ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ

Dear members of the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ community,

As Principal Fortier signaled in her message of 30 June 2020, I have been given a mandate to develop a plan for ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ University to advance our work in connection with anti-Black racism. This plan shall include specific actions, targets, and timelines and will be accompanied by an allocation of resources to realize its goals.

My intention is to work assiduously with you over the coming weeks and months toward the development of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s Plan for Addressing Anti-Black Racism. While the summer may be upon us, this work will begin immediately. The matter in question is one of urgency and pressing importance for our university, so there is no time to lose.

Our Plan for Addressing Anti-Black Racism will address five key areas, which track :

1. Student experience, which will focus on outreach, representation, support, and success vis-à-vis Black students at ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.
2. Research and knowledge, which will focus on the recognition of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s Black researchers and on enhancing, through scholarship, a critical understanding of our institution’s historic ties to slavery and colonialism.
3. Outreach, which will focus on engagement with Montreal’s Black communities.
4. Workforce, which will focus on representation, retention, and promotion of Black academic and administrative and support staff at ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.
5. Space, which will focus on measures to represent the vibrance and contributions of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s Black community members on our physical campuses and the creation of dedicated space for Black members of the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ community.

Over the coming weeks, I intend to continue meetings with: ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s Black Students’ Network, the Dr. Kenneth Melville ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Black Faculty Caucus, the Subcommittee for Racialized and Ethnic Persons, and ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s Black Alumni Association. I am grateful to each of these groups for their longstanding contributions to ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ to-date and for engaging with Principal Fortier and myself as we have set out to undertake concerted efforts to address anti-Black racism at ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.

Additionally, three virtual Town Halls will be held in early September, one of which will be reserved for Black members of the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ community.

Last, any member of the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ community is welcome to communicate with me in confidence about their views as to the content and implementation process for ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s Plan for Addressing Anti-Black Racism at the following email address: equity.provost [at] mcgill.ca.

I will communicate ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s Plan for Addressing Anti-Black Racism by 30 September 2020.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment and engagement with this matter of crucial importance to our University.

Professor Christopher P. Manfredi

Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)