York is continuing its marketing push with a housing strategy, which includes a 10 year, $70 million upgrade plan for student residences on campus.
York will be more active in promoting residences on social media, according to Debbie Kee, director of Housing Services.
Other initiatives include responsive customer service and new printed and digital content. This development comes amid fresh concerns over York moving toward a corporate-style service model.
Notably, economics professor Ricardo Grinspun slammed York in recent Senate meetings, stating how York is becoming an increasingly large scale, neoliberal institution. York has drafted a long-term plan for ancillary operations, including housing and food services, among others. The document states that housing will contribute $7.1 million in net income over 10 years.
What this means in practice has yet to be seen, as York could not elaborate whether this planning language assumes a profit-making motive for ancillary services.
Kee says the investments will help York engage with students and increase student satisfaction. In particular, first-year students are being targeted with boosted programing in residence and additional student development opportunities. Upper-year students can expect a new third-party suite-style residence currently under construction.
Going forward, York seeks to solicit feedback for further improvement with the usual mix of surveys, student advisory groups, and open forums.
Food, another area of weakness at York, was also discussed at the December 8 Board of Governors meeting with a view to address “concerns about the meal plans and food services.”
Traditional concerns surrounding food at York include a lack of healthy and affordable food on campus. In response, the much-maligned meal plan is set to become “more flexible.”
According to Anthony Barbisan, director, YU-card, food and parking services, the meal plan structure is being simplified and the annual expiration of meal plan funds is being eliminated.
A coupon book is on the way as well as freebies and special events for students with meal plans. Barbisan says food outlets at York are operating longer, like the POD Express, which is open from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. during exam periods.
For 2016, says Barbisan, York is working on some new outlets and offerings in response to student input.
Previously, Excalibur spoke with Michael Waglay, program coordinator at Meal Exchange, a charity working to eradicate hunger on university campuses. Wagley says if York is interested in fighting poverty on campus, then it should enact policies that reduce poverty among students.
“York could reduce tuitions fees, create more well-paying student jobs on campus or subscribe students to the meal plan at the university’s expense,” says Waglay.
Alex Kvaskov, Assistant News Editor
