The “I Am the Change” series takes you behind the scenes to offer an in-depth look at the individuals driving change at 91��ɫ. From quiet innovators to charismatic leaders, each team member shares their unique blend of skills, experiences, and personality that helps bring the program to life. They all aim to make a positive impact on 91��ɫ and are dedicated to excellence.

For this blog post, we are thrilled to introduce you to Emilie DeOca. Emilie has been a part of the 91��ɫ community for 18 years in various roles. She has contributed to both the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) as the Assistant Registrar, Degree Audit and Special Programs, and most recently, the Student Systems Renewal Program as the Manager, Business Transformation, Academic Structure.

In the OUR, Emilie provided professional direction, policy, and procedural recommendations to decision-making bodies and acted as the University expert in degree audit processes. She managed student records for 91��ɫ’s specialized academic programs and implemented successful special programs like the Transition Year Program, Exchange Programs, Ryerson/91��ɫ Exchange Programs, the Letter of Permission, and various bridging programs.

Currently, as the Manager, Business Transformation, Academic Structure, Emilie is responsible for providing overall leadership within the Student Systems Renewal Program. She supports the end-to-end maintenance of academic structure across all projects in the program.

Putting aside her deep institutional knowledge and expertise, Emilie is also cherished and respected as a person. She approaches challenges head-on with positivity and is always willing to jump in with an idea or solution—or even just a smile—to help her colleagues feel supported, appreciated, and respected.

Let’s dive a little deeper into what makes Emilie show up to work each day with a positive attitude and ideas to help drive University goals:

"Though it may sound a bit cliché, it's always been my dream to work for 91��ɫ, and having that dream come true is a blessing each day that I'm here. This blessing includes being surrounded by such supportive and brilliant colleagues and mentors, which fuels my drive and energy each day."

Emilie recognizes the importance of enhancing team culture and consistently works to create a shared sense of commitment to enhancing the student, faculty, and staff experience at 91��ɫ. Her knowledge and profound ability to bring out the best in people have helped drive positive changes that will make a lasting impression on students, faculty, and staff today and well into the future.

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Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Carrie Morel, HR Business Partner, whose people-first approach to team development creates a welcoming and inclusive workplace where everyone is encouraged to shine. Since beginning in her role, Carrie has been instrumental in building and maintaining a strong, high-performing team. On a day-to-day basis, Carrie provides human resources leadership, advice and guidance to all levels of management, ensuring that the team’s operational needs are met both now and in the future. Carrie consistently puts people first and staffs the team with qualified, passionate experts who feel supported and trusted to make the right decisions. She works tirelessly to make every member of the team feel empowered and safe.

In her day-to-day operations, Carrie advises on workforce planning, participates in employee relations, conflict resolution, talent acquisition, development, compensation, disability support, workplace investigations and more. The impact she makes is seen in big and small ways, and her warm and caring personality fosters a positive and collaborative team environment where trust, respect, and continuous improvement are the norms.

Let’s take some time to get to know Carrie and learn more about what inspires her:

Carrie’s compassionate approach to human resources is creating a healthy work environment where both managers and employees can thrive. Her dedication and passion are driving positive change, making 91��ɫ an even better place to work.

As we look to the future, the SSRP remains committed to transforming the experiences of the 91��ɫ community. With leaders like Carrie at the helm, we’re confident in our ability to achieve our goals and continue making a difference. Stay tuned for more profiles in the “I am the Change” series, where we continue to highlight the amazing individuals behind the SSRP.

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You might be missing out on financial aid, awards and scholarship opportunities at 91��ɫ. We’ve got you covered! 91��ɫ’s , also known as the FAAS App, makes finding, qualifying and applying for financial awards a whole lot easier.

You might think financial recognition is all about top grades. Sure, good grades matter, but 91��ɫ also wants to celebrate what makes you stand out — your passions, contributions and unique qualities within the community. 91��ɫ has more than 2,500 awards available!

We know university costs can add up — tuition, books, rent, food and more. Financial aid, awards and scholarships can ease that burden, with some being awarded based on your academic achievements, leadership and community involvement, interests and extra-curricular activities. We also understand that you may encounter some unexpected financial challenges and need a little bit of help getting back on your feet. The FAAS App is here to help with that, too.

