Graduate Engineering Equity Committee
of McGill University
Kindly note: Our website is moving! For up-to-date information, please refer to https://sites.google.com/view/equity-geec/home
ABOUT US
Where we've been, where we're headed, and where you fit in!
Mandate
The overall goal of the Graduate Engineering Equity Committee (GEEC) is to create spaces for the exploration of topics related to social equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). The committee aims to:
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Provide information related to EDI in the form of terminology, concepts, data, case studies, and discussion points;
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Raise awareness of historical and ongoing equity-related challenges;
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Create a safe environment conducive to open discussion, sharing personal experiences, brainstorming ideas, and collaborating on strategies for positive change;
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Use multimedia approaches to engage members of the Engineering community, including interactive presentations, activities, and artistic media;
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Encourage social education at all levels of the Faculty, as well as beyond the university milieu;
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Foster a sense of community and connection among the graduate and postdoctoral population within the Faculty of Engineering at McGill University;
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Advocate for and support members of the graduate and postdoctoral population within the Faculty of Engineering who face equity-related challenges.
Values
GEEC was founded to be an organization committed to achieving equity and representation for all members of our community. We base our operations on principles of transparency, sustainability, and accessibility and the practice of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We intentionally work towards creating an anti-racist, feminist, 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive, and otherwise respectful environment. Both within GEEC and in its interactions with others, there will be no tolerance for harassment or discrimination of any kind. We aim to act with sensitivity and respect in our interactions with all individuals, including those with diverse identities.
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Since our membership is composed of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the Faculty of Engineering, none of GEEC’s members are experts in equity work and social education. We therefore strive to learn from others involved in equity work, and most especially to listen to and support minorities and underrepresented groups implementing their own initiatives. We recognize that seeking out diverse voices and external expertise on topics with which we have little experience is an important component of learning and accountability. We also acknowledge the underrepresentation of certain groups (particularly Black and Indigenous communities) within GEEC, the Faculty of Engineering, and McGill University. As a committee, we take responsibility for staying informed about the barriers experienced by these groups and working towards actively dismantling systems of oppression in an intersectional and collaborative way.
