Summary of priorities

Culture

Creating a community where everyone can thrive.

  • Ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion, Indigenization and decolonization are priorities woven through FIMS’ scholarly and cultural communities.
  • Continue to work towards EDID through faculty, staff and student recruitment and retention, academic program development and training.

Updates

  • A new Indigenous Program Coordinator was appointed in July 2024 to support Indigenous student recruitment and retention
  • Feedback was sought regarding staff engagement levels and areas of improvement were identified
  • In 2023/24 FIMS offered a robust collection of diverse events and speakers featuring Indigenous and international guests from the global South and North
  • Produced the 2023 MMJC Diversity Report and distributed it to stakeholders
  • 2023-2025 Rogers Chair adopted the theme Communicating Solidarity in an Unstable World and offered two public events
  • The MLIS program is now offering an elective titled Indigenous Contexts in Library and Information Science

Research & Community

Research impact and community partnerships.

  • Deepen our international research impact by pursuing funding opportunities through internal and external sources, including Tri-Council agencies and Western’s Postdoctoral Scholars Program.
  • Sustain and develop our local, national and international research and activist partnerships through research centres such as The Starling Centre: Research for Just Technologies, Just Societies, and projects, pedagogic partnerships, and program development.
  • Develop the Community Studio and co-develop the Community Engaged Learning Hub at Western’s planned downtown site.

Updates

  • FIMS’ two most recently appointed post-doctoral fellows are from Nigeria, Australia and the US
  • FIMS PIs continue to attract funding from SSHRC Insight programs as well as new awards through the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF)
  • A Banting Postdoctoral Fellow was awarded to Dr. Tania Cañas, and Professor Luke Stark was named a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar

Academics

Academic programs and opportunities for students.

  • Support the recruitment, retention and graduation of international students
  • Support the recruitment, retention and graduation of Indigenous students, first-generation students, students of colour, and students with disabilities.
  • Continue development of the Creative Arts and Production (CAP) program and its co-curricular engagements.
  • Launch the online MLIS program in 2025.
  • Broaden work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities for all students
  • Expand graduate funding through philanthropy and external research support for training Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP)
  • Develop our collective approach to graduate supervision
  • Support PhD students with opportunities and preparation for non-academic and alternative academic employment.

Updates

  • Supported Learning Groups were formed for MIT students. SLGs provide peer support and writing practice in small groups with staff oversight.
  • Enrolments in the CAP program continue to develop while CAP course are also popular among non-CAP majors
  • Western’s Senate approved the launch of a new online MLIS program, to begin in Fall 2025

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