By signing the charter, the University is acknowledging the role that institutions of higher education have played in constructing knowledge about historically excluded groups and accepting the ethical responsibility to give voice to alternative ways of knowing and support community building.
“The University of Ottawa is committed to developing and implementing concrete transformative solutions to combat systemic anti-Black racism, and to promoting Black excellence and inclusion in our pedagogy, our research, our governance and in the student experience,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Jacques Frémont.
Guided by the overarching charter principles and the needs of our unique and diverse community, uOttawa will continue to work closely with our partners, stakeholders, students, faculty and staff to eliminate the barriers and disparities experienced by equity-deserving groups.
Additionally, last month, the special advisor on anti-racism and inclusive excellence, Professor Boulou Ebanda de B’Béri, released an anti-racism progress report, to update the uOttawa community on the advancement of several initiatives designed to mitigate — and ultimately, help eliminate — systemic racism at the University of Ottawa.
Since taking on his role almost one year ago Boulou Ebanda de B’Béri has overseen the creation of working groups mandated to develop and launch plans to:
- provide better support for members of our racialized communities, including establishing a mentorship program, dedicated mental health offerings and additional scholarships for racialized students
- accelerate the hiring of Black, Indigenous and racialized professors
- develop and implement anti-racism and anti-oppression training for the community
- implement a research support program for racialized researchers
Boulou Ebanda De B’Béri has also promoted the “Count Me In” survey to determine the number of BIPOC students enrolled at uOttawa and the courses and programs they are enrolled in, to identify and address opportunities and gaps in support for them.
Earlier this week, the Administration Committee also issued a declaration in support of the United Nations’ Decade for People of African Descent.
In the declaration, the University acknowledges that members of the uOttawa community have suffered from the scourge of racism and discrimination and reiterates our determination to enact change through meaningful community engagement, critical self-reflection and transformative actions to ensure our campus is a safe place and that all students, faculty and staff treat each other with respect at all times.
The signing of the Scarborough Charter further confirms uOttawa’s commitment toward combatting racism in all forms.
The signing and launch of the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education took place virtually on Thursday, November 18, 2021.