Institutional commitment and capacity are integral and foundational to the actualization of McMaster’s strategic goals and to the success and sustainability of EDIA initiatives. Commitments to Inclusive Excellence, the Scarborough Charter, the Dimensions Program and many other initiatives are indicative of ongoing institutional commitment. As we strive for inclusive and operational excellence, prioritizing initiatives that will truly foster an inclusive culture, systems, policies and practices, the following actions will ensure that this institutional commitment is implemented through a cohesive effort and as a core part of the university’s mission, culture, hiring practices, infrastructure, policies and practices.

Areas of Action:

1. Develop Inclusive Leadership competencies

2. Strengthen integration of EDIA principles and values in policies and practices

3. Implement Evidence based metrics and evaluation

4. Conduct student, staff and faculty climate surveys

Creating accessible and inclusive classroom experiences is integral to the success of students of all abilities and identities, as well as the quality of the education they receive and the communities they create and thrive in. In a discordant environment, raising individual and collective competency in cultural humility and the ability to hold space for multiple realities on global issues is key to creating a safe and productive learning and working conditions.

Areas of Action:

1. Accessible and Inclusive Curriculum

2. Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

3. Embed EDIA in Research

4. Accessible academic services and resources

The most effective and impactful learning and professional development occurs within a respectful, inclusive and accessible environment. Baseline equity, inclusion and accessibility training and development and ongoing learning are key to enhancing inclusion competencies and aspiring to inclusive excellence.

Areas of Action:

1. Expand disability inclusion

2. Foster Psychologically safe environments

3. Navigating challenging conversations

Representation in all its forms, matters. It is important to be intentional about representation in leadership, students, staff and faculty and to be representative of, and meaningfully engage the communities we are privileged to serve.

Areas of Action:

1. Embed equity, inclusion and accessibility lenses in hiring practices and employee experience

2. Student recruitment and persistence

3. Data development, access and use