Navigating Accessibility with Emily Branov: From Classroom to Campus, and Beyond Compliance

Navigating Accessibility with Emily Branov: From Classroom to Campus, and Beyond Compliance

Released in 2022, the Final Recommendations Report for Proposed Postsecondary Education Standards discusses eight barrier areas to address to ensure publicly funded postsecondary education is more accessible to people with disabilities. In this episode, we sit down with Emily Branov, Student Experience Project Manager (Accessibility) at Western University, to unpack what these recommendations mean in practice, and why institutions shouldn't wait for legislation to act. Emily's work explores the shift from compliance-driven accessibility to proactive, systemic inclusion both within and outside of the classroom. What does it look like to move beyond individual accommodations and toward inclusive design from the outset? How can faculty embed accessibility into classrooms, labs, and professional programs? And how do we create structures that outlast student turnover and evolving institutional priorities? Tune in to learn more from Emily and get excited with us on what's to come from her and her team. Thank you to Sahiba Badyal (HBA/JD '25), who participated in the ending reflection for this episode, providing her experiences as a previous member on a past iteration of the Accessibility Advisory Committee. We appreciate your voice and lived experiences that you brought to this conversation. Send Us Feedback: https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc [https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc] Keywords: Higher Education; Accessibility; AODA; Universal Design; Disability Inclusion; Student Experience; Inclusive Education; Altitudinal Barriers; EDI-D; EDIDA TImestamps (HH:MM:SS) 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast 00:00:53 - Land Acknowledgement 00:04:46 - Guest Introduction 00:06:16 - Welcome Emily Branov! 00:07:54 - What are the Post-Secondary Recommendations from AODA? 00:09:17 - Emily's Path to Higher Education 00:12:31 - Implementing Recommendations at Western University 00:16:53 - Achieving Sustained Change 00:19:33 - From Recommendation to Instructors: How? 00:23:47 - Accommodations for Differing Disabilities and Needs 00:27:43 - Accessibility Across Different Levels of Education (Undergrad versus Graduate) 00:31:13 - Supporting Students in the Classroom 00:36:13 - Projects from Emily's Portfolio (to look forward to!) 00:42:38 - Addressing Altitudinal Barriers 00:48:18 - Faculty Involvement 00:51:45 - Challenge(s), and Reward(s) 00:53:33 - If You Had a Magic Wand... 00:55:28 - To Learn More...Check These Out 00:56:51 - Our Reflections 01:01:41 - Mini Reflection from Sahiba Badyal (Past Member of Student Accessibility Advisory Committee) 01:09:13 - Our Reflections (cont.) 01:12:07 - Outro Mentioned in This Episode (Further Reading and Engagement) Beyond the resources below, there is so much to look forward to from Emily and her team. The following projects and initiatives are planned for implementation across 2026 and 2027, so stay engaged and excited! If you'd like to connect with Emily and her team, please email vps-office@groups.uwo.ca [vps-office@groups.uwo.ca]. Look forward to the Instructor Accessibility Toolkit in conjunction with the Center for Teaching and Learning [https://teaching.uwo.ca/index.html], Western Technology Services [https://wts.uwo.ca/index.html], and Western Libraries [https://www.lib.uwo.ca/index.html] (among other partners). And: * Event Planning Guide * Accessible Wayfinding Project * Digital Accessibility Plan * Collecting and Dispersing Data on Accessibility at Western * Inclusion Strategies in Campus Life for Students (USC, undergraduate and SOGS, graduate) * Accessibility Accommodation Policy and Trainings 00:00:53 – Land Acknowledgement [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/land_acknowledgement.html] * Deshkaan Ziibing Anishinaabeg [https://cottfn.com/history/], also known as Chippewas of the Thames First Nation 00:05:41 - Emily's Feature During EDIDA Awareness Month [https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/beyond-compliance-making-aoda-pse-recommendations-a-reality-tickets-1602126135399?aff=oddtdtcreator] (2025) 00:05:53 - EDIDA Awareness Month [https://www.edi.uwo.ca/events/edida-awareness-month-2025/] (2025 Itinerary, hosted by the Western EDI Office) 00:06:35 - Western Student Experience Office [https://studentexperience.uwo.ca/index.html] 00:06:42 - Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) [https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/05a11] 00:06:51 - 2022 Ministry Report - 185 Recommendations for Accessibility in Post-Secondary Education (PSE Recommendations Report [https://www.ontario.ca/page/development-proposed-postsecondary-education-standards-final-recommendations-report-2022]) 00:10:07 - Work Integrated Learning Space [https://wcs.uwo.ca/contentManagement.do?method=load&code=CM000451] 00:10:36 - Accessible Employment Forum Event [https://career.uwo.ca/take_action/aef.html], supported by Employer Relations Team (past event) 00:10:42 - Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer [https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/office-chief-accessibility-officer.html] - Stephanie Cadieux 00:11:06 - Peer Team - University of Toronto's Accessibility Services [https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/Accessibility-Services-Undergraduate-Student-Handbook-2023-2024.pdf] (handbook Emily helped make for the team!) 00:13:45 - Director of Student Experience and Vice Provost (Students) [https://studentexperience.uwo.ca/about/leadership-team.html] (at time of recording), Stephanie Hayne Beatty and John Doerksen 00:14:28 - Accessible Western Working Group (AWWG) * This group is composed of senior representatives and accessibility leaders from key stakeholder units across campus whose areas intersect with accessibility implementation. This includes leadership from Student Experience, Human Resources, Facilities Management, Teaching and Learning, Information Technology Services, Equity, and other operational and academic portfolios. The group reports to the Vice-Provost (Students), Vice-President EDI, and the Provost, and collectively reviews and prioritizes recommendations emerging from the Postsecondary Education Standards Final Recommendations. 00:15:50 - Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) * In our Western University context, this is a cross-functional advisory body that provides strategic guidance on advancing accessibility across the university. Its mandate is to support the proactive identification, removal, and prevention of barriers affecting students, staff, faculty, and visitors. The Committee currently has representation from across Staff, Faculty and Student Groups. 00:17:59 - University Students' Council (USC) [https://westernusc.ca/] 00:17:59 - Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) [https://sogs.ca/] 00:29:52 - Accessible Education [https://academicsupport.uwo.ca/accessible_education/index.html] 00:33:24 - Center for Teaching and Learning Accessibility Resource [https://teaching.uwo.ca/teaching/accessibility-in-teaching.html] 00:37:58 - UWO Brightspace Help [https://brightspacehelp.uwo.ca/student/account-accessibility.html] (focused on Accessibility features, but the site has more to explore) 00:38:57 - Central Accessibility Domain [https://accessibility.uwo.ca/index.html] (current website, at time of publishing - but look forward to an update!) 00:48:47 - Want to be involved? Reach out to Emily and her team: vps-office@groups.uwo.ca [vps-office@groups.uwo.ca] 00:49:18 - Schulich Continuing Professional Development (CPD) [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/continuingprofessionaldevelopment//index.html] * CPD EDI-D Workshop Series [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/continuingprofessionaldevelopment//faculty_development/edid_series.html] (2026 Iteration) * Email: cpd@schulich.uwo.ca [cpd@schulich.uwo.ca] (Contact Page [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/continuingprofessionaldevelopment//about_us/contact_us.html]) 00:57:48 - Science or BMSc Academic Advising Help Portal [https://help.sci.uwo.ca/servicedesk/customer/portal/3/user/login?destination=portal%2F3] (Care Zone) 01:02:02 - Student Accessibility Advisory Committee [https://academicsupport.uwo.ca/accessible_education/saac/index.html] (previous group, see Accessibility Advisory Committee – mentioned above – for more current work) 01:03:24 - Accessible Education Study Rooms [https://www.lib.uwo.ca/weldon/accessibleeducationstudyrooms.html] + Accessible Learning Lab, located on Weldon's ground floor near printing services. 01:11:06 - Supporting Faculty and Staff with Disabilities [https://accessibility.uwo.ca/faculty_staff/index.html] (at Western) * While we recognize this did not come up in our conversation, we hope to include these lived experiences in future discussions, both on and off the podcast! We are thankful to Emily and her team for including these voices within the Working Group and Advisory Committee they support. 01:11:26 - Accessible Campus Website by Ontario's Universities [https://accessiblecampus.ca/tools-resources/resources/] Audio Recording and Production This episode was recorded on Riverside.fm [http://riverside.fm/], hosted by Schulich Educational Technology and Media Services (ETMS). Produced/Edited by Preetama Badyal and Oana Birceanu Thank you to the support of the team at BrainsCAN [https://brainscan.uwo.ca/index.html] for funding the resources behind this podcast, allowing us to create this space for discussion. Intro and Outro Music Sourced from Pixabay, "Enhance [https://pixabay.com/music/electronic-embrace-364091/]" by electronic music producer Evgeny_Bardyuzha. Free for use under the Pixabay Content License.

