We all share in building equity, diversity and inclusion at UM

UM community,

It is with gratitude today that I release the final report of the President’s Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and endorse all of its recommendations. 

The report’s significant equity, diversity and inclusion recommendations, which have been shared with the UM senior leadership team and presented to the Senate and Board of Governors, will guide our University’s path forward in a meaningful way. I encourage all members of our community to explore its contents.

With leadership now confirmed in both the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) and Vice-President (Administration) portfolios, my first step—following the report’s first recommendation—will be to launch a search for a senior leader, mandated with pursuing implementation of the recommendations. 

The task force was established by President Emeritus David Barnard in October 2019 to provide recommendations on the process and actions required to identify and examine obstacles and inequities facing faculty, staff and students at the University of Manitoba.

My immense gratitude goes to Vice-Provost (Academic Affairs) and incoming Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy for her leadership in her role as chair and to the members of this important task force for their expert and insightful contributions. I would also like to thank Dr. Barnard for launching this important work.

I wish to thank all members of our campus community for your part in this critical work. When we asked for input on equity, diversity and inclusion, our UM community responded with wisdom and empathy—and this report reflects this vital input.

The final report and recommendations completes the work of the President’s Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, with further actions to come as recommended.

It shows us clearly the work still needed to be done, beginning with prioritizing equity, diversity and inclusion in institution-wide planning and action. As stated in the report, “Moving forward, attention must be given to actions aimed at making UM an institution where all feel included and able to fully participate.”

Please read the EDI recommendations and the final report in its entirety on the President’s Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion website.

Thank you all for your commitment to our community, and for everything you do to make our community more welcoming, accessible and inclusive for all. Working together, we can make it better. We all share in building equity, diversity and inclusion at UM.

Sincerely,

Michael Benarroch

Read the EDI recommendations and the final report