Tag: VP Finance and Administration

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University expands the Employee Service Recognition Program

York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri
York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri
York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri
York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri

York University believes that our employees are one of our most valuable assets. Our commitment to excellence is realized through contributions of loyal individuals whose service plays an invaluable role in the University’s growth, development and successes.

Historically, the University has recognized faculty and staff who have reach service milestones at 25 years and beyond, at an annual institutional recognition event. As part of the Better Workplaces initiative and in response to the employee engagement survey, the Reward and Recognition working group together with the Office of the Vice-President Finance & Administration and the Department of Human Resources have created a program to expand the University’s service recognition program. The expanded program will now recognize eligible employees for service awards for each five years of continuous, active service (i.e., five, 10, 15 years, etc.).

“I believe that it is important that York University recognizes the dedicated contributions of its employees and that this expanded service recognition program is a significant addition to our employee recognition strategy,” said Mamdouh Shoukri, president and vice-chancellor.

The expanded service recognition program will be rolled out this summer.

Two York research administrators receive national awards

featured image for the CARA Awards story
Above: David Phipps (left) with Angela Zeno at the CARA Awards
Above: David Phipps (left) with Angela Zeno at the CARA Awards

The Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA) has recognized the accomplishments of two of York’s senior research administrators with national awards. Angela Zeno, manager, research accounting, received the Community Builder Award. David Phipps, executive director, research & innovation services, received the Research Management Excellence Award.

The Community Builder Award is presented to a passionate leader in the CARA community whose efforts have strengthened the community through membership engagement efforts, welcoming and facilitating the integration of newcomers or other forms of leadership specifically advantageous to helping members connect to the broader CARA community. An advocate of CARA, Zeno regularly attends meetings and conferences, both regionally and nationally. She was responsible for the development and delivery of the Research Accounting workshop at CARA National for many years and is currently a key part of a team focused on revamping the finance workshops for CARA into a case-based, full-day workshop.

According to her nominators, Zeno has dedicated her efforts and those of her team to the implementation of “best practices” in post-award research administration at York University. “Within the Canadian research administration community, York is held in high esteem due to their work in this area,” says Trudy Pound-Curtis, AVP finance and CFO. “ I am very proud of Angela and her significant contribution to research grant administration in Canada.”

The Research Management Excellence Award is presented to an exceptional research manager who has made outstanding contributions to the profession, both nationally and internationally, through innovation, creativity, hard work and dedication. Phipps is being recognized for his leadership in two emerging areas of research management: knowledge mobilization that seeks to maximize impacts of research beyond the academy; and implementation of Canada’s controlled goods legislation that implements security assessments to safeguard controlled goods and/or technologies within Canada.

“David’s work across Canada in these two distinct areas has helped to increase York’s international recognition for innovation in research services,” says Robert Haché, vice-president research and innovation. “David is most deserving of this award from Canada’s research administration community.”

The awards were presented at a special celebration on May 25 at the CARA 2015 Annual Conference in Toronto. Haché was also featured on the conference’s opening panel discussing the topic “The Future of Research in Canada.” He spoke about the importance of investing in basic research that deepens our understanding of people and the world around us, as well as investing in knowledge mobilization, entrepreneurship and industry liaison to help maximize the social, economic and environmental impacts of university research.

CARA is a national voice for research administrators in Canada. With almost 1,000 members, the professional organization’s strength is in its diversity and comprehensive approach to research administration. CARA provides a critical interface between all stakeholders in the management of the research enterprise.

Four green announcements highlight York U’s expertise in sustainability

Earth Day Featured image for YFile homepage

The term “4G” may be synonymous with super connectivity in the wired age. At York University, 4G also refers to the four green accolades announced last week.

At a special event on Friday, April 24 at the Keele campus to mark worldwide Earth Day and Earth Week events, York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri substituted “sustainability” for “super connectivity” when he announced four major accomplishments that advanced the University’s focus on sustainability.

An audience of more than 100 community members heard from Shoukri that for the third year in a row York University has been named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. The award, which was announced last week by Mediacorp Canada Inc., is given to employers who lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness. First conceived nine years ago, it was given to only 60 organizations across Canada this year, including half a dozen universities.

York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri announces the winners of the President's Leadership in Sustainability Awards. The book he is holding features images from the Las Nubes Rainforest, home of York University's expertise in neotropical research.
York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri announces the winners of the President’s Leadership in Sustainability Awards. The book he is holding features images from the Las Nubes Rainforest, home of York University’s expertise in neotropical research.

“As a university committed to leadership in sustainability research, education and action, we are especially proud that our early efforts were recognized, and as this ongoing recognition affirms, we have continued to build on those efforts to innovate,” said Shoukri.  “We are not only reducing our ecological footprint, but conserving resources that can be invested in academic programming for our students.”

York University’s sustainability accomplishments to date include:

  • a 30 per cent reduction in energy use since 2007
  • a 66 per cent waste diversion rate since the university introduced a formal waste reduction program in 1990
  • 80 per cent of York community members commuting by alternative transportation including public transit, carpooling, on foot or by bicycle
  • a Farmers’ Market, introduced in 2013-14 and held weekly in 2014-15
  • one of the first green buildings constructed on a university campus, in 2001, followed by seven new construction projects or renovations since then, including the LEED Silver certified Kaneff Tower

York also has an employee “Green Team” that includes Sustainability Ambassadors – students, faculty, staff and alumni who champion sustainability in their departments and help with campus-wide sustainability events, and the President’s Sustainability Council, which advises the president on how to advance sustainability. Recommendations for improving sustainability are detailed in annual reports.

