Working Toward Change
Source: https://antiracism.ubc.ca/working-towards-change/
Parent: https://antiracism.ubc.ca/task-force-report/
In June 2020, President Ono reaffirmed our institutional commitment to anti-racism and inclusion. Here’s how we’re moving those commitments forward.
Institutional Anti-Racism Actions
Implementation of the Inclusion Action Plan
| Executive Lead |
Actions |
Status |
| External Relations |
Reviewing engagement principles to ensure an equity, diversity and inclusion lens is applied to UBC’s full spectrum of engagement. |
Ongoing |
| External Relations |
Making space for silenced voices in institutional events (e.g. convocation speaker choice). |
In Progress |
| Human Resources |
Optimizing university-wide orientations to reflect UBC’s commitment to equity and inclusion. |
In Progress |
| Provost (UBCO) |
Appointing an Associate Provost to develop programs and the teaching and learning portfolio with an anti-racist and inclusive focus. |
In Progress |
| Provost (UBCV) |
Appointing a Director, Faculty Equity (.5 FTE) to help coordinate IAP activities and anti-racism commitments. |
Complete |
| Research and Innovation |
In collaboration with the Equity & Inclusion Office, leading UBC’s efforts in the federal Dimensions pilot, which aims to help transform and drive change to enable more EDI in research in Canada. |
In Progress |
| Research and Innovation |
Examining ways to support and nominate under-represented groups for major prizes and awards and to create mechanisms to elevate the work of diverse scholars. |
Forthcoming |
Diversifying Students, Faculty and Staff
| Executive Lead |
Actions |
Status |
| Development and Alumni Engagement |
Fundraising for the Beyond Tomorrow program and awards to increase recruitment and support the success of Black students. |
Ongoing |
| Finance and Operations |
Conducting a portfolio accessibility standards audit. |
In Progress |
| Human Resources |
Incorporating gender-neutral language into all communications materials and in collective agreements with employee groups, including land acknowledgements in all collective agreements. |
In Progress |
| Human Resources |
Collecting disaggregated employment equity data for all faculty and staff. |
In Progress |
| Provost (UBCO) |
Using the Accelerate phase of the Presidents Academic Excellence Initiative to IBPOC faculty recruitment. |
In Progress |
| Provost (UBCO and UBCV) |
Launching a project to collect disaggregated equity and diversity data from students (launched January 2022). |
Complete |
Supporting Identity-Based Spaces and Groups
| Executive Lead |
Actions |
Status |
| External Relations |
Ensuring that the UBC Connects program reflects the diversity of the communities with whom we work. |
In Progress |
| External Relations |
With Campus & Community Planning and the Equity & Inclusion Office, supporting the installation of a Two-Spirit Pride mural on campus. |
In Progress |
| External Relations |
Through our website and newsletter content, creating and promoting stories that showcase the diversity of the UBC community. |
Ongoing |
| External Relations |
Exploring enhanced opportunities to facilitate intercultural understanding, education, and celebration through placemaking, programming, and art within the public realm and community initiatives. |
Ongoing |
| Health |
Supporting community organizations and partners that promote equity, diversity and inclusion in health and health education. |
In Progress |
| Human Resources |
Supporting employee resource groups such as IBPOC Connections and the Disability Resource Group that are coordinated by the Equity & Inclusion Office. |
In Progress |
| Human Resources |
Updating information on religious accommodations for employees. |
Forthcoming |
| Provost (UBCO) |
Establishing a Black Resource Centre. |
Forthcoming |
| Students |
Creating a strategic IBPOC initiatives position. |
Forthcoming |
| Students |
Ensuring that health and wellbeing programs are accessible to and supportive of all. |
Forthcoming |
| Students |
Developing an anti-racism policy to examine existing policies on housing, student conduct and financial aid. |
Forthcoming |
| Students |
Developing resources for racialized students (e.g. Career Equity Guide for Students of Colour). |
Forthcoming |
Recruiting, Retaining and Supporting Black Students, Faculty and Staff
| Executive Lead |
Actions |
Status |
| Development and Alumni Engagement |
Fundraising for IBPOC awards, coupled with a mentorship program. |
Ongoing |
| Human Resources |
Engaging with our Employee & Family Assistance Program to encourage a broadening of the network of Indigenous counsellors and increasing the availability and complement of IBPOC counsellors. |
In Progress |
| Human Resources |
Implementing a Health & Wellbeing plan that incorporates anti-racism into workplace wellbeing programming efforts by embedding IBPOC knowledge and promoting culturally appropriate programs and support. |
In Progress |
| Provost (UBCO) |
Establishing a summer retreat on Black Studies at UBCO with faculty from other Canadian institutions. |
Forthcoming |
| Provost (UBCV) |
Using an applicant survey to track the diversity of decanal candidates. |
Completed and Ongoing |
| Provost (UBCV) |
Developing a briefing for academic leaders that explains the process for restricted or preferential faculty hiring, student hiring, student admissions and financial aid. |
Completed |
Training and Education
| Executive Lead |
Actions |
Status |
| Development and Alumni Engagement |
Continuing opportunities for anti-racism training for alumni and donors. |
Ongoing |
| External Relations |
Developing training, tools and resources to support communicators on both campuses to provide inclusive and respectful storytelling. |
Forthcoming |
| Finance and Operations |
Training for the senior leadership team to improve diversity competencies. |
In Progress |
| Health |
Convening and collaborating with all health programs to enable open discussions and identify opportunities to integrate equity and inclusion education into curriculum and program requirements. |
In Progress |
| Human Resources |
Incorporating the recommendations from the equity, diversity and inclusion audits of the Academic Leadership Development program to incorporate more Indigenous knowledge and inclusion skill-building. |
In Progress |
| Provost (UBCO) |
Establishing a nationally recognized public forum series on systemic racism. |
In Progress |
| Provost (UBCO) |
Organizing ongoing meetings with IBPOC faculty and staff to ensure discussion and dialogue to deepen our understanding of systemic racism in our policies, processes and practices. |
In Progress |
| Provost (UBCV) |
Continuing the Provost’s Distinguished Lecture Series on Race and Leadership and the IGNITE! Book Club. |
In Progress |
| Provost (UBCV) |
Making unconscious bias modules developed in Enrolment Services for profile reading available to other units across the campuses. |
Forthcoming |
| Provost (UBCV) |
Continuing the Anti-Racism in Teaching Series at the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology. |
In Progress |
| Students |
Launching a new student orientation training module focused on anti-racism. |
In Progress |
Strategic Initiatives