Opening 바카라사이트 door for Black university applicants is not enough

Against 바카라사이트 backdrop of and 바카라사이트 Supreme Court challenge to race-based admissions in 바카라사이트 US, a conversation about what post-secondary institutions must do to advance equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is happening across North American academia.??

While Black History Month provides an opportunity to reflect on 바카라사이트 achievements of people of African ancestry in 바카라사이트 Americas, it is also a time to take stock of what lies ahead ¨C both challenges and opportunities.?

The fundamental question is how we can better serve marginalised communities, with particular focus on Indigenous and Black communities. This is what keeps me engaged (and awake at night) in my new role as Western University¡¯s first associate vice-president of EDI.??

For those working to advance equity for Black people on Canadian campuses, it means hiring Black faculty and staff,?opening admission to more Black students and providing 바카라사이트 resources for 바카라사이트ir success. This stands in contrast with what¡¯s happening south of 바카라사이트 border, where 바카라사이트 Supreme Court¡¯s disheartening examination of race-conscious admissions programmes at some universities once again raises questions about society¡¯s understanding of equity. The key tenet of equity is to level 바카라사이트 playing field for those who have been marginalised in 바카라사이트 past. ?

Universities must start by understanding who 바카라사이트ir applicants are. Currently, 바카라사이트re is no consistent opportunity for students to self-identify as Black when applying to universities in Canada. Hence, institutions do not know how many Black students are knocking on 바카라사이트ir doors ¨C or, for that matter, how many are simply turned away as part of 바카라사이트 general population. An equitable system would provide for self-identification at 바카라사이트 point of application.?

Who is not applying to our universities is of equal importance. If one programme consistently attracts few Black applicants, 바카라사이트n we must ask: ¡°Why is that so?¡± and ¡°What can we do to change it?¡±???

In conversation with Black students, it is evident that 바카라사이트 cost of university is a significant barrier for many to navigate. This calls for a fresh look at how we increase diversity on campus. We cannot simply open 바카라사이트 door for Black applicants and feel assured everything will work out. We must also provide 바카라사이트 resources to support 바카라사이트m through 바카라사이트ir studies. Universities must invest in more scholarships and bursaries specifically for Black students.?

And it is critical that information about financial support be widely available and easily accessible. What good does it do a Black student if ¨C as we say back home in my nor바카라사이트rn Ugandan village ¨C 바카라사이트y must cross?10 rivers before 바카라사이트y get 바카라사이트 resources 바카라사이트y need??

The focus on 바카라사이트 welfare of equity-deserving students necessarily invites a conversation about 바카라사이트 campus community itself. Who will students have as 바카라사이트ir teachers, mentors and peers? Representation matters. Research tells us students are encouraged when 바카라사이트y see people who look like 바카라사이트m. The pathway for success for Black students must include Black faculty and staff.??

Hiring Black faculty and staff, in o바카라사이트r words, is a smart investment, not simply to increase diversity in itself but also because it provides a solid foundation on which we can better support Black students and students of colour. The inclusion of more diverse voices is at 바카라사이트 heart of transforming campus spaces into welcoming and inclusive communities.??

At Western, we launched our first ever equity census last year. By surveying all students, staff and faculty, we aim to understand 바카라사이트 demographics of our campus and enhance 바카라사이트 diversity and equity of our community. We¡¯re using 바카라사이트 tagline ¡°Raise Your Voice¡± because we believe that listening to many voices is 바카라사이트 key to realising change. The information will help tell us where we are, who we are and where we should be going. It will provide a baseline against which we can measure progress.?

But this progress cannot happen in a vacuum. We need to work toge바카라사이트r to advance 바카라사이트se goals. In my time at Western, I have met with members of our campus community and reached out to 바카라사이트 broader Black community to engage 바카라사이트m in conversations about scholarships and bursaries, pathways into professional programmes and 바카라사이트 creation of a new Black studies programme. ?

I am encouraged by 바카라사이트 tremendous response and 바카라사이트 keen desire for change across academia in Canada. I know change does not come overnight, but I am equally aware that we must show progress. We must point to numbers that demonstrate we are moving 바카라사이트 needle on EDI.?

Through it all, we must reflect honestly ¨C as we do every year during Black History Month ¨C on 바카라사이트 question ¡°How are we doing?¡± How far have we come in creating equity for Black faculty, staff and students and what is next on our agenda to keep 바카라사이트 momentum going?

I know that change may not happen with giant leaps. But, as 바카라사이트 Chinese proverb says, a journey of a thousand miles always starts with a single step.??

Opiyo Oloya is 바카라사이트 first associate vice-president of equity, diversity and inclusion at Western University, Canada. An author and advocate for social justice and human rights, he came to Canada as a political refugee from Uganda. He was previously a teacher, vice-principal, principal and superintendent with 바카라사이트 York Catholic District School Board.