Faculty of Mathematics Draft EDI-R & I Principles

Background 

In June 2022, faculty, staff, and students in the Faculty of Mathematics were invited to join a committee focused on the development of an equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and Indigenization (EDI-R & I) strategy. This would help align the Faculty's strategic and operational decisions with the University’s EDI-R & I initiatives. This committee first met in July 2022, and committee members have been meeting multiple times monthly since.  

Initially, committee members were strongly motivated to identify specific actions and initiatives the Faculty should consider implementing. However, the committee came to appreciate that since individuals in the Faculty are at different stages in their understanding of EDI-R & I initiatives, some find it challenging to navigate the many (and increasing) number of institutional training opportunities and EDI-R & I commitments.  There was a need to create a starting point from which individuals could take action while also supporting the ongoing activity of individuals who are proactively incorporating EDI-R & I considerations into their day-to-day roles and responsibilities.   

To create this starting point, the committee drafted a set of principles to support the Faculty’s EDI-R & I efforts. The principles were designed: 

  • to set a solid foundation for supporting EDI-R & I initiatives; 

  • to use language and terminology that is accessible to individuals regardless of where they are on their individual journeys to understand EDI-R & I; 

  • by members of the Faculty of Mathematics for members of the Faculty of Mathematics (past, present, and future), in consultation with institutional partners leading EDI-R & I efforts; and  

  • to support a broad range of EDI-R & I initiatives, while being specific enough to support concrete action. 

The committee completed a first draft of the EDI-R & I principles in April 2023 and sought feedback from the broader Faculty of Mathematics community throughout May and June of 2023.

Consultation Process

Committee members attended regularly scheduled meetings throughout the Faculty of Mathematics to share the principles and encourage folks to attend focus groups to provide their feedback.

Focus groups were held between mid-May and the end of June. Each focus group was limited to a maximim of 15 participants and was generally limited to a specific audience. 

Stakeholders were also welcome to submit feedback through an online feedback form. 

Introduction to the Principles

The following principles are intended to guide all members of the Faculty of Mathematics in their efforts to actively advance human rights, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and Indigenization. If approved, student, staff, and faculty leadership would be making a commitment to these principles. Although the commitment to these principles would be made by leadership, they would be, collectively, everyone's responsibility to incorporate into their day-to-day work. These principles are meant to motivate, support, and inspire action. 

The Faculty of Mathematics acknowledges that the sovereignty of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNIM)* peoples in Canada distinguishes the principles underlying our work with these peoples from other equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism (EDI-R) work. The Faculty’s principles need to be interpreted within this context. The two-column format below is used to identify areas of overlap and distinction between these two areas of focus. 

When referencing FNIM peoples, we refer to individuals both within and outside the Faculty. 

Challenge the Status Quo

The Faculty of Mathematics challenges the status quo and is committed to proactively changing policies, processes, procedures, and other activities to reduce barriers to decolonization, Indigenization, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Recognize Individual Journeys

The Faculty of Mathematics identifies and addresses factors unique to the success of FNIM and equity-deserving groups, as defined by them, by continuously considering individual pathways for entry to, progression within, and departure from the Faculty.

Develop Individualized Support

The Faculty of Mathematics ensures that policies, procedures, services, and spaces support the diverse needs of individuals at all intersections of their identities.

Champion EDI-R + I Best Practices

The Faculty of Mathematics champions EDI-R and Indigenization best practices, provides continuing operational resources for these practices, and recognizes and meaningfully supports the efforts of individuals who implement and promote such practice.

Employ Responsible Data Practices

EDI-R

The Faculty of Mathematics collects and uses/reports data in a responsible manner, considering the impacts that such collection and use/reporting can have on equity-deserving groups.

Indigenization

The Faculty of Mathematics respects FNIM data sovereignty when collecting, using, and reporting data related to FNIM peoples and communities.

Act with Accountability

The Faculty of Mathematics gathers data and monitors measures the impact of its EDI-R I activities, making adjustments to continuously improve.

Foster Belonging

The Faculty of Mathematics creates an environment in which individuals can thrive, are comfortable presenting expressing themselves, and recognize their own responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect.

Encourage Holistic Approaches

EDI-R

The Faculty of Mathematics collaborates with institutional and external partners to ensure a consistent framework of engagement with, and support for, equity-deserving groups.

Indigenization

The Faculty of Mathematics connects with FNIM units at the University of Waterloo to build relationships that engage and support FNIM individuals and communities internal and external to the institution.

Nurture Reciprocity with FNIM Peoples

EDI-R

N/A - This principle only applies to Indigenization.

