VPAC's commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion & anti-racism
Equity, diversity and inclusion are core values at UVic and form the foundation on which we do our work and interact with others. They are central to our university plans, and we each have a responsibility to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive community.
Much has been done to advance this work at UVic, yet faculty, students and staff continue to face multifaceted systemic barriers. Racism, discrimination and intolerance cannot under any circumstances be overlooked. Words and short-term actions are not enough to bring about systemic change. We must work together to identify and address barriers that impact members of our community. In this regard, VPAC is enhancing its efforts to make UVic a safe and healthy place for everyone.
Advancing the Equity Action Plan
In 2022, UVic launched the Equity Action Plan, intended to create the conditions in which everyone feels a sense of belonging as connected and respected parts of the university community. In developing the plan, Equity and Human Rights worked with leaders, faculty, staff and students using equity-centred design principles and process to co-create five universal goals and targeted actions to address identified barriers to achieving equity.
Here are some examples of how VPAC is advancing the five Equity Action Plan goals.
Equity-centred culture
The Digital Learning Plan (DLP) was developed last winter as a digital literacy framework for students, faculty and staff. One of the Plan’s core pillars is dedicated to digital equity. Digital equity is defined in the Plan as “conditions for ensuring individuals and communities have the information, technology and capacity necessary for full participation.” The DLP was developed with consideration to the EAP, Accessibility Plan and Indigenous Plan. Supports committed action: 2
The Scarborough Charter Steering Committee presented to Deans’ Council and Academic Leadership in 2024, and VPAC has set aside one-time funding for the Scarborough Charter for 2025/26. As well, the Better Data Project aims to inform inclusive action that directly responds to the Scarborough Charter’s four overarching principles. Supports committed action: 3.
VPAC promotes equity-centred training for faculty and staff, including:
- Indigenous Cultural Acumen Training
- Equity in Decision-Making Processes
- Anti-Racism Awareness Workshops
Supports committed action: 5.
VPAC and the Office for the Vice-President Indigenous continue to work towards the appointment of Associate Deans Indigenous in faculties. Supports committed action: 5.
The Office of Student Life partners with other offices and student groups to host educational events and workshops for students, including on equity, diversity and inclusion as well as other areas that support under-represented student populations. Supports committed action: 6.
When submitting requests, academic units must address how new or revised programs promote justice, equity, diversity and inclusion and whether there are opportunities to include perspectives on decolonization of the curriculum and/or program. The Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement is consulted on all program developments and redesigns. Supports committed actions: 6 and 9.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to decolonize their curriculum and other academic offerings through . Supports committed action: 7.
The Experiential Learning Fund provides wage subsidies for Indigenous co-op students with Indigenous community organization placements, as well as funding for the Indigenous International Work Integrated Learning Exchange Program. The LE,NONET Community Internship provides 120 hours of work experience with an Indigenous community or organization. Supports committed action: 7.
Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation hosts several workshops for instructors, including a series on accessibility in teaching and learning, and provides numerous resources on universal design for learning. Supports committed action: 8.
The Deputy Provost is co-chair of the committee for the Respectful Workplace Policy revision (currently titled Discrimination and Harassment Prevention and Response Policy). The committee includes representatives from across portfolios and are working towards a Board-approved policy. Supports committed action: 8.
VPAC and the Equity and Human Rights office co-developed the Increasing Equity in Decision Processes workshop. Supports committed action: 9.
The new Associate Dean and Librarian Assessment Criteria (March 2025) includes a section on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigenization and Accessibility. Supports committed action: 9.
Relationality & belonging
In consultation with Indigenous communities and leaders, we received permission to name our two new student housing buildings Čeqʷəŋín ʔéʔləŋ (Cheko’nien House) and Sŋéqə ʔéʔləŋ (Sngequ House) and are in the process of renaming Lansdowne Residence #1. Supports committed action: 3.
The VPAC portfolio regularly hosts events that build an inclusive campus and culture, including:
Supports committed action: 4.
Units are encouraged to nominate visiting lecturers for the Distinguished Women Scholars. Supports committed actions: 5 and 6.
The annual Provost's Advocacy and Activism Award acknowledges and profiles exceptional scholars and community members advancing work in equity, diversity and inclusion. Supports committed actions: 5 and 6.
Annually, UVic recognizes outstanding teachers and researchers through our REACH Awards. In 2023, VPAC and the Office of the Vice-President Research and Innovation revitalized the program and developed two new awards recognizing Indigenous scholarship. Supports committed action: 6.
A revised policy on academic accommodations (AC1205) was approved by Senate in 2024. This version better aligns with current law and best practices while also advancing the priorities of the Accessibility Plan and Equity Action Plan. Supports committed action: 7.
Effective May 2024, new course outline guidelines have been adopted which encourage instructors to adopt inclusive and universal deign for learning principles in developing courses where appropriate. Supports committed action: 7.
The Division of Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation and the Centre for Accessible Learning provide a suite of resources and services to support inclusive course design, teaching practices and assessments, and a new VPAC webpage launched in 2024 that includes UVic's strategies, consultations, resources, FAQs and other relevant information. Supports committed action: 7.
Student Affairs integrates an anti-oppressive and anti-racist lens into student services and supports the prioritization of voices and perspectives of students from equity-deserving groups. Supports committed action: 8.
The Course Experience Survey engages students on their classroom experiences, and we continue to review the questionnaire and process for relevance and to ensure we are measuring learning outcomes. Supports committed action: 8.
