Hello,

Just a friendly reminder that although there is printing available in our graduate student lounge, we do require that students supply their own paper. Note also the quote below courtesy of the York University Library system.

Free printing for graduate students: Currently registered graduate students are entitled to 3000 free black and white pages (or equivalent value for colour printing). This quota may be accessed throughout the York University Libraries and at the William Small Centre. When you authenticate as a graduate student at a print release workstation you will have the choice of printing from your quota or printing using available YU-card funds.
For questions regarding your free printing quota contact the UIT (University Information Technology) Help Desk : helpdesk@yorku.ca.

Healthy, affordable and culturally diverse food is on the menu at the Shoreham Food Market opening Thursday, July 14 and serving the York University and Black Creek communities.

The market will operate at the Shoreham Public School, 31 Shoreham Dr. in North York, every Thursday until Oct. 28, from 3 to 7pm.

In addition to food, there will be local vendors selling everything from jewelry to clothing, as well as activities for children and health nutrition education. There are plenty of opportunities for more vendors, so anyone who is interested in selling goods at the market should contact Kidist at yorkcec@yorku.ca.

The York University-TD Community Engagement Centre is one of the organizers of the market and this is one of its many outreach initiatives.

“Accessing fresh, healthy, low-cost food can be a challenge for residents in the Jane-Finch area. This market initiative is a collaboration that brings a new asset into the neighbourhood to help address that challenge,” says Sue Levesque, executive director of the York University-TD Community Engagement Centre. “It also provides a venue for people from York and from the local area to mingle – all kinds of interesting outcomes stem from the dozens of casual conversations that start up between people shopping at the market. Come join us.”

Whenever possible, the food is brought in from local sources through FoodShare from the farmers who grow it. Each week, the proceeds from the fresh food are used to buy food for sale the following week, while local vendors keep their own proceeds.

York University students, faculty and staff, local community residents, community agencies and City of Toronto Councillor Anthony Peruzza’s office, who are involved with the Black Creek Food Justice Action Network, all have a hand in making the market a reality.

The Good Food Market was established to bring healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate food within walking distance of the University and Black Creek communities.

To learn more, visit the FoodShare website.

York University students are telling the world why they chose to come to York in a new social media campaign, launched yesterday.

Videos spotlighted on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and the York University website feature students explaining in their own words why York University was their first choice. The videos will be released at regular intervals over a six-week period. To view the campaign’s launch video, visit the Choose York web page or see below.

“At York’s recent Convocation we witnessed a groundswell of pride and support by students for the University and this is something we want students to be able to share within the broader York community and their friends,” says Rob Tiffin, York’s vice-president students. “Students are using their own words with video clips that will be sent out via Facebook, YouTube and Twitter this summer. I look forward to all the comments, videos and tweets leading up to the fall school year.”

Here’s a snapshot of what students are saying so far:

“…[York is] interdisciplinary… I look at one issue not only from one perspective, but from multiple perspectives.” – David Ip Yam, double major in political science and French studies student

“…[York is] prideful on urban diversity, social justice and equity…that’s where my heart lies with York.” – Kerwin Liverpool, Urban Diversity graduate

“…it’s an amazing campus…I like the size of it …and I also love the proximity to downtown…”
– Andrew Brown, psychology student

“You can hear the conversation that goes from English, to Francaise, to Espanol….and it really improves your French….” – Lucy Jang-Naruse, psychology and teacher education for French immersion student

Choose York will continue to add new videos over the duration of the campaign, spotlighting new, returning, transfer and mature students showcasing the programs featured for all those coming to campus this year. The campaign includes an awareness advertisement designed to inform mature students about the power and potential of a York University education, as well as a call to action to action to apply for a September 2011 start.

For more information, visit the Increase Your Earning Potential This September and Choose York web pages.

Today marks the debut of York’s new Accessibility Hub, a comprehensive online resource that gathers into one place all of the services, information and standards that are related to increasing accessibility at the University.

Accessibility builds and maintains standards for the inclusion of all individuals across the University in daily activities. Whether it is through face-to-face interaction, teaching, web or print materials, everyone has a role to play in making York accessible for people of all abilities.