In addition to this honour, Shoukri announced that York University has again been ranked second by Corporate Knights magazine on its Future 40 Responsible Corporate Leaders list for 2015.

“Corporate Knights considers the Future 40 as a kind of farm team that feeds future sustainability leaders into the big leagues of our Best 50 ranking. In this respect, the Future 40 offers us insights into how performance on the Best 50 might change over time,” wrote the publication’s editor-in-chief, Tyler Hamilton in an editorial about the announcement.

The good news continued with a third announcement to reveal the five recipients of the second annual President’s Sustainability Leadership Awards. Shoukri turned the podium over to Faculty of Environmental Studies Professor Martin Bunch, chair of the President’s Sustainability Council, to make the announcement of the winners.

“The York University President’s Sustainability Leadership Awards recognize individuals and groups on our campuses who are contributing to making York a leading university on sustainability in Canada,” said Bunch. “The awards are designed to help us raise awareness on the important work that sustainability champions are doing at York, and to provide much deserved recognition of their work. This is the second year of the awards, and we are very pleased to have an excellent group of award winners again this year.”

The recipients of the 2015 President’s Sustainability Leadership Awards are:

The Bonfire Implementation Team

Above: From left, Dexter King, head of Procurement Services, (home of the Bonfire team) with York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri
Above: From left, Dexter King, director of Procurement Services, (home of the Bonfire implementation team) with York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri

During the spring of 2014, a team in Procurement Services implemented an electronic-bid submission and evaluation software for all of its Requests for Proposals. This initiative had two objectives: to implement increased efficiencies for York’s vendors and employees, as well as providing an opportunity to significantly reduce the amount of paper required for this process. The staff involved in implementing this project took this on over and above their normal workload with no extra resources. The results of this initiative speak for themselves: to date, 29 projects with a total of 107 proposals have been submitted using Bonfire, resulting in 39,400 pages of printing saved.  As the University’s Procurement Services department converts the remaining proposals to Bonfire, the paper usage savings will continue to grow.

York University’s Food Services Department

Above: From left, Anthony Barbisan, director of Food Services, with York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri
Above: From left, Anthony Barbisan, director of Food Services, with York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri

York’s Food Services Department has been greening food operations here at the University for several years.  Approximately 32 per cent of food purchases made by the department are local, certified Sustainable or Fair Trade through third party certification. The department’s Lug a Mug and Eco-Container programs, York community members are able to reduce the waste associated with their food purchases.  And this past year, Food Services installed an Urban Cultivator, which is a kitchen greenhouse that allows them to grow herbs and vegetables in house, greatly reducing the carbon footprint associated with these operations. Much of this success is also due to an ongoing, productive relationship with Aramark Canada.

Glendon Roots and Shoots

Above: Members of Glendon's Roots and Shoots sustainability team with Professor Martin Bunch (fifth from the right) and York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri (far right) .
Above: Members of Glendon’s Roots and Shoots student environment club with Professor Martin Bunch (fifth from the right) and York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri (far right)

Glendon Roots and Shoots is a student environmental club that has been active on sustainability issues at Glendon College for several years. Each year, Glendon Roots and Shoots organizes a wide variety of sustainability themed events, including: campus clean up days, clothing swaps, urban gardening and nature walks on the Glendon campus, and the annual Halloween Trick or Eat Food Drive, which this year collected 570 pounds of non-perishable goods which were donated to North York Harvest Food Bank. Recently, Glendon Roots and Shoots have also been providing reusable water bottles to Glendon Students in support of the University’s phase out of bottled water this year.

Meagan Heath

Above: From left, Professor Martin Bunch, Megan Heath and York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri
Above: From left, Professor Martin Bunch, Megan Heath, waste management supervisor,  and York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri

An alumna and employee of York University, Heath graduated with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies, specializing in waste management. She is the Waste Management Supervisor with the Grounds, Fleet & Waste Management Department in Campus Services & Business Operations (CSBO). Since joining Grounds, Fleet and Waste Management Department, Heath has led many waste initiatives, including the implementation of York’s Zero Waste Program. As part of this program, she has performed several waste audits, which provide valuable information that enables the University to focus on new methods to improve waste collection, diversion and reduction. And she has spent countless hours training grounds staff, as well as facilities staff throughout both campuses, on waste diversion and the three R’s (Reduce/Reuse/Recycle).  All of these efforts have helped York University to achieve a waste diversion rate of 66 per cent.

Regenesis York

Above: Members of the Regenesis York team with York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri
Above: Members of the Regenesis York team with York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri

Regenesis York is a community, environmental and social justice organization empowering students as initiators of change at York University since 2007. The Regenesis team has conducted research and outreach that has led to positive, tangible changes on campus and in our local community. Recently, Regenesis York has led two major initiatives: Cycle York, which uses both advocacy and service resulting in bike repair, bike clinics and group rides that promote active living, equitable access and a four seasons biking culture at York and in the local community. And, in partnership with the Food Services Department, Regenesis organized the York University Market, a weekly produce and artisan market that provides healthy, local and organic food goods to the York community.

