TORONTO, June 5, 2001 -- York University and Seneca College today announced plans for the creation of a joint Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Institute to be in full operation by fall 2003. The announcement was made at the Innovation, Technology and Teaching conference organized by York, Seneca and McGraw-Hill Ryerson.

The Institute will be the centrepiece of the new $76.8-million York-Seneca TEL Building, part of the Ontario government¹s SuperBuild program announced last year. Construction on the building, located on York¹s main campus, is scheduled to begin soon.

The building will be a unique environment that promotes innovative, collaborative approaches to teaching and learning with technology. Working with private and public partners, York and Seneca faculty will research and develop a new generation of technologies and applications that enable people to design, create and learn in new ways.

Stan Shapson, York University vice-president (research and innovation), said "The Institute will become an internationally recognized leader in research and development of technology-enhanced learning." Tony Tilly, Seneca senior vice-president, noted, "The TEL Institute will provide an exciting opportunity to harness the strengths of York and Seneca for the benefit of students."

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For further information, please contact:

Cim Nunn Director, Media Relations York University (416) 736-2100, ext. 22087 cimnunn@yorku.ca

Martha Lowrie Director, Marketing and Communications Seneca College 416-491-5050, ext. 2259 Martha.Lowrie@senecac.on.ca

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