The Engineering Equity Fund (formerly the Engineering Diversity Fund) is designed to increase representation, participation, and inclusion of Indigenous and Black students in the Faculty of Engineering.
Among other programs, the fund supports Engineering Entrance Awards for Black and Indigenous Students. Up to five awards, valued at $5,000 each, are provided to full-time undergraduate students who self-identify as Black or Indigenous and who are entering Year One of any program in the Faculty of Engineering. Selection is based on a combination of academic excellence (minimum 80% admission average) as well as extracurricular and leadership involvement assessed through the Admission Information Form (AIF). Recipients are encouraged to engage in outreach activities in their community and/or high school to create pathways for future students and additional financial incentives are provided to support these endeavours.
Donor Support
Since the Engineering Equity Fund was created in 2020, over 150 alumni, faculty, staff, industry partners and friends have made donations to help the Fund reach its goals. Every donation to the Engineering Equity Fund has helped make it possible for Waterloo Engineering to advance our work in this area and develop new initiatives to support our students. We are so grateful for the continued support of our community!
One donor, engineering alumnus Rakesh Malhotra (BASc ’99, Computer Engineering), notes that he donated to the Engineering Equity Fund to ensure that more students from historically underrepresented communities, including women, Indigenous and Black students, could access new scholarships and bursaries to help with their tuition fees and university expenses. “Supporting the Engineering Equity Fund is about the students, says Malhotra. “Money should not be a barrier to entry or success.”
Ajay (BASc’96 MA’98) and Sonali Batish, who are also supporting the Engineering Equity Fund shared that they chose to support because “for our family, supporting equitable access to education is a priority. We’ve seen the transformative impact it can have on students and their communities. With a goal of increasing representation, participation and inclusion of Black and Indigenous students, the Engineering Equity Fund will play an essential role in increasing diversity within the Faculty.”
