EDISJ Project Group Report
A significant milestone has been achieved, as the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice (EDISJ) Project Group shares its initial report with the OC community this week.
Last year, the project group collected information on how to move the EDISJ agenda forward, as identified in the Inspire strategic plan. This report captures the highlights of activities completed, learnings to date, institutional needs and expectations for future EDISJ education and projects.
The group actioned several initiatives in the past year:
- Built awareness of the EDISJ project.
- Established an EDISJ Ambassador group.
- Collected information about activity underway that promotes EDISJ principles.
- Established an EDISJ mission statement and working definitions of equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice
- Approved the Board of Governors' statement on EDISJ.
- Gathered input on how College leadership views Okanagan College's EDISJ in the context of the Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Benchmarks (GDEIB).
- Conducted an employee climate survey
- Built the EDISJ web presence and resource hub
The report also includes a two-year action plan that outlines goals in six categories: engagement, communication and coordination; data gathering and consultation; Indigenous ways of knowing and interdisciplinarity in curriculum and research; learning, education and training for all employees and students; capacity building focused on recruitment and retention of equity seeking groups; and systems changes.
The goals are in line with the EDISJ mission, for the College to weave EDISJ principles throughout policy, practice, and action in all aspects of college life and throughout the communities, create an environment where all feel welcome and valued.
Everyone belongs at OC, and all students and employees are encouraged to take part:
- Join the project as an ambassador
- Read the report
- Check out resources and explore project information: www.okanagan.bc.ca/edisj
Meri Kim Oliver
Vice President, Students
