Context
In 2017, UBC committed to the Student Diversity Initiative, housed in the UBC Equity and Inclusion Office (EIO). The initiative “seeks to embed UBC’s core values of equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the operations, systems, culture and organizational structures that directly impact the campus experience for diverse students” (EIO, 2020). It aligns with UBC’s campus-wide Inclusion Action Plan to create and sustain an equitable, diverse, and inclusive campus driven by Inclusive Excellence.
There has been a concerted voice from faculty, staff, and students for ways in which EDI issues could be addressed within classrooms and UBC Science at large. In 2018, leadership within the SDI, the EIO, and UBC Science formed a partnership to engage and address EDI issues within UBC Science, resulting in the Student Diversity Initiative at Science (SDI @ Science). The SDI @ Science is currently housed within Skylight, which falls under the portfolio of the Associate Dean, Academic.
To support the partnership, an Equity Strategist position was created to help build capacity and to provide targeted support and resources for faculty, staff, and students. This position maps to Skylight’s embedded expertise model, with the strategist being embedded in Skylight and the EIO. In addition to this position, an SDI@Science Skylight Steering Committee and a Faculty Advisory Committee were formed.
In 2020, Zakir J. Suleman and Skylight staff conducted a systematic literature review to explore current conversations about equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in STEM education. For information about the review and practices to improve science student identity, recruitment, and retention, please visit this page.
Committees
The SDI @ Science is led by a steering committee, in consultation with a faculty working group.
Skylight SDI @ Science Steering Committee
The committee, established in the summer of 2019, is mandated to clarify the vision, direction, and goals for the SDI @ Science from start to finish. It comprises a core group of Skylight team members and a faculty member chair who work in close collaboration with other faculty, staff, students, and senior leadership.
- Karen Smith, Chair, M&I
- Sara Harris, Dean’s Office and EOAS
- Gülnur Birol, Skylight
- Alice Campbell, CS and Skylight
- Christine Goedhart, BOTA and Skylight
- Sarah Bean Sherman, EOAS and Skylight
- Ashley Welsh, CTLT and Skylight
- Equity Strategist, TBN
SDI @ Science Faculty Working Group
The faculty working group supports the work of the steering committee by providing advice that contributes toward a shared vision for the SDI @ Science. Its members are a core group of faculty representing all the departments in UBC Science. The members liaise with other faculty in Science departments.
- Celeste Leander, BOTA
- Jackie Stewart, CHEM
- Rachel Pottinger, CS
- Brett Gilley, EOAS
- Greg Martin, MATH
- Marcia Graves, M&I
- Joss Ives, PHAS
- Kathryn Zeiler, ZOOL
- Melissa Lee, STAT
Opportunities for participation
Shape UBC Science’s approach:
- Participate in meetings and workshops to develop UBC Science’s vision for student diversity
- Join a Faculty-level steering committee or a subcommittee
Apply inclusive excellence principles in your teaching practice:
- Become an Equity & Inclusion Scholar (a campus-wide cohort program for faculty)
- Implement initiatives in your courses or curriculum to address student diversity through inclusion
To learn more about these opportunities, please contact one of the Steering Committee members.
