| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.93 |
| Liaison | Emily Zabanah |
| Submission Date | Feb. 1, 2024 |
Seneca Polytechnic
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.78 / 2.00 |
Paula
Echeveste Sustainability Specialist - Engagement & Outreach Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution have a diversity and equity committee, office, and/or officer tasked by the administration or governing body to advise on and implement policies, programs, and trainings related to diversity, equity, inclusion and human rights?:
Does the committee, office and/or officer focus on students, employees, or both?:
A brief description of the diversity and equity committee, office and/or officer, including purview and activities:
OFFICE OF RECONCILIATION AND INCLUSION
The Office of Reconciliation and Inclusion was established in January 2021 to advise the Office of the President on policies and procedures to build an equitable Seneca, free of systemic racism and bias.
Since then, the office has done crucial work to gain a better understanding of Seneca's community. It has developed resources, established an advisory committee and sub-committees. In addition, it provides leadership and support to our students and employees.
Thousands of Seneca community members have participated in R&I events developed by the office to mark special dates such as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Black History Month and Transgender Day of Remembrance.
CURRICULUM AUDIT
In addition, Seneca has committed to auditing curriculum to incorporate citizenry, intercultural relations, ethics and inclusivity and to assess new programs within the lens of this audit. Seneca also made a commitment to encourage and establish bursaries and scholarships to support equity-deserving and minority students.
Estimated proportion of students that has participated in cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
Estimated proportion of academic staff that has participated in cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
Estimated proportion of non-academic staff that has participated in cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
A brief description of the institution’s cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
EDI PROGRAMMING
The EDI provides multiple events throughout the year including:
The Seneca Talks series, an ongoing lecture series featuring industry and community experts, focuses on equity, diversity and inclusion. In recent months, speakers such as Lawrence Hill, a novelist who writes about issues of identity, Michelle Good, a Cree writer and lawyer and Michaelle Jean, a former governor general, have shared their stories.
SKODEN is a 12-week program. In these weekly gatherings, Seneca staff consider how to decolonize and Indigenize programs and courses they are responsible for. Through a lens of looking back to understand where we go forward, participants learn about Indigenous knowledges, Canadian colonialization and the Indigenous resurgence. This learning opportunity is intended to assist the efforts of First Peoples@Seneca to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA Calls for Justice and to improve student experiences. Teaching, talking and sharing about and for reconciliation provides staff an opportunity to consider how to decolonize and Indigenize curriculum and pedagogy through the support of the Indigenous community at Seneca. Ultimately, the key to the class is that reconciliation is not an Indigenous issue or responsibility. We are all treaty partners. Participants are empowered to make decisions, given resources and a safe space to ask questions and make mistakes.
Beyond the series above, Seneca does multiple awareness events usually centered on months such as Black History Month, Asian Heritage Month and Pride Month. However, these identities are celebrated beyond these months. Seneca is mindful that all aspects of our lived experiences should be celebrated and honored.
AODA TRAINING
The Human Resources department has put together a training that is mandatory for all staff called” “Supporting People with Disabilities (AODA Training)”. The training oversees the following:
• Customer Service for People with Disabilities
• Accessibility Awareness Training for Educators
• Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations (IASR) and Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) Training
Website URL where information about the institution’s diversity and equity office or trainings 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.