Diversity and Social Climate

Welcome to our Diversity and Social Climate page!

The Philsoophy department at the University of Guelph is strongly committed to the idea that intellectual inquiry is best achieved in an environment of collegiality, respectfulness, and a genuine openness to multiple perspectives and life experiences. We aim to maintain a general social climate of respect and support regardless of gender identity, nationality, race, religion, socioeconomic background, gender identity, or sexual orientation : in our classrooms, in our offices, and in all the department's professional and social activities. To this end, the department has created a Diversity and Climate Commitee (DCC), which aims to cultivate a supportive and inclusive environment for all of its members. The DCC will do so by providing resource materials for students and faculty, organizing workshops, running regular surveys of our graduate students for feedback on department social climate, and providing support for student and faculty concerns. The committe reports to the department to bring attention to issues of concern as well as to propose appropriate policy decisions. The DCC is dedicated to addressing a broad range of issues connected to diversity and climate.

Our committee is made up facutly and graduate students:

Karyn Freedman (committee chair)
Andrew Bailey
Maya Goldenberg
Patricia Sheridan
Orsolya Csaszar (graduate student)
Marie-Pier Lemay (graduate student)

While we encourage you to feel free to contact any of our committe members, Karyn Freedman is our current HIPPO (a term we've borrowed from the Philosophy Department at NYU)  This is our Helpful Interpersonal Point Person, who acts as a first point of contact shoudl you have any concerns about climate and diversity in the Philosophy Department, or in the broader University of Guelph community. We will act as discrete and respectful resources for addressing your concerns. 

Please stay tuned to this page for updates and resource links in the coming weeks.

Upcoming Events:

November: "Decolonizing the Curriculum" Details TBA