Thompson Rivers University
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

While there is no single agency at TRU involved in coordinating Diversity and Equity, there are six offices/groups that do provide coordination for various underrepresented students and faculty on campus: TRU Human Resources, TRU World, Aboriginal Education Resources, Regional Community Advisory Committees, International Affairs Committee, and First Nations and Aboriginal Affairs Committee. (Note: while STARS is set up for a single diversity committee, TRU will be claiming credits on the grounds that the responsibilities associated with a Diversity and Equity committee are distributed throughout many TRU committees. This will also apply to offices and coordinators). 1) TRU Human Resources - This office has a strong Employment Equity Program: http://www.tru.ca/hr/Employment_Equity.html 2) TRU World - TRU World is one of the main TRU offices that support international students. They are housed in the International Building and offer a comprehensive program called Support Services (including International Admissions, International Student Advisors, International Academic Advising, and the International Student Activity Program (http://www.tru.ca/truworld/students/support-services.html)). 3) Aboriginal Education Resources - Aboriginal student services offered include: • access to the TRU Aboriginal Services Team of 6 staff members (including Aboriginal Transition Planner, Instruction & Outreach Librarian, Aboriginal Mentor and Community Coordinator, and Aboriginal Life Skills Coach); • Aboriginal Mentor Program; • opportunities to consult and interact with Elders; • access to The Gathering Place (a friendly and inviting aboriginal centre that provides information on all aspects of university life and doubles as space to socialize, study or just take a break. It is truly a home away from home. Students receive assistance in finding services on campus, supporting band funding applications, exploring academic support options such as tutoring or locating housing and off-campus amenities. They also receive support from the established Elder in the House Program and often gather in the lounge or backyard BBQ area for social or ceremonial events. Students can also take advantage of workshops on study skills and wellness, one-to-one counselling, librarian services, on-site computers, as well as a kitchen and lounge area); • opportunities to focus on Aboriginal frameworks for teaching and learning • opportunities to get involved in research (Through their research ethics initiatives, the Tri-Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) support an approach to research that encourages positive relations with indigenous peoples and builds bodies of knowledge that include an indigenous perspective and benefits Indigenous peoples.) • opportunities to get involved in local communities and community events, including historical and cultural events and experiences. 4) Regional Community Advisory Committees - These committees assist "on matters pertaining to course and program requirements for the communities TRU represents". Where possible, there will be equality in the numbers of male and female representatives on the committees. Other recognized groups, such as aboriginal peoples, people with disabilities and visible minorities will be included in these committees. TERMS OF REFERENCE Each committee will: 1. Assist with the identification of post-secondary educational and training needs of individual adults, community groups or organizations, businesses and government agencies in their area. 2. Where practicable, the committees will assist TRU staff to identify local personnel capable of assisting TRU to meet the identified needs. 3. Assist the Community Coordinator and other TRU staff to promote programs and services in the community. 4. Assist TRU staff to develop two-year rolling plans for program and service delivery in the community. Where joint TRU/School District planning of educational and training services for adults is underway, assist both parties to develop two-year rolling plans. (http://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/Regional_Community_Advisory_Committees5599.pdf) 5) The International Affairs Committee - The committee advises Senate on measures to achieve the goals set out in the University’s Strategic Priorities Plan with regard to International Opportunities with a focus on internationalization and increasing the number of international opportunities for TRU students and faculty. It also advises Senate on measures to promote alignment of academic, budgetary and other priorities of Senate with the international activities of the University. The specific goals from the University’s Strategic Plan that are related to this credit and are focused on by the International Affairs Committee are: • Review curricula to identify courses and programs where it is appropriate to incorporate international perspectives and increase awareness of global issues. • Develop an international presence on the Williams Lake campus and create activities that will profile and celebrate internationalism on all TRU campuses. • Expand TRU’s academic activities internationally. • Expand support and services available to international students. • Expand training for faculty and staff in order to develop cultural awareness and sensitivity to the issues faced by students from international backgrounds. (http://www.tru.ca/senate/committees/intaffairs.html) 6) First Nations and Aboriginal Affairs Committee - Responsibilities of the First Nations and Aboriginal Affairs Committee are: • Advise Senate on measures to promote, support and celebrate the success of students of aboriginal ancestry • Advise Senate on measures to ensure linkage and alignment of academic, budgetary and other priorities of Senate with its efforts in connection with aboriginal affairs at the University • Advise Senate on measures to assist the University in meeting the goals set out in its Strategic Plan with regard to making TRU the University of Choice for Aboriginal Students and First Nations • Other duties as assigned by Senate (http://www.tru.ca/senate/committees/fnaac.html)

TRU’s Wellness Centre offers sessions, workshops, and programs to all employees and students. These cover a wide range of issues including issues of diversity. Diversity awareness and activities also take place during TRU’s annual event, International Days. Finally, there are three qualified administrators of the Intercultural Development Inventory at TRU: Kyra Garson (Intercultural Coordinator), Emma Bourassa (ESL faculty), and Adrian Conradi (TRU World). (http://idiinventory.com/)

The full-time equivalent number of people employed in the diversity and equity offices was arrived at by adding 4 (from Aboriginal Education Resources) + 15 (from TRU Human Resources) + 58.5 (from TRU World) = Total of 77.5