Objective 2: Create Scholarships, Grants and Program Opportunities

In 2021, the University launched the Black Excellence Faculty Cluster Hiring initiative, resulting in 15 Black faculty members joining academic departments across campus. To support their onboarding and professional development, the Office developed the Black Excellence Orientation Series, a yearlong program designed in collaboration with multiple campus partners, including the Office of the President; the Office of the Provost; the Office of the Vice President, Research and International; the Teaching Assessment Process Office in the Office of the Associate Vice-President, Academic; the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo; the Alliance from Athletics & Recreation; the Library,  the Black Faculty and Staff Collective; and the Faculty of Arts.  

This collaborative approach ensured that the sessions were integrated with other areas of the university, and that the new Black faculty members were introduced to the wide range of supports and resources available to foster their success.  In addition, the program provided faculty members with the opportunity to build community and strengthen connections. 

In May 2023, the University hosted its inaugural Celebrating Black Communities event, with over 300 attendees from both campus and the wider community.  Guests celebrated and supported the University’s Black faculty, staff, and students.  The event featured a reception, sit-down dinner, and keynote address by the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, the former 27th Governor General of Canada and current Chancellor of United College. 

A significant highlight of the Celebrating Black Communities event was the establishment of the Black Student Opportunities Fund.

In 2023, the University launched Cultivating talent: A mentorship collective, an initiative aimed at fostering the personal and professional development of employees through a collaborative, peer-based mentorship model. This program was specifically designed for staff who identify as Black, Indigenous, or racialized, as a direct response to the President’s Anti-racism Taskforce recommendations 56 and 57, which focus on integrating anti-racism into mentorship and employment advancement opportunities on campus.  

Developed in partnership with Organizational Human Development, the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-racism, and the Office of Indigenous Relations, this program offered employees a unique opportunity to engage in self-reflection and expand their networks by making meaningful connections within a supportive environment. 

The program was structured as a five-day intensive cohort-based experience, during which its 18 participants embarked on a journey of self-discovery, community building, and professional growth. The mentorship model emphasized mutual reciprocity, where participants both mentored and were mentored by their peers. This approach facilitated a rich exchange of knowledge and experiences, helping individuals to grow within a framework of trust and collaboration. 

Feedback from participants highlights the program's positive impact.