These awards and scholarships will also look great on LinkedIn, helping to boost your profile and open doors to future opportunities.

Before you can take advantage of all of these benefits, we need you to complete your Student Profile. Your student profile will not only tell us which awards you are eligible for, it will also allow us to assess you for automatic financial awards without submitting an application.

So, complete your Student Profile today and we will notify you in the Fall when the award applications open.

91��ɫ’s new FAAS App is here to make things easier so you can focus on what truly matters — your education and making memories at 91��ɫ.

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With this new solution, students can search, apply for and track applications all in one place, and some awards will even be automatically awarded based on the criteria entered while creating a Student Profile. For faculty and staff, ways of working will also be transformed through a new streamlined process where they’ll be able to review and distribute awards through one single solution.

Students: While the solution has launched, students will start using it at different times. Current undergraduate and graduate students will begin to receive communications about usage beginning late July and into early August, in line with awards application timelines. Students will be notified that they may start to receive communications from the system including whether there are specific actions to take to apply for and receive funding. Not a student at 91��ɫ yet? Prospective students will be introduced to the new solution as part of the regular admissions processes and will be directed to use it accordingly.

Launching the new Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships solution is a significant achievement. 91��ɫ is one of the first universities in Canada to be implementing a sophisticated awards solution which will streamline the way students access financial aid, awards and scholarship opportunities. With personalized options, increased visibility and more claimed awards, 91��ɫ will be better positioned as a university of choice for students around the world.
A lot of work went into launching this new solution, including countless hours of training and testing. Resources have been created to help support faculty and staff as they begin to use the solution, including a Help Guide, drop-in training sessions and more.

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So, without further ado, let’s get ready to learn more about one of the driving forces behind the SSRP’s new solution for Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships. Meet Aakash Yesudas Devdas, Manager of Business Transformation, Graduate Studies. Aakash embodies a gentle yet confident demeanour, radiating kindness and enthusiasm in every interaction. With his articulate communication skills and depth of knowledge, he's not just someone you'd feel comfortable being yourself around, but he’s also your go-to person for navigating the intricacies of financial aid, awards, scholarships and graduate funding.

Aakash was first drawn to the SSRP because of the program’s mission to leverage “next generation” technology and the expertise of talented individuals to enhance the systems and processes at 91��ɫ. He has played a crucial role in the setup and design of graduate funding within the Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships solution, and as he continues to dive into work on the new solution, Aakash sees enormous potential, believing it has the power to be a complete game-changer. The new solution not only simplifies the student journey but also empowers the entire 91��ɫ community to see some amazing benefits. Get ready to experience a whole new level of efficiency and accessibility coming in July 2024 – courtesy of dedicated team members like Aakash!

“I really enjoy the challenge of identifying areas for improvement and implementing strategies that enhance efficiency and effectiveness” enthuses Aakash, when asked what he finds most fulfilling about his role. “It's the opportunity to drive meaningful change and innovation within the graduate studies domain.”

Beyond his passion and skills, Aakash is a family man with broad personal interests. Whether it's sports, getting lost in a good book or exploring a bunch of other fun hobbies, he greets every challenge and opportunity with optimism and excitement. Let's jump into a fun questionnaire to learn more about Aakash, his work and his diverse interests!

Through his dedication and in-depth understanding, Aakash is helping to pave the way for some exciting times ahead while making a true impact on 91��ɫ. The people are the heartbeat of the SSRP, dedicated to changing the game for students, faculty and staff. We can’t wait to share more about some of them soon. For more information on the and the new upcoming solution for Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships, feel free to explore the SSRP website or reach out to us at ssrp@yorku.ca

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On February 28, the SSRP team hosted an information webinar open to all staff and faculty members. With approximately 300 attendees, the event reached a noteworthy milestone for the project, sparking tons of excitement and curiosity! The team presented how the new solution will position 91��ɫ for the future. Then, the floor was opened for a live Q&A session, allowing attendees to submit questions in real-time. You’re welcome to view the recording of the webinar.

