| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.93 |
| Liaison | Emily Zabanah |
| Submission Date | Feb. 1, 2024 |
Seneca Polytechnic
IN-49: Innovation C
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Paula
Echeveste Sustainability Specialist - Engagement & Outreach Office of Sustainability |
Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
Established in 2021, The Jane Fund is a $12-million permanently endowed fund approved by the Board of Governors to support student-focused EDI initiatives. It is Seneca’s largest endowed fund and among the biggest EDI funds in Canadian higher education. Among the initiatives the fund will support are:
- Financial aid to improve access for students from racialized and equity-seeking communities
- Matching external donations to establish or augment existing EDI bursaries and scholarships
- Supplementing services to help guide students through their postsecondary journey
- Academic programs that target priority communities and neighbourhoods, and;
- Other EDI initiatives, such as community outreach, research projects and student mobility programs.
The first allocations from The Jane Fund will be $250,000. The Jane Fund Committee is also inviting Seneca students, employees and community members to submit proposals for initiatives aimed at improving EDI at Seneca. In total, 10 projects will receive $5,000 each. The committee also plans to share EDI-related ideas in an engaging way by recruiting an artist-in-residence and speakers for the Seneca Talks series with a budget of $15,000.
In addition, $110,000 will fund the salary and benefits of a navigator position to help guide students through their postsecondary experience. A further $50,000 will support students experiencing unexpected financial challenges not covered by Seneca’s traditional emergency funds.
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.