Be You @ BU Fall 2022 Magazine

Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion on Campus

The Joint Senate and Board Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and In clusion (a ff ectionately called the EDI Task Force) was created by the University in 2020 to address systemicand institutionaldiscrimination, and to bring together stakeholders from all across the university to collaborate to make positive change. Students, faculty, sta ff , administrators, alumni all come together to identify areas of need and work creatively to eliminate barriers and ensure equity in our University. Experiences Dorcas - I have had a good experience as one of the student representatives of the Task Force . I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this vision of ensuring a more equitable and inclusive environment for students and sta ff of Bishop’s University. Su fi a – Having been co-chair alongside Dr. Jenn Cianca since the be - ginning of the Task Force, I had the chance to be involved in all aspects of our work. I’m especially proud of the initiatives we have created that foster student success and inclusive community networks. What work is being done - successes. The Task Force is doing several things to ensure a more welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Here a just a few among the numerous initiatives Awards and scholarships There are plans to make awards and scholarships more accessible to minority students and students living with disabilities by revising the existing scholarship programs to ensure that any inherent sys - temic barriers are removed and that an equitable selection process is established. Encouraging self-identification There are also plans to encourage students to self-identify. This plan is based on ensuring that students receive guidance in ac - cessing resources such as scholarships and support that are best suited for their individual needs and situations. Policy reviews The University Task Force is also currently reviewing and updating the language and structure of existing policies to ensure that they re fl ect the institution’s commitment to equity and anti-racism practice. In addition to this, they will also ensure that the existing policies provide informa - tion about support available for students. Overall, the main goal is to ensure that all policies adhere to the institution’s equity, diversity and inclusion goals. Buddy system The University Task Force and other key stakeholders are working on implementing a student buddy mentor system for incoming students, especially BIPOC students. Students who opt into this program can be matched with upper-year mentors who can guide them into overcoming any barriers they might otherwise face in their community. Other initiatives on campus (e.g. SRC – EDI projects) This is one of the many opportunities for students to get involved in initiatives for equity, diversity and inclusion. The SRC has many pro - jects such as the EDI Fund, the SRC EDI Committee, as well as stu - dents’ associations and elected representative positions. There are so many ways to have your voice heard!

Dorcas, Lagos, Nigeria

Author: Dorcas Adebogun Program: Bachelor of Science – Biology Health Science and Pre-Medicine, French minor

Sufia, Montreal, Quebec

Author: Sufia Langevin Program: Bachelor of Arts – Environmental Studies; Bachelor of Education

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