York University's Senate, through the Academic Policy and Planning Committee (APPC), is engaged in a review process of Glendon College to determine how its distinctive mandate can be maintained in the face of recent budget deficits, enrolment shortfalls, faculty complement reductions and decreases in course offerings. APPC is seeking the advice of the academic community in the development of options for Glendon College.

    Recently APPC issued a discussion paper outlining a wide range of options for Glendon based on submissions received from the community during the past two months. Although combinations of ideas may be recommended, APPC believes that the arguments put forward tend to cluster around the following:

    Refine and refocus the bilingual mandate

    This option includes various means by which Glendon's bilingual mission could be made more emphatic while York's commitment to French-language instruction is strengthened. Some argue that the College's enrolment target should be reduced. At the same time there should be greater coherence in the curriculum along with new opportunities (such as more applied study).

    Unilingual streams in a bilingual milieu

    From 1971 to 1987 students at Glendon were able to pursue their studies in unilingual language streams. Revival of this option has been proposed as a way of firming up enrolments while maintaining an accent
on the College's traditional liberal arts and multidisciplinary programs.

    Re-imagine Glendon College

    A number of submissions to APPC have suggested that specific programs could be developed or enhanced at Glendon while the College maintains its bilingual mission. Among the possibilities are International Studies, Canadian Studies and Languages. Some submissions stress the desirability of re-positioning Glendon in the postsecondary market while others emphasize re-inventing the College's curriculum structure.

    Re-imagine the Glendon Campus

    At present the College is the only York Faculty on the Glendon site. One option is to add an existing Faculty to the campus. This may also entail cooperative curriculum arrangements and mutually advantageous recruitment strategies. The Bayview and Lawrence site could also house other educational and cultural activities.

    Recreate Glendon College on the Keele Campus

    If limited course selections are deterring students, it may be desirable to recreate a separate, but still bilingual Glendon on the Keele campus. The College's students would then have access to a wider range of programs and course offerings. Cooperative arrangements with other Faculties could extend the opportunities open to Francophone and bilingual students at Glendon as well as students in other undergraduate Faculties.

    A number of public meetings have been held over the past few weeks to hear various views, reactions and comments by interested members of the community. At the time Profiles went to press, APPC was preparing its report and recommendations scheduled to go to the York University Senate meeting of March 26, 1998.

    In December 1997, APPC received a background report which reviewed the academic history of the College and described an array of factors which should be taken into account in any review of academic options for Glendon. The report was circulated widely within the University community. The background paper, documents shared with APPC, and the discussion paper are all deposited at the University Secretariat, Faculty Council Offices, Frost Library (Glendon) and Scott Library (Keele). To find out how to obtain copies of these documents please contact the University Secretariat (S883 Ross/736-5012) or visit the Senate Website (http://www.yorku.ca/senate).