Statement on the relationship between the Strategic Plan and the Action Plan

July 30, 2020

Laurier’s Action Plan for EDI and Indigeneity, published on June of 2020, identifies long standing (and a few recently emergent) issues upon which the university can take immediate action with through the support of and in consultation with members of the Laurier community. The action plan also lists timelines, with whom the responsibility for action item rests each rests and an indication of the progress to date on each item.

The Strategic Plan for EDI is a longer term institutional initiative to embed EDI into Laurier’s guiding ethos, governance structures, campus community and academic culture, including the modes of expression that underpin it. (A strategic plan addressing Indigeneity is forthcoming and will be part of a separate process under the leadership of the Associate Vice-President for Indigeneity.)

Part of the EDI Strategic Plan will be to address shortcomings, absences, gaps and omissions in the action plan which should be regarded as living and dynamic document. The main priority of the strategic plan, however, is to consider how we put systems and practices in place to think relationally and strategically about EDI amongst the various parts of the Laurier community.

What are the best practices, strategies, metrics and systems of accountability in and through which we embed equity, diversity (including diversity of thought) and inclusion throughout our community? How do we do so in ways that constructively hold the tension between the rights to free expression and academic freedom and the imperative that we honour and respect the dignity and worth of all members of our community?

Led by a steering committee, the strategic plan will seek input from a broad swath of members of the community in an attempt to hear the varied points of view on our campus during a time of unprecedented social change both outside and inside of Laurier.