As York University's first Organized Research Service Unit (ORSU), the Institute for Social Research (ISR) will enhance York's research leadership by advancing digital innovation, supporting faculty research and connecting data to societal impact.
For nearly 60 years, the ISR has helped York University and its partners understand people's experiences through data. It operates three centres - the Survey Research Centre, the Statistical Consulting Service and the Statistics Canada-York University Research Data Centre - which collaborate with governments, community groups and businesses to conduct research that informs decisions and policy.
At York, ISR supports academic departments by analyzing student and course data to assess program effectiveness. It also evaluates York administrative policies like its human rights accommodations policy and other campus policies, as well as works with faculty to plan research and secure funding.
Through these efforts, ISR bridges research and real-world issues. Its studies shape public policy, promote inclusive research practices and reinforce York's leadership in data-driven social innovation.
Now, as ISR enters its seventh decade, it has been rechartered as York's first Organized Research Service Unit (ORSU). This new designation formalizes the institute's dual role as both a service hub for the University and a research partner for external organizations. The change reflects York's strategic goals outlined in the University Academic Plan 2020-2025 and the Strategic Research Plan 2023-2028, which emphasize strengthening the University's research capacity.
The rechartering process began in 2022 as part of ISR's scheduled review. Overseen by the Senate Sub-Committee on Academic Policy, Planning and Research, this formal evaluation assesses an organized research unit's performance, alignment with University priorities and contributions to faculty, students and external partners.
Rather than viewing the review as routine, ISR leadership embraced it as a chance to evolve.
"The rechartering came as ISR's periodic review coincided with new University priorities for research intensification and digital initiatives," says ISR Director Lorne Foster. "It was an opportune moment to align our official status with our evolving role and potential."
An external review team evaluated the institute's application and reported to the Senate Sub-Committee. "The examiners realized there's so much potential for ISR," Foster adds. "They saw us at the centre of York's growing digital research infrastructure."
With strong support from the review team and clear alignment with institutional priorities, the York Senate approved the rechartering this summer, officially designating ISR as the University's first ORSU.
The institute is already advancing work that reflects its new designation. In the wake of its new designation, ISR's Statistics Canada-York University Research Data Centre - one of only 30 in Canada - transitioned early to a virtual model, offering secure online access to government data for population and demographic research. This year, the centre introduced stronger IT systems and extended access hours, enabling more research and attracting new externally funded projects. These upgrades highlight ISR's capacity to manage large-scale digital datasets and provide flexible, remote research infrastructure.
This momentum builds on ISR's longstanding commitment to digital innovation. It has supported tools and technology for the Humanities and Social Sciences Digital Research Infrastructure and contributed to AI-driven projects addressing global health challenges.
ISR's digital leadership also extends to cultural preservation and community engagement. In 2023, it helped bring the Multicultural History Society of Ontario (MHSO) to York's Keele Campus, giving scholars access to digitized immigration and migration resources. The partnership created a searchable online catalogue and digital archive that houses oral histories, newspapers, photographs and textual records documenting the experiences of more than 100 ethnocultural and Indigenous communities in Ontario.
Hosted by the ISR, the MHSO launched a diaspora research cluster that connects York's cultural research units to share digital collections and community archives. This initiative reinforces the unit's role as a hub for collaborative digital research.
"As York continues to expand its research capacity and global reach, ISR's redesignation as an ORSU strengthens its ability to support the University's strategic priorities," says Foster. "With enhanced infrastructure and a renewed mandate, ISR is poised to lead in digital innovation, inclusive research and data-informed policy development."
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
