The KPU Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Awards will celebrate members of the KPU community who demonstrate outstanding commitment, innovation, and leadership in working towards intersectional social justice, dismantling systemic barriers, and building a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion at and around KPU. Presented annually, JEDI Awards will recognize the achievements and promote the efforts of KPU employees and students dedicated to ensuring the full participation of historically excluded and systemically oppressed groups in the life of the university and society more broadly.
Eligibility
- All current KPU employees and students (as of nomination date)
- Individuals and/or groups (groups are defined as two or more people; may be in different types of positions)
- While formal units, work teams, and individual nominees with social justice and EDI-related responsibilities are eligible, their relevant contributions must be exceptionally noteworthy to be considered
- Prior awardees are not eligible for an award in the same position (i.e. employee group/student) or category (individual/group) or for substantially the same work in the five (5) years following the first award
Structure
- Up to five (5) awards will typically be given out each year
- No restriction on the distribution of awards, but the selection committee will endeavor to recognize a significant range of KPU community members, types of achievements, and areas of impact
Criteria
The selection of recipients will consider the following:
- Impact in identifying and dismantling barriers to, and enabling the full participation of, historically excluded and systemically oppressed groups in the university community and beyond
- Achievement of material improvements in access by, support for, and the experience of KPU students, employees, and community members who are racialized, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, gender diverse, persons with disabilities, and/or women, including intersectional identities and/or other forms of marginalization
- Impact in advancing KPU's EDI, antiracism, and social justice-related objectives as outlined in Vision 2026, the Task Force on Anti-Racism Report and Recommendations, and further relevant policies and documents
- Sustainability and long-term transformative impact of actions and achievements
- Demonstration of an in-depth, intersectional understanding of how addressing systemic inequity, discrimination and exclusion achieves social and cultural change
- Relevant actions may take a variety of forms, e.g.
- Creation and/or sharing of knowledge, including (but not limited to) the development and delivery of curriculum, pedagogical approaches, experiential learning opportunities, and other forms of research and scholarship
- Advocacy, support, and service work with individuals and/or groups of people, at KPU and/or in community
- Development, enhancement, and/or enactment of programs, processes, practices and/or policies
- Organization of awareness, informational, and/or activist campaigns and events
Nominations
- Nominations are welcome from current KPU students and employees.
- Nominee must accept nomination/ consent to consideration and associated processes
Nomination Package
- Max. 500-750 words statement by nominator outlining nominee's relevant activities and achievements
- Up to three (3) letters of support (max. 500 words each), ideally from a diverse range of KPU community members and reflecting the range of the nominee's impact
- Max. 100-word summary (for potential publicity/posting purposes)
- Supporting documents should connect actions and achievements to award criteria and relevant documents; if a group is nominated, each group member's role/contributions should be highlighted
Selection Advisory Committee
- 4-7 members, appointed by the VP of Equity and Inclusive Communities
- VP of Equity and Inclusive Communities to appoint the chair
- Minimum one faculty member, one staff member, one administrator, one student
- Diverse representation, including at least 3 individuals from various historically excluded groups (racialized/ persons of colour, Indigenous peoples, 2SLGBTQIA+/gender diverse people, persons with disabilities, women)
- Maximum 2-year term
- Committee to advise VP OEIC, who notifies recipients
Timelines
- Nominations for 2025 to open in in the first week of November 2024.
- Nominations for 2025 to close on February 7, 2025.
- Recipients announced at the annual Anti-Racism symposium on March 21, 2025 (International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination), and celebrated and awarded at KPU Day.
Award
- Framed Award Certificate
- Highlighted in KPU News
- KPU Bookstore Gift Card