Indigenization

The Faculty of Mathematics supportsreciprocity with FNIM individuals and communities by encouraging responsible sharing of knowledge, skills, and spaces. Such reciprocity includes practicing two-eyed seeing and stewardship of lands and waters.

Promote Meaningful Collaboration

EDI-R

The Faculty of Mathematics actively collaborates with equity-deserving groups before implementing changes, while acknowledging and mitigating the disproportionate burden of this work on members of those groups, particularly those with intersecting identities.

Indigenization

The Faculty of Mathematics’ active collaboration with FNIM peoples is developed, informed, and sustained through co-design, partnership, and collaboration with FNIM people.

Share Collective Responsibility

Members of the Faculty of Mathematics take collective responsibility for supporting EDI-R and Indigenization best practices and striving to implement these practices as complementary to the pursuit of academic excellence.

EDI-R & I Principles Drafting Committee Members

  • Amna Lodhi, Projects Coordinator, Mathematics Equity Office
  • Anura Nammachivaya, Projects Coordinator, Mathematics Equity Office (Former Member) 
  • Brian Ingalls, Professor, Applied Mathematics 
  • Brittany Reiche, Research Manager, Math Research Office 
  • Christiane Lemieux, Associate Dean - Operations & Academic, Statistics & Actuarial Science 
  • Jeremy Steffler, Faculty Equity Officer, Office of the Dean 
  • Jessica Rumboldt, Educational Developer - Indigenous Knowledges, Centre for Teaching Excellence 
  • Judith Ann Koeller, Continuing Lecturer, Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing 
  • Keeley Isinghood, Undergraduate Student, Biostatistics 
  • Maura R. Grossman, Research Professor, School of Computer Science 
  • Michael Wallace, Associate Professor, Statistics & Actuarial Science 
  • Nancy Day, Associate Professor, School of Computer Science 
  • Robin Stadelbauer, Indigenous Relations Coordinator, Office of Indigenous Relations 
  • Shazerah Qureshi, Undergraduate Student, Honours Math, Co-op 
  • Siv Sivaloganathan, Chair, Applied Mathematics 
  • Stéphanie Abo, Graduate Student, Applied Mathematics 
  • Stephanie Whitney, Director - Research & Innovation Partnerships, Math Innovation 
  • Sue Ann Campbell, Professor, Applied Mathematics

The committee is sponsored by Mark Giesbrecht, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics. 

Updates

June 22 Update: Feedback Received to Date

We want to thank all individuals who have taken the time to submit their thoughts on the draft EDI-R & I Principles through discussions during unit meetings, participation in one of our focus groups, and/or our online feedback form.

Some of the themes we are observing in our feedback to date include the following:

  • The principles have generally been well-received, though there are some questions as to how the Faculty will be able to act on them.

  • The principles could be more clearly/logically presented, for example, grouped into similar themes.

  • A glossary of terms should accompany the principles.

  • Actions aligned with the principles have been brought forward for consideration (and these have been recorded for the next phases of this work!)

  • The acronym ”EDI-R & I” has caused some confusion. Some folks have read this as “EDI Research and Innovation”. Others have been confused by the “-R” notation. Additional clarity in the motivation behind drafting the principles would be useful, to help set expectations amongst stakeholders as to how they would be used.

Check back on this webpage for future updates.

August 10 Update: Consolidation of Feedback

The committee has been very appreciative of all the feedback received from colleagues throughout the Faculty. This feedback has highlighted a number of areas to clarify and improve in the draft principles document.

The committee is close to finalizing the principles for consideration by the Dean. Some of the more significant changes made in light of the feedback received include:

  • The principles have been renamed from the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism and Indigenization Principles to the Equity and Inclusive Communities Principles.
  • The preamble to the principles has been streamlined and focuses on clarifying the intention of the principles.
  • The wording of the principles has been modified to be more aspirational in nature. For example, instead of referring to “reducing barriers”, they now refer to “removing barriers.”
  • A Frequently Asked Questions document and glossary of terms referenced in the principles have been drafted to be released in parallel with the principles.

The current hope is to have the principles officially released during the Fall term.

September 22 Update: Consultation Summary

We are excited to share that the principles—now known as the Equity and Inclusive Communities Principles—have now been finalized and endorsed by the Dean of Mathematics.

We will be creating a more permanent home for the Equity and Inclusive Communities Principles on the Faculty of Mathematics website over the coming weeks, which will include a revised Frequently Asked Questions document and other resources.

Stay tuned for upcoming events to celebrate and facilitate the adoption of the principles throughout the Faculty of Mathematics.