What is the EDI Student Initiatives Fund?
The EDI Student Initiatives Fund (EDI SIF) at the Faculty of Information (FOI) supports recognized student groups or any student enrolled at FOI with facilitating equity-based initiatives and projects to help advance EDI within the Faculty for the betterment of the student community and the Faculty as a whole.
Student initiatives and/or projects may be eligible for up to $2,000 in funding.
Examples of past initiatives and/or projects include:
- Black Digital Humanities Symposium: This symposium brought together graduate students, practitioners, community activists, and artists to discuss the future of Black Digital Humanities, exploring what it means to come together to weave Black futures.
- AODA Compliance & Practical Applications Panel: This event will assisted students in thinking critically how to apply lessons of accessibility that they are exposed to through the courses at the Faculty beyond their time as graduates.
- Introduction to Braille and Accessibility for Print Disabilities Workshop: This workshop introduced students on what book options exist for people with print disabilities, how to write alt text for social media and digital exhibits, and a variety of braille topics, including the different types of braille, how to work with digitized braille materials, and how braille embossing works.
- Black Digital Humanities Speaker Series:
A speaker series aimed at showcasing projects working within the intersection of Black Studies and technology - Dis/Usability: A speaker series on tech and disability justice
- iConference 2023: A conference focused on information activism, or, more broadly, the role that activism can take in shaping information spaces and GLAM (Gallery, Library, Archive, and Museum) institutions
Eligibility
- Any student currently registered at the Faculty of Information or any Faculty of Information recognized student group is eligible to apply.
- Accessibility, Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQ+, and faith-based groups will be prioritized.
- Project/Initiative must be planned to occur within the academic year and be completed by March 31st of each year.
- Project/Initiative must link the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion by creating and fostering an accessible and inclusive environment, which empowers the participation and collaboration of all members of the community.
How to apply
Complete the Student Event/Initiative – Funding Request Form to submit your proposal to the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Unit.
Deadlines
Applications must be submitted by either of the following deadlines:
- Fall Semester: November 14th of each year
- Winter Semester: February 28th of each year
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Post-initiative impact report and record-keeping
Confirmation of budget approvals, along with a full budget report, must be submitted with all payment requests. For all expense reimbursement requests, award holders are responsible for keeping and submitting original itemized receipts for all expenditures incurred.
Fund grantees are responsible for submitting a post-initiative impact statement no later than 30 days after the initiative to ediu.
- pictures
- participant feedback
- any other forms of documentation that captures the impact of your initiative and/or project
Student work and initiatives
On occasion, the Faculty of Information will share, use, exhibit, display, broadcast, and distribute images/stories of student work completed in an initiative/event/symposium etc. in connection with the activities of the Faculty for promoting, publicizing, or explaining the activities of the school. Should you wish to ‘opt out’, please contact ediu.
Questions? Please contact us by email at ediu.