Anti-Asian Racism Working Group

U of T launches new Institutional Equity Commitments website

ksoobria — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:10:33 +0000

U of T launches new Institutional Equity Commitments website ksoobria Tue, 02/13/2024 - 11:10

The ��Ƶ community has a new website that enhances the way it tracks institutional progress on addressing recommendations from its equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) working groups and task force.

Launched in December 2023, the Institutional Equity Commitments website outlines the commitments U of T has made in response to recommendations from the Anti-Black Racism Task Force, Antisemitism Working Group and Anti-Asian Racism Working Group; provides status updates on each initiative; and shares articles, photos, and resources that bring this work to life. 

“The university is committed to building on the strong foundation for change laid in the reports of our EDI working groups and task force,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “It is also imperative that our actions be transparent and accessible to all members of our community. We hope that the new Institutional Equity Commitments website will foster an increased awareness of what we have achieved together so far and inspire participation in the many initiatives yet to come.” 

Developed through collaboration among the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice-President & Provost and the Office of the Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture, the Institutional Equity Commitments website is an evolution of a pilot project that began in 2021. The pilot version, known as the Commitments Dashboard, was created to track the implementation of Anti-Black Racism Task Force recommendations and later expanded to include Antisemitism Working Group recommendations. Over the years, there has been a growing need to enhance the existing site. 

“Guided by our community’s feedback, we have designed a site that is easier to navigate and clearly demonstrates institutional accountability while celebrating our shared progress,” said U of T’s Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture Kelly Hannah-Moffat.

The updated website has a redesigned look and enhanced user experience, including featured stories, progress snapshots, and status updates on the recommendations. Visitors can filter the entire page by specific report. Additionally, divisions or offices responsible for reporting progress on each commitment are now identified. 

“The nature of equity work is that it is an ongoing journey, characterized by continual growth and change,” said Jodie Glean-Mitchell, executive director, equity, diversity and inclusion.

“The newly revised Institutional Equity Commitments website provides the university with a tool to put EDI accountability into action as we engage our collective responsibility to foster an equitable and inclusive university.”    

Members of the U of T community are encouraged to explore the new site and consider how the working group recommendations might inform change in their own areas of the university. Feedback on the site and stories about local progress on EDI commitments are also welcome and can be submitted using the feedback form.  

“We are fortunate to have a very engaged community of students, faculty, librarians and staff who make important contributions to this work, and we’re glad to have their continued input,” said Trevor Young, U of T's vice-president and provost. “Our ongoing goal is to better deliver and report on the institutional commitments we've made to equity and to improve transparency and accountability.”

U of T launches new Institutional Equity Commitments website

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Melinda Mattos 

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U of T marks entrustment of Anti-Asian Racism Working Group Report

lanthierj — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 20:25:35 +0000

U of T marks entrustment of Anti-Asian Racism Working Group Report

lanthierj Thu, 06/08/2023 - 16:25

Cutline

Vikram Chadalawada, left, co-chair of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group, hands the group's final report to U of T President Meric Gertler (all photos by Polina Teif)

Tabassum Siddiqui

Anti-Asian Racism Working Group

Alumni

Cheryl Regehr

President Meric Gertler

The ��Ƶ held a ceremony this week to mark the entrustment of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s (AARWG) final report, which includes 40 recommendations to address the often invisible nature of anti-Asian racism and build a more equitable community across U of T’s three campuses.

The ceremony, held in Governing Council Chamber, marked the official handover of the report to U of T’s senior leaders, who have accepted all of the report’s recommendations.

U of T President Meric Gertler accepted the report on behalf of the university.

“I accept and embrace all its recommendations,” he said. “We will proceed as quickly as possible to implement the recommendations fully, with transparency and accountability. And we encourage all members of the university community to join in combatting anti-Asian racism, in society and on our three campuses.”

The report’s recommendations comprise eight key areas: institutional accountability, data and transparency; communications; hiring, reviews and career development; education, training and mentorship; teaching, curriculum and research; community and belonging; health, wellness and support; and resources (funding, staffing and research).

“As leaders of the university, we acknowledge that anti-Asian racism is often ignored or even unnoticed,” President Gertler said. “We recognize that the richness, complexity and diversity of Asian experience are not as well understood and appreciated as they ought to be. And we see that all too often, the remarkable contributions made by members of the Asian community are taken for granted.

