York University’s academic excellence is rooted in the curiosity of our scholars, the innovative nature of our programs and teaching strategies, and the richness of our learning experiences. In 2015, we continued to grow our capacity in each of these areas, contributing to historic levels of achievement as a community.
Rhonda Lenton
Vice-President, Academic and Provost

NEW WAYS OF THINKING

This year, we launched innovative new programs to meet the evolving needs of the labour market and to reflect the nation’s higher learning priorities. These include Canada’s only undergraduate degree program in Mathematical Biology and Glendon’s new bilingual Bachelor of Science programs in Biology and Psychology. The Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities approved the expansion of graduate programs in Mechanical and Civil Engineering at the Lassonde School of Engineering.

Progressive Learning

In addition to delivering award-winning curricula, we are interested in how students learn and what effective teaching looks and sounds like today. Our innovations in this area are driven by our Faculties and fuelled by the Academic Innovation Fund, which supports teaching and learning and pedagogical innovation relating to experiential education, eLearning and our first-year student experience.

Experiential Education

At York, we believe that deep knowledge comes from lived experiences. We are expanding our experiential education (EE) programs across all areas, starting with the YU Experience Hub – a faculty resource for integration of EE in new courses and programs.

eLearning Innovation

More modern, innovative ways to learn means more eLearning opportunities. This year, our Faculties received more than $250,000 in Ontario government funding to enhance digital learning opportunities at York. We completed an eLearning audit and developed a plan for increased eLearning across the University, and launched Interactive Art Design Learning Modules, an interdisciplinary learning tool developed in collaboration with Brock and Ryerson Universities, accessible to students around the world.

Markham Centre

The Ontario government’s commitment to create a York campus in Markham Centre allows us to better serve one of the country’s fastest-growing regions. Expected to open in 2020-21, the new campus will be an incubator for innovation, collaborative partnerships and student success, offering programs in areas such as media design, digital culture, technology education, environmental management, commerce, engineering design, and criminal justice administration. These offerings will be augmented in later phases by innovative programs to meet the needs of the region.

York University is proudly leading some of the most ambitious research on the planet, with groundbreaking projects active across 11 Faculties and 25 research centres.
Robert Haché
Vice-President, Research and Innovation

Open Your Mind

York researchers are leading the way in discovery and innovation. Groundbreaking achievements of 2015 include creating an app that decreases brain decline in those with Alzheimer’s, detecting that lakes are warming at a faster rate than the air or the oceans, and taking the lead on a laser altimeter that will create a 3‑D model of the asteroid Bennu during a Nasa mission.

Fuelling Knowledge and Discovery

York researchers earned 22 SSHRC grants in 2014-15, totalling more than $10 million. The University also leads the nation in large-scale SSHRC partnership-based grants valued at $1 million or more. A leader in advanced research in natural sciences and engineering, York researchers were awarded 2 out of 17 Collaborative Research & Training Experience program grants by NSERC for studies including innovative research in data analytics and visualization, and disaster and emergency response simulations.

Innovation York, Enabling Success

Innovation York, the University’s industry liaison and commercialization unit, continues to expand and enhance a culture of industry-engaged scholarship and entrepreneurship. This year, it facilitated 556 research agreements with a value of $24.1 million, an increase of 93% in research agreement funding to support technology transfer and research commercialization.

The Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health

Created this year through a $20 million donation from alumnus Victor Phillip Dahdaleh, the largest ever donation by a York graduate, The Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health will be a leader and a catalyst in addressing global health issues, and will provide a robust context for students involved in York’s Global Health program, as well as academics and researchers working in the field at the University and around the world.

We are proud to share the impact made by the philanthropic support of our alumni, donors and friends, totalling $38 million during 2015. This funding has enabled York to provide critical student financial support, advance innovative faculty research, enhance unique programming and learning experiences, and much more. Join us in 2016 as we launch a transformational campaign to ensure that York and our partners continue to make an impact locally and globally.
Jeff O’Hagan
Vice-President, Advancement

Supporting Local and Global Excellence

In addition to receiving our largest-ever donation by an alumnus, $20 million from Victor Phillip Dahdaleh for global health, York celebrated a record-breaking year in donations. The Brain Canada Foundation and Krembil Foundation’s combined gift of more than $1.3 million to neuroscience in the Faculty of Health was focused on research to develop new ways to diagnose and treat all types of neurological and mental illnesses.

Leading the Nation

15 accomplished York alumni were elected to Parliament, including Navdeep Bains (BAS ’99), who joined the cabinet as minister of innovation, science and economic development, Gary Anandasangaree (LLB ’05), Omar Alghabra (MBA ’00), Mike Bossio (BA ’89), Ali Ehsassi (LLB ’99), Rajvinder (Raj) Grewal (MBA ’10, JD ’13), Ahmed Hussen (BA ’02), Majid Jowhari (MBA ’92), Kamalpreet (Kamal) Khera (BScN ’13), Iqra Khalid (BA ’07), Joseph Peschisolido (LLB ’89), Lisa Raitt (LLB ’96), Sven Spengemann (LLB ’98), Anita Vandenbeld (MA ’95), and Peter Van Loan (LLB ‘97).

Alumni Making a Difference

Five York alumni were inducted into the Order of Canada: Joseph Boyden (BA ’91), Rudy Buttignol (BFA ’82), Barbara Hall (LLB ’78), Fiona Amaryllis Sampson (DJur ’05), and Faye Thomson (BFA ’77). Trailblazing entrepreneur and philanthropist Douglas Bergeron (BA ’83, Hon. LLD ’13), received a Bryden Alumni Award for his contributions and achievements, along with Unity Charity founder Michael Prosserman; psychologist and researcher Gail McVey; and Bruce Lourie, president of the Ivey Foundation.

Our impact was felt both locally and globally this year as we worked with our partners to unite international communities in sport, support refugees at home and abroad, advance environmental conservation efforts and improve access to education for marginalized groups.
Gary Brewer
Vice-President, Finance & Administration

Improving Access to Education

In 2016, the University will offer five four-year tuition waivers for refugee students sponsored by the World University Service of Canada. York is also participating in a multi-institutional partnership with Lifeline Syria in support of Syrian refugees. Osgoode Hall Law School has joined with the University of Ottawa’s Refugee Sponsorship Support Program to match law students with immigration and refugee lawyers providing pro-bono assistance to asylum seekers.

Dadaab Institute Grads

In Dadaab, Kenya, in June 2015, 59 students in the world’s largest refugee camp graduated with York certificates in educational studies. They are the first graduates of a unique program designed to take postsecondary education to where refugees live.

Indigenous Communities

York continued to deepen its engagement with Indigenous communities, their laws and political and legal traditions. Osgoode Hall Law School hosted the inaugural Honour Ceremony for Indigenous graduates as well as the second annual Anishinaabe Law Camp.

Connecting Youth with Science & Technology

Participation in our science engagement camps aimed at students from grades three to twelve increased significantly, reaching nearly 500 participants at our Keele campus location. York digital media students shared their creativity and expertise with children aged nine to 12 in a series of free, hands-on Summer Inventors Workshops exploring the world of video game design held at libraries in Brampton and Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Toronto 2015 Pan Am & Parapan Am Games

York welcomed thousands of athletes and tens of thousands of spectators to our Keele campus for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am & Parapan Am Games, the world’s third largest multi-sport event. The University’s new world-class York Lions Stadium drew large crowds and served as an important centre for competition, especially for the York students and alumni who competed on campus and at events across the Greater Toronto Area.