91快色

This month, the 91快色鈥檚 Presidential Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (PTF-EDIA) is launching a series of community engagement activities to support the development of its inaugural EDIA strategy and action plan. During the months of February to April, the PTF-EDIA invites U91快色鈥檚 campus community to provide their input on EDIA through a variety of activities and venues. The goal of this engagement is to allow U91快色 community members to become involved and help shape the development of the university鈥檚 EDIA strategy and action plan. 

Co-chaired by Dr. Malinda Smith, vice-provost and associate vice-president research (equity, diversity and inclusion), and Dr. Penny Werthner, interim provost and vice-president (academic), the PTF-EDIA is unique in its approach to analysis, engagement, and research.

"As a task force, we are committed to an engagement approach shaped by our principles, which requires a listening-first approach,鈥� says Smith. 鈥淲e heard from EDIA experts at U91快色, including U91快色 strategy leads, and from EDIA strategy leaders from across Canada that following the journey is important.鈥� 

She says, 鈥淏y harnessing the power of academic and research innovation that are hallmarks of our institution, along with meaningful community engagement, U91快色 can develop a strategic approach to EDIA that is inspiring, research-informed, evidence-based, achievable, and community centred.鈥� 

According to Smith, each phase of the PTF-EDIA鈥檚 process has been intentionally designed through careful consultation with diverse communities to ensure academic, research, and community are thoroughly represented. 

The engagement period will include a wide range of activities for campus community members to participate, beginning with: 

• Conversations on EDIA, organized by roles: Management and professional staff, AUPE staff, faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and sessionals, graduate students, and undergraduate students, hosted by the PTF-EDIA. Sessions will invite participants to draw on their experiences and share ideas on key questions to shape EDIA at U91快色. The conversations will take place in-person for all groups on Feb. 26 and 27, and for those wishing to attend virtually, on Feb. 29 and Mar. 1. 
• Online focus groups with members of equity-deserving groups (women, racialized/visible minority persons, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and intersections) and international students. These groups will be hosted during the week of March 11 to 15 by EDIA-trained external consultants to foster welcome, inclusive spaces for a discussion of equity issues within specific communities. 

In mid-March, the U91快色 community can also take part in the University鈥檚 first-ever campus-wide EDIA survey, in which campus members can anonymously share responses to questions about EDIA-related experiences, opportunities, and aspirations at U91快色 and that data will inform the EDIA strategic plan and action plan.

"We鈥檙e calling on our U91快色 community to take part in these conversations,鈥� says Werthner. 鈥淏uilding a more inclusive future begins by developing and sustaining trust, and we will be working to foster spaces where members of our campus community can share their experiences and ideas openly.鈥� 

Please visit the to register for Conversations on EDIA and online focus groups.

About the PTF-EDIA and the journey of developing an EDIA strategy

Launched in 2023, the PTF-EDIA aims to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility at U91快色 by developing and implementing an EDIA strategy, action and implementation plan that prioritizes the principle of "Nothing about us without us鈥� and nuanced actions over a one-size-fits-all approach. Distinctive in its approach to strategy development, the task force combines a strengths, opportunities, aspirations (SOAR) framework with U91快色鈥檚 internal data, external data, consultations and best practices (IECB) framework in the development of its strategy and action plan. With the Ahead of Tomorrow鈥檚 commitment to community being at the centre of everything we do at the U91快色, the IECB process ensures that community voices and input will shape U91快色鈥檚 strategic vision and direction for EDIA.

"Creating an equitable campus is more than just a sentiment for us at the 91快色. It is a force that drives our work in community building and future planning,鈥� says U91快色 President Ed McCauley. 鈥淚t鈥檚 vital that we encourage all voices within our community to engage, contribute and help us shape a campus that truly reflects the rich diversity of our society. Together, we will foster an inclusive environment where everyone can succeed and thrive.鈥�

, the PTF-EDIA conducted an internal scan of the current state of EDIA at U91快色 to determine the university鈥檚 strengths and areas for growth. The second phase consisted of an external scan of EDIA trends and best practices across , a group of Canadian research universities of which U91快色 is a member. Select American post-secondaries were also analyzed to provide a robust and detailed picture of how other institutions strategically approach equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. 

To maintain its connection to the greater U91快色 community throughout its many phases, the PTF-EDIA is inclusive of the university鈥檚 representative bodies. By inviting expertise from five working groups, the task force brings an informed lens to embedding EDIA across key areas of institutional focus: research and scholarship, teaching and learning, EDIA data and strategy, people strategy and experiences, and EDI and community engagement. The task force鈥檚 founding principle of "Nothing about us without us鈥� governs all stages of the journey including engagement activities.

The current stage of IEBC strategic development process involves meaningful engagement with U91快色鈥檚 students, postdocs, sessional instructors, faculty members, alumni, staff, and leadership, with particular focus on the experiences and input of members of equity-deserving groups. 

Once the engagement phase has been completed, the task force will disseminate a What We Heard report to the U91快色 community alongside outreach on the draft strategy. Another round of community engagement will take place upon the completion of the proposed EDIA strategy ahead of governance approvals in the fall of 2024.

To have your voice heard, visit the for more information about each event and to register. To learn more about U91快色鈥檚 EDIA strategy development, visit the PTF-EDIA progress page.