U of A holds launch event to celebrate new Changing the Story Action Plan

On February 12 at 12:00 p.m. in the Students’ Union Building (SUB) Atrium, the University of Alberta celebrated the launch of Changing the Story: An Integrated Action Plan for Transforming Our Vibrant and Interconnected University Community.

Approved by the Board of Governors (BoG) on December 13, 2024, Changing the Story was informed by consultations with over 1,000 university members, according to Provost and Vice-president (academic) Verna Yiu. The plan aims to make the U of A ” a more inclusive and welcome place for all students, staff, and faculty,” Yiu said.

“This isn’t just a celebration of what we’ve accomplished. It’s a call to action for the work that lies ahead.”

Changing the Story is informed by two years of consultations, Smith says

The consultation process took place throughout 2023–24. This included consultations with the Changing the Story steering committee, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Leads Network, university advisory committees, faculty collectives, governance bodies, and undergraduate and graduate student associations, according to Vice-provost (Access, Community, and Belonging) Carrie Smith.

Changing the Story focuses on four trajectories: supporting uncomfortable encounters; enhancing expansive excellence; ensuring access to academic and community life; and nurturing transformative collaborations.

“The plan commits us to beginning all actions within two years,” Smith said. “These practices will help us to build the stamina needed to take up the actions for change, because change doesn’t only result from grandiose interventions.”

Blessie Mathew, assistant dean (student success, careers, and experiential learning), spoke next. She emphasized the importance of diversity in university leadership and inclusivity on campus.

“Here we are with the new action plan and a lot of work ahead. We’re not perfect. We will make mistakes, but I hope that we hold ourselves accountable and strive to improve,” Mathew said.

Additionally, Anne-Jose Villeneuve, director of ACB at Campus Saint-Jean (CSJ), spoke about the importance of creating an inclusive university community, including linguistic equity. She said the university is already working towards this by creating French versions of recent strategic plans.

According to Villeneuve, the plan “includes unambiguous commitments towards recognizing and removing linguistic barriers for French speaking university members.”

“Beyond the linguistic aspect, I’m truly inspired by the explicit involvement of all levels of the university community who work toward access, equity, community, and belonging,” Villeneuve added.