From Access to Success

Next Generation Student Supports

With many of our students facing current challenges and uncertain futures, York will devote additional attention to supporting students of all backgrounds and circumstances to complete their studies successfully and to realize their full potentials.

A core value of York University since its inception has been to provide access to all eligible students so that no talent is left behind. We serve large numbers of students who are new Canadians, Black, Indigenous, racialized, from lower income backgrounds, or who are among the first in their families to attend university. We are proud that our campuses teem with students of diverse sexualities, abilities, nationalities, religions, political beliefs, and linguistic backgrounds. Indeed, it is this vibrancy and promise that attract many people to come to York or to support our work. 

We are proud that our campuses teem with students of diverse sexualities, abilities, nationalities, religions, political beliefs, and linguistic backgrounds.

We also recognize that many of our students may have substantial work and family commitments, or face systemic barriers as part of the experience of belonging to a minority in society or at university. As a large institution that has grown quickly, York also recognizes that we must reduce the complexity of navigating our University in order to meet the needs of all of our students whether graduate, undergraduate, or those engaged in continuing studies. We must commit to being caring, proactive, responsive, reliable, and supportive as we provide an exceptional experience that always goes above and beyond.

With progress already happening in many areas, we will redouble our efforts over the course of this UAP to achieve positive change for our students in the following areas: 

• more seamless, timely, and reliable access to excellent academic and career advising, as well as accessibility and other supports, through a combination of in-person service and digital systems, including our recently launched Student Virtual Advisor
• earlier feedback to students on their academic standing, and the use of data analytics to enable proactive, early interventions for students who are struggling 
• more robust resources to assist international students with their distinctive needs
• achievement of our Faculty Complement Renewal Strategy to diversify our faculty to better reflect the makeup of our student body
• enhanced opportunities for learning about Indigenous worldviews and the history of Canada vis-à-vis Indigenous peoples 
• new systems to track our progress on improving outcomes for all of our students and especially those from underrepresented groups