York University

York University, also called YorkU or YU, is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is one of Canada's largest universities.

York University was founded in 1959 and began teaching students in 1960. It started with only 76 students and has grown into a big university with two main campuses.

History

York University Faculty Members, 1961

York University started in 1959 in Toronto, Canada. The first class had 76 students and met at another university's building. Later, it moved to its own campuses. One campus, Glendon College, focuses on learning languages and liberal arts. Another campus, Keele Campus, opened in 1965 and has grown with new buildings over the years. In 2024, York University opened a new campus in Markham, Ontario, after getting support from the government.

Campuses

Keele Campus

Main article: Keele Campus of York University

The Keele Campus is where most of York University’s teaching happens. It is in northern Toronto, near York Region. Students study many subjects here, such as arts, science, business, and law. About 50,000 students attend classes on this campus. There are subway stations nearby to help students travel.

Glendon Campus

An outdoor art exhibit outside of Scott Library, Keele Campus

Main article: Glendon College

Glendon College is another part of York University. Here, students can learn in two languages. Glendon College has a large library named the Leslie Frost library.

Markham Campus

In 2018, York University planned to build a new campus in Markham. The government helped to pay for it, and it opened in September 2024. Today, more than 1,000 students study there, and soon it will have space for up to 4,200 students. This is the first public university campus in York Region. Students can study subjects like arts, IT, and science.

Other locations

Some programs from the Schulich School of Business and Osgoode Hall Law School are taught in downtown Toronto. There are small offices in big buildings there. There is also a special learning space in Costa Rica for studying the environment. York University also works with a partner for business studies in Hyderabad, India. In 2024, York University got money to start a new medical school. It will be in Vaughan and is expected to open in 2028.

Academics

York University has many teachers and offers lots of different programs for students to choose from. You can study things like science, business, and even film! Students from all over the world come to learn here.

York University Campus

The university is known for doing good research and has been ranked among the best schools in Canada and around the world. It has many different schools called "faculties," like the Lassonde School of Engineering and Osgoode Hall Law School.

York University also has special places for research and art, and it works with other schools to give students more chances to learn and grow. It even has a special program with the Toronto Raptors to help students interested in sports and entertainment.

Student life

York University has nine places where students can live on campus. There are over 350 student clubs, including groups for social justice and the environment. Some clubs help organize farmers' markets, free stores, bike centers, and borrowing centers.

Founders Residence

The university has its own newspapers and magazines. Excalibur has been the student newspaper since 1966. There is also Existere, a magazine made by students in the professional writing program.

York University's sports teams are called the York Lions. They compete in many sports, including soccer, track and field, and tennis. The university has many places to play sports, like gymnasiums, fields, tennis courts, and an ice rink.

Fraternities and sororities are not officially recognized by York University. However, one legal fraternity, Phi Delta Phi, is allowed at the Osgoode Law School because it has a long history there.

Colleges of York University
Name (Founded)	Motto/Mandate	Academic Affiliations	Namesake
Calumet (1970)	"Technology and the Arts"	Business Administration, Economics, Business and Society, Cognitive Science, Communication Studies, Psychology	Norman-French for pipe or pipestem.
Founders (1965)	"Self, Culture & Society"	Anthropology, English, Environmental Studies, French, Geography, Italian, History, African studies, East Asian studies, Social Work, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, South Asian Studies, International Development, Urban studies	The Group of Seven, often referred to as "The Founders of Canadian Art"
Glendon (1966)	Bilingual Liberal Arts	Liberal Arts, English, French, Public Policy, International Affairs	A combination of "glen" meaning "valley" and "Don" for the Don River.
McLaughlin (1968)	Public Policy & Social Sciences	Political Science, Sociology, Law and Society, Criminology, Public Policy, Health and Society, Labour Studies	Colonel Samuel McLaughlin, businessman and philanthropist.
New College (2009)	Professional Studies	Commerce, Human Resources, Information Technology	Newest college at York University.
Norman Bethune (1972)	"Science and its Place in the World"	Natural Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Science and Technology Studies (formerly Science and Society)	Norman Bethune, Canadian doctor and Chinese hero.
Stong (1969)	Language and Sport	Kinesiology, Health Science	The Stong family lived on the land now occupied by the Keele campus.
Vanier (1965)	Humanities	Children's Studies, Classical Studies & Classics, Culture and Expression, Hellenic Studies, Individualized Studies, Jewish Studies, Liberal Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Social and Political Thought, all Undecided Majors in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies	Georges Vanier, Governor-General of Canada.
Winters (1967)	Fine Arts & Education Studies	Arts, Media, Performance & Design, Faculty of Education	Robert Winters, Canadian Cabinet Minister and York's first chairman.
Glendon College acts as both a faculty and a college of the university. New College was created in 2009 to accommodate the creation of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies.

Notable people

Main article: List of York University people

Statue of Muhammad Ali Jinnah at the University

York University has many successful graduates and teachers. Over 370,000 former students are alive today, living in places like Ontario, British Columbia, New York, and Washington, D.C. Some have achieved great things in their fields.

The university honors special teachers each year with the highest titles: “distinguished research professor” and “university professor.” Only up to 25 of each can be chosen at one time. These titles go to teachers who have done amazing work in their areas of study.

Labour disruptions

York University has sometimes had to stop regular work because faculty and teaching assistants asked for better conditions.

In 1997, faculty members stopped working for seven weeks, one of the longest stops in Canadian university history. The issues were about retirement plans, money, and how the university is run.

In 2001, teaching assistants and some teachers stopped working for 11 weeks to keep important benefits. In 2008, another long stop happened for 85 days over job safety and fair treatment. In 2015, a stop lasted 29 days, and in 2018, it went on for 143 days, the longest in Canadian university history. Most recently, in 2024, a stop lasted 53 days over job stability and fair pay for workers. Each time, the university and workers eventually reached agreements to return to work.

Main article: 2008–2009 York University strike

Main article: 2018 York University strike