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Crossing all the Ts in alumni giving
“Alumni have three things to give,” says Rodney Yip — a 1982 graduate of Ryerson University’s computer science program — “time, talent and treasure.” The retired disaster recovery and business continuity product manager shares all of them with Ryerson. Now Yip is generously leaving a gift in his will that promises to continue his support well into the future.
“Ryerson enabled me to hit the ground running,” says Yip. “It prepared me for a number of situations and gave me a variety of skills and tools that I used in my career.”
In his graduating year, one of Yip’s courses took place in the office of a large Canadian service bureau, which provided co-location and software-as-a-service. The company’s managers participated as instructors in the class. Little did Yip know they were watching him closely and would hire him as soon as he completed his degree. Later, when the company was merged into IBM, Yip remained with the computer giant, moving up the ranks until his retirement in 2015. It was then that he began to deepen his involvement with his alma mater, including setting up an award for students in the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing (and securing a match for the gift from IBM).
“Working in business continuity for 30 years, you come to realize business depends on employees coming to work. Nurses make that happen. They are the cornerstone of our healthcare system,” says Yip.
Rodney Yip, Computer Science ’82, is planning for Ryerson students’ futures. Photo: Jae Yang.
Yip’s experience also gave him some insight into how businesses can deal with disruptions like the one currently unfolding with the coronavirus outbreak.
For example, with so many people now forced to work remotely, he suggests employers review cybersecurity practices and policies with their staff. He also recommends flexibility with work hours, noting that employees may have children or parents to care for. Employees might be afraid as well, and managers need to be very aware of employee stress levels and potential signs of danger.
For companies, Yip suggests that job-sharing might be one way to stretch employment until business picks up. He also advises documenting all incremental costs because government programs may be put in place to help businesses get up and running again. Yip also reminds owners and executives that shareholders and employees are watching, and the story about what the company did during the crisis will likely outlive the actual crisis itself.
Finally, once the all clear is given to return to the workplace, staff may have anxiety about coming back, particularly if a co-worker was ill. Yip notes that, to give employees confidence, premises may have to be professionally decontaminated, with air filter changes or duct cleaning, and an antiviral wipe down of washrooms, break rooms, and other high traffic areas.
"At this critical time,” says Yip, “we need to help the helpers". It’s that axiom that has guided his volunteer work and philanthropy, including his involvement as a Ryerson alumnus.
In addition to the award in nursing, and helping to build bridges between the university and industry, Yip has sponsored a beehive in the Ryerson Urban Farm, and volunteered with the Science Discovery Zone, the Fabrication Zone and the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (OVPRI). Yip was also profiled recently for creating Ryerson Grove at Camp Trillium.
Yip’s bequest for Ryerson will extend the award for nurses as well as an award he has established in the Faculty of Science well into the future. It will also support projects across the university that use technology and innovation to reduce climate change and forge a better, more sustainable future.
“I like the relevance of Ryerson today,” says Yip. “The students and staff are engaged with the world and social responsibility. The university is not just preparing students for jobs, but also to influence society,” he adds.