29 Jan 2025: Updates from the Vice-Chancellor

Sent to all undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students.

Updates from the Vice-Chancellor

Dear students,

A happy 2025 to you all! As we approach the start of a new semester, I’d like to share a few University updates.

Welcome Back Week on campus

First of all welcome back to returning students - and for those of you with assessments and exams, I hope these have gone well. And I hope that both returning and new students will be able to take part in Welcome Back Week from Monday 3 February - events and activities to kick off Semester 2 and a refresher on what you might have missed. 

Welcome Back Week offers a chance to socialise and catch up with friends as well as time to reflect and plan for your future through career support and opportunities for further study. Please take a moment to look at what’s available across the week.

New members of staff 

This month, we welcome a new Head of Campus Safety to the University - Chris Goodman-Bowen. Chris is currently spending time meeting staff and students and, importantly, listening to your feedback. Working closely with our Student Life and Wellbeing colleagues, our College management teams and York Students’ Union, his initial focus will be on understanding the current support and training for campus safety staff and students who volunteer or work to support the safety of other students.

I’m also delighted with the announcement of the new York Students’ Union CEO, Yeme Onoabhagbe. Currently the interim CEO at Student Minds, Yeme has worked in a range of education and charity sector roles including events and volunteer management, and anti-racism and LGBTQ+ inclusion strategy work. We look forward to working with Yeme to further shape the student experience at York.

College life

We’re aware of concerns about the future of our College system, so I’d like to scotch a rumour I’ve heard is going around by stating on the record that there are no plans to merge any of our Colleges. Our 11 Colleges - and their distinctive history and characters - are central to the University’s identity. They remain your foundation for getting involved in campus life and a gateway to exploring the University. So please take a moment to read my open letter in reply to College Chairs and Presidents about how, at a moment when university finances are stretched at York and elsewhere, we’re resourcing support across Colleges so they remain vibrant and welcoming communities.

Creating a more sustainable campus

You may have seen that there is more scaffolding on campus buildings than usual, particularly around the Library buildings and the Medical School building, with more to go up. Please accept my apologies for any disruption this causes, but the work under way is part of important programmes, for example, to support campus energy production and the installation of over 1000 solar panels across campus.

In 2024, we were proud to be ranked #12 in the UK and #34 in the world for most sustainable university in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025. We remain committed to building on this with our 10 year Sustainability Plan, and initiatives such as greener energy consumption. You can read about our teaching and research leading the way on sustainability across the globe, as well as campus sustainability plans, on our new sustainability web pages. 

Our global community

Finally, I would like to reflect on the announcement of a ceasefire to the war in Gaza and the freeing of hostages. We have all watched the many atrocities of this war with horror and deep concern. I know that lots of students have campaigned hard for a ceasefire, and I join everyone in our York community in hoping that this announcement will bring an end to the immense suffering of those in the region. 

I hope that the ceasefire will now bring opportunities for us to make advancements in our support, particularly in progressing our membership of HESPAL - higher education scholarships for Palestinians. We are also continuing to work with others to shape a coordinated national response to help the rebuilding of higher education in Gaza.

I will sign off by wishing you all the best for the semester ahead. I’ll be in touch from time to time with important updates and information about the University and beyond. 

With best wishes

Charlie
Vice-Chancellor and President