Above: From left, Bud Purves, president of the York University Development Corporation, and York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri
Above: From left, Bud Purves, president of the York University Development Corporation, unveils a certificate announcing the LEED Silver Status of the Kaneff Tower on the Keele campus

Shoukri thanked the award recipients, students, staff, faculty members and researchers for their ongoing commitment to make York University a global leader in sustainability practice and research. He issued special appreciation to York Vice-President Finance and Administration Gary Brewer, York University Development Corporation (YUDC) President Bud Purves, Richard Francki, assistant vice-president, CSBO and the CSBO team, for their work in sustainability. He thanked members of the President’s Sustainability Council for their volunteer work and paid special tribute to Bunch, who is the council’s new chair. He thanked the University’s deans for their commitment to sustainability leadership in academic programming, teaching and research.

The event ended with a special presentation by Purves to Shoukri of a framed certificate marking the successful LEED Silver Certification of the Kaneff Tower, which is home to York University’s senior administration and researchers. The tower sits on top of the Archives of Ontario Building and was built in 2010.

“York University showed early leadership in sustainability,” said Purves, noting that the new Pan Am/Para Pan Am Stadium, the Life Sciences Building and the new Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, were all being built to LEED standards.

To cap off the day, groups of York University employees volunteered their time as part of a pan-University 20-minute Cleanup of the campus woodlots and roadways.

For more information on York University’s commitment to sustainability and the environment, visit the Sustainability website and the CSBO website.

 

York VPs issue update on planning responses following AAPR

Vari Hall as seen during the early evening

Vice-President Academic & Provost Rhonda Lenton and Vice-President Finance & Administration Gary Brewer have issued the following update on planning responses to the York community:

As has been discussed at some length over the last 18 months, various factors coincided to make a more comprehensive, pan-University review of our programs and services timely. These factors include: financial challenges both in the province and at York, the government’s differentiation agenda, calls for increasing accountability and the declining enrolment projections that are having a significant impact on our University. In this context, clarity around our vision and how to obtain that vision, as articulated in our planning documents is central to our success.

As we are in the last year of our University Academic Plan (UAP) 2010 – 2015, the review is also an opportunity for us to take stock of our progress, and to identify both challenges and opportunities to contextualize the next University Academic Plan 2015 – 2020. The Program Information Forms (PIFs) asked colleagues to reflect on their contributions to the advancement of the White Paper and UAP including relevant data such as volume of activities and external benchmarks in the case of services, and in the case of academic programs, enrolment trends, curricular innovation and research activities. The Academic and Administrative Task Force Reports have provided a further lens on our collective progress, issues and potential directions to leverage strengths in the future.

We are aware that the review is not without controversy. In particular, the data has been challenged for not being “100 per cent accurate”.  Setting aside the point that data is rarely (never) without some limitations, we acknowledge that the incremental budget model does pose some challenges in attributing the revenue and costs of academic programs down to the last penny especially in a university that is at its core interdisciplinary. An important implication is that many of our courses serve multiple programs. Nevertheless, we cannot abandon our data for the alternative of making decisions without the benefit of any data at all. What is important is to look at the general trends of what our data are showing and to understand and comment on any limitations of the data. For example, what academic programs (whether large or small) have stable enrolment or are growing? What programs have declining enrolment and what can be done? What improvements can be made in regards to the administrative services that support our academic activities?

The University is facing a challenging context. We know that we must find a way by which to balance our budget over the next few years that continues to support our vision and core academic priorities. With the completion of the Academic and Administrative Program Review, we have now transitioned to our normal planning and budget cycles providing a significant third opportunity for all members of our community to reflect on the information we have at hand (the PIFs, the Task Force Reports, Cyclical Program Reviews, the 2015-2016 enrolment update, student surveys etc.) and to provide much needed input on strategic directions that hold promise for York.

Input has therefore been requested from divisions and faculties based on collegial and consultative processes about the best strategies to aid these efforts. Engagement in planning discussions is ongoing at local and institutional levels. Each division head/dean has arranged for engagement sessions in their respective units to gather ideas, feedback and input to shape the unit’s response to our current context. In late 2014, a number of community engagement sessions were held to gather feedback, with student specific engagement sessions held throughout January and February. Future sessions are planned and we urge all members to participate in these discussions.

Response Plans are due March 2. In the ensuing months, these plans will be taken up by senior administration in order to draft an Institutional Strategic Directions Document. This document is best thought of as an institutional Integrated Resource Plan (IR Plan), which will provide context for our planning and budgeting processes and ensure alignment between our academic priorities and our resources moving forward. Specifically, divisions and faculties conduct a year-end evaluation of their 2014-2015 IR Plans in the spring (April 2015). The call for 2015-2020 IR Plans will come out in May 2015 with a due date of September 2015 to inform the next UAP cycle this fall. Similarly, the rolling budgets are presented and reviewed in March 2015 to inform the June 2015 Budget presentation to the Board of Governors.

In broad strokes, the document will be a culmination of individual responses from across the campus, and address both:

  1. Broad academic strategies and/or proposed recommendations.
  2. Administrative strategies and/or proposed recommendations.

