Anti-Black Racism Task Force

The University acknowledges its mandate to learn and unlearn, challenge, and dismantle the systemically racist practices, barriers, and culture at UWindsor in order to create a safer and more equitable environment for Black students, staff and faculty. We acknowledge that there can be no progress without a real, long-term, and consistent institutional commitment and the appropriate resources to support it.

The Anti-Black Racism Task Force is advisory to the President, but operates independently, based on a consensus-based mandate. Its mandate is:

1. To listen and learn from the experiences of Black students, staff, and faculty across the University of Windsor, with the goal of centring these experiences in determining priorities for substantive change.   

2. To identify  and  review  policies, programs, pedagogical practices, research, and other concrete actions on campus and beyond, and  recommend pervasive anti-racism and anti-oppressive practices with measurable, time-defined Calls to Action. These Actions will support equitable access to opportunities, highlight Black excellence and celebrate Black histories and cultures, and foster safer, inclusive, anti-racist communities.  

In order for urgently needed and meaningful action to begin as soon as possible, the University will launch a number of preliminary initiatives this year based on early input from the Task Force and the findings of previous reviews and reports, while the Task Force pursues its work. The University will regularly seek input from the Task Force regarding these initiatives and provide updates to the Task Force on the status of these early initiatives.     

The composition of the Task Force will reflect the diversity of the Black/African/Caribbean communities and voices on campus and the intersectionality of identities and backgrounds (i.e. gender, sexual orientation, culture, etc.) that impact Black experience, safety, and equity.

The Co-Chairs of the Task Force (1 student, 1 staff/faculty) will be determined by the Task Force. The Task Force shall be Black-led.

Task Force Membership:

• (1) Student – African Students’ Association (UG) 

• (1) Student – Black Law Students’ Association (UG – Law) 

• (1) Student – Caribbean African Organization of Students (UG) 

• (1) Student – Fusion (UG)  

• (1) Student – Making It Awkward: Challenging Anti-Black Racism (UG – Law/Social Work) 

• (1) Student – UWSA (UG – FT) 

• (1) Student - OPUS (UG – PT/Mature) 

• (1) Student – GSS (GRAD) 

• (2) Student – At-Large (Broader Student Engagement), at least one of whom is an international student 

• (1) Faculty – Appointed Full-time WUFA Member (Academic & Institutional Knowledge)  

• (4) Faculty – At-Large Full-time WUFA Members  (Academic & Institutional Knowledge) 

• (2) Academic Administrators – Appointed (Academic & Institutional Knowledge) 

• (1) Community – Appointed/Alumni Association (Community/Alumni Engagement & Institutional Knowledge)

• (2) Staff – At-Large (Institutional Knowledge) 

• Total (20): 10 students // 7 faculty // 1 Community Rep // 2 Staff (Non-Admin)

Membership Selection Process

• Constituency representatives (i.e. student groups and WUFA) will be appointed by their respective constituency, with attention to the criteria below.  

• The community representative will be identified in consultation with the Alumni Association. 

• At-large student, staff and faculty members will be determined by an open call for nominations. Nominations will be reviewed by the President’s Anti-Black Racism Working Group, using the criteria below as a basis for decision-making. To further the independence of decision-making, the President will recuse himself from this process.   

Membership Criteria

Task Force membership will prioritize Black voices as the majority of the composition and reflect the intersectionality of Black/African/Caribbean experiences (i.e. gender, sexual orientation, cultures, etc.), and a diversity of academic disciplines. Black candidates will be prioritized. Membership should reflect the following characteristics: 

• Knowledge and understanding of Anti-Black Racism issues 

• Experience working on anti-racism issues  

• Activism in the community on racial justice, anti-racism, equity issues 

• Commitment and accountability to a collective process 

• Skills in listening, analysing, and learning 

• Ability to work in a team through consensus decision-making 

• Availability and willingness to attend meetings at least once a month, and more frequently if required by the Task Force  

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The President’s Anti-Black Racism Working Group includes the President, Marium Tolson-Murtty (Director, Anti-Racism Organizational Change), Jeremiah Bowers (Initiatives Against Anti-Black Racism Projects Assistant), Tiffany Gooch (Board of Governors, Alumni), Kaye Johnson (Director, Office of Human Rights, Equity, and Accessibility), Dr. Clinton Beckford (Vice-President, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) and Bev Hamilton (President's Chief of Staff, Working Group Support).

The Task Force will endeavour to complete its work by June 2021. The following timeline is based on key building blocks, which will be updated with more detail once the Task Force has met and established a final timeline.

Fall 2020

• Anti-Black Racism Task Force membership is established
• Task Force will review and finalize its terms of reference

• Early initiatives will begin to be identified
• Community consultation framework will be established and submitted to Research Ethics Board for approval

Winter 2021

• Consultation/listening sessions with Black students, staff, faculty, alumni, and student groups
   

Summer 2021

• Anti-Black Racism Task Force Report is compiled
   

Fall 2021

• Anti-Black Racism Task Force Report is submitted to Board of Governors and Senate for review/appropriate action, and made publicly available
• President, on behalf of the University, responds to the Task Force Report with next steps
   

Winter 2022 

• President announces long-term Anti-Black Racism Strategy for UWindsor

Documents will be updated once the Task Force convenes.

* Updated November 2021