Equity Committee

FAUW's Equity Committee is concerned with equity issues at Waterloo, in line with the protected grounds of Ontario’s Human Rights Code. 

The committee engages in education and advocacy activities to promote equity on campus, maintains a watching brief on equity issues, and makes recommendations to the Faculty Association Board of Directors about policy changes to pursue. 

You are welcome to contact the Equity Committee or chair(s) about the committee's work or equity concerns.

Current work

The Equity Committee is currently focused on supporting new faculty hired through the Black Excellence and Indigenous Excellence 'cluster hire' initiatives.

Since 2021, the committee has worked with the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-racism (EDI-R) to provide Equitable Recruitment and Selection Training to hiring committees.

Equity Committee reports

The Equity Committee provides feedback on a range of University policies, procedures, and initiatives, both directly and through the Faculty Association.

Student course perceptions

The Equity Committee [SWEC at the time] has made specific recommendations to help address concerns highlighted in the Course Evaluation Project Team (CEPT) report as well as additional concerns raised by the campus community. Our primary concerns focus on bias.

EC response to the Course Evaluation Project Team's draft report (PDF) – January 16, 2017

Salary anomalies

The Equity Committee commends excellent work by the salary anomalies working group and recommends further actions to address systemic bias.

On the Salary Anomalies Report and Response (PDF)  – January 6, 2017

Event reports

Equity and Inclusivity Award

FAUW's Equity and Inclusivity Award is a celebration of excellence in equity, inclusivity, and diversity. Inaugurated in 2012, the Award is adjudicated by a subcommittee of the Equity Committee and recognizes members, groups, or affiliates of the University of Waterloo community who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to improving equity, inclusivity, accessibility and/or diversity at University of Waterloo.

Committee membership

The Equity Committee strives for representation across all faculties and aims to have members who identify as or advocate for underrepresented groups.

Name Department
Zack Cramer, co-chair Mathematics Undergraduate Group
Kelly Anthony, co-chair Public Health Sciences
Clive Forrester English Language and Literature 
Elizabeth Meiering Chemistry
Stephanie Mutch Librarian and Archivists' Association of University of Waterloo
Zhu (Joe) Qian School of Planning
Barbara Schmenk Germanic & Slavic Studies
Leah Jones-Crank School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Sachin Kotecha Mathematics Undergraduate Group
Valerie Dusaillant-Fernandes French Studies
Amy Li Civil and Environmental Engineering

Interesting in joining?

Serving on the Equity Committee involves attending monthly meetings from September through June, contributing to one or more committee projects, and providing feedback on issues and initiatives in meetings and via email as they arise. Members typically join for a renewable two-year term.

See current opportunities.