Over the past few years, U of T has made strides in advancing Black representation in academia and combating anti-Black racism through a number of initiatives from the Black Research Network to the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black racism and Black inclusion in Canadian Higher Education.

The Varsity took a closer look at some of the initiatives the university offers to support its Black community members. 

Anti-Black racism and Black inclusion in academia

In 2020, former UTSC Principal and U of T Vice-President Wisdom Tettey chaired a meeting with representatives from universities across Canada to address anti-Black racism on their campuses and discuss measures to enhance inclusion. As a result, nearly 50 post-secondary institutions signed the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education.

The report recounts the history of racism against Black individuals and outlines the Charter’s four main principles: Black flourishing, inclusive excellence, mutuality, and accountability. 

The Charter includes a variety of action steps, such as reassessing existing campus security and safety infrastructure, conducting surveys to better understand the needs of Black students and faculty, providing financial aid to support research opportunities in Black Canadian studies programs, adopting improved educational policies, and paving the way for more Black students to access higher education. 

However, The Varsity wasn’t able to confirm UTSC’s progress on resolving the charter’s recommendations. 

The Black Research Network

The Charter led to the establishment of the Black Research Network (BRN) in October 2021. This was done alongside the efforts of U of T’s Anti-Black Racism Task Force — which was in action during the 2020–2021 academic year and reviewed the university’s practices to address anti-Black racism and promote Black inclusion at U of T. 

The BRN is one of U of T’s Institutional Strategic Initiatives, which aims to “launch, grow, and sustain large-scale interdisciplinary strategic research networks.” The network is led by Enid Montague, an associate professor in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, who oversees a core team and steering committee, consisting of seven U of T community members. 

The network aims to increase visibility for the research accomplishments of Black U of T scholars, sustain a network of Black scholars, and facilitate research engagements across the university and internationally. 

On its website, community members can navigate the “Researcher Map” to search for Black scholars across U of T, with expertise in distinct fields.

The BRN’s mission aligns with the recommendations of the Anti-Black Racism Task Force and the Charter. It’s also Canada’s first research initiative aimed at prioritizing Black academic research access.

It provides funding, mentorship, and academic platforms for Black researchers, ensuring their voices and work are prominent across disciplines. 

Since its inception, BRN members have been awarded Canada Research Chair positions by the Government of Canada, initiated the Empowering Black Academics, Researchers and Knowledge creators program to elevate Black voices in research on childhood disabilities, and created the Black Graduate Scholar Award in Geography & Planning to award Black students research in the field. 

The BRN is set to host the BRN Research Symposium on April 14, where researchers from various fields across the three campuses will present their multidisciplinary research in STEM, social sciences, and the humanities.

Reducing barriers to graduate school

In 2017, U of T launched the Black Student Application Program (BSAP) to increase diversity within the Faculty of Medicine. 

The program aims to address the underrepresentation of Black students in medical education and the healthcare field by providing a dedicated application stream for Black applicants. 

In 2016, only one Black student was enrolled in the U of T Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s MD program. Since the launch of BSAP, the Faculty of Medicine has seen an increase in Black students, with 14 students admitted in 2018 and 15 in 2019. 

In response to the program’s success, U of T later expanded the BSAP to include students aspiring to enter the Faculty of Law or the Master of Social Work program. Announced as part of the university’s broader efforts to promote equity and inclusion, BSAP allows applicants to self-identify as Black and have their applications reviewed by a panel that includes Black faculty members and community representatives. 

In 2021, a group of masters of business administration (MBA) students at the U of T Rotman School of Management recognized a lack of representation in their classes and urged the university to reduce the barriers to higher education. In response, U of T established the Black Leadership Scholarship — first known as the Morning and Evening MBA Black Students Advancement Scholarship. This scholarship aims to help cover the high financial costs associated with pursuing an MBA at U of T.