Advisory Group Process | Action Plans | St. Jerome's University

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Advisory Group Process | Action Plans

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31 May, 2024

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16 Jun, 2024

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Advisory Group Process

The President’s Advisory Group was mandated to develop a comprehensive action plan to address the social and structural factors that cause members of the St. Jerome’s community to be excluded, marginalized, and disregarded. Its work from April — May 2022 was focused on five areas within the University: 1) Campus Culture; 2) Hiring Systems and Practices; 3) Curriculum and Programs; 4) Outreach, Recruiting, and Marketing; 5) Facilities. These areas emerged initially in the Phase 1 Report.

The Advisory Group included representatives from SJU’s students, staff, and academic staff. It benefitted from the expertise of Tammy Webster, K-12 Indigenous Education and Equity Consultant, Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Director, Equity of Let’s Talk Science. We were also joined by St. Jerome’s University Chancellor Bruce Rodrigues. The Advisory Group was guided in its approach by a recognition that the work of anti-racism, decolonization, and reconciliation ends not with mere equity and inclusion but with liberation and a commitment that all members of our community will be honored and cared for such that individuals and the community can thrive and flourish.

The Advisory Group recognizes that SJU’s work is taking place within the context of the resources available from the University of Waterloo (UW), especially from the UW President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce (PART), the Office of Indigenous Relations, and the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism. We are grateful for the ongoing support from our colleagues at the University of Waterloo and seek to be partners in this work. We have sought, where possible, to ground our work specifically in the PART Report issued by University of Waterloo in spring 2022. As the University of Waterloo is a signatory of the Scarborough Charter on anti-Black racism and Black inclusion, St. Jerome’s University seeks to contribute to those commitments as a federated partner.

The Action Plans outlined in the next section of the report reflect a starting place—5 goals, with 25 specific recommendations, that if achieved, would dramatically improve the culture and climate of St. Jerome’s University for all who live on, work at, and interact with our campus. Achieving these goals would lay the foundation for additional work and initiatives that will emerge as the world around us and students we serve continue to change.

The Action Plans reference our University of Waterloo partner’s President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce (PART) Report, released in April 2022. We have identified where shared themes are aligned with this report and the University of Waterloo’s.

Phase 1: Preparatory Work for the Action Plan

President’s Working Group on EDI

Co-Chairs

• Mike Gourlay, Executive Director, Finance and Administration

• Cristina Vanin, Interim Vice President Academic and Dean Staff Members

Faculty Members

• Carm DeSantis, Lecturer, Department of Sexuality, Marriage and Family Studies

• Denise Whitehead, Associate Professor, Department of Sexuality, Marriage and Family Studies

Staff Members

• John Arnou, Director, Student Affairs (Acting)

• Veronica Austen, Associate Dean, Member

• Sue Brubacher, Director, Enrolment and Upper Year Transition

• Martha Fauteux, Director, Campus Ministry

• Michelle Watson, Director, Human Resources

Student Members

• Eve Astolfi

• Jenny Fu

• Leslie Moss

Phase 2: Development of Action Plan

President’s Advisory Group on EDI

Co-Chairs

• Carol Ann MacGregor, Vice President Academic and Dean

• Saphron Moule, Executive Director, Finance and Administration

External Member

• Bruce Rodrigues, Chancellor, St. Jerome’s University

• Tammy Webster, K-12 Indigenous Education and Equity Consultant, Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Director, Equity of Let’s Talk Science 12 President’s Advisory Group on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

Faculty Members

• Diana Lobb, Contract Academic Staff, Department of English

• Anastasia Tataryn, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Legal Studies

Staff Members

• Michelle Metzger, Service Learning Program Coordinator

• Jessica Vorsteveld, Director, Student Affairs

Student Members

• Jasleen kaur Brar

• Jenny Fu

• Leslie Moss

Phase 2: Action Plans

Please use the following link to access the Phase 2: Action Plans.

Return to Main Table of Contents Next - Appendix 1: Advisory Group Notes

Previous Page - A Message from the President and Vice Chancellor

PDF copy of Full Report