Trent University is committed to creating opportunities for all community members to develop and flourish as individuals and global citizens (Trent’s Vision Statement, 2010). Through this role, our goals are for equity-deserving campus community members to feel included, inspired, safe, supported, and celebrated. The University seeks to actively promote an accessible, equitable, and inclusive campus society that reflects and embraces the diversity of its occupants guided by human rights principles and practice, free from discrimination.
As an institution, we stand in allyship and solidarity with members of Indigenous communities and marginalized groups, including racialized persons, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, persons with an immigration background, and persons with visible and invisible challenges. We maintain zero tolerance for violence in the form of direct, systemic, and cultural oppression and uphold our shared social contract premised on the values of dignity and respect. As a university, we will continue to strive for inclusive excellence by adopting a rights-based approach, shaping data-driven, informed policies through innovative research, education, and continuous learning and unlearning.
On the global and national front, we are witnessing an increase in hate ideology and hate crime. 2SLGBTQIA+ rights are challenged and incidents of anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, gender-based violence, and ethnic and religious clashes are prevalent. We affirm our commitment to supporting our students, colleagues, and all vulnerable communities.
We assert the right to function, teach, learn, research, and engage in assenting and dissenting discourse in safety and with integrity.
We extend our condolences to our international staff and student community who are bearing the burden of natural disasters, war, and displacement.