The University adopted an activity-based type budget model – the SHARP Budget model - in fiscal 2017-18. As part of the implementation plan, the University committed to review the design elements of the SHARP model three years in, based on early experience. The SHARP model entered its third year in 2019-20 and as such, a SHARP review was scheduled for Fall 2019.
The University appointed external reviewers with significant experience in university budgets to lead the external review. The focus for this review was to obtain feedback on the principles, concepts and structures of SHARP. The external reviewers were:
- Alan Harrison, Past Provost and VP (Academic), Queen’s University
- Scott Mabury, Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships & Vice-Provost, Academic Operations, University of Toronto
- Megan Sheppard, Senior Vice President Corporate Services & CFO, Loyalist College
Among other things, the review focused on examining whether the principles underpinning the SHARP Budget model were still appropriate, and whether it enhanced the academic mission of the University. The review examined the strengths of the model and its processes; the challenges of the model and its processes; and how best to address these challenges.
The review included consultations with the York community as follows:
- Deans and Executive Officers for all of York’s Faculties
- York’s administrative/support units
- Senior leadership (President and Vice-Presidents)
- Two town hall sessions, one at the Keele campus and one at the Glendon campus
- Any other groups as necessary
In addition to the external review, there were opportunities for the University community to provide feedback on the SHARP budget review during the budget consultation sessions, which occurred from September 2019 to January 2020. The draft report and recommendations of the review including feedback from budget consultations was completed in March/April 2020.
In response to the recommendations of the external review, several enhancements to the SHARP Budget were designed over the course of 2020-2021, and will be implemented beginning 2022-2023.