Atkinson College

The Joseph E. Atkinson College was established in 1961 as the result of a donation from the Atkinson Foundation. The purpose of the college is to provide evening classes for adult learners. Originally located at Glendon Hall, the college offered its first programme of courses in the 1962-63 academic year and began offering courses year-round in 1964-65. The college building on the Keele Street campus opening in 1966. At this time the college offered courses leading to the ordinary (three year) Bachelor of Arts degree in a restricted number of fields for both evening and part-time students. Atkinson College courses were generally taught by a full-time faculty appointed to the college. Thus the college, in effect, mirrored the academic development and structure of the larger university, with Divisions of Humanities, Natural Science and Social Science, as well as the several arts programme departments (English, History, Geography, Sociology, etc.). The college had an enrollment of 300 in 1962-63, and this had increased to over 6000 by 1970. In addition to the Arts programme, a degree programme in Administrative Studies was instituted in the 1970s, an Honours degree was offered by 1970-71 and degree programmes leading to a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Social Welfare were first offered in 1973-74. By this date there was a Canadian Studies Programme and an Urban Studies Programme and students were permitted to define a course of study leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The physical extent of the college was enhanced in the early 1970s by the addition of a west wing to the main building, the construction of Elm in a Elliott Atkinson Hall (both 1971), and a nine story residence building in 1973. By 1991 the college had a student population of 8,800, and departments or programmes of study in the following areas: Administrative Studies, Canadian Studies, Classical Studies, Computer Science and Mathematics, Economics, English, Fine Arts, Francaises et Langues modernes, Geography, History, Humanities, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Science Studies, Social Science, Social Work, Sociology and Urban Studies. The college is led by a Dean assisted by two Associate Deans, and there is a Master of Atkinson College. The College Council serves as the senior deliberative body, and the Atkinson College Students' Association oversees the interests of students. The college has its own Counselling Service, Outreach Services, an Office of Student Programmes, an Alumni Association and a librarian within the York University Libraries.

2019/05/17 KCP. Migrated administrative history from paper finding aid. Added VIAF record.