Equity Committees and Working Groups

The Accessibility Committee was formed in September 2017 as a forum for consultation and collaboration on campus-wide initiatives relative to improving the University of Waterloo’s accessibility for persons with disabilities. Compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a foundational focus for the Accessibility Committee and where possible, members will consider inclusive practices that extend beyond a state of AODA compliance.

The departments/stakeholder groups represented on the committee include:

• AccessAbility Services
• Student Success Office
• Equity Office
• IST
• Registrar
• Grad Studies and Post-doc Affairs
• Plant Ops
• Library
• HR
• FAUW
• Staff Association
• CUPE
• Feds
• Graduate Student Association

For more information please contact the secretary of the Accessibility Committee, Joyce Barlow.

The 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.

Inquiries may be directed to Jay Dolmage, committee chair, or to Erin Windibank at the FAUW office.

The working group is open to the campus community of students, faculty and staff. Membership means that individuals may attend meetings and participate in the design, implementation and evaluation of priorities, initiatives and recommendations relating to gender and sexual diversity on campus.

For more information please visit the webpage or contact the Chair of the GSDWG, Clare Bermingham.

The Research, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Council was created by the Office of Research in 2018.  It is made up of representatives from across different faculties to develop strategies, supports and training opportunities to members of the research community who identify as part of the Four Designated Groups (women, racialized people, persons with disabilities and Indigenous peoples), as well as to oversee key activities related to the implementation and tracking of Waterloo’s CRC equity action plan.

For more information please contact the Chair of REDI, Dr. Anita Layton

W3⁺ (Waterloo Womxn + Nonbinary Wednesdays) is a gathering (and mailing list) of womxn and nonbinary grad students, post-docs, staff and faculty that meets on the last Wednesday of each month. The purpose of W3⁺ is to foster a social and support network among womxn and nonbinary members of the UW community. The group offers a safe space to discuss issues, provides a place to present university research, and raises awareness about gender and sexuality at the university both as a workplace and as a place for intellectual engagement.

Visit the W3+ website or contact Laura McDonald for more information.

The Wellness Collaborative is a University-wide collaboration led by Campus Wellness with representatives that include students, faculty and staff. The collaborative promotes and leverages existing wellness programs and initiatives; identifies gaps in services and supports; sets priorities for new health and wellness initiatives; and works with campus partners to implement those initiatives. The collaboration is tasked with responding to the unique needs and strengths of each Faculty, department and student group who will correspondingly share their insights and learnings with the campus-wide collaborative.

For more information, please contact Jennifer McCorriston.