Diversifying the Classroom: Intercultural and Decolonial Teaching with Aisha Haque

Diversity is crucial in higher education. Bringing together various lived experiences, perspectives, and knowledge is how we evolve our understanding of the world around us and create initiatives that support a wide variety of folks on campus. However, this is a big concept, and it can be difficult to grapple with at times. Where do we even start when it comes to bridging understanding across cultures? How do we support students, specifically international students, in this journey of unpacking the "hidden" curriculum? In this episode, we sit with Aisha Haque, Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at Western University, for a powerful and deeply reflective conversation about belonging, unlearning, and what it truly means to transform education. We dive into the heart of intercultural and decolonial teaching and what it looks like to move beyond simply delivering content toward building meaningful relationships in the classroom. Aisha highlights some key resources for educators both within and outside of the CTL, including her Intercultural Teaching Competence Framework [https://uwo.scholaris.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/d43596ec-aab5-46b9-8776-c7168e9c57bd/content], Learnings on Generative AI [https://teaching.uwo.ca/elearning/generativeAI-resources.html], and so much more. If you're an educator, student, or simply someone curious about how higher education can better reflect the diverse communities it serves, this episode invites you to reflect alongside us. We hope it encourages you to start somewhere, small, intentional, and in community, as we continue the ongoing journey of learning, unlearning, and reshaping our classrooms for belonging and equity. Send Us Feedback: https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc [https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc] Keywords: Higher Education; Intercultural Teaching; Belonging; Curriculum Design; Student Engagement; EDI-D; EDIDA; Center for Teaching and Learning; Decolonization TImestamps (HH:MM:SS) 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast 00:00:53 - Land Acknowledgement 00:05:16 - Guest Introduction 00:06:32 - Welcome Aisha Haque! 00:06:53 - Aisha's Path to Higher Education 00:12:52 - What is the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL)? What do they do? 00:17:47 - Collaborating with Different Faculties and Departments 00:20:28 - Collaborating with Campus Partners (e.g., Western Libraries) 00:22:27 - The Intercultural Teaching Landscape 00:24:24 - How To: Incorporating Intercultural Teaching Frameworks 00:29:38 - Decolonizing and Unlearning 00:34:27 - How Does Change Happen? 00:37:44 - Pressures and Expectations as Learners and Educators (and more unlearning) 00:41:19 - Supporting Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) 00:43:50 - Student Engagement, Expectations, and Feedback 00:49:39 - Decolonial and Anti-Racist Approaches in Curriculum 00:57:39 - Planning and Implementing Curriculum Change Research 01:00:32 - Supporting International Graduate Students 01:07:09 - Measuring Impact of Intercultural, Anti-Racist, and Decolonial Practices 01:08:43 - Reflecting Change in IQAP (Institutional Quality Assurance Practices) 01:11:49 - Where is the CTL Headed? 01:13:43 - Challenge(s), and Reward(s) 01:18:44 - If You Had a Magic Wand... 01:20:49 - Staying Connected with the CTL, and Exciting Projects! 01:22:17 - Our Reflections 01:29:35 - Outro Mentioned in This Episode (Further Reading/Exploration) 00:00:53 - Land Acknowledgement [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/land_acknowledgement.html] * More Than Words: Treaties & Wampums [https://express.adobe.com/page/YGw9pxfT2zEBY/] (from the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, created by Sara Mai Chitty): * Knowing and Respecting the Land You Are On at Western [https://uwo.ca/se/thrive/blog/2021/knowing_and_respecting_the_land_you_are_on_at_western.html], Written by: Shaowda Salehin in 2021, 4th Year Honours Double Major in English and Biology 00:05:16 - Aisha Haque's Biography and Scholarly Work [https://teaching.uwo.ca/centre/people/aisha-haque.html] 00:12:52 - Center for Teaching and Learning [https://teaching.uwo.ca/centre/index.html] (CTL) 00:14:08 - Conversations on Generative AI [https://teaching.uwo.ca/elearning/generativeAI-resources.html], CTL Resources * Includes: Values-Driven Conversations About GenAI (mentioned later in the episode) * Includes: Self-Paced Module for GenAI (mentioned later in the episode) * GenAI Conference in June (mentioned later in the episode) 00:14:16 - The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning [https://teaching.uwo.ca/research/sotl/index.html] (SoTL) 00:14:48 - The Institutional Quality Assurance Process [https://teaching.uwo.ca/curriculum/innovation-review/iqap.html] (IQAP) 00:15:50 - Educational Leadership; Teaching Fellows [https://teaching.uwo.ca/centre/people/teachingfellows.html] at the CTL * Shoutout to Sarah MacLean, Nicole Campbell, Charys Martin, and Candace Brunette-Debassige [https://teaching.uwo.ca/news/2022/sharingourgifts.html] for their work on their projects! 