Guiding principles
It is intended that the Guiding Principles be used to inform best practices in strategic planning and implementation and be used as a measure of implementation, accountability, and institutional commitment to embedding anti-racism, decolonial, and anti-oppressive behaviours across the University.
- Enact changes to strategic processes that acknowledge and confront systemic racism and oppression at the University and beyond, such as by introducing a body acknowledgement to recognize the histories of struggle by racialized peoples in Canada.
- Achieve parity for racialized students, faculty and staff in each Faculty and Academic Support Unit across the University, defining and recognizing excellence that includes lived experiences, commitments to community development and scholarship.
- Commit to broad and meaningful consultation across the institution, both as new and established strategic initiatives are being considered, as well as at scheduled intervals throughout the strategic planning process.
- Ensure that a plurality of community voices is not only heard but that their contributions are evident by ensuring transparency in enacting changes to strategic processes and implementing meaningful accountability that is grounded in anti-racism principles.
- Respect the sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples and embrace the principle behind “nothing about us, without us” in its day-to-day operations and strategic planning.
- Acknowledge the de-centralized nature of our institution and the inherently connective work that needs to happen to ensure cultural transformation. This work cannot happen in silos.
- Sustain and integrate financial and human investment in this work across campus, prioritizing long-term equity and anti-racism work as part of its general operations.