York University and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) worked over the past several months on a partnership agreement that would establish a leading graduate program in international law.   The initiative would establish 10 Chairs and fund 20 graduate students in three important fields of international law.

We believe this initiative held tremendous opportunity and promise for the University.  We also believe that, with CIGI’s full cooperation and support, we had developed an academic governance framework that would have provided strong protection for academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

We know for this initiative to be successful, however, it required broad support from the University, including Osgoode Hall Law School. The outcome of the Osgoode Faculty Council meeting today indicates that the necessary support is not present and, accordingly, we cannot proceed.

The University wishes to thank both CIGI as well as the Ontario government for their continued support throughout this process. We are also appreciative of the efforts of our colleagues at the University for their contributions to this important debate.