Expanding Our Reach
What's in a Name?
YORK
Y
ork College will tran the summer of 2022 by the board of truste and announced by inauguration as the
“The very root of my vision for this institution is to unashamedly be the Christian school that we claim to be,” Smith stated during his inaugural address. “Who we are now is much more than a college, and we are ready to lean into a new name. Next summer, we will officially transition from York College to York University.” University will more accurately describe York’s profile as a comprehensive institution offering fouryear and graduate degree programs that encompass the liberal arts and professional studies. Recent record enrollments, tripling of the permanent endowment during the past decade, and ongoing fundraising successes provide a context of strength to make the change now. Board chair, Dr. R. Wayne White ’63 reflects, “Knowing the importance of this step, the trustees moved slowly but with a vision for future academic development and success for student and college alike. When we interviewed Dr. Smith, we shared our vision to become York University. We had yet to make it official, but we knew the direction we needed to go. There was no going back.”
16 | Heritage | FALL 2021
