Advisory Group Members:
Lisa Guenther (Philosophy), Adnan Husain (History), Samantha King (Gender Studies), Beverley Mullings (Geography), Dylan Robinson (Faculty of Arts and Science), Barrington Walker (History)
Preface:
The Advisory Group composed of the above list of members, an ad-hoc group of interested and available faculty volunteers with relevant experience and scholarly expertise, came together to revise the draft FAS Strategic Plan through a diversity, equity, and inclusivity lens on three occasions. Initially in a meeting including Deans Crow, Jessup and Smith, and subsequently for two meetings of two hours each, the Advisory Group examined and discussed the Strategic Plan and devised new proposed language below. It complied action items it recommends the Faculty of Arts and Science take up to fulfill the vision and goals outlined in the Strategic Plan, and met to complete this work on April 10. The group then forwarded its action items andrecommendations to the Dean’s office by April 12th.
The Advisory Group recognizes that the Strategic Plan provides an opportunity to articulate aspirational goals and commitments for the Faculty to achieve the structural transformations outlined since the PAC-Berry Report (1991), through the Henry Report (2004), the DARE Panel Report (2009), the Senate Educational Equity Policy Revision (2009), the DET Taskforce implementation priorities (2009-11) and, most recently, the ongoing PICRDI and TRC processes. Central to many of these past reports was the principle of embedding diversity, equity, and inclusivity more centrally into the mission, decision-making, priorities, and processes of the university at all levels rather than as an isolated, ancillary or adjunct set of considerations. The Advisory Group attempted to do precisely this by making more specific and explicit the language and commitments expressed in the draft Strategic Plan. This approach was necessary to emphasize the importance of, and to create the opportunities for recognizing, diverse forms of knowledge that have not historically been sufficiently represented or accommodated at the university.
