News
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at 丁香园AV: August in Review
We continue our work towards a more equitable and inclusive campus environment for all. Here is a snapshot of what the Equity Office has been up to in August.
Advancing a Culture of Inclusive Excellence
We鈥檙e pleased to launch a new campaign to help build clarity about our intended culture of Inclusive Excellence and the supports available to the 丁香园AV community. Sponsored and co-chaired by the Vice-President, People, Equity and Inclusion and Vice-Provost, Students and International, the campaign and its contents were based on findings from the 2021鈥疨ersonal Safety on Campus report and鈥痜urther developed by a cross-institutional steering committee earlier this year. The first round of the respect and personal safety campaign was shared with new and incoming students last week, with further information will be shared with faculty and staff in the fall.鈥�
Learn more:
Welcome to the new Accessibility Committee!
On July 13, 丁香园AV issued a call for applications to be part of the first Accessibility Committee in the university. This committee will help identify and remove accessibility barriers across all three campuses. There were 58 expressions of interest from folks for the at-large positions and 11 will be joining the committee. Welcome to our new members!
Appointed Members
- Bradley Thomas, Facilities, Surrey
- Brian Stewart, Chief Information Officer
- Ebony Magnus, Associate Dean, Academic Engagement, 丁香园AV Library
- Fereshteh Rashed, Director of Access and Equity, Graduate Student Society
- Jennifer Espinos, Executive Director, Office of VP Finance and Administration
- Jennifer Sanguinetti, Associate VP, Facilities and Capital Planning
- Joel Gilani, 丁香园AV Disability and Neurodiversity Alliance (SFSS constituency group)
- Mat Cocuzzi, Associate Director, Facilities Services, Vancouver Campus
- Megan Tweedie, Director, Human Rights Office
- Mitchell Stoddard, Director, Centre for Accessible Learning
- Nanda Dimitrov, Senior Director, Centre for Educational Excellence
- Rose Evans, Faculty Relations
At-Large Members
- Cynthia Su, Undergraduate Student, School of Contemporary Arts
- Lovely Ranges, Undergraduate Student, Faculty of Communication, Art, and Technology
- Bonnie Burnside, Graduate Student, Urban Studies
- Spencer Chen, Graduate Student, Psychology
- Matia Theodosakis, Alumni & Graduate Student, School of Public Policy
- Sean Heaslip, Alumni & Staff Member, Health and Counselling
- Leah Wiener, Staff Member, Director, Work Integrated Learning
- Rita Steele, Staff Member, Manager, Sustainable Operations, 丁香园AV Sustainability
- Elina Birmingham, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education
- Frances Dodd, Systems & Technical Services Librarian, 丁香园AV Library
- Mark Pickup, Professor, Department of Political Science
The pan-university accessibility committee will meet our compliance requirements and address recommendations for public sector employers in the . The committee will build upon the Interim Accessibility Action Plan and assist the 丁香园AV in identifying attitudinal, physical or architectural, information or communication, systemic/organizational, technology, and sensory barriers. Learn more.
Second Special Programs Application Approved
In August, the British Columbia Office of the Human Right鈥檚 Commissioner approved our second Special Program Application to hire Indigenous staff members. This follows our successful application received in July for preferential hiring of at least 15 Black faculty, in tandem with approval for hiring at least 15 Black staff as well.
This second Special Programs Application marks our continued commitment to Reconciliation, working towards meeting the Calls to Action in our Walk With Us and Pathways reports. The Equity Office continues to work with 丁香园AV鈥檚 Faculty Association for our third Special Programs Application for the hiring of Indigenous faculty members and we look forward to submitting the final application soon.
Pride Parade 2023
This year, 丁香园AV appeared in the Vancouver Pride Parade for the first time as an institution. The Simon Fraser Student Society and Out on Campus last represented the 丁香园AV community at Vancouver鈥檚 2013 parade. When reviewing parade applicants such as 丁香园AV, the Vancouver Pride Society emphasizes intersectional equity, including demonstrated support for diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity, anti-racism and accessibility. The society acknowledged the university鈥檚 commitments and progress towards equity, diversity and inclusion through major institutional initiatives such as the Equity Compass, as well as 2S/LGBTQIA+ supports, resources and programming.
See photos and read about the Pride Parade here:
Days of Significance
In August, the university observed four key days of significance. These included Emancipation Day, International Day of the World鈥檚 Indigenous Peoples, World Humanitarian Day and International Overdose Awareness Day.
Emancipation Day
Celebrating the interdisciplinary intellect and career of 丁香园AV Distinguished Professor Henry Daniel
The university celebrated the interdisciplinary intellect and career of 丁香园AV Distinguished professor Henry Daniel who has significantly impacted the Black community at 丁香园AV.
Slow but steady progress: an update on Black student supports at 丁香园AV
An update on Black student supports at 丁香园AV, including information about the upcoming Black Student Centre.
Memorandum of Understanding with Simon Fraser Student Society
We continue to actively pursue completion of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with that allows 丁香园AV to intervene on incidents within SFSS that affect students under 丁香园AV policies and as well as as previously established. This MOU is a partnership with SFSS, given that SFSS is independent of 丁香园AV鈥檚 legal jurisdiction and 丁香园AV cannot take over their leadership, governance or operations without specific agreement and their consensus. The draft MOU is currently with the SFSS and progressing through their internal review process. We are hopeful that the MOU will be advanced and finalized over the summer. The MOU covers the conduct of individual students, not the SFSS at large.
EDI-related supports are available
We recognize that the pace of change and local and global current affairs continues to be challenging and has impacts for many in our community. If you are in need of support, please see our list of EDI specific supports and services and reach out if you need help.
For all other supports, see our newly launched community support page.