“We also see a tremendous commitment among members of the U of T community to help lead the way in meeting these challenges. Moreover, we feel very hopeful that the implementation of the working group’s recommendations will lead to significant progress in doing so.”

The ceremony began with welcoming remarks and a land acknowledgement by Heather Boon, acting vice-president, people strategy, equity and culture. She also thanked the working group and co-chairs Carol Chin and Vikram Chadalawada for their work on the report.

“The final report entrusted to the university today provides important guidance for our collective efforts to combat anti-Asian racism – something that many Asian-identifying members of our community have experienced on a personal and structural level,” Boon said.

(L-R) Heather Boon, Cheryl Regehr, President Meric Gertler, Chancellor Rose Patten, Carol Chin and Vikram Chadalawada

The AARWG was launched in April 2022 as part of the university’s commitment to addressing discrimination and growing anti-Asian racism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted members of the U of T community. The 39-member AARWG worked over the course of a year to consult with stakeholders and learn more about the experiences and perspectives of students, faculty, librarians and staff.

“All those consultations produced numerous suggestions from members of the community, and we felt the great responsibility of translating those ideas and wishes into concrete, manageable actions that the university could implement and that would actually make a difference,” said Chin, who is also principal of Woodsworth College and an associate professor in the department of history in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“We are delighted that the university is accepting all our recommendations and committing to their implementation. And we hope that the diverse members of the Asian-identifying community at U of T feel well represented by the report and feel as hopeful as we do about the outcome.”

Chadalawada, assistant director of student information systems, enterprise applications and solutions integration, thanked those who participated in the AARWG’s university-wide survey, focus groups and consultations, and noted visibility was a theme that surfaced throughout the working group’s engagement with the U of T community.

“It is our hope that the report of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group gives voice to the diverse members of U of T’s Asian community and its various diasporas – or, put another way, that it makes ‘invisible’ experiences of the U of T Asian community become visible,” Chadalawada said.

“And, by making these experiences more visible, it will ensure that addressing anti-Asian racism and supporting members of the U of T Asian community are ongoing priorities across our campuses.”

In its response to the report, U of T’s administration said it is implementing proposed actions as a result of the AARWG’s work and other ongoing equity-related initiatives, and pledged to take meaningful action on creating a more supportive environment for members of U of T’s diverse Asian community.

Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr thanked the working group for shedding light “on the pervasive existence and effects of anti-Asian racism” and for offering tangible solutions and charting pathways for change.

“It takes courage to speak up to ask to be seen, understood and valued in ways that historically have been withheld from Asians in Canada,” Regehr said. “It takes courage to ask for change and to inspire an entire community to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of Asian students and colleagues.”

The entrustment ceremony concluded with remarks by Chancellor Rose Patten, who thanked the working group for its leadership in addressing the challenge of anti-Asian racism and noted U of T’s institutional commitment to the ideals of an open and just society.

“The phrase ‘inclusive excellence’ really does reflect what we strive to achieve and to exemplify. But of course, that does not mean that we won’t sometimes fall short, or that we cannot do better,” Patten said.

“In fact, it is precisely because of the principles we stand for and the mission we have set for ourselves that we must always seek to do better. The resurgence of anti-Asian racism is a challenge for all of us – we must rise to the occasion, and must always prevent complacency.”

U of T accepts all recommendations of Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s final report

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 29 May 2023 12:51:58 +0000

U of T accepts all recommendations of Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s final report

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 05/29/2023 - 08:51

Cutline

(photo by Daria Perevezentsev)

Tabassum Siddiqui

Topic

Our Community

Anti-Asian Racism Working Group

The ��Ƶ is committed to implementing the 40 recommendations for addressing anti-Asian racism on campus issued in the final report by U of T’s Anti-Asian Racism Working Group.

The final report outlines eight key areas where the university can expand on its work to build a more respectful, accountable, equitable and inclusive community while stepping up efforts to combat anti-Asian racism, which experienced a spike in Canada and other countries during the pandemic.

The report highlights the fact that anti-Asian racism is often compounded by a feeling of invisibility and acknowledges the diverse nature of the Asian community across U of T’s three campuses, including the unique experiences of international students.

“The ��Ƶ is staunchly opposed to anti-Asian racism in all its forms,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “It also acknowledges that anti-Asian racism is too often ignored – and that the rich, complex and diverse Asian experience is sometimes overlooked, while many remarkable contributions from this community are taken for granted.