Thank you to everyone who submitted questions during the webinar. Due to time, we couldn't cover each question live, but don't worry! Below you’ll find answers to many of the questions, and they’ll help ensure you’re in-the-know on everything related to the new solution for Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships.

Along with the webinar, here are some other community resources available to ensure everyone is ready to embrace the new solution (with more on the way soon!):

• A new animated video explains the new solution for Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships in an entertaining, simplified and highly shareable format.
• A demonstration video is available to provide a preview of the new solution before its official release, with a walk-through of specific system functionalities. Another demo will take place later this month, and will also be posted online.
• You can reach out to Faculty and Division Project Leads for support and updates. These folks represent various faculties and divisions at 91��ɫ and have been engaged and are actively assisting in preparing for a smooth adoption of the new solutions. If you aren’t sure who your dedicated Project Lead is, you can search very easily.

The SSRP team wants to be sure everyone at the University is excited and ready for the new solution. We encourage you to continue to check out the community resources as we move forward with the new solution for Financial Aid, Awards, and Scholarships. You can also learn more by contacting the SSRP at ssrp@yorku.ca with any additional questions.

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The SSRP Glossary

The glossary, available through the "Resources” tab of the SSRP website, serves as a very handy reference for the terminology used throughout the different projects and the solutions being implemented - on the website, in presentations or referenced in conversations with colleagues. It can provide information for students hoping to learn about the new SSRP solutions, or for staff and faculty members seeking clarity on the upcoming changes etc.
In addition to defining terms, the glossary can also act as your go-to resource for acronyms! Acronyms are linguistic shortcuts that allow for efficiency in the fast-paced realm of the SSRP. They condense terms or phrases into more manageable forms and provide a clear and consistent way to reference specific concepts for the projects and implementations – but with so many acronyms being used daily, it can be hard to keep track of what they all mean.

Data Dictionary

With the SSRP and Office of Institutional Planning and Analysis (OIPA)’s initiatives powered by data, another helpful resource is 91��ɫ’s Data Dictionary. The Data Dictionary is an online tool that defines data elements that are essential not only to the SSRP’s projects, but to the entire University. It is housed on the OIPA website and aims to establish a standardized data language for all of 91��ɫ.

These resources are available to all faculty, staff and students – and you’re encouraged to refer to them at any point as you engage in discussions about the projects within the SSRP or as you start using the solutions as they are made available to the 91��ɫ community. For more information, feel free to explore the SSRP website at yorku.ca/ssrp or email any questions to ssrp@yorku.ca.

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To kick things off, we’re getting to know the bubbly personality leading the program - meet Marie Limanni, the SSRP’s Executive Director, who's not just running the show but doing it with beaming enthusiasm and contagious positivity. Anyone who knows Marie will say that she’s the heart and soul of the SSRP, always ready with the most perfect GIF to share, a (virtual) high-five and an eagerness to hear what everyone's thinking. Whenever she has the opportunity, she is quick to celebrate the program as a team effort and motivate everyone around her to be the very best versions of themselves.

Having joined 91��ɫ in March 2020, Marie continuously leads with both her heart and her head. She wholeheartedly backs all SSRP team members, offering unwavering support in tackling challenges, finding creative solutions, and navigating tough decisions. Projects like the SSRP aren’t without their challenges, and it’s important to have a leader who encourages their teams to learn and grow with a positive mindset, like Marie. While she’s not usually one to take the spotlight, she was convinced to make an exception to start the interviews that will reveal more about the people working behind the scenes.

Marie’s infectious energy is like a burst of confetti in what can sometimes be a serious world of program management. She sees the big picture of the SSRP and she can’t wait to deliver all it has to offer to students, faculty and staff and begin to see the impacts each project has on the community. As we start this series to showcase some of the vibrant personalities powering the SSRP, we’re reminded that the essence and culture of 91��ɫ is shaped by individuals. The passion and expertise behind the SSRP are the driving forces in delivering the best results. Stay tuned for more team profiles coming soon. For more information on the program, visit or email ssrp@yorku.ca

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Release 1 in particular is focused on enhancing the student profile and prospect profiles, as well as engagement and communications for all future and current students. It will help to manage student recruitment events, such as high school visit bookings, and will connect 91��ɫ to potential prospects more efficiently. It will also streamline student profiles and introduce automated communications for both future and current students, helping to create meaningful email campaigns, surveys and ongoing communications to the right people, at the right time.
Imagine having one place where prospective students and parents/guardians can easily register their interest in 91��ɫ and receive information and communications tailored just for them. Event management is also being taken up a notch with event tools such as Eventbrite and Zoom seamlessly integrated into the CRM, make organizing and attending events smoother than ever.

