TORONTO, June 27, 1997 -- York University will soon be home to the world's largest School of Women's Studies.

"The School of Women's Studies will build on York's excellent reputation for progressive scholarship in women's studies, and will allow our students to explore equity issues in a variety of fields," said the School's Interim Chair Janice Newton.

The School of Women's Studies, which will be formally established by legislation this fall, was approved in principle by the York University Senate in late May.

York students will now be able to look to a unified School of Women's Studies, one that will bring together York's top-notch faculty, the undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as the Centre for Feminist Research, the Canadian Women's Studies journal/les cahiers de la femme, and the Nellie Langford Rowell Library. The School will guarantee that women's studies at York expands and diversifies, and that its faculty and students continue to address issues of equity and human rights at a local, national and international level through feminist scholarship.

Students who choose women's studies at York can expect to learn from a diverse and accomplished faculty. More than 200 highly respected scholars doing research within a range of fields, including humanities, social sciences, law, health, business, fine arts, environmental studies and the applied sciences, will be connected to the school. Newton expects the new School will foster ground-breaking research and scholarship.

"Our women's studies scholars have already achieved so much. Many have received teaching prizes, and their research is internationally recognized. Most recently, philosophy professor Lorraine Code has been awarded the Walter Gordon Fellowship for her research in feminist theory. And Marlene Kadar, who teaches one of our introductory women's studies courses, was awarded a prize for excellence in teaching from the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations. We can achieve even more now that this School is about to become a reality," said Newton.

Women's studies courses have been offered at York since 1972. Students have been earning women's studies degrees since 1983. Currently there are about 4,000 students taking women's studies courses. Applications for admission to the School of Women's Studies will be accepted in the spring of 1998, and the restructured curriculum will be in place for the 1998-99 school year.

The School will come on the heels of a historic first for York's women's studies program: two students are preparing to defend their doctoral theses, and York anticipates granting the first two PhDs in women's studies in Canada this fall.

Katherine Side is one of those PhD students. "The York women's studies program offered me terrific support. I think students and employers are looking for the kind of interdisciplinary education that the women's studies program offers," said Side. Newton agreed. "Students often ask, 'What can I do with a degree in women's studies?' We've got graduates in health and social services, government, business, the media and law. And our graduates say that women's studies gave them the personal confidence to succeed in whatever field they chose."

A recent women's studies alumnae survey heard from graduates who had gone on to careers as counsellors, nurses, researchers, midwives, and policy analysts, to name a few. "Women's Studies has enhanced my work...What I have been able to do is adopt a feminist framework in which to work as a mental health nurse," wrote one respondent.

"One of the goals of the School is to encourage more women to stay in university and become self-sufficient and self-confident," said Newton. The School will be placing a priority on fundraising to support part-time students -- people who normally do not have access to loans and other funding. As well, many women who have been out of school for years and want to return can take advantage of the School of Women's Studies bridging courses. They enable mature women students to upgrade their academic skills and enter university.

The School has received strong public support, with more than $1 million donated to student assistance. Matched by the Ontario Government, this translates into a scholarship endowment of more than $2 million.

York President Susan Mann congratulated all those involved in the new School. "The establishment of the School of Women's Studies maintains York's pride of place in feminist scholarship, characterized as it is by academic excellence, social innovation and relevance, and the needs and aspirations of its students," said York President Susan Mann.

For more information, call:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor for Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087

Prof. Janice Newton
Interim Chair
School of Women's Studies
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 66907 or 88816
YU/060/97