Individual responses will focus on what can be done differently within a specific faculty or division, as well as opportunities for inter-divisional or inter-faculty collaboration. The draft Institutional Strategic Directions Document will be the subject of engagement sessions held in April 2015 and will be discussed at Senate (with a request for endorsement in principle in the case of directions regarding academic programs) prior to the June 2015 budget submission to the Board of Governors.

The Institutional Strategic Directions Document (discussion framework) is available on the AAPR YU Link site. The unit heads for the following areas are responsible for submitting responses:

  • Division of the President
  • Division of the Provost and Vice President Academic
  • Division of the Vice-President Finance & Administration
  • Division of Vice-President Advancement
  • Division of Vice-President Research & Innovation
  • Division of Students
  • Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies
  • School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (formerly the Faculty of Fine Arts)
  • Faculty of Science
  • Lassonde School of Engineering
  • Schulich School of Business
  • Osgoode Hall Law School
  • Glendon College
  • Libraries
  • Faculty of Education
  • Faculty of Environmental Studies
  • Faculty of Health
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies.

For additional information on planning activities and the Response Plan framework, employees are invited to visit the AAPR YU Link site.

Chant for the United Way Toronto

Robert Castle, senior executive officer, Office of the Vice-President Finance and Administration
Robert Castle

Many of you will know Rob Castle as the senior executive officer in the Office of the Vice-President Finance and Administration (VPFA), but you may not know that his life away from York U involves singing Gregorian Chant.

As part of the VPFA’s United Way contribution, Castle will be leading a recital of Gregorian Chant on Monday, Nov. 24 at 12:15pm in the Senate Chamber, N940 Ross Building.  He will be joined by some of the choristers from the chant choir he leads – The Ritual Choir of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

All are welcome to come and enjoy a meditative presentation of this ancient art form. Admission is pay-what-you-can, with all proceeds going to the 2014 York Cares Campaign in support of the United Way Toronto.

For more information, visit the 2014 York Cares United Way Campaign website.

AAPR Update: A message from York University’s president

Vari Hall as seen during the early evening

President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri has issued the following message to the York University community:

Dear Members of the York Community,

vari-VI am writing to update you on the Academic and Administrative Program Review (AAPR) and, in particular, to share some information on the next phase of the process.

With the release of the task force reports to the community on Nov. 7, the analysis & assessment phase of AAPR is now complete. The reports mark the completion of over 18 weeks of work by the Academic and Administrative Task Forces. Members of the task forces carefully reviewed 409 program information forms, supporting data, and engaged in critical discourse surrounding program quality and sustainability in order to evaluate each academic and administrative program using consistent methodology. The reports are a culmination of this hard work. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the considerable work undertaken by our task force colleagues and to thank them for their dedication, commitment and service to the University. As a reminder to the community, the names of the Academic and Administrative Task Force member are listed at the end of this letter.

Two task force reports are being released. One report for academic programs, Academic Task Force Report, and one for administrative programs, Administrative Task Force Report, will be available to the York community on Friday, Nov. 7, via the AAPR YU Link site, Task Force Reports page. The reports highlight themes and observations, as well as discuss the institutional scatter plots, which show each program in its location relative to cumulative program scores for quality and sustainability.

The release of the task force reports marks the beginning of the response phase of AAPR. The overarching goal in the next few months is to engage the community in important discussions that will inform future decisions on how the University will achieve its academic mission. The external landscape for higher education is undergoing significant change, with continuing focus on fiscal constraint, differentiation and accountability.

Working in collaboration with strong leadership across the University, I am confident that we are putting in place processes to encourage open dialogue on the task force reports, and more generally, on the challenges and opportunities we face in maintaining the progress we have made thus far in advancing our shared vision for York as a leading, engaged institution of higher education.

I encourage each of you to review the reports when available and to attend one of three upcoming AAPR community information sessions to begin the collegial dialogue about the reports:

Friday, Nov. 14 – 12 to 1:30pm, Winters Dining Hall, Keele Campus
Thursday, Nov. 27 – 12 to 1:30pm, BMO Conference Centre, Glendon College
Friday, Dec. 5 – 12 to 1:30pm, Winters Dining Hall, Keele Campus

In addition to these sessions, APPR Committee is hosting a forum to discuss planning priorities following the release of the task force reports. This event is scheduled for Nov. 13, from 9am to 12pm, in Founders Assembly Hall, Founders College. Throughout the month of November, we are encouraging dialogue at the local and institutional level to discuss the implications of the reports and consider strategies and opportunities to address our challenges and to enhance our quality. A framework and time frame on response plan development will be circulated shortly.

As we move through this final phase of AAPR, we are reiterating our commitment to a transparent and inclusive process, one that incorporates valued input from our community, involves evidence-based decision-making, and is shaped to suit our institution’s unique needs. Please continue to visit the AAPR YU Link site regularly for access to task force reports, updates and response phase documentation.

