May 2021 Action Plan Update from the McMaster Athletics & Recreation Anti-Racism Advisory Group (ARAG)
 
Anti-Racism Advisory Group 
In response to the review of Athletics in October 2020, an action plan focused on building a sustainable culture of inclusion and improving the experiences and outcomes of Black student athletes was published.  A departmental advisory group has been formed to provide strategic advice and guidance to Dr Clare Warner (Senior Advisor, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism) and Shawn Burt (Director, Athletics and Recreation) in coordinating the implementation of the action plan. The advisory group, which consists of a diverse team of A&R staff and Black student athletes, will be convened initially for 1.5 years from March 2021- September 2022. Terms of Reference for the group are available here.

Timeline and Communication
The advisory group has published a timeline explaining how the implementation of the action plan will unfold over the next year.  We are committed to updating the Athletics and Recreation community on our progress at quarterly intervals, which is an important mechanism for holding ourselves to account and keeping everyone well informed. In addition, we will publish an annual report which will be shared with the McMaster community.

Black Student Athletes' Council
A Black Student Athletes' Council has been established which will be the collective voice of student athletes who identify as Black. The council will meet regularly with the A&R leadership team to represent the interests of and advocate on behalf of Black student athletes. Up to $10,000 will be awarded to the council each year for programming.

A council executive is in place and work is underway to prepare for a September launch. The council's terms of reference are available here.

Internships
As part of the department's efforts to increase representation and create pathways to leadership, three recent Black graduates will be welcomed into A&R on 1 year paid internships in September. Work is underway to finalise the selection process and begin the recruitment process.

Athletics Financial Awards
In response to the review's recommendation for more targeted supports for Black student athletes, $45,000 worth of athletics financial awards will be distributed annually to a minimum of 18 Black student athletes beginning in 2021-2022. To date ten awards have been offered via the Brighter World Entrance Awards for Black Students administered through Aid and Award.  In October 2021, returning Black student athletes will be eligible to apply for an award through a departmental application process. The goal is to maintain a 50/50 gender split in the allocation of awards. Contact Claire Arsenault for more information baillic@mcmaster.ca  
 
Education and Training
 
Race-equity education and training is an important part of increasing the capacity of the department to build an inclusive culture, which will benefit all staff and students.  To date we have hosted three webinars (Two focused on Black Excellence in Sport and one on Student Leadership), which were attended by an average of 100 people each. The events established a platform to promote conversation and meaningful dialogue with Black student-athletes, students, coaches, alumni and leaders within sport in Canada. The open and authentic discussion offered attendees valuable insight into the experiences and challenges of our panelists and moderators. All three webinars can be found on our YouTube channel.
 
Black Student Success Advisor
 
Recruitment of the Black Student Success Advisor (BSSA) is currently underway. The ongoing role is focused on supporting the holistic success of McMaster students of Black/African descent as well as facilitating a positive Black student-athlete experience within the McMaster Marauders.
 
Discrimination & Harassment Reporting Protocol
 
All members of the  A&R Department should follow the Discrimination & Harassment Recognize, Respond, Refer Protocol outlined in the Blue Folder.  It is critically important that all incidents of possible bias, discrimination, harassment, hate are elevated immediately to the Athletics Director. Advice is also available from the Equity & Inclusion Office (equity@mcmaster.ca).
 
A link to the full May 2021 Action Plan update can be found here. 

Thank you to our partners in HR, Student Affairs, the Equity and Inclusion Office, and the Office of Community Engagement for supporting the A&R Department with implementing the action plan.