Welcome to the Office of the Equity, People and Culture (EP&C) website, York University’s newest division.
As EP&C’s first Vice-President, I am pleased to have this opportunity to tell you a bit about some of the initial priorities and initiatives EP&C is undertaking to build a stronger, more equitable and healthier workplace environment at York University.
The opportunity to build a new division from the ground up, is both exciting and challenging. While we had to get the various operational systems, budgets and procedures in place, equally important was the need to start to get a sense and understanding of York University’s people and workplace. Establishing those professional relationships and building the EP&C core team has been a critical step to allow us to proceed with building a comprehensive divisional strategy.
To create an effective and complete EP&C team, I brought Human Resources, Labour Relations including Employee Relations and York University’s Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion staff together to enhance the many existing synergies and strong working relationships. I believe making these changes will help amplify how the University interacts and communicates with all its employee and labour groups. It was also important to bring the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer in Human Resources, to report directly to my office, to continue her work in creating a more equitable and inclusive learning and working environment at York.
With these key building blocks and people in place, we are now starting to build a comprehensive equity, people and culture divisional strategy that, when completed later this year, will help guide the work of the EP&C team going forward. We are also committed to ensuring that EP&C will be able to align and weave its work into the many transformative change initiatives already taking place.
As far back as I can remember, I have always been engaged with equity work and am very excited and honoured to be a part of the York University community. I strongly believe that we have a unique opportunity to build a very forward looking and innovative division.
York has strong history in equity, diversity and inclusion based in its commitment to social justice. At a personal level, this has been at the heart of my work and academic career.
I look forward to continuing to keep you informed about EP&C progress and success.
Dr. Sheila Cote-Meek
Vice-President Equity, People & Culture