About the Accessibility Plan

UVic's Equity Action Plan provides strategic direction to advance equity, diversity and inclusion at UVic. It includes goals to create the conditions in which everyone feels a sense of belonging—as connected and respected parts of the university community. Goals related to accessibility include:

• Create an inclusive campus community that values diversity and challenges dominant systems of power.
• Transform university structures and practices to show value for diverse lived experiences.
• Attract, advance, and retain students, staff, faculty, librarians and senior leadership from systemically and historically marginalized communities.
• Create equitable support structures that address the diverse access needs of the campus community.

UVic's Campus Plan provides direction for the physical development of campus. This includes buildings and land use, open spaces and natural areas, and transportation and parking. Goals related to accessibility include:

• Encourage increased walking and wheelchair use, cycling, and use of public transit, making these priority modes convenient, safe, and enjoyable for all users.
• Maintain and enhance connections, parking areas, building entrances, and open space access so that individuals of all physical abilities are able to move through campus without barriers or impediments.
• Reinforce intuitive wayfinding across campus.

UVic's Strategic Plan provides a framework for bringing together different perspectives and lived experiences to build better solutions for the campus community. Goals related to accessibility include:

• Including and supporting diverse and talented students, staff and faculty who want to make a difference in communities and have a positive impact on people, places and the planet.
• Addressing systemic barriers to equity and inclusion and progressively integrating our guiding principles throughout all decisions, processes and outcomes, to transform practices within UVic.
• Creating a culture of trust, respect and collaboration that will attract and support curious, courageous people who are driven to engage, solve, teach and learn.
• Advancing and strengthening interdisciplinary and interdepartmental opportunities to provide new teaching, learning, research, creative works and service solutions.

The UVic Research and Creative Works Strategy aims to create a better world through curiosity, engagement and innovation. Actions related to accessibility include:

• Embed equity, diversity and inclusion in research processes and activities to overcome systemic barriers and build and support a diverse research community.

Working in consultation with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, students, staff, faculty and community members, Xʷkʷənəŋistəl | W̱ȻENEṈISTEL | Helping to move each other forward was shaped in tandem with Distinctly UVic, the institution’s new strategic plan. Goals related to accessibility include:

• Reducing structural and financial barriers by changing policies and regulations that restrict student access.
• Increasing opportunities for part-time study and for online and hybrid delivery. Expanding supports for off-campus learners.
• Expand dispute resolution protocols to uphold a community of accountability, responsibility and care.