00:16:21 - The 3M National Teaching Award [https://stlhe.ca/awards/3m-national-teaching-fellowship/] * Dr. Nicole Campbell, 2024 3M Teaching Fellow [https://news.westernu.ca/2024/05/nicole-campbell-3m-national-teaching-fellowship/] 00:18:57 - Nursing Program Decolonization Initiative [https://cnei-icie.casn.ca/our-programs/free-webinars/4-part-webinar-series-creating-transformative-change-enacting-epistemic-justice-in-nursing-practice-education-and-scholarship-and-research/] (National Webinars) * Additional Reading: Integrating Diverse Ways of Knowing and Challenging Injustice: An Example of Emancipatory Curricula in Canadian Nursing Education [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12789253/] 00:21:10 - Western Libraries (and partnership with CTL, Heather Campbell [https://www.lib.uwo.ca/contact/staff/heather_campbell.html]) 00:21:48 - Western Technology Services [https://wts.uwo.ca/about-wts/index.html] (WTS) * Instructional Technology Resource Centre [https://itrc.uwo.ca/index.html] (ITRC) 00:23:23 - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization, and Accessibility Strategic Plan [https://www.edi.uwo.ca/strategic-plan/] 00:23:44 - Truth and Reconciliation Commission - Indigenizing Higher Education [https://univcan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/UC-2023-Survey-Indigenous-Education-Reconciliation-EN.pdf] * Education for Reconcilication [https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1524504501233/1557513602139] 00:24:27 - Intercultural Learning, and Aisha's Intercultural Teaching Competence Framework [https://uwo.scholaris.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/d43596ec-aab5-46b9-8776-c7168e9c57bd/content] 00:33:45 - The late Murray Sinclair, former Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission [https://redi.med.ubc.ca/a-tribute-to-the-honourable-justice-murray-sinclair-champion-of-justice-and-reconciliation/] 00:41:37 - Aisha's Work in Supporting Graduate Teaching Assistants [https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/cjsotl_rcacea/article/view/11103] 00:50:10 - Reflection Questions for Decolonizing the Curriculum (Handout) [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CdlKtMVfvQqw3CzDKClAk9In-VVcWcy2/view?usp=sharing] 00:51:02 - Students as Partners Projects [https://www.centerforengagedlearning.org/resources/students-as-partners/] 00:52:32 - #WhyisMyCurriculumWhite Movement * Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axarJ4TJ-1M [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axarJ4TJ-1M] * Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dscx4h2l-Pk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dscx4h2l-Pk] 00:55:02 - Ravensong by Lee Maracle [https://canadianscholars.ca/book/ravensong-a-novel-03eb2330-04fc-4364-b05a-e2508aeb5660/] * Additional Reading (News Article) [https://uwaterloo.ca/news/indigenous-voice-truth-among-honorary-doctorates-waterloo] 00:56:52 - Dr. Charys Martin + Eponyms [https://news.westernu.ca/2022/06/new-anatomy-approach_challenges-antiquated-terms-adopts-inclusive-lens/] * Inclusive Anatomy [https://www.inclusiveanatomy.com/about-1] 00:57:14 - Dr. Anita Woods, Diverse Representation in Medicine (Physiology Diversified [https://physiologydiversified.github.io/]) 00:57:55 - The Hidden Curriculum [https://hiddencurriculum.ca/] (Resource Website) * About The Hidden Curriculum [https://universityaffairs.ca/opinion/the-hidden-curriculum-and-its-impacts-on-students-and-educators/] 00:59:20 - Indigenizing the Curriculum Across Canada [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11771801211062617] (interviews/focus groups) * Additional Resource [https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/iipj/article/view/14109] 01:01:38 - Academic Transitions of International Graduate Students on Campus [https://international.uwo.ca/studentservices/new_students/] 01:06:06 - Participation as a Barrier for International Students in the Classroom [https://academic.oup.com/isp/article/26/2/125/7642589] (one example of current evidence) 01:09:04 - IQAP Resource, EDIDA Questions for Self-Study Template [https://www.uwo.ca/pvp/vpacademic/iqap/academic_programs/templates_and_guides/EDI-DIA%20CPR%20Self-Study%20Resource_2023-24.pdf] 01:12:28 - Inclusive Teaching Community of Practice [https://teaching.uwo.ca/programs/allprograms/udl-cop.html] 01:13:16 - Values-Driven Conversations About GenAI [https://teaching.uwo.ca/elearning/generativeAI-resources.html] 01:21:05 - Staying Connected: ctl@uwo.ca [ctl@uwo.ca] * Stay tuned for a Teaching and Learning Action Plan [https://vpacademic.uwo.ca/Future_of_Teaching_and_Learning/index.html] 01:21:45 - GenAI Conference in June 2026 [https://teaching.uwo.ca/elearning/generativeAI-resources.html] 01:22:43 - Self-Paced Module for GenAI [https://westernu.brightspace.com/d2l/le/discovery/view/course/143241] Audio Recording and Production This episode was recorded on Riverside.fm [http://riverside.fm/], hosted by Schulich Educational Technology and Media Services (ETMS). Produced/Edited by Preetama Badyal and Oana Birceanu Thank you to the support of the team at BrainsCAN [https://brainscan.uwo.ca/index.html] for funding the resources behind this podcast, allowing us to create this space for discussion. Intro and Outro Music Sourced from Pixabay, "Enhance [https://pixabay.com/music/electronic-embrace-364091/]" by electronic music producer Evgeny_Bardyuzha. Free for use under the Pixabay Content License.

Indigenous and Decolonial Approaches to Curriculum: Learnings from Dr. Candace Brunette-Debassige

Dr. Candace Brunette-Debassige is Mushkego Cree of Petabeck First Nation in Treaty 9 with mixed Cree and French lineage. She is a community member, Indigenous scholar, and at the time of release, an Assistant Professor at the School of Indigenous Relations at Laurentian University. We were incredibly fortunate to have Candace as part of our Western University community for over a decade, where she supported the creation of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/] and the development of integral learning opportunities such as the Indigenous Teaching and Learning Series [https://teaching.uwo.ca/teaching/indigenous-tl-resources.html] and the Indigenous Learning Bundles. [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/Learning_Unlearning/learning/indigenous_learning_bundles.html] We had a chance to sit down with Candace to learn more about her journey and experiences across the many roles she has held, alongside