Since my mid-term update in October 2021, much has been accomplished. The four main working groups have completed their work and submitted their recommendations to the administration for review and implementation, as we continue toward preparation of my final action plan report.
Indeed, many of the recommendations deemed “high-priority” by the working groups have been accepted and some of them have already been implemented.
The process for admission of BIPOC students is already tremendously improved and properly articulated by our admissions services, and a precise “case management” structure is now guiding and informing the student experience. Applications for bursaries and scholarships are also in the process of being updated to address our recommendations. This is a good start.
The highest priority recommendation was to establish a permanent safe space to enhance inclusion and belonging of BIPOC communities on campus. This space is expected to open on February 28, public health rules permitting. The Office of the Special Advisor Anti Racism and Inclusive Excellence is situated in the heart of the campus, in the UCU. It is a private place for students away from the authority and oversight of the bureaucracy, one that will foster trust and create mentorship and networking opportunities for new students.
In the medium term, implementation of the recommendations on making research opportunities and the University and Canada research chairs more inclusive is also very much underway.
To me, these steps show that the University is listening. There remain steps we must take that are long term, in areas such as hiring policies, training and pedagogy. These systemic reforms will require persistent work and our ongoing shared commitment.
Given the complexity of this work, and that many initiatives require continued consultation and research, the administration has extended my term as special advisor by six months, to June 2022, when my final report and action plan will be published.
Important steps
On my recommendation, the University is fully committed to the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education. Signed by President and Vice-Chancellor Jacques Frémont on November 18, 2021, the charter commits us, along with 40 Canadian institutions, to addressing anti-Black racism and fostering Black inclusion in our community. Learn more about our signing of the Scarborough Charter.
In the charter, the University acknowledges that members of the uOttawa community have suffered from the scourge of racism and discrimination and “reiterates its determination to enact change through meaningful community engagement, critical self-reflection and transformative actions.”
The work done to date and the path we have set ourselves on have resulted in recognition of uOttawa as a Top EDI Employer in 2022. This is a positive development, but much remains to be done. We now need the resources to implement the Scarborough Charter commitments!
Moving on!
As we continue working to create a more inclusive university, one that sets an example for society at large, we should take a moment to consider that just over a year ago there were students protesting in Tabaret Hall, making important demands for action. We have ignited a dialogue, and I can say there is progress! Concrete actions have been taken; more are coming. The University is deepening its commitment formally and publicly. We must continue to work and to push — there remains much to do.
In the next few weeks, I will be engaging with the University of Ottawa Students’ Union and advising them on their own anti-racism campaign. I am also working with the Gee-Gees teams, assisting them on their multiple inspiring programs to create an inclusive campus for all students. It is exciting to see the community coming together and taking action!
I will be meeting with and encouraging other stakeholders such as professors, part-time professors and support staff unions to engage with and urge as many people as we can to get involved.
Black History Month is an important time reflect on both the legacy of racism and the powerful, continuing legacy of those who have stood against it. I will be joining Professors Francis Bangou and Sanni Yaya in a panel discussion moderated by Professor Donatille Mujawamariya, which will delve into Black leadership in the university community. Please join us! (I believe this is a French language event.)
Boulou Ebanda de B’béri
Special Advisor, Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence