Task Force Update

Week of October 19, 2020

Task Force (TF) met on October 22 for the regular bi-weekly meeting.

Updates:

• The TF is engaging in a strategic planning exercise facilitated by Queen’s Executive Decision Centre during the week of October 26. Part of the TF’s mandate is to draft a Smith EDII strategic plan by the end of 2020. Similar sessions are also planned for Smith faculty, staff, and students.
• The Registrar’s Office will be running webinars to guide prospective students through the application process to Queen’s undergraduate programs for September 2021 entry, including Commerce. This is another way to improve accessibility to information about Queen’s, including academic requirements, financial aid opportunities and guidance for completing the written application. There will be students hired as Equity Ambassadors to provide peer-to-peer support through the application process.
• Funds will be made available to teams of Smith students, faculty and staff to support projects that advance equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenization. Details are being finalized, with the program expected to launch in January 2021.
• Monthly meetings will begin in November with the Dean and leaders of student groups.

Working Groups

• Advancement and Alumni Engagement in Support of EDII: completing the review of applications from alumni to serve on the WG, using a rubric to provide an unbiased process that will result in a diverse, experienced group to support the school.
• Incorporating EDII in Teaching and Learning: upcoming meetings will focus on identifying long-term goals and strategies, after a series of short-term initiatives including panels and workshops. This will involve identifying synergies among WGs.
• Physical, Virtual and Safe Spaces: (1) continuing to identify spaces – both physical and online – that can be made more EDII friendly. (2) Continuing to determine what a safe space entails and how Smith can provide such spaces. (3) Smith staff have been required to complete EDII-focused online training modules. The majority of staff have completed this training.
• Policy, Process, and Practice reform: (1) top priority is identifying and mapping out the process for students to raise issues of harassment and discrimination. Once complete, they will be shared with the TF and eventually all students (via their programs), staff, and faculty. (2) long term goal is to develop road maps (on topics as deemed necessary) for faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors. (3) WG subgroups continue to engage with program-based EDII Committees to understand and provide input on processes, such as recruitment and admissions.
• EDII Research and Thought Leadership: (1) working on having speakers on EDII topics during faculty Coffee Chats or Brown Bag-type events throughout the year. (2) Conducted an audit of Faculty webpages to gather a database on faculty expertise and experience on EDII topics. Further work being done to make it searchable.

Data and Dashboard Project Team

• Drafting KPIs to be recommended to the TF soon.
• The team will work with Smith Marketing and Communications to create an EDII dashboard on the Smith website.

EDII Committees

• Commerce Society: the new Culture Creation Working Group of ComSoc is developing a policy to guide students regarding alcohol usage at Commerce Society sanctioned events, which will be implemented in the next academic year.