her insights on Indigenous and decolonial approaches to education. We know efforts towards decolonization and Indigenization have been a priority area for institutions across Canada, particularly following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report in 2015. But what does it actually look like in practice? How do we take steps towards building genuine, intentional relationships with community to ensure this work is beneficial? How does all of this fit into the Eurocentric westernized model of education many of us are accustomed to? If you find yourself faced with these questions and have a genuine interest to learn, you're in the right place. Tune in to this episode to reflect, unlearn, and reimagine what teaching and learning can look like when Indigenous sovereignty, knowledge, and belonging are truly honoured and prioritized, and how you can meaningfully take part in these processes. We would like to extend a huge thank you and our gratitude to Candace for gifting us this knowledge and for all the ways that she has supported our campus community. Remembering Dr. Lillian McGregor, mentioned in this episode: Dr. Lillian McGregor (1924-2012) of Whitefish River First Nation was the first Elder-in-Residence at the University of Toronto First Nation House, and a strong community leader. Visit Dr. Lillian McGregor Park [https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-recreation/places-spaces/parks-and-recreation-facilities/location/?id=3776], in Toronto, ON. Send Us Feedback: https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc [https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc] Keywords: Higher Education; EDI-D; Decolonization; Indigenization; Inclusion; Educational Sovereignty; Truth and Reconciliation; Curriculum Development; Learning Bundles; Community-Based Learning; Community Engaged Learning TImestamps (HH:MM:SS) 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast 00:00:53 - Land Acknowledgement 00:04:10 - Guest Introduction 00:05:21 - Welcome Dr. Candace Brunette-Debassige! 00:06:40 - Candace's Time at Western University 00:13:14 - Candace's Path to Higher Education 00:27:01 - The Indigenous Teaching and Learning Series 00:33:52 - The Indigenous Learning Bundles 00:42:59 - Implementing the Bundles in Collaboration with Non-Indigenous Faculty 01:12:24 - Building Relationships with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers 01:18:04 - Mobilizing Decolonization Efforts (e.g., in Meetings, or Committees) 01:25:55 - Challenge(s), and Reward(s) 01:31:30 - If You Had a Magic Wand... 01:35:58 - To Learn More...Check These Out (decolonialfutures.net) 01:40:22 - Poem, "Reconciliation" by Rebeka Tabobondung 01:41:37 - Outro Mentioned in This Episode (Further Reading) 00:00:53 - Land Acknowledgement [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/land_acknowledgement.html] 00:01:26 - Definitions of Decolonization and Indigenization * Western University Office of Research [https://www.uwo.ca/research/support/edida/why-edid.html] * Schulich Office of EDI-D [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/edid/decolonization/understanding_decolonization.html] * Two Eyed Seeing [https://www.2eyedseeing.ca/about-5] (in the words of Albert Marshall, Mi'kmaq Elder) 00:04:10 - Welcome Candace Brunette-Debassige [https://laurentian.ca/academics/faculty-directory/cbrunette2]! (see her current biography, including her broader publication profile) 00:08:45 - Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Reports and Calls to Action [https://nctr.ca/publications-and-reports/reports/%23highlighted-reports] * Further Reading: Calls to Action for Higher Education [https://peopleforeducation.ca/calls-to-action-for-education/] 00:09:43 - Indigenous Student Centre, Western University [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/students/] 00:10:45 - Strategic Planning and Reports, Indigenous Initiatives [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/stratreports/index.html] 00:11:17 - Candace's PhD Dissertation, "The Trickiness of Settler Colonialism: Indigenous Women Administrators' Experiences of Policy in Canadian Universities [https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/7702/]" * Her learnings and work have also been translated into a book, "Tricky Grounds: Indigenous Women's Experiences in Canadian University Administration" (Link to Purchase, or view Open Access eBook [https://uofrpress.ca/Books/T/Tricky-Grounds]) 00:11:38 - Office of Indigenous Initiatives, Western University [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/] 00:11:53 - Christy Bressette, Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President (Indigenous Initiatives) [https://www.provost.uwo.ca/leadership/bressette.html] 00:19:08 - University of Toronto Academic Bridging Program [https://wdw.utoronto.ca/academic-bridging] 00:27:01 - Indigenous Teaching and Learning Series [https://teaching.uwo.ca/teaching/indigenous-tl-resources.html] * Additional Learning and Development Opportunities [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/Learning_Unlearning/learning/index.html] at Western 00:27:50 - Center for Teaching and Learning Teaching Fellows [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/Learning_Unlearning/learning/index.html] * Learn more about Candace's appointment [https://www.edu.uwo.ca/news-events/2021/teaching-fellow-indigenous-learning.html] 00:28:06 - (previous news report) Sarah Prichard [https://news.westernu.ca/2019/04/prichard-named-acting-vice-president-research/], Acting Vice-President (Research), also Acting Provost & Vice-President (Academic) 00:29:55 - Aisha Haque [https://teaching.uwo.ca/centre/people/aisha-haque.html], Current Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning 00:30:09 - Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy Advisor (previously held by Sara Mai Chitty). Check out the podcast she contributed to our campus community, Mbwaach'idiwag (they visit with each other) [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/Learning_Unlearning/learning/mbwaachidiwag_podcast.html] 00:33:52 - Indigenous Learning Bundles: Maatookiiying gaa-miinigoowiziying (Sharing our Gifts). [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/Learning_Unlearning/learning/indigenous_learning_bundles.html] More details on support available when completing the Bundles can be found on this site, including the Community of Practice Candace mentions. 