Sept. 22, 2021 The Division of Human Resources & Equity is now called the Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture.
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Anti-Asian Racism Working Group 

The University of Toronto commissioned a Presidential, Provostial, and Vice-Presidential Working Group to review programming, activities, processes, and practices in place at the institution and make recommendations to support the University’s response to Anti-Asian Racism.

The Anti-Asian Racism Working Group was planned in early 2022 and began its work in April 2022. This Working Group is part of the University of Toronto’s commitment to addressing forms of racism and discrimination faced by members of our community.

Anti-Asian Racism Working Group Final Report

AARWG Final Report cover page

May 29, 2023

In its report, the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group delivered 40 recommendations to address anti-Asian racism and to foster an inclusive, equitable environment for Asian community members.

Download the report

Response from U of T Administration

May 29, 2023

The University of Toronto accepts and embraces all of the 40 recommendations of the Working Group. In collaboration with other senior leaders in the University and all members of the U of T community, we will begin to implement these recommendations.

Read the institutional response

Report Entrustment Ceremony

June 5, 2023

The Working Group Co-Chairs formally handed over their Report to the President, Vice-President & Provost, and Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture in an Entrustment Ceremony.

Read about the ceremony

Terms of Reference

The Anti-Asian Racism Working Group will review programming, activities, processes, and practices in place at the institution and make recommendations to support the University’s response to anti-Asian racism. Its primary aims are to:

  • Consult with University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and librarians about their experiences of anti-Asian racism on our three campuses, and invite their recommendations on how to foster an inclusive and respectful environment for Asian community members;
  • Develop a tri-campus inventory of existing resources, initiatives, and projects that are addressing systemic and individual anti-Asian racism and advancing inclusion and excellence for Asian community members;
  • Review the University’s existing practices, processes, and policies to determine whether existing tools are appropriate to i) address anti-Asian racism and ii) advance inclusion and excellence for Asian community members; and to determine whether additional policies and processes are required;
  • Review previous recommendations regarding anti-racism practices made by members of the U of T community and make recommendations based on best practices and policies identified by our community and at other research-intensive universities for addressing anti-Asian racism and fostering inclusion and excellence for Asian community members;
  • Recommend an institutional strategy and actionable steps to help the University achieve a more respectful, accountable, equitable, and inclusive community, and to help combat anti-Asian racism on its three campuses; and
  • Present a final report and recommendations to the President; the Vice-President and Provost; the Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture.

Anti-Asian Racism Working Group Membership

Co-Chair of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group

Carol Chin
Principal, Woodsworth College and Associate Professor, Department of History

Co-Chair of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group

Vikram Chadalawada
Assistant Director, Student Information Systems, Enterprise Applications and Solutions Integration

Co-Leads 

 

Joanne M. Chung (Faculty, Instructors & Librarians Subcommittee Co-Lead)
Assistant Professor, Diversity Committee Chair, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga 

Valerie Damasco (Faculty, Instructors & Librarians Subcommittee Co-Lead)
Lecturer, Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) 

Joyce Hahn (Staff Subcommittee Co-Lead)
Chief Administrative Officer, Division of the Vice-President & Provost 

David Kim (Staff Subcommittee Co-Lead)
Dean of Residence & Director of Student Life, Spaces & Experiences

Afshaan Kohari (Staff Subcommittee Co-Lead)
Associate Director, Major Gifts, Division of University Advancement 

Wan Li (Students & Curricula Co-Lead)
Undergraduate Student, Asian Institute; Department of Geography & Planning, Faculty of Arts & Science 

Lingyin Shen (Students & Curricula Co-Lead)
International Student Immigration Advisor, Centre for International Experience 

  

Students 

 

Faraz Alidina​, Faculty of Arts & Science 

Christina Arayata​, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) 

Samantha Chang​, Faculty of Arts & Science 

Amy (Ji Yon) Choi​, Faculty of Arts & Science 

Alison D’Cruz​, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) 

Arjan S. Dhoot, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Biomedical Engineering 

Randeep Nota​, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) 

Eva (An-Yi) Tsai, University of Toronto Scarborough 

  

Staff 

 

Sandy Chang, Division of Student Life 

Arathi Devadas​, Information Technology Services 

Yen Du​, University of Toronto Mississauga 

Sandeep Gupta​, Division of University Advancement 

Loretta Ho​, Division of the Vice-President & Provost 

Jiyoung Kang​, Division of Student Life 

David Kim, Ancillary Services 

Keshav Krishnamurty, Faculty of Arts & Science 

Justin Lee​, University of Toronto Mississauga 

Kimberly Lyn​, Division of University Advancement 

Vi Phan, University of Toronto Mississauga 

Jenny Jimin Rodrigues​, University of Toronto Communications 

Cordelia Shan, University of Toronto Libraries 

Sharon Tan, Dalla Lana School of Public Health 

  

Faculty, Instructors & Librarians 

 

Hong Tian Dong​, Temerty Faculty of Medicine 

Julie Hannaford​, University of Toronto Libraries 

Rosa Junghwa Hong​, University of Toronto Mississauga 

Xiangying Huo​, University of Toronto Scarborough 

Jennifer Junwa Lau​, University of Toronto Mississauga and Faculty of Arts & Science 

Phillip Y Lipscy, Faculty of Arts & Science 

Lisa Mar​, Faculty of Arts & Science 

Lynette Ong​, Faculty of Arts & Science 

Mary Reid​, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) 

 

Questions?

Please direct questions about the Working Group to anti.asian.racism@utoronto.ca.