According to diversity researchers in higher education, many graduate students who identify as Black, Indigenous and racialized across North America share unwelcoming and isolating experiences in academia. Barriers to their academic success include racism, discrimination, alienation, and a lack of resources and institutional support, among many others.

To help break down these barriers, the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS) is introducing a new leadership position that will further the College's goals in anti-racism, equity, and accountability.

The College welcomes Inclusion Advisor Abii Barrett to the leadership team. Bringing relevant professional and lived experience to the role, the new Inclusion Advisor will:

• Support racialized graduate students and all faculty in the College to get the information and guidance they need to foster student success.
• Advise senior leadership on strategic Anti-racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion projects.
• Guide the College to understand the best ways to support the success of racialized students, explore structural change, and promote an anti-oppressive institutional culture.

"I look forward to building relationships across campus and developing new strategies that meet the needs of our graduate students. Providing a targeted mentorship program is one way we can do this and it aligns well with the vision for greater inclusion of Black, First Nations, Inuit, Métis and racialized students in our colleges."

– Abii Barrett, Inclusion Advisor, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences

As a signatory of the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education [1], a national action plan for combatting structural racism and promoting inclusion in Canada's post-secondary sector, the University of Guelph confirmed that recruiting, retaining, and supporting Black and racialized students are institutional priorities.

The Inclusion Advisor role is essential because it will help the University of Guelph put these priorities into action.

"The Inclusion Advisor will provide pivotal resources and support services for racialized students and will positively impact how racialized students perceive and make sense of their academic experiences."

– Byron Sheldrick, Interim Dean, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences

The role will build a strong connection between the students and the institution which translates to greater success in degree completion and student retention. The Inclusion Advisor will also foster an open dialogue on culturally responsive academic advising, anti-racism, and equity to ensure students are represented, seen, and heard, and that their concerns are addressed.

As CSAHS is one of the largest colleges in the institution, this role will help the University of Guelph improve the student experience and work toward achieving the goals of recruiting and retaining racialized students.

Graduate students in the College of Arts and the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences are able to book one-on-one advising time with Inclusion Advisor Abii Barrett [2].