00:35:13 - Indigenous Bundles at Carleton University [https://carleton.ca/tls/teaching-learning-and-pedagogy/collaborative-indigenous-learning-bundles/], stewarded by Dr. Kahente Horn-Miller 00:35:45 - Paula Cornelius-Hedgepeth [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/AboutUs/initiatives/team.html] (Director, Indigenous Engagement and Wampum Learning Lodge) 00:39:19 - Articles on The Bundles * Sharing Indigenous Knowledges in University Teaching: The Need for Conciliable Spaces [https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/cjsotl_rcacea/article/view/18456] (2025 – Collaboration with Kahente Horn-Miller and Sara Mai Chitty) * Bringing indigenous educational leadership perspectives into social work leadership education [https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article/55/8/3976/8261291] (2025 - Collaboration with Rosemary Vito, Social Work Faculty) * At the time of episode release, the third article is still in press, but keep an eye out for its publication! 00:44:44 - Liz Akiwenzie [https://www.centennialcollege.ca/about-centennial/centres-and-institutes/centre-for-faculty-development-and-teaching-innovation/decolonization-and-indigenous-learning/knowledge-keeper-in-residence], Knowledge Keeper 00:50:42 - Bias in Student Evaluations (the importance of thinking critically about where bias may present itself in these mediums, and how we can support faculty accordingly) * Lighting the Fire: Experiences of Indigenous Faculty in Universities (Ontario's Universities) [https://ontariosuniversities.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Lighting-the-Fire-Experiences-of-Indigenous-Faculty-in-Ontario-Universities-December-14-2020.pdf] * Exploring Bias in Student Evaluations: Gender, Race, and Ethnicity [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ps-political-science-and-politics/article/exploring-bias-in-student-evaluations-gender-race-and-ethnicity/91670F6003965C5646680D314CF02FA4] * Student evaluation of teaching: gender bias in a country at the forefront of gender equality [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07294360.2022.2087604] * Evaluating Student Evaluations of Teaching: A Review of Measurement and Equity Bias in SETs and Recommendations for Ethical Reform [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10805-021-09400-w] 00:53:56 - Community Engaged Learning [https://cel.uwo.ca/about/index.html] (Western's Website) 00:58:53 - Leanne Betasamosake Simpson [https://www.leannesimpson.ca/] 01:08:04 - Sheila Cote-Meek [https://brocku.ca/education/sheila-cote-meek/%231708633849272-ebdc07fa-0396]'s Book, "Colonized Classrooms: Racism, Trauma and Resistance in Post-Secondary Education [https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/colonized-classrooms]" 01:27:05 - Thesis-Based Masters in Indigenous Relations (MIR) [https://laurentian.ca/academics/program/indigenous-relations-mir] at Laurentian University 01:33:53 - Master of Indigenous Land-Based Education [https://programs.usask.ca/grad-studies/indigenous-land-based-education/index.php%23top] 01:36:36 - Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures [https://decolonialfutures.net/] (decolonialfutures.net) and Towards Braiding [https://decolonialfutures.net/towardsbraiding/] 01:37:06 - Aiden Cinnamon Tea Project [https://burnoutfromhumans.net/] (burnoutfromhumans.net) 01:40:12 A gift from Candace. Poem, "Reconciliation" by Rebeka Tabobondung [https://www.albertasynod.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Lament-Project-RECONCILIATION-Poem.pdf] (also pasted below): We are waking up to our history from a forced slumber We are breathing it into our lungs so it will be part of us again It will make us angry at first because we will see how much you stole from us and for how long you watched us suffer we will see how you see us and how when we copied your ways we killed our own. We will cry and cry and cry because we can never be the same again But we will go home to cry and we will see ourselves in this huge mess and we will gently whisper the circle back and it will be old and it will be new Then we will breathe our history back to you you will feel how strong and alive it is and you will feel yourself become a part of it And it will shock you at first because it is too big to see all at once and you won't want to believe it you will see how you see us and all the disaster in your ways how much we lost And you will cry and cry and cry because we can never be the same again But we will cry with you and we will see ourselves in this huge mess and we will gently whisper the circle back| and it will be old and it will be new. Audio Recording and Production This episode was recorded on Riverside.fm [http://riverside.fm/], hosted by Schulich Educational Technology and Media Services (ETMS). Produced/Edited by Preetama Badyal and Oana Birceanu Thank you to the support of the team at BrainsCAN [https://brainscan.uwo.ca/index.html] for funding the resources behind this podcast, allowing us to create this space for discussion. Intro and Outro Music Sourced from Pixabay, "Enhance [https://pixabay.com/music/electronic-embrace-364091/]" by electronic music producer Evgeny_Bardyuzha. Free for use under the Pixabay Content License.

