At a specially-called Glendon Council meeting on Friday Feb 5 to discuss the Faculties of the Future proposals in relation to Glendon’s mission as a multilingual liberal arts college, Interim President Lisa Philipps and Interim Provost & Vice President Academic Laina Bay-Cheng dropped a bombshell announcement regarding preliminary plans to use Glendon lands for new housing development.

According to Philipps, a recent report from the York University Development Corporation (YUDC) found that 40% of space on the Glendon Campus is underused and could be redeveloped. Philipps stated that residential housing would be a source of revenue generation in perpetuity for the University that could help offset current financial challenges. She added that such a development would be a welcome contribution to Toronto’s housing crisis.

Shocked Glendon faculty questioned this suggestion, since the Glendon estate lands, given by the Wood family and later transferred by the University of Toronto to York, are designated for educational purposes only.

Interim Provost & VP Academic Bay-Cheng indicated that members could expect formal plans from her office in May of this year.  Restructuring-weary Glendon faculty expressed concern about yet another delay.  They pointed out that they are now unsure how to represent Glendon departments and programs at an upcoming Open House for prospective students, since continued uncertainty puts Glendon in a state of limbo. The ongoing instability is having terrible impacts on YUFA members, students, staff, the entire Glendon community, and York University as a whole: its reputation, heritage, and academic mission.  

YUFA continues to support Glendon colleagues in defense of their Collective Agreement rights.