Terms of Reference

The University of Toronto Scarborough continues to focus on supporting key priorities outlined in the strategic plan, Inspiring Inclusive Excellence: A Strategic Vision for the University of Toronto Scarborough (2020-2025). This vision is rooted in a commitment to embed our values of equity, diversity, and inclusion into our teaching, learning, scholarship, daily routines, and structures.

Background

The National Dialogues and Action for Inclusive Higher Education and Communities, a series of national forums focused on addressing equity and inclusion in Canadian post-secondary education was held in October 2020. The forum focused on sharing experiences, exploring and learning best practices, and contributing to the formulation and implementation of concrete actions that resolutely reject anti-Black racism and drive meaningful, enduring Black inclusion within individual universities and colleges; the higher education sector, and in our communities. The outcome of the deliberations informed the creation of Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education: Principles, Actions, and Accountabilities) setting out the principles, actions and accountability measures that should guide the letter and spirit of the academic mission, across institutional levels within universities and colleges and at the sectoral level across Canada.

In late 2020, the U of T institutional Anti-Black Racism Task Force was formed to address anti-Black racism and to promote Black inclusion and excellence within the University of Toronto tri-campus community. Throughout the course of the 2020-21 academic year, the Task Force reviewed existing University policies, processes, and practices and considered others that would address anti-Black racism. The Report of the University of Toronto Anti-Black Racism Task Force was delivered and all 56 recommendations were formally accepted to implement across the University of Toronto campuses. UTSC is resolutely committed to addressing anti-Black racism and fostering Black inclusion on our campus and beyond through implementation of initiatives and recommendations outlined in Inspiring Inclusive Excellence: A Strategic Vision for the University of Toronto Scarborough (2020-2025), the Report of the University of Toronto Anti-Black Racism Task Force, and the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion.