含羞草传媒

Universities are guiding light for Canada's recovery, President Gertler tells University Affairs

President Meric Gertler

(Photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

The pandemic has exposed new challenges for pluralism, diversity, and opportunity and universities must play a leadership role in tackling them head-on, 含羞草传媒 President Meric Gertler says.

President Gertler says universities have three key responsibilities related to Canada鈥檚 recovery. 

鈥淭he first is to ensure that our campuses remain places that accommodate, foster and enable important discussions about difficult and contentious issues,鈥 he says. The second responsibility is closely related to the first: universities 鈥渕ust foster diverse excellence in all its forms.鈥

鈥淎 broad and diverse range of people, experiences, and perspectives must be able to thrive on our campuses,鈥 President Gertler says. 

 Lastly, he says universities must uphold 鈥渆quality of access to university education for students, and equality of opportunity for diverse faculty and staff.鈥 

As we think about the role of universities, "let鈥檚 focus on breaking down barriers to access, educating citizens, fostering debate, and engaging difference,鈥 President Gertler says. 鈥淚n doing so, we will demonstrate to society how to do these things well, and why it matters.鈥

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