York’s new Accessibility Hub provides information on accessible website standards, accessibility legislation, tips on interacting with persons with disabilities, training and more, all in one convenient location. As new information becomes available, the hub will be adapted and enhanced. It will serve as a living laboratory to reflect new thinking and developments in accessibility.

The push towards accessibility has its roots in the 1980s, when several provincial laws were passed to increase accessibility in the province. While progress has been made in some areas and by some organizations, accessibility in some areas still remains limited and people with disabilities do not have equal access to services, employment, transportation or buildings that others in Ontario enjoy.

In 2005, the provincial government addressed this inequality with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Under the act, businesses and organizations in Ontario, including all universities and colleges, will have to identify, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility. AODA, which will be reviewed every five years, sets out series of standards designed to move the province forward on accessibility in a number of key areas.

These standards will be rolled out in stages over the next few years with a goal of completion in 15 years. A University AODA coordinating committee was convened to provide leadership for these new standards.

In 2010, York introduced to the University community the first set of standards to be implemented under AODA. The “customer service” standard ensured that  goods and services offered by the University and other public sector organizations are provided in ways that are accessible to persons with disabilities, see YFile, April 20, 2010. All individuals who deal with the University’s customers (students, visitors, prospective community members and alumni) are required to complete an online training module.

“York University has an advantage over some institutions as it has been a leader in being an accessible place to work and study for some time,” said Mamdouh Shoukri, York’s president & vice-chancellor. “As Canada’s third largest University, with more than 65,000 students, faculty and staff, we understand how important it is that people of all abilities are able to enjoy what York has to offer.”

York’s Accessibility Hub provides an accessible toolkit of web standards and will evolve as new information and developments become available. The hub also offers a comprehensive list of resources, training, an option to provide feedback and a list of documents community members can use to make the University more accessible.

“The Accessibility Hub is an evolution of the University’s efforts to raise awareness of disabilities and accessibility,” said Leanne De Fillippis, York’s AODA coordinator.  “it offers a home for all the services and information available on accessibility.”

To learn more, visit York’s Accessibility Hub online, or contact the AODA office at aodainfo@yorku.ca, or by telephone at 416-736-5310.

A new video from York University President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri offers a welcome back message to students returning for the winter term. Building on the success of his fall welcome message, the president offers a recap of the major milestones and news events of the past term.

In the high-definition video filmed in the Learning Commons at the Scott Library, available on the Office of the President website and YouTube, Shoukri congratulates some 2,000 students who graduated during Fall Convocation ceremonies. He also commends the York Lions men’s soccer team on their national title, the gold medal win by York student Ohenewa Akuffo at the Commonwealth Games and the induction of four York professors into the Royal Society of Canada.

Other topics include Homecoming, York’s grade of B+ in the annual College Sustainability Report Card, the start of construction on the Glendon Centre of Excellence for French-Language & Bilingual Postsecondary Education in southern Ontario, the Bryden Alumni Awards reception, the  Learning Commons and the opening of the Sherman Health Science Research Centre on the Keele campus.

Beyond this video, the president is continuing his commitment to enhancing his communication and engagement with students directly. To that end, the president will be available to meet with individual students by appointment. A student can request a 10-minute meeting this winter at these times:

• Feb. 22, from 3 to 4pm
• March 21, from 3 to 4pm

To request an appointment, click here. For more information, visit the Office of the President website.

York’s Faculty of Graduate Studies Teaching Award is bestowed annually on a faculty member who has displayed sustained excellence and enthusiasm in teaching at the graduate level.

The award recognizes teaching and supervisory excellence. Other elements taken into consideration include scholarly, professional or teaching development, and initiatives in graduate program and curriculum development. The nominator may be any member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), including faculty, graduate students or staff.

Nominations must reach the FGS Council Office (283 York Lanes) by Monday, Nov. 15. For more information on how to submit a nomination, contact Sampa Bhadra, FGS associate dean academic affairs, at ext. 66957, or M. Michael Schiff, FGS Council assistant secretary, at ext. 22264, or visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.