From Classroom to Community, and Leading from Behind: Part 2 with Dr. Sukhi Bains

From Classroom to Community, and Leading from Behind: Part 2 with Dr. Sukhi Bains If you change the metrics, you can change the outcomes. During part one of our conversation with Dr. Sukhi Bains, we received an introduction to the Schulich EDI-D Office, and how it supports faculty, staff, and students alike in creating inclusive spaces that adapt to their lived realities and goals. We now know that when it comes to academic environments, beginning to understand (and question) metrics starts with expanding our minds beyond numbers and thresholds, to holistically consider the people that make up our classrooms, labs, etc. But how exactly does that happen? It really does seem easier said than done. Tune in to the remainder of our conversation with Dr. Sukhi Bains as we discuss student engagement and advocacy, embracing the fear of the unknown, and building systems to uphold equity work across our departments. We'll also dive into the world of a leader and discuss rewards, challenges, and how to stay connected with the fantastic work of her team, and so many other partners across London, Ontario. Send Us Feedback: https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc [https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc] Keywords: Higher Education, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization, EDI-D, Inclusive Education, Undergraduate, Graduate, Professional Education, Learner Experience, Inclusive Metrics, Structural Inequities, EDI in STEM, Western University, Social Accountability, Community-Engaged Learning, Xenophobia TImestamps (HH:MM:SS) 00:00:00 - Introduction: Welcome Back, and Quick Recap 00:03:28 - Uplifting the Student Voice/Engagement 00:14:59 - Challenge(s), and Reward(s) 00:31:48 - If You Had a Magic Wand… 00:41:48 - Parting Pieces and To Learn More…Check These Out 00:55:38 - Our Reflection: Key Takeaways and Outro Mentioned in This Episode (Further Reading) 00:00:32 - Welcome Back, Sukhi Bains (Schulich Biography [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/edid/about_us/meet_the_associate_dean.html]) 00:09:11 - EDI-Related Incident Resources [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/edid/about_us/edi_related_incident_reporting_and_Policies.html] 00:10:28 - Newcomer Hub: Navigating the Health System [https://www.newcomerhealthhub.com/] * Additional Resource: https://www.newcomernavigation.ca/en/our-tools/navigating-the-ontario-healthcare-system-toolkit.aspx [https://www.newcomernavigation.ca/en/our-tools/navigating-the-ontario-healthcare-system-toolkit.aspx] 00:11:25 - Cross-Cultural Learners Center [https://www.lcclc.org/] 00:11:25 - London InterCommunity Health Center [https://lihc.on.ca/] 00:11:33 - Center for Research in Health Equity and Social Inclusion [https://crhesi.uwo.ca/] 00:11:36 - Middlesex-London Public Health Unit [https://www.healthunit.com/] 00:13:30 - The 519 [https://www.the519.org/] * Ark Aid Mission [https://arkaidmission.ca/] * London Cares [https://londoncares.ca/] * CMHA [https://cmhatv.ca/] (Canadian Mental Health Association, Thames Valley) 00:18:26 - EDIDA Awareness Week (see the programming in 2025) [https://www.edi.uwo.ca/events/edida-awareness-month-2025/] * Schulich Research Office [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/research//index.html] 00:20:14 – Schulich Clinical Skills Program (and Standardized Patients) [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/clinicalskills/index.html] 00:23:18 – Racism and Public Health [https://www.cpha.ca/racism] (a starting point to learn more, but we encourage you to explore additional resources) 00:24:23 - Dr. Nicole Redvers (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Planetary Health [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAFYrhFURQo]) * Dr. Nicole Redvers' Biography [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/AboutUs/faculty/Nicole_Redvers.html] 00:25:00 - Experts on Epistemic Injustice; Knowledge Justice [https://www.lib.uwo.ca/news/2025/New-OER-KnowledgeJustice.html] (just one of the amazing resources out there) * Additional Resource: https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fpq/article/view/14291 [https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fpq/article/view/14291] 00:26:04 – CREDIT (Council on Reforming Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Trainees) [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/gradstudies/current-students/credit/index.html] 00:26:14 - Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada [https://ipacamic.ca/] 00:27:50 - Sarah McLean and Community Engaged Learning [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/seed/experiential_learning/communityengaged_learning_.html] 00:27:54 - Physiology Diversified [https://physiologydiversified.github.io/] 00:28:01 - Charys Martin's Work on Eponyms [https://news.westernu.ca/2022/06/new-anatomy-approach_challenges-antiquated-terms-adopts-inclusive-lens/] * Inclusive Anatomy Website [https://www.inclusiveanatomy.com/about-1] 00:36:41 - 2024 'Speaking Out' Survey at University of Toronto [https://people.utoronto.ca/news/2024-speaking-out-survey-what-we-learned/] (one example of gathering information on the lived experience of faculty, staff, and learners) 00:45:19 - Schulich EDI-D Office [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/edid/] 00:46:39 - Schulich Community of Support [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/edid/about_us/engage_empower/index.html] 00:46:54 - Western EDI Office [https://www.edi.uwo.ca/] 00:46:54 - Office of Indigenous Initiatives [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/#:~:text=The%20Office%20of%20Indigenous%20Initiatives,implementing%20Western's%20Indigenous%20Strategic%20Plan] 00:47:30 - Partnerships with London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph's Health Care [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/about/partners.html] 00:48:20 - Inclusive Curriculum Community of Support for Health Professions [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/edid/online_education_training/index.html] (and additional online learning opportunities) 00:51:32 - Schulich Collaboration with Faculty of Health Sciences [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/find-your-program/graduate-studies/global-health-system.html] (just one output of this fantastic collaboration) 00:52:38 - The Decolonization, Anti-Racism, and Anti-Oppression (DARAO) Committee at the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing [https://linktr.ee/DARAOCommittee] * Faculty of Health Sciences EDIDA Events [https://uwo.ca/fhs/equity/edida_events.html] 00:55:05 - Schulich EDI-D Resource Hub [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/edid/equity_diversity_inclusion/Resources.html] 00:55:10 - The Black Health Primer [https://www.utoronto.ca/news/black-health-education-collaborative-launches-educational-tool-racism-and-black-health-canada] 00:55:14 - Indigenous Canada Modules [https://www.coursera.org/learn/indigenous-canada] 00:55:22 - EDID Office Email edid@schulich.uwo.ca [edid@schulich.uwo.ca] ; and Sukhi's Email sbains7@uwo.ca [sbains7@uwo.ca] Audio Recording and Production This episode was recorded on Riverside.fm [http://riverside.fm/], hosted by Schulich Educational Technology and Media Services (ETMS). Produced/Edited by Preetama Badyal and Oana Birceanu Thank you to the support of the team at BrainsCAN for funding the resources behind this podcast, allowing us to create this space for discussion. Intro and Outro Music Sourced from Pixabay, "Enhance [https://pixabay.com/music/electronic-embrace-364091/]" by electronic music producer Evgeny_Bardyuzha. Free for use under the Pixabay Content License.

