During a Senate of York University meeting on Thursday, Feb. 25, the University Academic Plan (UAP) 2015-2020, was approved by Senators with an overwhelming vote in favour of the document.
The University Academic Plan, which represents the Senate’s most important academic planning statement, retains the University’s focus on academic quality, student success, and engagement and outreach.
“The University Academic Plan 2015-2020 reflects the many accomplishments that York has already made with the collective efforts of our entire community and the significant opportunities that York will embrace over the next five years in advancing our vision as an internationally recognized, comprehensive and research-intensive institution,” said York Vice-President Academic and Provost Rhonda Lenton. “We are a progressive, inclusive and engaged university and I am confident that our new UAP will continue to advance our commitment to excellence in teaching and research, innovation, student success, community engagement and transformational change.”
Strongly focused on students, the new UAP articulates York University’s commitment to high-quality programs, rich classroom experiences taking place within a nurturing campus environment. Seven priorities are outlined within the document, each with a series of objectives and commitments.
The priority areas are:
- innovative, quality programs for academic excellence,
- advancing exploration, innovation and achievement in scholarship, research and related creative activities,
- enhanced quality in teaching and student learning,
- a student-centred approach,
- enhanced campus experience,
- enhanced community engagement, and
- enabling the plan.
Outward looking and bold, the document was enriched by a full year of pan-University consultations that began in the winter term of 2015. Consultations were led by the Academic Policy, Planning and Research Committee (APPRC), chaired by Faculty of Health Professor Rebecca Pillai Riddell. Consultation activities included a survey with responses provided from more than 600 members of the academy and a series of academic planning fora. Input was also provided by Senate committees, Faculty Councils and the University Senate.
“The journey to the University Academic Plan 2015-2020 has been an exciting and dynamic process involving a truly collaborative pan-University effort. The Academic Policy, Planning and Research Committee of the York Senate has been proud to take a leadership role in facilitating community dialogue on not only charting the course for our future but also re-affirming the traditional core values of our past,” said Pillai Riddell.
The UAP 2015-2020 provides all members of the University community with document to guide how decisions are made. It concludes with a forecast of the myriad of profound changes set to take place over the next five years, including a new campus in the city of Markham, the opening in 2017 of the Toronto York Spadina Subway extension, which will connect the Keele campus with downtown Toronto, and more. The UAP is designed to capture York University’s mission and traditions and a new sense of purpose and progress.
The full document is posted on the Senate AAPRC website.