 

Sincerely,

Mamdouh Shoukri
President and Vice-Chancellor

Academic Task Force

Lisa Philipps, Task Force chair & professor, Osgoode Hall Law School
Janet Walker, professor, Osgoode Hall Law School
Elizabeth Asselstine, chair & associate professor, Department of Theatre, Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA)
Rene Fournier, associate professor, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science
Eileen Fischer, graduate program director & professor, Business Administration, Schulich School of Business
Richard Irving, associate professor, Management Science Specialization, Schulich School of Business
Barbara Rahder, PhD program coordinator & professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES)
Jimmy Huang, director & professor, School of Information Technology, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies (LA&PS)
Ananya Mukherjee-Reed, chair & professor, Department of Political Science, LA&PS
Jonathan Warren, chair & associate professor, Department of English, LA&PS
George Tourlakis, undergraduate program director & University Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Lassonde School of Engineering
Andrew Clifford, graduate program director & associate professor, Conference Interpreting & School of Translation, Glendon College
Alison Macpherson, associate professor, School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health
Stan Shapson, University Professor, Faculty of Education
Mikhaela Gray, undergraduate student, Department of English, Glendon College
Erin Yunes, graduate student, Department of Visual Art & Art History, FFA

Administrative Task Force

Carol Altilia, Task Force chair & executive officer, FFA
Donna Smith, associate director, Employee Relations, Department of Human Resources
Steve Sicluna, director, Maintenance, Campus Services & Business Operations
Steve Pottle, director, Risk Management Services, Finance Department
Alison Collins Mrakas, senior manager & policy adviser, Office of Research Ethics, Vice-President Research & Innovation
Andrea Della-Rossa, executive officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, University Information Technology
Leanne Kipfer, director, Advancement Services, Vice-President Advancement
Carolyn Heald, director, Information & Privacy Office, Office of the University Secretariat & General Counsel
Josephine Campanelli Zeeman, director, Office of Student Affairs Services, FES
Tom Scott, librarian & department head, Reference, Scott Library
David Mutimer, chair & professor, Department of Political Science, LA&PS
Don Sinclair, coordinator & associate professor, Digital Media Program, FFA
David Dimick, associate professor, Department of Organizational Behaviour & Industrial Relations, Schulich School of Business
David Cappadocia, graduate student, School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health
Marva Milo, graduate student, School of Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies, LA&PS

President’s Staff Awards recognize York University’s outstanding employees

staff recognition awards tables for YFile homepage

Each of York’s more than 7,000 administrative staff bring a special something to their role and every year, the University takes a night to celebrate, honour and share some laughs as part of the President’s Staff Recognition Awards gathering.

Six York U staff members and 40 nominees were honoured at the President's Staff Recognition Awards celebration on April 30 in the Underground Restaurant
Six York U staff members and 40 nominees were honoured at the President’s Staff Recognition Awards celebration on April 30 in the Underground Restaurant

Six recipients and more than 40 nominees were recognized at the 2013 President’s Staff Recognition Awards on April 30. The event took place at The Underground Restaurant in the Student Centre at York’s Keele campus and was attended by 145 guests, including recipients, nominees and their family and friends. It was emceed by President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri and featured remarks by President Emeritus H. Ian Macdonald.

The recipients of the 2013 President's Staff Recognition Awards. From left: Jair, Aaron, April, Mamdouh Shoukri, x, x and Aldo
Above: The recipients of the 2013 President’s Staff Recognition Awards pose for a cameo with the president. From left: Jair Kallidumbil, Aaron Doupe, April Nietzschmann, York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, Paola Panaro, Tina Reddi and Aldo DiMarcantonio.
Mamdouh Shoukri
Mamdouh Shoukri

“I know I repeat this every year, but these awards are by far one of my favourite events,” said a delighted Shoukri. “York’s reputation as a leading, research-intensive university is thanks in large part to the outstanding efforts of our dedicated staff, and tonight’s event allows us to celebrate those who go above and beyond. I’m so pleased to be able to recognize those leaders, whether recipient or nominee, who are the heart and soul of the University and who offer their unending support to our students, faculty, staff, friends and grads.”

The recipients of the 2013 President’s Staff Recognition Awards are listed below. Click on the names to view video testimonials:

  • The Ronald Kent Medal – Paola Panaro, administrative assistant, Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering
  • The President’s Leadership Award – Aldo DiMarcantonio, comptroller, Finance
  • The President’s Voice of York Award – Tina Reddi, academic services assistant, Science Academic Services, Faculty of Science
  • The Phyllis Clark Campus Service Award – April Nietzschmann, campus relations official, Security Services, Campus Services & Business Operations
  • The Deborah Hobson York Citizenship Award – Aaron Doupe, manager, Student Affairs, Office of Student Services, Glendon College and Jair Kallidumbil, student relations assistant, Centre for Student Community & Leadership Development.

For a full list of 2013 recipients and nominees, click here.

Guests enjoyed dinner and drinks as videos showing heartfelt messages of support and admiration for each recipient were played onscreen. The recipients then took to the podium to share a few words after Shoukri presented them with their respective awards.

President Emeritus H. Ian Macdonald with Aldo Mar
President Emeritus H. Ian Macdonald with Aldo DiMarcantonio

Panaro, the recipient of the 2013 Ronald Kent Medal, shared her esteem for her fellow nominees. “Choosing a winner for these awards had to have been a very difficult task,” she said. “The nominees here tonight demonstrate the kind of support, passion and dedication that deserves to be recognized, and I am so grateful to be celebrating tonight with York staff who go to exceptional lengths to make a difference throughout our extended community.”

