People, community, culture, and belonging

Society benefits when all individuals experience safety and belonging. Inclusion and respectful engagement by all peoples in our teaching, research, and service is our commitment. By engaging with communities through our teaching, research, and service, we address systemic barriers that prevent individuals from realizing and experiencing belonging and inclusion. We are committed to the principles of accessibility, equity, diversity, inclusivity, anti-racism, and decolonization. We support the whole community, including the needs of diverse groups, through recruitment of diverse students, faculty, and staff.

Towards Western at 150
People, Community, and Culture

Commitments

Increase the scholarships for equity-deserving peoples

  • $280,000 in scholarships available to Graduate Students Living with Disabilities
  • A bursary through the Office of the Registrar was established to support Early Childhood Educators in the MPEd, in the field of Early Childhood Education
  • Increased the number of financial need and equity-based student awards to 20
  • Created an endowment of $1.4 million to support indigenous students and students living with disabilities

Expand student and alumni engagement

    • Alumni and Donor giving ↑ 117% in 2022
    • Over 150 community visits by the Dean or the Director of Community Engagement and Development annually
    • Established 5 new student awards:
      • Faculty of Education Students’ Council Award for Student Excellence
      • Retired Teachers of Ontario, District 8 Student Award for Teaching Excellence
      • Angeliki Tataridou Memorial Graduate Award
      • Miram Feldman Memorial Bursary
      • London Executive Sedan Service Award in Education
    • Created annual Teacher Appreciation Event at Museum London in 2022
    • Created annual Doctor of Education (EdD) reception to celebrate our distinguished EdD graduates and welcome them to Western's campus
    • Restablished annual Teacher Appreciation Football Game
    • Annual recognition of World Teacher Day and Teacher Appreciation Day with events held at the Faculty of Education
    • 12 Alumni events hosted in 2023, with 1,687 participants
    • Celebrating the Faculty of Education's 50th Anniversary through numerous events throughout 2024

Continue to foster a community based on trust and respect, which is guided by integrity and sustainability

  • The Faculty of Education Equity Committee established as a standing committee of our governance
  • Since 2022, five academic leaders and six administrative leaders have completed the full suite of Western's Excellence in Leadership Program
  • Since 2022, fourteen staff members have completed the operational excellence program through Western Human Resources 
  • 15% increase in positive employee feedback on faculty initiatives that support diversity and inclusion since 2021 as per the results of the 2023 Experience Survey
  • Created an accessibility fund for vulnerable famliies seeking support at our MJW-CYDC 
  • Created a dedicated Gratitude Room for faculty, staff, and students that fosters supportive and welcoming communities
  • Held a 2SLGBTQ panel discussion in 2024 freaturing queer-identifying educators for all Education Teacher Candidates, Faculty, and Staff

Expand diverse representation and support of designated people, including LGBTQ2+ and people with disabilities in faculty, staff, and students

  • Dr. Wayne Martino, received a SSHRC Insight Grant: “Supporting transgender students and transgender affirmative education in a context of resurgent anti‐trans backlash and far‐right extremism”
  • Hosted "The Nature of Healing" film screening on behalf of all dean's at Western University to recognize the Natrional Day for Truth and Reconciiation 
  • Created a direct pathway for EDI-D students into the Bachelor of Education program
  • Dr. Wayne Martino in conjunction with alumni Jenny Kassen and Kenan Omercajic created TransAffirm Toolkit which is available as a free resource on OpenEdu 
  • Improved our process to increase equity considerations during the admissions process for the Bachelor of Education program
  • Held the Faculty of Education Pride Rally in 2023 as a lead-up to Western's Inaugural Fall Pride Parade
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