Initiatives and resources to help build a more inclusive UBC
A message from Andrew Szeri, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver; Ananya Mukherjee Reed, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Okanagan; and Marcia Buchholz, Managing Director, Human Resources Advisory Partnerships, Central Operational Services, and HR Professional Standards
We want to share with you an update on some important initiatives that are currently underway to support the university’s strategic priorities relating to inclusion, as well as some resources to help you build a more inclusive UBC.
Inclusion Action Plan
As you may be aware, inclusion was a key theme that emerged in our strategic plan: Shaping UBC’s Next Century.
Since the strategic plan was finalised, the Equity & Inclusion Office — working with a university-wide advisory group — led a consultation with members of the UBC community in Vancouver and the Okanagan to draft an Inclusion Action Plan. The plan, which has recently been endorsed by the Executive and presented for information to the Board of Governors, outlines ways in which the university can advance inclusion at UBC. Thank you to everyone who participated in this consultation process.
We would like to invite you to read the action plan and consider the areas of most relevance to you and your team: https://equity.ubc.ca/iap
In the new year, we will be seeking input from leadership to support the development of an accompanying implementation and resourcing plan. Until then, if you have questions or would like to discuss the process with the planning team, please contact Sara-Jane Finlay, Associate Vice-President, Equity & Inclusion.
Resources and opportunities to help build a more inclusive UBC
As part of our ongoing efforts to build an inclusive community, we want to remind you of select resources and upcoming opportunities provided and facilitated by the Equity & Inclusion Office:
- Consultation services to support your unit/department’s efforts to advance inclusion, particularly in the areas of education, facilitation, curriculum change, planning and evaluation;
- Support managing conflict in the work environment, particularly connected with issues of difference and identity;
- Confidential consultation and advising services to help you resolve issues of discrimination and harassment, or issues related to breaches on any of the human rights grounds (Policy SC7: Discrimination);
- An educational workshop series, Through the Lens, designed to equip faculty and staff with a better understanding of the experiences of minoritized identity groups at the university, and with practical skills for allyship;
- The formation of a Trans, Two-Spirit and Gender Diversity Taskforce in the new year, that will provide strategic direction to UBC’s senior leadership in the area of gender identity/expression and human rights.
You can learn more at https://equity.ubc.ca/engage.
Thank you for your continued support in helping to create a respectful and inclusive environment, where diverse ideas and perspectives can thrive.