The road to CRM’s first release has been a journey filled with dedication and countless hours of hard work, and we wanted to make sure the launch runs smoothly . We’ve been providing training and demonstrations, developed a Help Guide, arranged for online support and drop-in clinics, and now we’re in action!

The SSRP has started work on the next releases of the CRM to continue to enhance the student journey . We look forward to sharing more updates about the new CRM, and all of the other exciting enhancements the SSRP is bringing to the 91��ɫ community. For the latest updates, news and information, please check back often. For more information on the SSRP, please consult the project overview page.

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Getting a program off the ground like the Student Systems Renewal Program (SSRP) takes some serious work behind the scenes. After years of planning, we’re excited to share that some projects have already been launched and others will launch for the 91��ɫ community soon. There’s been a whirlwind of activity, so we're here to give you an inside look at all the moving parts.

As a multi-year program, the SSRP is transforming the student, staff and faculty experience by providing enhanced online systems and processes. Its seven projects work together to not only enhance the student experience but also enrich the experiences of faculty and staff at 91��ɫ. It has taken a lot of meticulous coordinating and planning to get the program to where it is today. Two foundational projects are now complete - Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Enterprise Integration Platform (EIP). The SSRP is also contributing to institution-wide improved data quality at 91��ɫ with the Data Management & Analytics project, which will also set a positive precedent for all future SSRP projects.

The first release of the Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) and the new solution for Financial Aid, Awards, and Scholarships are now both set to launch. As the program gears up for these next two  launches, there are a bunch of things on the go to help prepare the community. So, let’s take a peek at what’s happening!

CRM
The new CRM will help students from start to finish – from recruiting and enrolling new prospects, to making sure current students get the advice and support they need. Being flexible and having a bit of foresight is key when tackling a big project like this. Even the best-laid plans need a few tweaks here and there. The project’s initial release, dedicated to the student profile, prospect profile and general engagement, will go live the week of Sept. 25, 2023. Planning is in progress for the next two releases, which will build on the student lifecycle by including functionality for applications and admissions.

With this first release, the SSRP has been:

• training end users, which began in mid-August and will run until Friday, Sept. 22
• sharing a demo of the new functionality, which will happen on Monday, Sept. 18
• preparing to go live, which will happen the week of Sept. 25  

Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships
Following the launch of CRM, we can look forward to the new solution for financial aid, awards and scholarships going live. This will improve the student experience and increase the number of claimed awards. Once complete, students will have access to tailored awards suggestions that they can easily apply for and track. Faculty and staff will also be able to process and adjudicate awards more efficiently. We’ll be sharing more about this in the coming months.

Ongoing Communications
The SSRP hosted its first webinar last month, open to all faculty and staff. This webinar introduced the SSRP to those who might not be familiar with the program, and it kicked off a series for the SSRP with project-specific sessions coming soon. These upcoming sessions will feature demos and there will be opportunities for attendees to ask questions live. Recognizing the scale of the SSRP, the program is simplifying key informationwith a series of short videos. The first video in the series will be released soon and will serve as an introduction and general overview of the program. Future videos will break down the SSRP’s diverse projects into bite-sized pieces to make it easy for the 91��ɫ community to grasp upcoming changes with clarity and confidence.

The SSRP team has been working hard to bring the projects to life and to prepare the 91��ɫ community for the positive changes that are underway. While this is only a glimpse of what lies ahead, there will be much more to share soon. Stay tuned for more updates on the blog and visit the news page for the most recent developments. For any additional questions, feel free to reach out to ssrp@yorku.ca 

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