The Accessibility Plan prioritizes ongoing feedback on existing barriers and the state of accessibility on campus and within the UVic community. One of the commitments of the Plan is an accessibility audit. The Accessibility Committee is co-chaired representatives in VPAC and the Vice-President Finance and Operations representative. Supports committed action: 9
VPAC's community of practice for chairs and directors launched in 2023 and includes regular community building and information sharing events such as forums. Supports committed action: 10.
Recruitment & retention
Academic units must outline how their hiring priorities and anticipated hiring plan support employment equity during external reviews. Supports committed action: 1.
UVic is working to increase the overall number of Indigenous students for undergraduate and graduate programs. Over the past 10 years we have seen a dramatic growth in Indigenous undergraduate and graduate enrolment. K-12 pathway programs, financial supports and cultural supports through the Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement have played a large part in these increases. Supports committed actions: 2 and 4.
We are working to achieve our student recruitment targets focusing on diversity through K-12 pathway programs like Indigenous Mini U, HighTechU and Science Venture, as well as through scholarships, bursaries and other awards. Supports committed actions: 2 and 4.
UVic plans to offer programming at the West Shore campus beginning in 2025/26, which aims to bring new learning opportunities to Southern Vancouver Island residents and improve transition rates from K-12 to post-secondary education. Supports committed actions: 2 and 4.
The University currently sponsors leaders to attend the Centre for Higher Education Research and Development (CHERD) which includes courses specializing in EDIA and Indigenization. Supports committed action: 3.
An increasing number of students with disabilities view UVic as a university of choice, and the transition rate of K-12 students with disabilities to post-secondary is significantly higher than five years ago. Currently, there are about 3,800 students registered with the Centre for Accessible Learning, repersenting about 20% of the student population. Supports committed action: 4.
Student Affairs and the Office of Vice-President Indigenous are currently refining admission practices for Indigenous students, which includes increased scholarship opportunities. Local Indigenous students taking Indigenous Revitalization Language programs now have their tuition waived. Supports committed action: 5
VPAC's 2025 collective bargaining team includes Indigenous representation and a special advisor has been appointed to support the process. Supports committed action: 6.
VPAC and Equity and Human Rights have designed a workbook to be used alongside the online training. The workbook will guide committee chairs through the considerations and specific actions throughout the process and will ve avaiable for download in 2025. Supports committed action: 7.
In collaboration with Human Resources and Equity and Human Rights, VPAC works to ensure that available tools are used for fair and equitable hiring practices. Supports committed action: 8.
VPAC works with Faculty Relations and Human Resources to ensure there is standardized language and diversity statements on all recruitment materials. Supports committed action: 9
Access & support
UVic prioritizes financial supports for Indigenous students including increasing scholarships and bursaries. Supports committed action: 1.
The University offers the Youth in Care Award for students who spent time in the government care system. Funding assists eligible students with tuition, fees, books and/or living expenses. Supports committed action: 1.
VPAC makes experiential learning more affordable by providing funding for students participating in practica or internships outside Victoria and through a wage subsidy program for Indigenous co-op student placements with Indigenous community organizations. Supports committed action: 2.
In 2023, co-operative education expended their supports and staffing complement to ensure Indigenous students and students with disabilities can access co-op offerings in an equitable way. Supports committed action: 2.
All UVic child care centres have been approved as $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres. We continue to explore future expansion supported by the BC Government's Major Capital Child Care Spaces Expansion Program. Supports committed action: 3.
Following consultations, Student Affairs restructured in summer 2023 to better support students and the university. This included changes to reporting relationships, new departmental names, and the creation of a new hub focused on professional development for Student Affairs staff. As well, in 2024, VPAC successfully launched hiring/appointment processes for the University Registrar and the Executive Director of Wellness, Recreation and Athletics. Supports committed action 4.
Vikes, working with units like CanAssist, has established UVic as a leader in accessible, inclusive , including adapted strength and conditioning, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, blind soccer and inclusive spin classes. Just for Kicks is a volunteer-led, free indoor soccer program for children with special needs. Supports committed action: 6.
The is a collaborative program hosted by Student Affairs and student advocacy groups that aims to provide wellness and recreation access in an inclusive, safe, and equitable manner to students. Supports committed action: 6.
Institutional accountability
Equity data is included in several of our annual reports to the Board of Governors, including the Academic Staffing Report, Report on Student Financial Aid, and Enrolment Analysis Report. Supports committed action: 2.
UVic's , submitted annually to the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, includes equity reporting. Supports committed action: 2.
Equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization elements are built into our accountability and reporting structures, including in academic program reviews. Supports committed action: 3.
The project and process to redesign UVic's budget model ensures an equity lens is applied to decision making through committee membership, accountability, transparency and the budget model principles. Supports committed action: 3.
VPAC has asked Equity and Human Rights to support an equity review of our office in 2025. Supports committed action: 4.
VPAC is supporting the Better Data Project to explore and implement the collection of demographic data. Collecting this data will help in conducting evaluations of the outcomes of the Equity Action Plan. Data from this initiative will support UVic's annual Pay Transparency Report, first published November 2024. Supports committed action: 6.
Data collected from the Better Data Project will inform VPAC's recruitment and retention efforts. VPAC is also leading the Service Excellence project, with support from the Office of the Vice-President Finance and Operations, to test the quality of our campus services, highlight areas we are doing well in, and actions needed to fill gaps. Supports committed action: 7.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies is in the final stages of the equity review. A draft report and recommendations are being developed, which will undergo consultation and ultimately be submitted to the Provost. Supports committed action: 8.
Inclusion resources
- Black inclusion - resources and events
- Indigenous inclusion resources and events
- 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion resources and events
Visit EQHR for additional resources
Last updated: May 26, 2025