Author: Shannon Stucky, Advancement
On Nov. 18, the University of Calgary signs the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion as part of a commitment it made last year to promote inclusion and address racism.
UCalgary is one of 40 universities, colleges and partner institutions across Canada signing the charter. This follows from promises the university made at the October 2020 National Dialogues and Action for Inclusive Higher Education and Communities.
When asked about the charter, President Ed McCauley outlined our foundational commitments to an equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible campus, which includes:
- Closing the gap on Black under-representation at all levels of our institution.
- Expanding support for African and Diaspora Studies.
- Supporting and celebrating the research excellence of Black students, scholars and staff.
- Collecting, analyzing and disseminating disaggregated data on faculty, staff and students.
- Engaging the wider community in an ongoing dialogue about how we can work together to combat anti-Black racism.
The Scarborough Charter, co-created by higher education institutions led by the Office of the Vice-President and Principal for University of Toronto Scarborough, in consultation with Black scholars, activists, civic and political leaders, and communities, outlines the "principles, actions and commitments (that) reflect our collective recognition of the realities of anti-Black racism, encapsulate our shared aspirations to address them, and provide a concrete framework for delivering on our promise."
This is a historic moment and a chance for Canadian higher education and UCalgary to move from commitment to action, says Dr. Malinda Smith, vice-provost and associate vice-president research (equity, diversity and inclusion). She is also a member of the Inter-Institutional Advisory Committee for the Charter.
"I look forward to working with colleagues across campus and in the broader community to seeing these actions create systemic change at UCalgary and across the post-secondary landscape in Canada," Smith says.
Everyone welcome to join virtual event Nov. 18
