouvertes pour la collecte sans contact en bordure de trottoir; les étudiants ayant besoin d’un accès exceptionnel aux casiers à livres, aux rendez-vous de recherche, aux services de numérisation, aux photocopieurs et aux ordinateurs peuvent contacter askusyul@yorku.ca pour obtenir de l’aide.

C’est une période très difficile pour la communauté de York. Les fermetures d’écoles ont accru les responsabilités des personnes qui tentent de concilier travail et garde d’enfants ou d’autres rôles d’aidants. N’oubliez pas de parler à votre gestionnaire si vous avez besoin d’une certaine flexibilité dans vos horaires ou de plus de temps pour faire vos tâches. Nous vous encourageons à ne pas planifier de rendez-vous entre 12 h et 13 heures afin de favoriser le bien-être général et d’aider les personnes qui ont la charge d’autres personnes, comme de jeunes enfants. Nous rappelons aux membres du personnel, du corps enseignant, du corps professoral et des équipes de recherche que des ressources de soutien sont disponibles et que vous bénéficiez aussi des ressources du Programme d’aide aux employés et à la famille. 

Nous menons actuellement des discussions avec la Ville de Toronto pour voir comment nous pouvons l’aider dans ses efforts de vaccination aux environs du campus Keele; nous en informerons la communauté dès que nous disposerons de plus d’information. Cela dit, nous avons le plaisir de confirmer que de nouvelles directives de la province indiquent que les étudiants et étudiantes vivant en résidence peuvent désormais fixer un rendez-vous de vaccination sur les lieux, en tant que résidents d’établissements d’hébergement collectif. Le gouvernement fournira prochainement plus d’informations sur la manière de prendre des rendez-vous de vaccination pour les personnes qui ne sont pas en résidence, mais qui vivent dans les milieux ciblés à haut risque. 

L’Université n’offre pas de vaccins et ne décide pas des groupes prioritaires à vacciner. Nous confirmons actuellement auprès du Bureau de santé publique de Toronto si les personnes qui travaillent sur le campus Keele de York sont elles aussi admissibles à ce nouveau plan de déploiement; nous informerons les membres du personnel dès que nous en saurons plus à ce sujet. En attendant, veuillez continuer à consulter la FAQ du site YU Better Together pour les dernières nouvelles sur la vaccination et le site YU Better Together pour des mises à jour régulières.

Sincères salutations,

Lisa Philipps
Rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques   

Amir Asif
Vice-président de la recherche et de l’innovation

Lassonde professor awarded prestigious outstanding teaching award

Bergeron Centre

Franz Newland, associate professor – teaching, and undergraduate program director in the Department of Earth and Space Science & Engineering at the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University, has been awarded the prestigious American Society for Engineering Education St. Lawrence Section Outstanding Teaching Award.

Franz Newland
Franz Newland

Newland has instructed numerous courses within the engineering school, ranging from upper-year space engineering courses to common engineering and other courses. He is the current undergraduate program director for space engineering.

He was also the co-founder of a cross-campus capstone course (C4), with School of the Arts, Media Performance & Design Professor Danielle Robinson. C4brings upper-year  students from all Faculties at York University together in interdisciplinary teams. The student teams tackle impactful community and industrial projects through a multidisciplinary perspective. The C4 course was recognized in 2020 by the Global Engineering Deans Council and Airbus for their Global Engineering Diversity Challenge Award. C4 has grown from a pilot of 50 students to now hosting over 160 students.

Newland has also restructured several courses within the space engineering curriculum, including one innovation that has allowed second- and fourth-year space engineering students to work together on a space mission project. This summer, he will be working with a small group of undergraduate students across all years, along with staff from the Lassonde Educational Innovation Studio, and other faculty, alumni and industry partners, to prototype a new way of supporting a space engineering education. He has also been a faculty advisor for student-led curricular developments and has supported a number of student clubs and activities.

Newland has received academic innovation fund grants in 2016, 2018 and 2019 to develop blended material delivery and innovations such as C4 and the space engineering prototype program. He is a major collaborator with the Engineering ChangeLab, a pan-Canadian Group combining individuals from government, industry, academia and K-12 sectors, working to help the engineering community across Canada better prepare for the societal challenges and impacts of science and technology.

Due to his extensive time spent in the space industry, Newland is also a co-investigator on York’s two CubeSat missions, and he has used these missions as avenues to bring space mission content to the classroom. He has also utilized data from York’s first CubeSat mission, DESCENT, to provide research analysis opportunities to grade 12 students in the Helen Carswell STEAM program.