Rethinking Higher Education Metrics for Equity, Inclusion, and Impact: Part 1 with Dr. Sukhi Bains

In the medical sciences, we observe, experiment, and test the physical and natural world around us. Whether it is to test a novel therapeutic intervention, conduct an experiment exploring the physiology behind a disease, or evaluate population-level trends, there is an aim to promote evidence-based decision making. As learners and teachers, people come first. We want to build inclusive classroom and laboratory spaces where students feel seen and heard, but it can be difficult to know whether our intentions and initiatives are making a real impact. Can Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization (EDI-D) principles be transformed into tangible metrics and outcomes? How do we know if we are supporting our students with these values in mind? Tune in to our conversation with Dr. Sukhi Bains, a triple-board certified physician and the Acting Associate Dean of EDI-D at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, to learn more about how metrics come into her work both in the clinic and on campus. This is part one, and we'll be releasing part two shortly after. Send Us Feedback: https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc [https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc] Keywords: Higher Education; Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization; EDI-D; Inclusive Education; Undergraduate, Graduate and Professional Education; Learner Experience; Inclusive Metrics; Structural Inequities; EDI in STEM; Western University TImestamps (MM:SS) 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast 01:12 - Land Acknowledgement 03:41 - Guest Introduction 06:37 - Welcome Dr. Sukhi Bains! 07:11 - What is the Schulich EDI-D Office? 18:33 - Sukhi Bains' Career Path 35:10 - Measuring the Impact of EDIDA Principles in Higher Education: How? 48:26 - Outro (and More to Come!) Mentioned in This Episode (Further Reading) 1:12 - Land Acknowledgement [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/land_acknowledgement.html] 1:32 - Learnings on the Haudenosaunee Nation [https://express.adobe.com/page/Aolk6ZyoJa3qD/#some-stats-about-indigenous-populations-in-london] and Oneida Nation of the Thames [https://oneida.on.ca/about/] 4:03 – Dr. Sukhi Bains' Bio [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/emergency_medicine/people/faculty_bios/Dr%20Sukhveer%20Bains,%20MD,%20MA.html] 07:26 - Schulich EDI-D Office [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/edid/] 08:07 - Remembering George Floyd [https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/27/us/george-floyd-trnd] * Additional Resource: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/death-george-floyd [https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/death-george-floyd] 08:10 - Remembering Joyce Echaquan [https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/health-and-medicine/death-joyce-echaquan] * Additional Resource: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/echaquan-five-years-later-principle-systemic-racism-1.7645758 [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/echaquan-five-years-later-principle-systemic-racism-1.7645758] 08:13 - Remembering Brian Sinclair [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3832555/] * Additional Resource: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-brian-sinclair-report-1.4295996 * Book: "Structures of Indifference: An Indigenous Life and Death in a Canadian City" [https://uofmpress.ca/books/structures-of-indifference] 08:15 - TRC Calls to Action in Higher Education [https://peopleforeducation.ca/calls-to-action-for-education/] 08:40 - EDI-D Office: Faculty-Wide Mandate 10:49 – Council on Reforming Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Trainees (CREDIT) [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/gradstudies//current_students/CREDIT/index.html] 13:59 - Western EDI Office [https://www.edi.uwo.ca/] 14:04 - Office of Indigenous Initiatives [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/#:~:text=The%20Office%20of%20Indigenous%20Initiatives,implementing%20Western's%20Indigenous%20Strategic%20Plan] 19:13 - UWO WISE Program [https://vpacademic.uwo.ca/Program_Innovation/WISE.html] 21:41 – Dr. Anton Allahar [https://sociology.uwo.ca/people/profiles/Allahar.html] 20:37 - Canada World Youth [https://web.archive.org/web/20050925032210/http://www.cwy-jcm.org/en/aboutus/history] (Archive Website; this program shut down in 2022) 31:06 - Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports [https://nctr.ca/publications-and-reports/reports/#highlighted-reports] Audio Recording and Production This episode was recorded on Riverside.fm [http://riverside.fm/], hosted by Schulich Educational Technology and Media Services (ETMS). Thank you to Patrick Barfoot and Dave Creces for their support with refining the audio for this episode. Produced/Edited by Preetama Badyal and Oana Birceanu Thank you to the support of the team at BrainsCAN for funding the resources behind this podcast, allowing us to create this space for discussion. Intro and Outro Music Sourced from Pixabay, "Enhance [https://pixabay.com/music/electronic-embrace-364091/]" by electronic music producer Evgeny_Bardyuzha. Free for use under the Pixabay Content License.