“We accept the Working Group’s recommendations and commit the university to proceeding as quickly as possible, with accountability and transparency.”

The Anti-Asian Racism Working Group (AARWG) launched in April 2022 as part of U of T’s commitment to addressing discrimination and growing anti-Asian racism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted members of the U of T community.

The group comprised 39 members, including 12 faculty, instructors and librarians; 18 staff; and nine students.

“So many people from across different constituencies of the university wanted to help on this work,” said working group co-chair Carol Chin, principal of Woodsworth College and associate professor in the department of history in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“We wanted to ensure that we had a cross-section of different Asian identities, so we tried to include people from different backgrounds and different experiences so that we had a representative group,” added fellow co-chair Vikram Chadalawada, assistant director of student information systems, enterprise applications and solutions integration.

The working group appointed a steering committee and three subcommittees to consult stakeholders and launched a university-wide survey in October 2022 to invite students, faculty, librarians and staff to share their experiences of and perspectives on anti-Asian racism at U of T. The group then held focus groups and consultations to better understand the issues.

“We felt a great sense of responsibility to be entrusted with the stories and hopes of all the different members of the community, and also then the responsibility to take those disparate experiences and crystallize them into recommendations that the university could actually act on,” Chin said.

That process informed the recommendations in the final report, which are grouped into eight key areas: institutional accountability, data and transparency; communications; hiring, reviews and career development; education, training and mentorship; teaching, curriculum and research; community and belonging; health, wellness and support; and resources (funding, staffing and research).

In its response to the report, U of T’s administration notes the university is implementing proposed actions as a result of the working group’s consultations and other ongoing equity-related initiatives, and pledges to take meaningful action on creating a more supportive environment for members of U of T’s Asian community.

“The Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s recommendations have provided a concrete foundation upon which a more equitable U of T community may flourish, while recognizing that inclusion and belonging on our campuses cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach,” said U of T Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr.

“As a result of this important initiative, we commit to an increased vigilance in identifying and confronting anti-Asian racism at U of T and society at large. We hope that the measures taken in response to this report will result in members of the U of T Asian community feeling how deeply valued they are as individuals and contributors to our collective and shared success.”

The U of T community will be updated on progress related to the report’s recommendations via the commitments tracking webpage of the Institutional Equity Office.

“The multidimensional work of responding to racism at the university requires a collective effort,” said Acting Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture Heather Boon. “We recognize the diversity of experience within and across U of T’s Asian community, and we aim to create a more supportive environment in which all our members feel they belong.

“We will continue to support initiatives that contribute to the well-being and success of Asian faculty, librarians, students and staff.”

Lingyin Shen, co-lead of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s students and curricula subcommittee, said she was encouraged by the feedback throughout the group’s year-long process and hopes their report will lead to substantive change.

“I hope the administration is going to take a very close look at the report and consider all the voices and recommendations, and implement them in a way that is open-minded and practical,” said Shen, who is a U of T graduate in East Asian studies and works at the Centre for International Experience as an international student immigration adviser.

“It’s a good pathway moving forward,” added subcommittee co-lead Wan Li, a recent U of T graduate in geography and contemporary Asian studies.

Co-chairs Chin and Chadalawada said they’re pleased with the administration’s response to the report and note discussion on the issues will continue beyond the working group.

“The whole U of T community wants change to happen – and the institution is genuinely committed to change,” Chadalawada said. “It’s the perfect balance of everyone feeling the need to work together to make that change happen.”

Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s student members aim to build community, drive change

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 15:21:51 +0000

Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s student members aim to build community, drive change

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 11/02/2022 - 11:21

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(Photo by Polina Teif)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Anti-Asian Racism

Anti-Asian Racism Working Group

Alumni

Faculty of Arts & Science

Undergraduate Students

Woodsworth College

During the height of the pandemic, Lingyin Shen felt concerned for her safety when she stepped outside her home.

With a master’s degree in East Asian studies from the ��Ƶ, Shen says the alarming spike in anti-Asian racism incidents during the pandemic had her worried.

“The pandemic was not kind to the Asian community,” she says. “I felt vulnerable.”

So, when Shen learned that U of T had formed an Anti-Asian Racism Working Group to tackle anti-Asian racism across the three campuses and achieve a more welcoming and inclusive environment for Asian communities, she saw it as an opportunity to speak up and for her voice to be heard.