Newland is an associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Prior to joining York University, he was a Mission Engineering Manager at COM DEV Mission Development Group.

Varsity Athletics Banquets highlights York Lions student-athletes

York University Lions men's hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren and women's track and field athlete Monique Simon-Tucker were named York's top graduating student-athletes at the 53rd annual Varsity Athletics Banquet April 8, 2021
York University Lions men’s hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren and women’s track and field athlete Monique Simon-Tucker were named York’s top graduating student-athletes at the 53rd annual Varsity Athletics Banquet April 8, 2021

York University Lions men’s hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren and women’s track and field athlete Monique Simon-Tucker were named York’s top graduating student-athletes at the 53rd annual Varsity Athletics Banquet on Thursday night.

For the second straight year, the banquet took place online due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. With the absence of sport this season, only a handful of awards were presented; however, York Athletics honoured the tremendous accomplishments of some of the top student-athletes.

Dahlgren received the Outstanding Male Graduate Award, the first men’s hockey player to do so, while Simon-Tucker was named the recipient of the Bryce M. Taylor Award, the first track and field athlete since 2016 and the fifth overall.

Both were recognized for their outstanding contributions to varsity athletics over their careers at York and were also named recipients of Lions Legacy Awards earlier this week. Joining them as recipients of a Lions Legacy Award are women’s hockey player Lauren Dubie and women’s soccer player Teni Odetoyinbo.

Dahlgren was also named the recipient of the Charles Saundercook Memorial Trophy for exemplifying the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, enthusiasm for life and the consideration of others.

York University Lions men's hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren and women's track and field athlete Monique Simon-Tucker were named York's top graduating student-athletes at the 53rd annual Varsity Athletics Banquet April 8, 2021
York University Lions men’s hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren and women’s track and field athlete Monique Simon-Tucker were named York’s top graduating student-athletes

This year’s award recipients are:

Outstanding Male Graduate Award: Kaleb Dahlgren, hockey

The personification of positivity, Dahlgren has left an indelible mark on the York community in his three years as a Lion. He has been a very engaged member of the York Sport Council throughout his career and was part of BIVSAA this year, as well as previously serving as a regular volunteer at Hockey HEROS skates and the Shoreham school clinics. He is a Type 1 diabetic and set up his own foundation called Dahlgren’s Diabeauties to connect with children who have Type 1 diabetes, running annual events for his foundation while at York. He has also helped other schools within the OUA host diabetes awareness events and is a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) ambassador. Dahlgren never got to step on the ice in a game due to a lack of medical clearance, but he remained an active participant in all team activities and took on a leadership role in recruiting future Lions. He has also excelled in the classroom, earning U SPORTS academic all-Canadian honours in each of his years while completing his degree in commerce.

Bryce M. Taylor Award: Monique Simon-Tucker, track and field

A track and field team captain, Simon-Tucker led in multiple different ways throughout her five-year career with the Lions. She has medalled in multiple events on the track, taking home silver in the 60m and the bronze as a member of the 4x200m relay team. She was also an OUA second-team all-star in 2019-20 and has competed at two national championships. Away from the track, Simon-Tucker is heavily involved as a proponent for BIPOC rights. She is the co-founder and co-president of BIVSAA, is a member of the executive team for the York Sport Council, serves as the community navigator coordinator for the York University social work student’s association, and is a program developer for One Kenton Place. She also previously travelled to the Dominican Republic to build houses and teach English to primary school students. She will graduate with her degree in social work.

Charles Saundercook Memorial Trophy: Kaleb Dahlgren, hockey

A Type 1 diabetic from the age of four, Dahlgren has needed perseverance his entire life to remain in the game he loves. Then, he became a survivor of one of the most infamous disasters in Canadian history, the Humboldt Broncos bus accident. He spent three years here at York while recovering from a severe brain injury that prevented him from receiving medical clearance to play, but is still an active member of the men’s hockey team. He has worked hard to overcome the physical, emotional, and mental challenges that have come with surviving a traumatic incident and will graduate as a three-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadian with a degree in commerce. He recently completed a memoir, Crossroads, that has been nationally published and has received critical acclaim.

Spirit Cup: Sam Eyles-Frayne, Emerson Morassutti, Mike Larocque (strength and conditioning coaches)

BIVSAA Roar for Change Award: Teni Odetoyinbo, soccer; and, Monique Simon-Tucker, track and field

Sport Council Award: Lauren Dubie, hockey; and, Lauren Walter, rugby

Student Therapist of the Year: Skyler Moss

Roar Cup: Women’s Hockey Team