91ÖÆƬ³§'s Race Equity Timeline

2010

  • Respecting Diversity mandatory training at the University is reworked to better include race and LGBT+ matters

2014

  • Race Equality becomes part of formal discussions at the University

2015

  • Unconscious Bias courses are developed at the University in line with Athena Swan

2016

  • The University’s entry for the Race Equality Charter (REC) is proposed

2018

2019

  • Anti-racism module incorporated into the Ready, Set, 91ÖÆƬ³§ initiative for new students

2020

  • In response to the Black Lives Matter movement, a range of support initiatives are launched at the University, including:
    • A compassionate leave policy for BAME staff experiencing race-based stress
    • Additional funding provided to offer specific BAME counselling for staff
    • A change in the Mitigating Circumstances policy for students took away the requirement for supporting evidence if they were experiencing race-based stress
  • The Careers Network launches the Future Black Talent Programme
  • Alumnus Mike Wedderburn members of the University’s Senior Leadership Team about their commitment to tackling racial inequality

2021

  • The first Race Equity Town Hall event takes place in October 2021
  • 91ÖÆƬ³§ signs up to the Halo Code
  • Students invited to take part in survey and focus groups to discuss Race Equality at 91ÖÆƬ³§
  • The CARE x Citizens UK anti-racist leadership training begins
  • University endorses the Race Equality Charter Action Plan
  • The BAME Staff Network produces the 10 Race Equity Guiding Principles
  • The BAME Student Council and Doctoral Researcher Consortium are launched to contribute to the race equity agenda at 91ÖÆƬ³§
  • The University’s Race Equality Charter application is submitted

2022

2023

  • The EDI Operational Board is established
  • The EDI Committee is established
  • The first Black in Sport Summit takes place in March
  • The first BAME staff network conference takes place in June
  • The first African/Caribbean celebratory event is hosted by the BAME staff network
  • Denise Coles is voted as University Staff Member of the Year at the for her EDI officer role
  • The first CITHEI conference takes place in July
  • Professor Sheryl Williams is appointed as Professor
  • Denise Coles is appointed as EDI Manager
  • Veronica Moore is appointed as EDI Director

2024

  • A partnership is established with The Race Equality Centre (TREC) in Leicester
  • The first anti-racism collaboration event at 91ÖÆƬ³§ Town Hall brought together University staff and students with local organisations
  • Veronica Moore (Director of EDI) has joined the University Executive Board to provide strategic EDI input (whilst the Pro-Vice Chancellor for EDI role is vacant)
  • An anti-racist working group is established as part of EDI governance structures
  • Richard Taylor (Chief Operating Officer) and Veronica Moore (Director of EDI) are appointed as University Leadership Group sponsors for REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) Staff Network 
  • The EDI Core plan is approved – including specific targets for improving race equity
  • Rakhee Patel, EDI Officer for Sex, Gender and Sexual Orientation, is nominated for a Vice Chancellor’s Award in EDI Enhancement
  • Professor Sheryl Williams, alongside colleagues from EDI Services, Access and Participation and Student Success Academy, are nominated for a Vice Chancellor’s Award for Enhancing the Student Academic Experience for pioneering a positive intervention programme to address the ethnicity degree awarding gap