Seneca RED Fall 2021 Alumni Magazine - 35

A continuation of values
Jane Forbes plans her
tribute to Seneca
p. 38
Birkbeck Family Bursary
Sharing a passion for
computer science
p. 39
GIVING
BACK
An investment of consequence
Supporting aspirations
of racialized and equitydeserving
students
ACCESS TO POSTSECONDARY education is not
equal for everyone.
There are many reasons for this, including
a lack of confidence that postsecondary
education is a welcoming place for Black,
Indigenous and other equity-deserving students;
a history of systemic racism and bias
that students may have experienced as early
as primary school; a lack of knowledge about
the opportunities and supports that are
available, which is often the case for newcomers
and first-generation students; and
the financial resources to pay for education.
In addition, over the past two years we
have witnessed COVID-19 and its devastating
impact on racialized communities, the
high-profile deaths of Black and other
racialized individuals and a rise in racist
rhetoric and crimes against Asian, Jewish
and Muslim people.
Things must change, and we have a duty
to build a renewed Seneca to face these
challenges. Early in the pandemic, we
launched the Au Large initiative as our
pathway toward an equitable, sustainable
and more virtual Seneca.
Building an equitable Seneca has led to
the establishment of The Jane Fund, a
transformative $12-million endowment to
support student-focused Equity, Diversity
and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives. This fund
will support culturally appropriate services
The Jane Fund will support culturally
appropriate services for our diverse
student population.
for our diverse student population, financial
aid to improve access for students from
racialized and equity-deserving communities
and academic programs that target and
support equity-deserving students. With
these investments, we are changing the trajectory
of services and supports for students
and beginning to address the inequities
they face in society.
The Jane Fund will also be used to
match donations from individuals, businesses
and community partners who want
to join Seneca by supporting EDI programs
and removing barriers to education by
establishing or augmenting existing EDI
bursaries and scholarships.
Systemic racism and bias are insidious
and inflict harm on all of us. The Jane
Fund will support the dreams and aspirations
of racialized and equity-deserving
young people seeking higher education.
Its impact will be of consequence, not just
today but in perpetuity.
If you would like to support Seneca's initiatives to support
students from equity-deserving groups, please visit
senecacollege.ca/donate-edi. The impact of your gift will
be doubled as Seneca Alumni is matching all donations to
a total of $50,000
RED 2021
35
PHOTO: JOHAN HALLBERG-CAMPBELL
http://www.senecacollege.ca/donate-edi
Seneca RED Fall 2021 Alumni Magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Seneca RED Fall 2021 Alumni Magazine
