Action Plan Advisory Group
UPEI is committed to community consultation to guide the development of a UPEI Action Plan to address the recent review by Rubin Thomlinson LLP.
The University of Prince Edward Island Review (UPEI Review) conducted by Rubin Thomlinson LLP and published by the University in June 2023 indicates that “…the University will need a comprehensive plan to address the many issues that require remediation. That plan will need the input of many stakeholders within the University, such as the Faculty Association, as well as additional external expertise.” (p. 73) Further, the review outlines recommendations “…aimed at ensuring that the University provides its community members with a safe environment for working and learning, and enhancing the University’s response to harassment, discrimination, fair treatment, and sexual violence.” (p. 73)
In response to the recommendations outlined in the review, UPEI issued a “Call for Expressions of Interest to Participate in the UPEI Action Plan Advisory Group on August 28, 2023, to develop the UPEI Action Plan Advisory Group. (Submissions of Expressions of Interest were accepted until September 7, 2023).
Composed of internal and external community stakeholders and led by a third-party facilitator, the Advisory Group will engage in consultation and provide feedback to help inform the development of the Action Plan to address recommendations outlined in the UPEI Review. In doing so, the Advisory Group will provide input and guidance from multiple stakeholder perspectives on rebuilding trust and safety within UPEI’s work and learning environments.
Advisory Group Membership
Advisory Group Weekly Updates
How Advisory Group input will be used to contribute to meaningful and positive changes
The Advisory Group will provide UPEI with feedback based on its consultation process. UPEI will use this feedback to help develop the Action Plan to address report recommendations. UPEI will determine how the feedback can be operationalized within the context of UPEI’s operating environment (i.e., how feedback and suggestions can be budgeted for, resourced, aligned with policy (both current and future) and processes, evaluated, and communicated). Advisory Group consultation will be valuable as UPEI works to demonstrate its commitment to its values, rebuild trust, and ensure a safe learning and working environment.
Once UPEI has developed a comprehensive draft Action Plan, the draft will be provided back to the Advisory Group for its review to validate the group’s input within the plan.
Advisory Group Deliverables
Led by the Facilitator, the Advisory Group will form a consultation and input body. Through a series of consultations, the Advisory Group will:
- reflect on the UPEI Review and recommendations;
- provide multi-stakeholder perspectives on the issues; and
- provide feedback to help inform the development of the UPEI Action Plan to address the recommendations of the report.
Advisory Group Facilitator
Sara Roach Lewis is the Facilitator for the UPEI Action Plan Advisory Group consultation process.
Sara a feminist consultant who supports stakeholders to find practical solutions to systemic barriers that hold people back in society. She has more than 20 years of experience working in and supporting the community sector on PEI, including almost a decade with Women’s Network PEI.
Sara is an experienced mediator who focuses her extensive training and experience working within systems to change them. She works with teams to implement collaborative processes and develop action plans to work cohesively to solve some of the province’s greatest challenges.
Working with not-for-profit organizations, government departments and agencies, and institutions, Sara uses an interest-based process to ensure that people have opportunities to feel heard. She incorporates models of Transformative Facilitation and Stretch Collaboration to guide the work.
Sara is a facilitator, author, coach, and curriculum developer. A lifelong learner, she holds a degree in Psychology from Mount Allison University, journalism and business administration diplomas and a certificate in Conflict Resolution from UPEI.
Advisory Group Meeting Schedule
The Advisory Group will meet for three hours on a regular weekly basis from approximately mid-September to late November. Advisory Group participants will be expected to attend all meetings.
Prior to starting the consultation meetings, two three-hour orientation sessions will take place for Advisory Group members. Orientation will cover aspects such as EDI and collaborative processes. Upon completion of this orientation, Advisory Group members will engage in consultation meetings. All orientation and consultation meetings will take place Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on the UPEI campus.
Supports and Resources
Advisory Group members will be provided with:
- a copy of the University of Prince Edward Island Review and recommendations as shared with the community via the UPEI website on June 14, 2023;
- a presentation and overview of UPEI, its governance structure, mission, vision, and values;
- support and guidance of a Facilitator with significant experience in areas discussed within the report;
- pre-consultation sessions on equity, diversity, and inclusion, and expectations of the collaborative process; and
- UPEI staff support to assist with Advisory Group meetings, organizational aspects, and information gathering to support consultations.
Consultation Process Values
Values central to the Advisory Group consultation process include:
Equity
Striving for fairness and justice in every aspect of our discussions and solutions.
Diversity
Embracing a range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences to enrich our insights.
Inclusion
Ensuring that every voice is heard and valued, creating a sense of belonging for all participants.
Collaboration
Fostering teamwork, open dialogue, and shared decision-making to create collective solutions.
Respect
Treating each other's viewpoints with consideration, regardless of differences.
Learning
Approaching the process as an opportunity to expand our understanding, adapting and growing together.
Action-Oriented Feedback
Committing to tangible outcomes and practical steps to drive positive change.
These values will help create a foundation for meaningful and effective consultation discussions focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion, while also emphasizing collaboration and action.
UPEI Action Plan Development Process
