The goals and objectives of the Education Equity program are set out below. While it is meant to encompass and reflect the aspirations of the entire law school community, the Education Equity Program is directed at enhancing the well-being of students, faculty and staff from equality-seeking communities. Equality-seeking communities are persons from communities who are identified under human rights legislation and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. These communities have been identified but are not limited to: Aboriginal peoples, women, persons with disabilities, two-spirited, inter-sexed, LGBTQ and others who are vulnerable to discrimination because of their gender identity/expression, racialized communities, recent immigrants and refugees and persons who are socio-economically vulnerable.

Goal 1:

To create the most diverse law school community possible

Objectives

• promote the unique characteristics and well-being of diverse communities within the law school
• actively recruit, admit and hire future law students and faculty through innovative outreach strategies
• ensure respect for the diverse experiential expertise and contributions of all faculty, students and staff

Goal 2:

To remove all systemic barriers and support the academic success of all law students from historically disadvantaged and under-represented communities in the legal profession

Objectives

• develop policies that ensure a discrimination-free environment for students, faculty and staff from equality-seeking communities
• continually evaluate and renew the law school curriculum and pedagogy to ensure a supportive and fulfilling educational experience for all students
• implement effective mechanisms to monitor and eliminate any adverse impact of law school policies and practices that limit the full participation of equality-seeking communities in the classroom and broader law school student organization, faculty administration or staff initiatives
• develop diversity-positive mechanisms such as peer support, mentorship and career development programs that enhance student experience and support successful transition into their legal careers

Goal 3:

To promote high levels of professionalism respectful of social justice principles amongst all professors, students and staff of the law school

Objectives

• foster respectful communications and treatment between all students, faculty and staff consistent with the spirit of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Law Society of Upper Canada
• maintain a discrimination and harassment-free environment for all students, faculty and staff
• draw upon the expertise of our alumni and local legal community to sustain our commitment to educating professionals to serve the public interest in all of its diversity