UPEI to hold Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigenization, and Decolonization Symposium
An organizing committee, made up of UPEI faculty and staff, is pleased to announce that a full-day Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigenization, and Decolonization (EDIID) Symposium will take place at the University on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Information about the location and time will follow. All instructors, librarians, and staff members are welcome to attend.
The symposium supports UPEI’s draft Action Plan on Cultural Renewal in its goals, stated in Appendix 3, of creating a culture of listening (3.1), broader awareness of inclusive work and learning environments (3.4), and improving campus information sharing (3.5). Also, priorities in the 2023–25 Teaching and Learning Centre Strategic Plan and UPEI Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy are directed toward these important topics and how we can collectively come to better understand and contribute to an inclusive teaching and learning community at UPEI.
The symposium aims to share experiences, challenges, and opportunities of advancing EDIID within the University community. It will offer a unique platform for the University community to engage in dialogue that will take participants through the many aspects of teaching and learning—from the classroom space itself through to the details of organizing and delivering a course. It aims to highlight current initiatives, gather new ideas, and build collaborative strategies for a more inclusive university.
The event format will include a keynote address and short presentations with UPEI community members (15 minutes each), along with some workshops and panel discussions. We are seeking colleagues who are willing to share their experiences with implementing EDIID in the classroom, personal narratives, and creative ideas to enhance inclusivity in academic environments.
Colleagues are encouraged to share EDIID considerations in relation to learning spaces, curricula, course (re-)design, teaching practices, or assessment. Presentations, panels, or workshops that involve students and/or community members as co-presenters are welcome. The symposium will build opportunities for colleagues to reflect on and discuss EDIID priorities for teaching and learning activities in their courses, department, faculty, and the University.
We are delighted to invite expressions of interest to participate in the symposium and/or lead a workshop as a presenter or a panelist. Interested participants are asked to indicate their interest here by sharing a title, co-presenters (if any), and a brief summary by March 8, 2024, or contact Charlene VanLeeuwen in the UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre by email at cvanleeuwen@upei.ca or phone (902) 620-5217. Suggestions for keynote speakers and panel sessions are also welcome.
Please join us for an inspiring day to collectively explore what is at stake, for whom, and how we can develop ways to address issues of EDIID in every aspect of our teaching and learning.
The organizing committee includes Greg Naterer, Corinne Chappell, Patti Wheatley, Justin Kakeu, Anne-Marie Carey, Susan Graham, Nazanin Behzadan, Jim Sentance, Ann Braithwaite, and Charlene VanLeeuwen.
