Lakehead University launching its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan
Lakehead University launched its first Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan today, resulting from a year-long process of planning, research and consultation led by the President’s EDI taskforce.
Composed of senior administrators, academics and student leaders, this taskforce ensured that the process for developing the plan would be a coordinated mechanism for driving equity, diversity, and inclusion at Lakehead University over five years.
The plan is a living document, meaning that although its vision, mission and goals will not change, the activities will be assessed year by year to ensure that the University achieves its goals.
Lakehead University’s EDI goals include recruiting and retaining a diverse student body and workforce; supporting and accommodating our people through EDI services; innovating and leading on EDI knowledge creation and education; communicating our EDI work and our EDI values; and encouraging EDI within the university governance system.
The plan’s mission is to institutionalize equitable and inclusive principles and practices to realize a University where diversity thrives. Its vision is to create a university that is plural and diverse in its content, structures and people.
“This action plan reflects Lakehead’s commitment to a university community where the human rights of all students, faculty, and staff are respected and realized,” said Dylan Mazur, Lakehead’s Director, Human Rights and Equity.
Dr. Moira McPherson, Lakehead’s President and Vice-Chancellor, thanked the taskforce members for their work and dedication developing this plan, which they accomplished through essential consultation and contributions from members of the entire University community.
“This action plan represents a commitment to building and fostering a university where we can live, learn, and work in an environment that is equitable and inclusive for all,” Dr. McPherson said.
To review the action plan, click here.
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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. In 2019, Maclean’s 2020 University Rankings, once again, included Lakehead University among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities, while Research Infosource named Lakehead 'Research University of the Year' in its category for the fifth consecutive year. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
