York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri has appointed a Task Force on Student Life, Learning & Community to review concerns about the student environment on the York campus. Half of the task force will be composed of students. The task force will report back to the president by the end of August with concrete measures to improve the learning atmosphere and relationships on campus.
“We are committed to ensuring that our students can pursue their studies free of harassment or intimid
ation”, said Shoukri. “This task force will take a hard look at the current environment on campus, and explore ways that we can promote open debate and the free exchange of ideas.”
The Task Force on Student Life, Learning & Community will be chaired by Patrick Monahan (left), the dean of Osgoode Hall Law School, who was recently appointed to the post of vice-president academic & provost which he will assume on July 1. Other members of the task torce include:
- Paul Delaney, professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Seth Feldman, professor, Faculty of Fine Arts
- Saeed Rahnema, professor, Atkinson Faculty of Liberal & Professional Studies
- Sylvia Schippke, assistant vice-president (student community development)
- Rob Tiffin, vice-president students
- Sandra Whitworth, professor, Faculty of Arts
The seven student members of the task force will be selected through an open application process, in which interested students will be invited to submit a short essay outlining what they could contribute and what they hope to see produced by the task force.
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Right: Task Force on Student Life, Learning & Community members, from top, Paul Delaney, Seth Feldman, Saeed Rahnema, Sylvia Schippke, Rob Tiffin and Sandra Whitworth
“As I outlined in my speech to Senate on February 26, we have to find ways to repair our relationships on campus if we are to fulfil our academic mission to the communities that we serve”, said Shoukri. “This task force is the first step in that process, and I look forward to receiving their report in time to ensure that we will be able to make a fresh start when students return in the fall.”
Terms of reference of the Task Force on Student Life, Learning & Community
Since its founding, York University has been committed to diversity, social justice and challenging the status quo, as exemplified by our motto: “The way must be tried”. York has always celebrated the diversity of the community and, while the free exchange of ideas has at times been lively and even heated, it has generally been conducted in an atmosphere of civility and respect for differing opinions. Yet recent events on campus have raised serious concerns over whether our most cherished values and commitments are being undermined by excessive conflict, intolerance and even intimidation.
As an institution of higher learning committed to the free exchange of ideas, a university has a responsibility to ensure that all members of the community can pursue their academic activities in an environment free of intolerance, harassment or intimidation. Given the recent events and concerns that have emerged within the York community, the president has created a Task Force on Student Life, Learning & Community, chaired by the provost-designate, to examine the current learning environment for students at York.
The task force will consult broadly with the community, with a view to developing principled recommendations that reflect this University’s unwavering commitment to fundamental values of free expression, free inquiry and respect for genuine diversity of thought and opinion.
The task force will examine the broad spectrum of student life, the learning environment, and student community at York University, with special attention to the relationships between and among students, as well as between students and other parts of the community. Without limiting this mandate, the task force will review in particular the following matters:
- Are the University’s current policies and practices adequate to ensure that the free exchange of ideas can occur in an environment free of discrimination, harassment or intimidation?
- Are there measures that can and should be undertaken to enhance the learning environment for students at York, both inside and outside of the classroom?
- How do we provide opportunities for students to be intellectually challenged, exposed to provocative issues and discussions, and encouraged to examine their beliefs and decisions?
- Are the University’s current policies and practices regarding the use of community space by individuals and groups appropriate?; and
- How should the University respond to incidents or behaviours that do not meet the community’s expectations with respect to tolerance of and respect for diversity of views of members of the York community?
One half of the task force will consist of student members and the task force will be consulting with all constituencies in the broader York community. This consultation process may include: online surveys; online discussion forums; in-person focus groups; town hall meetings; and written submissions. The task force will also gather information on best practices on the matters within its mandate at other universities in North America.
The task force may issue preliminary or interim reports and will, in any event, report to the president by Aug. 31, 2009.
Membership
There will be a total of 14 members of the task force. The initial seven members are as follows:
- Patrick Monahan, dean, Osgoode Hall Law School & provost-designate (chair)
- Paul Delaney, professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Seth Feldman, professor, Faculty of Fine Arts
- Saeed Rahnema, professor, Atkinson Faculty of Liberal & Professional Studies
- Sylvia Schippke, assistant vice-president (student community development)
- Rob Tiffin, vice-president students
- Sandra Whitworth, professor, Faculty of Arts
Seven student members will be added to the task force by the initial seven members, through an open application process. Interested students will be invited to apply through an online process, in which they will be asked to provide background information on themselves and their experience at York University; explain what they believe they would bring to the work of the task force; and describe what they hope the task force will achieve for the community.
Applications will be reviewed by the initial seven members and decisions on the remaining membership will be based on the following criteria:
- Has experience working with teams or as part of a group;
- Relates well and in an appropriate manner to peers, and is a problem-solver;
- Has a commitment to understanding the needs of students;
- Is independent and open-minded towards the issues to be discussed by the task force; and
- Assists the task force in its goal of securing broad representation of the diverse York University student community.