The University of Guelph has taken input from students, faculty, staff and community members who were advocting for change and developed an action plan to address racism, hatred and discrimination at the school.
The action plan includes a new presidential advisory committee and initiatives to promote equity, diversity and inclusivity.
“Their hard work and calls for action were the impetus for our action plan,” U of G president Charlotte Yates said in a news release. “The goal is to build on their efforts and bring together U of G’s Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) communities to advise and guide us in advancing real change on our campuses and beyond.”
The President’s Advisory Committee on Anti-Racism will develop a policy to address racism on campus and promote anti-racism efforts. This includes identifying and addressing systemic barriers to full and equal participation on U of G campuses and in the University’s policies, procedures and practices.
Referencing the rise and increased visibility of anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism in Canada and around the world, Yates added: “The University of Guelph, like other public institutions, has an obligation to pay attention to historical and ongoing injustice and racism, both on our campus and beyond. We must address it and play an active role in creating a more just and equitable society.”
The President’s Advisory Committee on Anti-Racism will advise the senior leadership team about how to address racism and discrimination in the University community.
Recognizing that racism occurs as both micro-aggressions and overt and systemic discrimination, the committee will provide suggestions about how to adjust, improve and implement the anti-racism action plan.
The committee will be comprised of students, staff, faculty and community members, with at least 70 per cent representation from the BIPOC communities. Nominations for the committee will open in the fall. It will be co-chaired by Yates and professor Lawrence Hill, a renowned author, advocate of racial equality, and an analyst of racial identity and discrimination.
The University has engaged in communications with the Black Students Association and with other members of the BIPOC communities and is committed to making solid changes to its processes and practices, she said.
Highlights of the anti-racism action plan include:
- Develop a BIPOC hiring plan that addresses gaps in representation among staff and faculty;
- Develop a targeted recruitment strategy and set goals and incentives to recruit BIPOC students;
- Create scholarships for BIPOC students;
- Roll out the $200,000 Inclusion Enhancement Fund for initiatives to create equity and inclusion on campus;
- Develop and distribute self-identification surveys to clearly portray the racial diversity of students, faculty and staff;
- Provide anti-racism and anti-bias training for senior University leaders;
- Develop a Black studies minor;
- Continue the new anti-oppression and anti-racism online training module for students, faculty and staff and the new for-credit undergraduate course on anti-discrimination and anti-oppression; and
- Continue initiatives to foster an improved campus environment.
