Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Our Shared Values of Diversity, Inclusion and Professionalism

Dear students, faculty, staff and alumni,

Here at U of T Engineering, we are committed to achieve equity and professionalism at all levels of our school while promoting an inclusive culture in how our Faculty looks, feels and acts. This year we are learning and interacting mostly online during a global pandemic, a situation unlike any other year in our recent history and one likely to continue for this academic year. With the global health uncertainties, rising mental health concerns and our new realities of virtual classrooms, offices and research collaborations, now is the time to reaffirm our values as a community. Diversity, inclusion and professionalism are at the core of a healthy, creative, and productive university experience.

Engineering schools in Canada and around the world, as well as society at large, have made great progress from our exclusionary origins, and are working toward becoming the inclusive places we endeavour to be. In harmony with U of T's Statement on Equity, Diversity and Excellence, we strive to build a community of inclusion in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering where all members have equal opportunity to achieve their full potential, through an environment of mutual respect for the dignity and worth of every person. In the coming year, we will make steps to increase the equity content embedded as a core element of our engineering curriculum.

Together, we have an opportunity to create a place, climate and culture free of harassment, discrimination or intolerance of any kind including gender bias, anti­Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism, and ageism. And whether we are meeting online or in person, our aspirations of professionalism and inclusion are the same.

This year we continue to bring more resources and collaborations to strengthen these values. Our Assistant Dean and Director, Diversity, Inclusion and Professionalism continues to be the only role of its kind for a Canadian engineering school. The presidency of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), the licensing, regulation and ethics body of over 85,000 Ontario engineers, is held this year by our U of T Engineering community member Marisa Sterling, P.Eng. Our faculty-wide collaboration, the Engineering Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Group (EEDIAG), continues to provide weekly meetups, TIPS workshops and open discussions on equity issues and proposed actions.

We have more community members to support you including the Dean’s Advisor on Black Inclusivity, the Dean’s Advisor on Indigenous Inclusivity, and the Mental Health Programs Officer. These resources are in addition to our academic advisors and the Engineering Human Resources office. More resources including student initiatives can be found on the Faculty's equity webpage.

While we envision our community as a safe space for all, there will be failures to achieve this vision, with possible causes ranging from bias to discrimination. We have seen over the last year the grief and anger propagated by centuries of systemic and institutionalized racism and oppression, including anti-Black racism. In response, we are launching a new framework to report harassment or discrimination that you may experience or witness. By contacting our office of the Assistant Dean and Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Professionalism, you will get the accountability you request. They will provide skilled and compassionate support, help you find the resources that are right for you and provide anonymous disclosing as well.

We must all commit to acting against bias, harassment and discrimination. Together, we can create a place where each of us feels safe and proud to belong, and where we know that our contributions matter. Please consider how you will integrate the acknowledgement, respect and representation of others into your behaviours and beliefs to reinforce our strength as a community of inclusion in the months and years ahead.

In all that we do, let us ensure our shared journey of growth and discovery is an experience that is meaningful and engaging for all. After all, our profession of engineering exists to protect people’s wellbeing. That is the purpose of practicing engineering – to ethically create products or services that protect the life of people of all diversities.

Kind regards,