The School of Architecture is committed to increasing understanding and addressing systemic barriers to equity, inclusion, and decolonization in all facets of its operations. We are committed to removing barriers for Black, Indigenous peoples and people of colour, individuals in the 2SLGBTQ+ communities, women, persons with disabilities, and people in financial need. We recognize that diverse voices and perspectives enrich our teaching, learning and research, and we are committed to support these voices and perspectives. Placing equity and environmental justice at the core of everything we do, we work to advance inclusion and sustainability in our curriculum, policies, practices, spaces and operations. We are committed to creating a School where everyone belongs, where we all work toward equity, and strive for a culture of authentic inclusion, even when it is complex and challenging.
The School of Architecture Racial Equity and Environmental Justice (REEJ) Task Force was established in summer 2020, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and in response to renewed calls by different groups within and outside the school to address racism. The REEJ Task Force was mandated to look across different areas of the school to make recommendations to changes and commitments towards equity and environmental justice. The REEJ Plan, included below, is shared as a living document that charts the work ahead so that we collectively take it as our responsibility to place equity and environmental justice at the core of everything we do. The Plan is in two volumes:
Volume 1. Commitments to Racial Equity and Environmental Justice
Volume 2. Plan for Implementation
These documents represent the work of the Task Force, its Advisory Board, and the Working Groups that were brought together in November and December 2020 to address specific sections of the plan. It also includes input from students, staff and faculty made either through the community survey (August and September 2020), the all-school meetings (June 9 and September 29 2020), or through the school’s anonymous feedback form. After the presentation of the Commitments to Change in May 2021, the School of Architecture established a Racial Equity and Environmental Justice Standing Committee. In November 2021, faculty and staff at the School of Architecture formally voted to accept the REEJ plan and to move forward with School-wide work towards these commitments.
To keep up to date on REEJ progress, visit REEJ Standing Committee Monthly Reports.
COMMITMENTS TO CHANGE
SCHOOL CULTURE
Acquire, maintain, review, and post resources available for faculty, staff and student learning
Comprehensively review supports for mental health and wellness in the School
Participate in anti-racism, sustainability and climate justice training
Include programming of regular and recurring events to celebrate different voices and perspectives
Work to improve accessibility and inclusivity in the physical spaces of the School building
Participate in conversations on architectural education and architecture culture more broadly
CURRICULUM
Develop a set of overarching pedagogical objectives related to social and ecological justice
Review the course load and time commitments of both undergraduate and graduate programs
Review the grading benchmarks and forms of feedback used at the school
Leverage elective courses to expand the range of cultural perspectives
Establish relationships with other departments and specialties
HIRING AND ADMISSIONS
Create supports for international and domestic visiting researchers and post-docs
Direct future hires of full-time faculty and staff to fill gaps in representation
Improve the admissions process to increase access for marginalized and underrepresented groups
OUTREACH
Reach out to other national and international architectural professional organizations
Promote and support initiatives of non-government, non-profit and social movement organizations
ACCOUNTABILITY
Implement a Racial Equity and Environmental Justice Standing Committee
For more information about the specific progress of each commitment and the definition of each of the timeline statuses
please visit the Commitments Progress.
MEMBERSHIP
2021-22 Standing Committee Members:
Adrian Blackwell, Anne Bordeleau (non-voting), Karen Browne, Julie Dring (non-voting), Jaliya Fonseka, Jane Mah Hutton, Amy Shin, Fiona Lim Tung, Victor Zagabe, Hiba Zubairi, Nilojan Jegatheeswaran, Alifiyah Merchant
2020-21 Task Force Members:
Tara Bissett, Adrian Blackwell (Administrative Coordinator), Anne Bordeleau (non-voting), Simone Delaney, Jane Hutton, Fiona Lim Tung, Vic Mantha-Blythe, Poorna Patange, Salman Rauf, Emily Stafford (Communications Coordinator)
Advisory Board Members:
Joyce Barlow, Michelle Fenton, Omar Ferwati, Jaliya Fonseka, KaaSheGaaBaaWeak/Eladia Smoke, Safira Lakhani, Elsa Lam, Camille Mitchell, Paniz Moayeri, William Woodworth/Raweno:kwas,
Evan Schilling
Ways to Support
Read Through our Case for Support
Make a Donation
Questions? reej@uwaterloo.ca
Questions or Feedback?
If you have feedback, comments, questions or concerns please reach out to the Standing Committee
via email or through the anonymous feedback form.
Standing Committee Reports
The Racial Equity and Environmental Justice Committee meets virtually on a monthly basis. Below please find high level reports of these meetings.