The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDI-R) works with partners across the University of Waterloo to turn institutional priorities into practical changes to policies, programs and campus spaces that address barriers and support a more equitable university.
These projects address systemic barriers, strengthen institutional practices and support a university where people can participate, contribute and thrive.
Turning commitments into action
Institutional priorities help guide where we focus our collective efforts. They bring together expertise, resources and community perspectives to address issues that require sustained attention and collaboration across the University.
Our role includes supporting engagement, developing recommendations and programming while also working with partners to move commitments into practice.
Explore the projects
Learn about the projects advancing these priorities, including their goals, progress and opportunities to get involved.
Focused on the experiences of 2STNBGNC+ and 2SLGBTQIA+ UWaterloo students and employees, the strategy identifies key needs and opportunities for change while advancing actions that support safety, equity, inclusion, and belonging across campus.
Sankofa Pathways to University (SPU) provides Black youth with an opportunity to experience university learning and earn a transferable university half-credit (0.5) at no cost. Launched in 2023 by the EDI-R’s Anti-racism Unit, the seven-week program brings youth from Toronto and Waterloo Region to explore Blackness, Black history and Black futures through the course “Taking B(l)ack History,” with online and blended learning options and opportunities to connect on campus.
UWaterloo is a part of this national commitment to address anti-Black racism and advance Black inclusion in Canadian higher education through concrete principles, actions and accountabilities. Developed through dialogue led by the University of Toronto Scarborough in 2020, it was adopted in 2021, with the University of Waterloo among its first signatories. Its membership has since grown to 62 institutions across Canada.
Connect with us
Have a question about an institutional priority or want to learn more about this work? Contact us using our intake form.