Oppression is deeply embedded in the policies and practices of our institutions and the beliefs and values of our culture and presents barriers to access and opportunity for post-secondary students from equity-deserving groups.
Acknowledging and attempting to change this reality, the Office of Registrarial Services and Linc Program team are committed to ensuring that efforts to develop a culture of inclusion are centered in this program and that the new student service centre is created to be a place where all students feel welcome, are treated with respect and are able to participate fully.
Meeting this goal starts with a commitment to openness and learning. Through review of existing research and consultation with students, colleagues and subject-matter experts, the program team has begun to identify steps we can take to help develop the new service centre and service model to be as inclusive as possible.
Steps currently taken or planned include:
- Continued consultation with subject-matter experts, including campus colleagues and students that identify as members of one or more equity-deserving populations.
- The incorporation of Indigenous language, art and cultural items in and around the new service centre, enabling indigenous community members to see their identity reflected on campus.
- Shifting to a more relational, personalized and proactive service model that improves student success outcomes for all students (and particularly for historically underserved populations).
- Designing and facilitating a staff hiring process that is as equitable as possible, so as to remove barriers to BIPOC candidate success and representation amongst Linc staff.
- Equity and anti-oppression training for all members of the Program Advisory Committee.
- Required training for all frontline staff on topics including:
- intercultural competence,
- accessibility and specific disabilities,
- equity and anti-oppression,
- mental health,
- indigenous cultures and knowledge systems,
- supporting marginalized students,
- empathy,
- gender identity and the University name change process
- and more.
- The addition of service methods that provide the potential for increased anonymity and comfort (e.g., live chat), to help combat the decreased likelihood of marginalized students accessing supports (fear of exposure).
- Working closely with Student Advisors who support marginalized populations, to: develop strong student referral pathways; ensure they are equipped to appropriately support students on matters pertaining to their enrolment; and to explore opportunities to support students’ success through more proactive, personalized outreach.
- Ensuring our commitment to inclusion is captured and displayed in our Linc values.
- Implementing numerous service changes that increase accessibility, including increased service method options, expanding remote service, proactively asking about required accommodations, visible messaging re. accessibility-support options and more.