Another of the night’s award recipients, DiMarcantonio, said he could not have achieved this on his own. “This honour isn’t just for me—it’s more so a testament to the hard work and dedication of the colleagues I work with each and every day. I’m only one spoke and you need 40 spokes to make a tire!”

Shoukri concluded the evening by congratulating this year’s recipients and nominees and thanking everyone who made the event possible, including Vice-President Finance and Administration Gary Brewer, the Office of the President, Learning Technology Services and Community & Alumni Relations. Shoukri also praised one of York’s most important affinity partners, TD Meloche Monnex, for their contributions to the reception.

April N
April Neitzschmann donned a ball cap with the word “epic” written on it. “There’s no greater or worthier cause than serving others and, after spending this night with all of you, I’ve never been prouder to be a York employee,” she said.

Neitzschmann summed up the evening as she took the stage to accept the 2013 Phyllis Clark Campus Service Award. “Tonight is a character assembly where we can recognize not only the good work that we all do together, but the good people who work here,” she said. “There’s no greater or worthier cause than serving others and, after spending this night with all of you, I’ve never been prouder to be a York employee.”

By Phil Sach, advancement communications officer

 

York’s Earth Day celebration will honour sustainability champions and achievements

Life Sciences Terrace

On Tuesday, April 22 at 2pm, the York University community is invited to join York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri and Vice-President Finance and Administration Gary Brewer for an Earth Day Celebration in the Life Sciences Building.

The Life Sciences Building terrace on York U's Keele campus
The Life Sciences Building on York U’s Keele campus has recently been certified as a LEED Silver building

The Earth Day event, which will take place in the lobby of the Life Sciences Building, will pay tribute to a number of sustainability champions and achievements across York’s campuses. The occasion will include the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the LEED Silver certification of the Life Sciences Building, and an announcement about sustainability at York University. The event will also feature the presentation of the inaugural President’s Sustainability Leadership Awards.

Created to celebrate the many champions of sustainability at York, these new awards recognize students, faculty and staff who are contributing to making the University a leader in sustainability among postsecondary institutions. The President’s Sustainability Leadership Awards are intended to raise awareness of the important work that sustainability champions are doing at York, to provide much-deserved recognition of their work, and to encourage others to get involved in sustainability initiatives on our campuses. Up to five awards will be given out each year.

“I am very pleased to announce the first winners of the President’s Sustainability Leadership Awards,” said York President Mamdouh Shoukri. “These awards honour members of the York community who have demonstrated outstanding and ongoing commitment to making ours one of the greenest universities in Canada, and indeed, the world. We are incredibly proud of their achievements, and I look forward to the opportunity to honour them in person at next week’s event.”

This year’s winners of the President’s Sustainability Leadership Awards are:

Brad Cochrane
Director, Energy Management, Campus Services & Business Operations (CSBO)

Cochrane oversees York University’s Energy Management program, focusing on ensuring efficient heating, cooling and power for York’s 115 buildings and eight-million square feet of space. He has steered York’s five-year energy renewal plan, aimed at a 25 per cent reduction in utility consumption. His tenacious pursuit of energy rebates has provided dramatically more energy improvements than originally thought possible, specifically resulting in doubling financial incentive grants to the University. This has resulted in more than $1.5 million in additional funds, which are being further invested in new energy conservation measures. An outstanding professional and true steward of sustainability planning and practices, Cochrane is deeply involved with York faculty and researchers from Environmental Studies, Engineering and Science to explore common goals and potential partnerships. 

Tim Haagsma
Manager, Grounds, CSBO

A long serving York employee, Haagsma epitomizes sustainability in action. He is educated as an entomologist, a branch of zoology focusing of insects. This has served him well in his capacity as grounds manager, given the challenges that this area has faced with infestations, including the Asian Long Horn Beetle and more recently the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Haagsma was quick to act at the first evidence of EAB, developing a management plan to save as many Ash trees as possible. His work on the Ash tree inventory and audit led to a full tree inventory of both campuses. Haagsma is also an advocate for conscientious waste behavior, and has been a key player in the roll out of a comprehensive recycling program and organic waste collection program that has achieved a landfill diversion rate of over 65 per cent. He was an early advocate for sustainable landscapes, including xeriscaping. Haagsma has fostered excellent relationships with faculty, staff and students, and is a constant volunteer for initiatives to improve the campus environment.

Helen Psathas
Senior Manager, Environmental Design and Sustainability, CSBO
Senior Fellow, Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability (IRIS) 

Psathas works with many CSBO and York departments and divisions, and is a committed champion of the importance of sustainability in all development projects—from campus greening to reuse and recycling of material, energy conservation, and renewable energy concepts. She has contributed significantly to York’s corporate sustainability profile by participating in various committees and institutes, including the President’s Sustainability Council and IRIS Executive Board. Her participation in the York Master Planning and Facilities Committee allows her to ensure that the need for sustainable development is recognized and respected at the highest level of the institution. Psathas also stewards and supports environmental initiatives such as Lights Out, Campus Cleaning, YorkWise! and Res Race to Zero. She has personally managed a number of projects related to improving the greening of the campus, including Osgoode Green, the University Tree Inventory, and improvements within the Glendon forest. Her management of various sustainable transportation initiatives has resulted in York’s ZipCars and Smart Commute programs. Psathas has also been a champion of accessibility on campus, ensuring that new development projects recognize and respect the need to remove barriers to accessibility.

