Internal Consultation Report
Expanded Executive Summary
Introduction
“The BSI isn’t just an idea—it’s a promise to centre Black voices and create spaces where we can all flourish.”
The Black Scholarship Institute (BSI) at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is a visionary pan-university initiative committed to advancing Black flourishing through research, community, and transformative change. Established in 2023 in response to persistent calls for racial justice and representational equity, the BSI seeks to amplify Afro-Diasporic scholarship, support Black students, faculty, and staff, and transform institutional culture by embedding Afrocentric values and epistemologies across TMU.
From February to April 2024, a university-wide consultation was conducted with Black students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors. This public engagement aimed to shape the mandate, values, and priorities of the BSI by elevating community voices and co-creating an actionable foundation for the Institute’s Terms of Reference and long-term strategic plan. While the overall response rate (2.4%) was lower than hoped—reflecting the challenges of engaging historically marginalized communities—the data collected was rich, nuanced, and deeply instructive.
This Executive Summary outlines key insights from the consultation, structured around five core themes: rationale, strategic priorities, visibility and representation, partnerships and collaboration, and institutional accountability. It integrates community quotes to honour lived experience, and sets out practical recommendations to ensure the BSI is not only aspirational but actionable.
1. Rationale: Why the BSI Matters
“The BSI is where I see my experiences and aspirations reflected—it’s a place of belonging and upliftment.”
Participants articulated a clear and urgent need for the BSI as a space of belonging, scholarship, and systemic intervention. Across responses, the BSI was described as a vehicle for healing, hope, and transformation.
Words most frequently associated with the BSI include community, support, excellence, empowerment, equity, and innovation. These reflections underscore the BSI’s potential as a central hub for nurturing Black scholars, addressing anti-Black racism, and embedding Afro-Diasporic wisdom into the academic life of the university.
The BSI’s vision is to foster a university where Black scholars not only survive but thrive—intellectually, spiritually, and professionally. Its mission is rooted in four commitments: (1) celebrating Black excellence; (2) cultivating Afrocentric research and teaching; (3) supporting career development; and (4) strengthening connections with Black communities.
2. Strategic Priorities: A Framework for Flourishing
“The BSI should foster innovative research, advocacy, and community engagement, creating a legacy for future generations.”
“Guiding, supporting, and recognizing Black students—not just to survive, but thrive in spaces where they are underrepresented—must be a priority.”
Respondents outlined four strategic priorities:
- Academic Empowerment: Expand mentorship, funding, and professional development for Black students and scholars, from high school through to faculty leadership.
- Institutional Change: Advocate for policy reforms and structural equity in hiring, curriculum, and research recognition.
- Inclusion & Representation: Increase Black faculty representation and infuse Afrocentric knowledge across disciplines.
- Community Engagement: Build intergenerational, local, and global partnerships that connect Black scholars to their communities and each other.
These priorities serve as the foundation for the BSI’s long-term Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including curriculum reform, scholarships, research funding, and physical infrastructure.
3. Visibility & Representation: Affirming Black Presence
“Representation is about more than numbers. It’s about showing that Black scholarship is essential to this institution.”
Participants emphasized the importance of visibility in curriculum, culture, and campus infrastructure. Recommendations include:
- Hosting signature events (e.g., lectures, speaker series, arts showcases) that celebrate Black cultures and intellectual traditions.
- Developing a Faculty Spotlight series and mentorship programs to elevate Black academic leadership.
- Establishing permanent cultural markers—art installations, symbols like Sankofa, and digital archives—that honour Black contributions.
A summary table in the report outlines proposed programming across four domains: curriculum integration, academic engagement, student/faculty development, and cultural celebrations.
4. Partnerships & Collaboration: Building a Network of Support
“Community, connection, excellence, inclusion, and belongingness should be at the heart of the BSI.”
The report highlights the necessity of strengthening both internal and external relationships:
- Internally, partnerships with academic units, student associations, and equity offices are essential for embedding the BSI’s work across the university.
- Externally, collaborations with Black-led organizations, schools, and cultural institutions will expand opportunities for joint research, mentorship, and community impact.
International relationships—with Black scholars across the diaspora—were also identified as critical for positioning TMU as a global site of Afro-Diasporic excellence.
5. Institutional Accountability: Sustaining the Work
“Accountability mechanisms must reflect the diversity of Black voices across campus.”
“The BSI must work to dismantle anti-Black racism and bring awareness to the pervasive nature of inequities in academia.”
To ensure its integrity and impact, the BSI must embody transparency, responsiveness, and shared governance. Proposed mechanisms include:
- A Community Advisory Board to guide BSI strategy and ensure alignment with evolving needs.
- Regular reporting, community updates, and feedback mechanisms (e.g., listening circles, surveys).
- Staff training and leadership diversification to support culturally responsive service.
- Long-term resource mobilization strategies to sustain programming, scholarships, research, and dedicated space.
Conclusion: A Call to Collective Stewardship
“Black excellence is not just about individual achievement—it’s about lifting all of us together. That’s what the BSI should do.”
This report reflects a foundational moment in the co-creation of the Black Scholarship Institute. It affirms that Black scholarship is not a peripheral contribution—it is central to the future of TMU as an inclusive, just, and transformative institution. The path ahead requires sustained commitment—from senior leadership, faculty, staff, students, and community partners alike. With this report as its compass, the BSI is poised to fulfil its promise: to be a place where Black scholarship flourishes, where belonging is lived, and where the future is shaped by the wisdom of the past.