“I wanted to do something for my community and to make sure the equity, diversity and inclusion framework acknowledges the Asian experience,” says Shen, who works at U of T’s Centre for International Experience as an international student immigration adviser. “I also want to form solidarity among the Asian community.”

Co-chaired by Carol Chin, principal of Woodsworth College, and Vikram Chadalawada, assistant director, student information, Enterprise Applications and Solutions Integration at Information Technology Services, the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group is now in the process of consulting U of T community members about their experiences with anti-Asian racism. It will develop a tri-campus inventory of existing resources, initiatives and projects, and review the university’s policies, procedures and practices to recommend specific ways to address anti-Asian racism and create an inclusive and welcoming environment for Asian members of the university community.

A final report with the group’s recommendations will be delivered to U of T President Meric Gertler, Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr and Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity and Culture Kelly Hannah-Moffat by the end of this academic year.

The working group’s first meeting, held in September, generated a lot of interest, Chin says.

“We felt a real sense of engagement,” she says. “We want to bring attention to this issue, and we hope to hear from as many people as possible about their experiences of anti-Asian racism.

“Only after we have heard from a broad spectrum of the university community can we begin to formulate specific, actionable recommendations.”

Lingyin Shen works at U of T’s Centre for International Experience as an international student immigration adviser (photo courtesy of Lingyin Shen)

The working group is made up of a steering committee and three subcommittees comprising staff, faculty, instructors, librarians and students. Meetings will take place bi-weekly throughout the school year to tackle the group’s goals. An online survey was also sent out to the U of T community at the end of October.

“As co-chairs, Carol and I will be playing a very active role in the steering committee meetings,” says Chadalawada, who is chair of the University Affairs Board in U of T’s Governing Council. “We have assigned co-leads for each subcommittee to ensure information is flowing between the subcommittees and the steering committee.”

Shen – who is a co-lead of a subcommittee and on the steering committee – says members spoke at the first meeting about how the working groups might be able to achieve a positive outcome for U of T’s Asian communities.

“I want to encourage people to share their personal experience so we can hear and validate each other,” she says. “It’s a good starting point to have a foundation of mutual recognition.”

Similarly, Wan Li, a fourth-year Faculty of Arts & Science student and a co-lead alongside Shen, says they also hope to establish solidarity among Asian communities at the university.

“Coming together and addressing something that impacted us in some ways and having that space to talk about it feels powerful,” Wan says. “These people care about the issues I care about.”

Wan organized the Anti-Asian Racism Alliance Forum following two incidents of anti-Asian racism on campus last year, and then helped write the group’s recommendation report, “A Path Forward: Creating Safe & Inclusive Spaces at U of T.”

“At the forum, I connected with a lot of students,” Wan says. “[The forum] was in April and close to finals. I was thankful to the students who attended.

“It was really important for them to share their insights, which were quite painful. But I promised them I would do something.”

After Wan sent the report to the university’s administration, they were invited to join the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group and serve on its steering committee.

“I want to make sure the things we are pushing for are reflected in the final report,” Wan says.

Through meetings and consultations, Wan and Shen want to encourage people to speak up about injustices or racism they’ve experienced.

“It’s an opportunity for everyone to be heard because we have been underrepresented as a group,” says Shen. “The Asian community is very diverse. We have different backgrounds and very different lived experiences.

“I’m an immigrant and my experience is different than an Asian person who was born and raised in Canada.”

Wan agrees.

“I come from Malaysia, a place where there isn’t a lot of political freedom. It’s immensely valuable to hear different perspectives.”

Chin and Chadalawada say there are self-care resources available to students during each meeting.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to sit with the information that’s coming at them or that’s being shared,” says Chadalawada. “I want to urge every member to use the resources available. We don’t want anyone to feel alone in this important work.”

Shen and Wan say they are looking forward to forming a community they can count on.

“It gives us a sense of belonging,” says Shen. “We have a large number of Asian students, faculty and staff, and it would be great to have a community to share experiences and seek support from each other.”

The working group encourages U of T community members to provide feedback through the online survey.

Members of the Asian community at U of T in need of support can reach out to:

Students:

U of T My Student Support Program (My SSP) can be accessed 24/7 by phone or via the My SSP app.

Other mental health resources, programs and supports are available at mentalhealth.utoronto.ca.

Staff and faculty:

Employee and Family Assistance Program (1-800-663-1142)