JEDII STEM Series – Supporting equity-deserving groups: Orientation and on-boarding to support equity-deserving students, faculty and staff

How can we improve the orientation and onboarding of students, faculty and staff from equity-deserving groups in STEM at UBC? As UBC works towards successfully recruiting more folks from equity-deserving groups into our community, it becomes increasingly important for units to take a close examination of current onboarding and orientation practices. In this session we will have guests from various affinity groups and the Equity & Inclusion Office, as well as faculty and staff from STEM units that are revamping their onboarding processes, provide recommendations on information and practices that can successfully onboard people from equity-deserving groups. An effective onboarding process may help to build a greater sense of belonging within an institution, combat loneliness, and ensure that all available resources and supports are clearly communicated to everyone who joins UBC.

Key questions addressed in this session:

– What information is important to provide for the orientation and onboarding of students, faculty and staff from equity-deserving groups?
– What barriers to inclusion may exist in our current language, strategies and structures used in onboarding and orientation processes and how might we mediate them?