VIU Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Symposium Webinar: March 24 and 25

Event Date: 
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 - 8:30am EDT to Thursday, March 25, 2021 - 3:00pm EDT
Event Location: 
online

Background

As a values-based institution, VIU is committed to improving its community with a safe and inclusive environment for all. VIU has taken a proactive stance in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) issues. Knowing that other universities across Canada are also developing or implementing their EDI plans, VIU invited members of the Alliance of Canadian Comprehensive Research Universities (ACCRU), a network of small and medium-sized comprehensive universities from across Canada, to join a community of practice and collaborate in a symposium about the best practices for EDI Action Plans. 

VIU led the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s (SSHRC) Connection Grant to fund the symposium that will provide a venue for collaboration, discussions and shared learning around equity, diversity and inclusion action planning. The purpose of the symposium is to provide a space for the participating universities to collaboratively develop a deeper understanding of research-based EDI best practices, including how to build institutional capacity; how to handle resistance to advancement of EDI on campuses; how to manage institutional cultural shifts when prioritizing EDI at universities; how to effectively apply an intersectional lens to EDI action and analysis; and the legal and human rights aspects of EDI. The event will take place over two days (March 24-25) with sessions ranging from presentation of data to interactive workshops.