School for Cross-faculty Studies Student Equity Report 2021

We are pleased to announce the publication of the report on the first School for Cross-faculty Studies Student Equity Survey. During the 2020-21 academic year, Dr Kirsten Harris, the former Equity Officer for the School, led a consultation with students about a range of equity issues. A major component of this was a survey which went out to all students in Global Sustainable Development and Liberal Arts.

Read the School for Cross-faculty Studies Student Equity Report 2021.

We are very pleased that the survey results show that the majority of students from all backgrounds find the School welcoming and inclusive. However, the results have also helped to identify areas for improvement, notably around transitions to University, trans- and non-binary inclusion, and improved disability procedures. We are acting on these issues. The School has launched a new Equity and Inclusion Committee, which will include student representation, and has recently been awarded an Athena SWAN Bronze Award and will be implementing an action plan cutting across a number of equity issues over the next five years. Survey results will be discussed with Student-Staff Liaison Committees in the coming weeks.

"Our School strongly supports any work that will lead to the improvement of our practices around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This report is one of the many initiatives and projects currently taking place within our School to make it a more inclusive place to study and work. We are very thankful to our students for their time and input, as there is always more that we can do. Your feedback has allowed us to identify areas that need to be prioritised and have now been added to the agenda of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee."

Professor Stéphanie Panichelli-Batalla, Head of the School for Cross-faculty Studies

We are grateful to all students who took the time to fill out the survey. If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised in the report, or any equity issues more generally, please contact the School’s new Equity Officer, Dr Nick Bernards.