Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps outlined a set of near-term imperatives for York University during a recent presentation to Senate and emphasized the value of returning to our roots to guide the way forward.
Philipps reflected on what makes York special, highlighting its sense of social purpose and commitment to leave no talent behind, and noted “we have always opened our doors to a distinctively diverse array of people and ideas, and this powers our University with a unique creative energy.”
She pointed to York’s founding motto, tentanda via – “the way must be tried” – and the words of the University’s first president, Murray Ross, who called for a new university to go beyond the “time-honoured patterns” of others and “to think rather in terms of today and of special needs related to special problems of contemporary society.”
She emphasized how York has enacted this principle by bridging disciplines to examine problems more holistically, collaborating with community partners and designing learning experiences that connect theory with practice.
Philipps then outlined three interconnected imperatives that will guide her interim term.
The first is to maximize research impact, particularly as governments and industry look increasingly to universities for help in developing new approaches to drive social and economic progress. With new federal funding opportunities emerging, she described this as a pivotal moment for York to amplify the visibility and reach of its research excellence across the full spectrum – from fundamental inquiry to applied work that pursues more immediate impact.
The second priority is to build learning capacities through more student engagement with research, by cultivating the essential human skills needed to work effectively with advanced technologies, and by illuminating meaningful career paths with co-op, entrepreneurial supports, global learning and other hands-on experiences. This also requires supporting instructors as they reimagine teaching, curriculum and assessment for a digital age.
Her third imperative is to champion York’s purpose – and that of all Canadian universities – as irreplaceable spaces for independent thought, pluralistic inquiry and dialogue across difference and across borders. She underscored the importance of long-term financial sustainability in protecting the University’s academic mission and autonomy.
Philipps encouraged senators to think boldly about the structures, collaborations and ongoing conversations needed to advance York’s mission in the years ahead. “I hope that together we can embrace this moment as an invitation for our community to help shape a future that is ambitious, globally engaged and deeply connected to the public good,” she finished.