Osgoode Sustainability Committee

As a subset of Osgoode’s Environmental Law Society, the Sustainability Committee is run entirely through committed student volunteers who have gone well above the call of duty to create a more sustainable campus. The committee established five sub-groups to tackle the challenges that mattered most to students, and as such, has a very wide breadth and has significantly improved sustainability at Osgoode and the wider York community. The committee initiated a Food Advisory Group to discuss food sustainability and waste management with on-campus food providers, resulting in the reintroduction of Fair Trade coffee, reusable mugs and cups, and promotion of Aramark’s Vegan Mondays initiative. The committee also developed an Osgoode Campus Group, which led a to Lighting Efficiency signature campaign, established an e-waste bin in the Osgoode building, and created a double-sided printing poster beside Osgoode library printers to encourage students to save paper. Their events group has also worked to involve all students in programs to make campus more sustainable, including their Lug-A-Mug campaign and Fork Drive, in which students returned/donated metal forks, spoons and knives to the bistro. Overall, the Osgoode Sustainability Committee has made considerable contributions to the sustainability of Osgoode and the greater York Community over the past year. 

Planning and Renovations Unit, CSBO 

The CSBO Planning and Renovations Unit has a longstanding commitment to green building as evidenced through early citations and awards. This 20-plus member group includes six LEED Accredited Professionals. Annually, the group undertakes approximately 200 projects ranging in scale, complexity and cost. Projects are undertaken with consideration to sustainable practices, starting with the most efficient means of delivering the project, including the reuse of existing materials, including lighting, as well as other passive green design strategies. Solutions include practices in energy efficient building systems to reduce energy consumption and minimize York’s carbon foot print, minimize waste and maximize resource deployment by focusing on every opportunity for reuse. There are many examples of the unit’s innovative thinking and practice on sustainable building, including the development of the Sherman Health Sciences Building, which saw the adaptive reuse of York’s old ice rink into a state-of-the-art, world-class research facility through sustainable strategies such as bringing natural light into the interior for energy savings, incorporating a high-albedo roof, landscaping with drought-resistant native plants and storm water runoff management. By re-purposing the arena, an incredible York facility was created, adding value to the campus and bringing new life to an old structure.

AAPR update: Task force nomination extended to Feb. 14

Vari Hall as seen during the early evening

Vice-President Academic & Provost Rhonda Lenton and Vice-President Finance & Administration Gary Brewer have issued the following update on the Academic & Administrative Program Review:

York’s Academic & Administrative Program Review (AAPR) is a key component of the University’s strategy to identify opportunities that will assist us in closing what has become an unsustainable financial gap between our revenues and expenditures. It also supports our ongoing efforts to transition to a new budget model that is built on transparency around revenue and costs for programs and services.  AAPR is a timely intervention in the context of the government’s discussions with universities and colleges regarding their Strategic Mandate Agreements, and in particular, the institutional metrics that are being discussed to assess progress towards priorities.

In keeping with our plans to develop an approach made for York, input continues to be sought on AAPR through Senate and its committees, through regular community information sessions, and through the website. Several subgroups have been established to support the Steering Committee that has responsibility for the administration of AAPR. These include a Nomination Review Group, a data management group, and two groups who are working on the program information forms. They are described below.

Academic sub-group to AAPR Steering Committee

This eight member group includes four members of the AAPR Steering Committee, two APPRC (Senate’s Academic Policy, Planning and Research Committee) members, and two members of Senate. This group is working on the Academic Program Information Form (PIF).

The creation of this sub-group reflects the important role of Senate in academic policy and planning.  Senators are uniquely positioned to contribute to the discussion of academic issues, especially those that impact on the University as a whole.  Community feedback to date has been incorporated into the Academic Program Information Form. Discussions are ongoing with the Division of the Vice-President Research & Innovation; a final version will include all research related feedback as well as new input from the community and feedback from the Academic sub-group. The revised Academic PIF will also come to Senate in February for discussion before it is distributed to academic programs.

Administrative sub-group to AAPR Steering

This seven member group includes four members of AAPR Steering, and three members of York’s administration. The administrative sub-group continues to work on the Administrative PIF, incorporating feedback from the community and ensuring that questions and criteria will capture valuable information to be considered by the Task Force.  Efforts are also being made to ensure alignment with the Academic PIF.

Detailed membership lists of both sub-groups can be found on YU Link. The original draft Academic and Administrative Program Information Forms (PIF) remain on YU Link with revised versions expected to be posted at least one week before the Feb. 27 Senate meeting. Final versions of both Program Information Forms are targeted for release to authors and on YU Link March 3.

Authors and program lists

Divisional leaders and deans are in the process of appointing authors. Authors will complete Program Information Forms for each program identified on the program lists. A final list of appointed authors will be made available on YU Link. Training is being developed to support authors in PIF completion; and will be delivered in early March 2014.

We are pleased to announce the release of the draft program lists with combined input from the community, now available on YU Link. There are two lists, one for academic programs, the other for administrative programs. Feedback continues to be collected on these lists, which are expected to be finalized by mid-February 2014.

