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Recognizing Black excellence
In October 2022, the Janes Family Foundation made a transformative contribution of $500,000 to York University to continue its support of the Tom Janes Award for Black Scholars, setting talented students up for long-term success.
Supporting global learning opportunities
The Paulina Lau Scholar Program, launched in 2022, is increasing access to global learning opportunities for York University students in the Lassonde School of Engineering, Science and LA&PS. The scholarship provides up to $7,500 in funding towards students’ learning overseas, which includes coursework, research or internships.
Academic integrity for AI (AI for AI)
In the 2022-2023 academic year, York University launched the AI Technology and Academic Integrity webpage to equip educators with strategies to work with students on the benefits and pitfalls of AI, while preserving the principles of academic integrity.
Creating access to STEM for underrepresented youth
The Lassonde School of Engineering’s Kindergarten to Industry (k2i) academy is creating equitable outcomes for underrepresented youth in STEM. K2i has received $5 million in funding to-date from diverse partners, which range from government to the private sector. Included is two years of funding from the provincial government to develop WIL programs.
Innovative initiatives are helping graduate students thrive
As part of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program – targeted to top doctoral students pursuing graduate studies in the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, engineering and health – Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) tri-council (Vanier) reviewers undergo Unconscious Bias training. This encourages a holistic approach to evaluating applications and ensures that non-traditional career paths and metrics of research are considered.
Expanding access to legal education for equity-deserving groups
The Osgoode Hall Law School at York University partnered with Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP to launch the Davies Fellows Award – a $1.2 million bursary that strives to eliminate systemic barriers to legal education and promote inclusivity and diversity within the profession.
Sophisticated virtual assistant is connecting students to services
SAVY, York’s student virtual assistant, provides access to critical information students need to succeed in their academic journey at York, 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Since its launch in January 2020, SAVY has had over 100,000 conversations with students, and 23,000 unique students have interacted with the bilingual tool via its chat interface.
Increasing access to undergraduate research in science
Science students at York now have more paid research opportunities, thanks to a $200,000 gift from York alumnus Earle Nestmann, and matched by the Faculty of Science for a total of $400,000 in funding.
Rekindling in-person athletics and recreation
The Athletics and Recreation division returned to pre-pandemic operations this past year, reinvigorating campus health and wellness with a full complement of fitness and recreation activities. This included a complete athletics season with more than 450 varsity athletes, varsity student support for equity-deserving athletes and teams and a partnership with Student Counselling, Health & Well-being focused on health education.
Generous $40,000 donation offers high school students an exclusive opportunity to study under jazz greats
In July 2023, a $40,000 donation from the Nick Nurse Foundation provided a rare opportunity for 50 high school students to study under Juno-award winning and internationally recognized jazz and gospel artists at York’s School of AMPD.
Boosting Canada’s economic future
York leads Research Impact Canada (RIC), a network of 30 research organizations including universities, colleges, research hospitals and funders, each building capacity to support knowledge mobilization and the impacts of research on broader society.
YSpace ELLA expands entrepreneurship support for women across Canada
Ontario’s first accelerator for women-led products and service-based businesses will expand entrepreneurial support for women across Canada thanks to $3 million from a federal government grant.
President’s Research Awards recognizes outstanding research impact
More than 70 faculty members were recognized at the 2023 Research Awards Celebration including four researchers who were awarded the President’s Research Awards. Karen Burke, AMPD, was recognized with the President’s Research Impact Award (PRIA). Karen’s expertise is in the history and performance practices of Gospel music and has worked with major choral ensembles, organizations, schools and church congregations.
Six new Organized Research Units (ORUs) established
This year, York approved six new ORUs. These ORUs serve as synergistic hubs that pool together interdisciplinary expertise across multiple faculties and disciplines to examine globally important topics such as water sustainability, neuroscience and disaster and risk mitigation. The establishment of six new ORUs brings York’s total to 31.
Linking research to action
Led by Innovation York, MobilizeYU is an eight-week course designed for faculty researchers, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, staff, alumni, and community partners who are interested in learning more about Knowledge Mobilization (KMb). Taught by leading KMb professionals and researchers, participants learn about theoretical and practical aspects of effective KMb.
Indigenous Research Ethics Board sets nationwide precedent
Announced July 2023, York University will soon be home to the first wholly autonomous Indigenous Research Ethics Board (IREB) for a non-Indigenous post-secondary institution in Canada. The board reflects York’s ongoing efforts in decolonizing research and will ensure appropriate sensitivity to cultural and community rights, roles, and responsibilities across any research project.