Strategic Theme: Social Responsibility

Lakehead University is committed to social justice and making a significant contribution to our communities and society as a whole through our programs, research, and the wide range of activities undertaken by our faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Lakehead Orillia Voice

Lakehead Orillia is located in Simcoe County, one of the areas in the province with the lowest degree attainment rates. In 2019, 18.3 percent of the population of Simcoe County had a university degree, compared with 54 percent from the City of Toronto, and 32 percent from the Province of Ontario. Increased degree attainment is required to fuel the economy of Central Ontario and ensure the population can fully participate in Ontario’s future economy. The Orillia campus will work to implement a social justice framework through academic programming accessible to under-represented communities of learners. We are committed to developing strategies that improve student access and outcomes through bridging programs in collaboration with our college partner, and to implementing sustainability initiatives.

The Office of the Principal will

• Support Lakehead University’s implementation of a social responsibility evaluation framework on the Orillia campus; 
• Champion the creation an Indigenous Resource Centre;
• Work with the Office of the Provost to increase enrolment of underrepresented student groups in undergraduate and graduate programs, including Indigenous students, first generations students, and students from Simcoe County;
• Champion the implementation of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan;
• Support the creation of summer bridging programs, pathways and other resources to enable student mobility;
• Expand pathway opportunities and integrated program offerings within the Lakehead-Georgian Partnership; and,
• Champion the implementation of the University Sustainability Action Plan at Lakehead Orillia.