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Home » Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEDI)

Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEDI)

On this page you will find Teaching Commons programming, events, resources and supports specifically related to DEDI. Questions about the DEDI section of our website can be directed to Ameera Ali (aliamira@yorku.ca).

DEDI at the Teaching Commons (Our Statement of Practice)

At the Teaching Commons, we provide leadership in the pursuit of engaged teaching practices centred on the student learning experience. We create and support equitable spaces for faculty engagement for all who teach at York. We recognise the urgency of taking a direct approach to ensuring that we remain committed to, and transparent about, Decolonization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (DEDI)-informed practice within our work. We understand that this work is iterative and ongoing; therefore, our offerings are continuously  evolving to reflect contextual best practices, emerging expertise, and new scholarly literature pertaining to equity-informed pedagogy. As we continue to do this challenging work, the way we engage and respond will change, evolve, and adapt.

We also take a distributed approach to DEDI-related work across our team and across our offerings. Principles of equity and inclusion are embedded throughout our consultations, workshops, courses, events, and resources. We aim to support these values by building connections across the diverse York community and beyond, inviting perspectives of experts and leaders in this field.

If you have an accessibility or accommodation need regarding engaging with us in any way, please let us know by emailing teaching@yorku.ca or when communicating with any of our staff. Should you have any DEDI-related questions or concerns respecting any of our programming, offerings, or resources, you can let us know via email or through our Teaching Commons Suggestion Box.

York DEDI Strategy

York's DEDI strategy has been developed by the division of Equity, People, and Culture as well as the President's Advisory Council on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. It underscores the university's commitment to DEDI and consists of several interdependent dimensions. In the Teaching Commons, we aim to contribute to the mission of York's DEDI Strategy through our approaches in supporting DEDI.

Access York's DEDI Strategy

Communities of Practice

DEDI in Teaching and Learning Community of Practice

The Teaching Commons' DEDI community of practice is a space where those who teach at York come together to learn, share, and question a wide array of topics related to DEDI in teaching and learning.

Join the Teaching Commons DEDI Community of Practice

Glendon Campus' History & York University's Founding

Glendon DEDI in Teaching and Learning Community of Practice

The Glendon DEDI community of practice is a space where Glendon faculty and teaching assistants come together to learn and share about DEDI-oriented teaching and learning at Glendon campus.

Join the Glendon DEDI Community of Practice

DEDI-Related Offerings

Below is a list of our internal programming that is explicitly related to DEDI. These sessions and events are offered at various times throughout the academic year. Offering availabilities are contingent upon the capacity of our team. Please refer to our calendar of events for specific dates and times of all of our sessions and to explore everything that is currently on offer. If you are interested in a listed offering that is not currently on offer, please complete our course registration of interest form (for courses) or our workshop registration of interest form (for workshops).

Access and Equity in Online Teaching and Learning (Faculty/Graduate Students)

Caring to Teach (Faculty/Graduate Students)

Decolonizing the Academy (Faculty)

Equity in Assessment (Faculty)

How do you know Learning Happens? (Graduate Students)

How do you know Teaching Happens? (Graduate Students)

SEEDS: Supporting Experiential Education for Diverse Students

Dealing with Classroom and Student Conflict (Graduate Students)

Land Acknowledgements in the Classroom by Non-Indigenous Folks (Graduate Students)

Let's Talk about Social Inequalities: Addressing Critical and often Emotionally Charged Issues in Tutorial (Graduate Students)

Managing Disruptions in the Classroom

Supporting English Language Learners (IN DEVELOPMENT)

Supporting Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in the Classroom (Faculty)

Teaching in a Multicultural Classroom (Graduate Students)

Teaching Students with Disabilities (Graduate Students)

Trauma-Informed Pedagogies Workshop Series (Faculty)

Universal Design for Learning (Modules)

Using Intersectionality to Foster Equitable Connections in Classrooms (Graduate Students)

What is 'Conflict' and How Might it Arise in the Classroom? (Graduate Students)

DEDI Community of Practice (2nd) Annual Conference - September 30 & October 1, 2024. Registration closes September 25, 2024, at 11:59pm ET. Register using our conference registration form.

The above items are related to our DEDI-specific programming. Our additional programming is DEDI-informed, but may not explicitly cover topics related to DEDI. To learn about our additional programming please consult our calendar of events.

DEDI-Related Resources

Below is a list of our internal resources explicitly related to DEDI. Please visit our main page for our additional pedagogical resources.

Accessibility in teaching and learning

Alleviating student anxiety

Alternative assessments

Culturally sustaining pedagogies

Decolonization in teaching and learning

Diversity in teaching and learning

Equity in teaching and learning

Facilitating dialogue and challenging conversations in the classroom

Guidelines to Support Accountable Spaces (Sample)

Inclusion in teaching and learning

Mental health in the classroom

Student perspectives on EDDIA and UDL

Ungrading

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

DEDI-Related Certificates

Currently under development.

Consultations

Have a DEDI-related teaching inquiry that you would like to talk through? Feel free to reach out to us to chat further. Please note that due to a high number of inquiries and requests for DEDI-related support, our capacity and availability is limited at the moment.

Ameera Ali, Educational Developer (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion)

Areas of Specialization:
- Accessibility
- Gender Equity
- Islamophobia
- Neurodiversity
- Pedagogies of Care
- Student-Centered Pedagogies
- Trauma-Informed Pedagogies
- Universal Design for Learning

Email:

aliamira@yorku.ca

Lianne Fisher, Educational Developer

Areas of Specialization:
- Accessibility
- Anti-Oppression
- Gender Equity
- International Students
- Universal Design for Learning

Email:

fisherl@yorku.ca

Natasha May, Educational Developer

Areas of Specialization:
- DEDI for Graduate Students
- Pedagogies of Care
- Universal Design for Learning

Email:

maynat@yorku.ca

Robin Sutherland-Harris, Educational Developer

Areas of Specialization:
- Equity and Generative Artificial Intelligence
- Equity in Assessment
- Equity and Access in Online and Blended Learning
- Universal Design for Learning

Email:

robinsh@yorku.ca

Other Relevant Offices/Supports at York

Accessibility Hub

Centre for Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion (CHREI)

Division of Equity, People, Culture

Human Resources

Learning Technology Services

Student Accessibility Services

University Information Technology