Task Force Nominations

The Call for Task Force nominations has been extended to Feb. 14, to allow for clarification of summer vacation accommodation. Nominations to participate on either the Academic or Administrative Task Force can be submitted on YU Link. The expected time commitment is four days per week, from June to August 2014, however to accommodate summer vacations and/or conference commitments, we ask that all task force members be prepared to carry their work into September 2014.

Academic participants will be provided with a 1.0 FCE release, and students will receive an honorarium. Staff support is available to facilitate the participation of non-academic employees. Please visit YU Link to find additional details on support available to employees participating on the Academic or Administrative Task Forces. We encourage all eligible employees to nominate either themselves or their colleagues, and to support the University in this critical process. The nomination form is available now on YU Link.

The Administrative Task Force has 14 positions available: four tenured faculty members, eight full-time non-academic staff, two students (one full-time graduate, one full-time undergraduate). Nominations of associate deans and former deans are welcome for the Administrative Task Force; however other senior administrative positions (VP, AVP, Dean, and Board of Governors) are not eligible for membership.

The Academic Task Force has 14 positions available: 12 tenured faculty members, two students (one full-time graduate, one full-time undergraduate). Those that hold senior administrative positions (VP, AVP, Dean, Associate Dean, and Board of Governors) are not eligible for membership.

Community information sessions

Updates and new information on the Academic and Administrative Program Review are posted in YU Link. We encourage all community members to visit regularly and to connect with us at an upcoming community information session. Questions and responses will be posted to YU Link after each session.

  • Feb. 28, from 12 to 1:30pm in the Winters Dining Hall, Winters College, Keele Campus
  • March 21, from 12 to 1:30pm in the BMO Conference Centre, Glendon Hall, Glendon College

Academic and Administrative Program Review Task Force nomination process opens today

Vari Hall as seen during the early evening

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Vice-President Academic & Provost Rhonda Lenton and Vice-President Finance & Administration Gary Brewer have issued the following call for nominations for Academic & Administrative Task Force members to support the Academic & Administrative Program Review (AAPR):

We are pleased to open nominations for Academic & Administrative Task Force members today, Jan. 14. The nomination form is now available on the YU Link AAPR site; nominations will remain open until 4:30pm on Feb. 4.

Nominations for the Administrative Task Force are open to all full time continuing non-academic employees, tenured faculty members and students. Nominations for the Academic Task Force are open to all tenured faculty members and students. We encourage all eligible York members to engage in the AAPR exercise by nominating either themselves or a colleague for membership. This is an opportunity to engage with colleagues in a critical process that will assist the University in meeting its strategic academic goals and will inform decision making. Task force members will be responsible for reviewing program information forms submitted on behalf of each program, and compiling the two final reports (one for academic programs, one for administrative programs).

Academic Task Force

This task force, responsible for reviewing program information forms for academic programs, will be composed of 14 tenured faculty members and two students (one full-time undergraduate, one full-time graduate). All positions will be at large. Those who hold senior administrative positions (VP, AVP, dean, associate dean, board of governors member) are not eligible for membership on this task force.

  • Faculty members will be provided with release time equivalent to 1.0 FCE course release.
  • Student members will be provided with a stipend.

Administrative Task Force

Amended: This task force, responsible for reviewing program information forms for administrative programs, will be composed of 14 members –  four tenured faculty members, eight full-time non-academic employees and two students (one full-time undergraduate, one full-time graduate).  All positions will be at large. Those who hold senior administrative positions (VP, AVP, dean, associate dean, board of governors member) are not eligible for membership on this task force.

  • Faculty members will be provided with release time equivalent to 1.0 FCE course release.
  • Students will be provided with a stipend.
  • Non-academic members will be provided with release time to perform task force duties during regular work hours with provisions made to backfill their positions in their home departments/units.

Task Force selection criteria

Through submission of a confidential form available on the , nominees must demonstrate evidence of:

  • Sustained commitment to the University;
  • Sound judgment and leadership skills;
  • Understanding of the University’s mission, values, make up and processes;
  • An ability to keep the broad interests of the University at the forefront and to be impartial;
  • Strong interpersonal skills, effective communication skills, and a reputation for integrity and collegiality.

Anticipated time commitment

Task force members must be available and commit to attend meetings and contribute to the work of the task force in person. Expected time commitments are three to four days per week between June and August, with some preliminary meetings and training in May.

Task Force nomination and selection process

Following the closure of the nomination process, the nominations will be reviewed by the AAPR Task Force’s nomination review sub-group; a slate will be developed and forwarded to President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri for consideration.

The president is responsible for appointing both Academic and Administrative Task Force members, as well as naming chairs for both task forces. Nominations are expected to be announced by President Shoukri, by the end of February.

We encourage all community members to visit YU Link regularly for updates and new information, and we look forward to the opportunity to connect with you at an upcoming community information session. The dates and locations are Jan. 30 from 12 to 1:30pm at Winters College Dining Room (Keele campus), Feb. 28 from 12 to 1:30pm at Winters College Dining Room (Keele campus) and March 21 from 12 to 1:30pm at BMO Conference Centre (Glendon campus). We hope to see you there.