All members of the McMaster community are invited to participate in the Inclusive Community focus groups running this week on campus, and a session at the downtown centre.

If you haven't already signed up, don't forget to register soon. This is a key opportunity to provide your input to the initiative designed to help “build an inclusive community with a shared purpose,” as outlined in McMaster's strategic plan, Refining Directions.

The focus groups are the first step in a two-year project funded through the Refining Directions implementation plan and spearheaded by the President's Advisory Committee on Building an Inclusive Community (PACBIC) and the Office of Human Rights and Equity Services. Ibis Consulting Group, which brings dedicated expertise to this area of review, will work with the University to help identify barriers to inclusion, and then design educational programs and make the changes needed to build an inclusive community with a shared purpose.

Sign up now to participate in a focus group to help identify the current barriers to inclusivity at McMaster and how we can overcome these barriers. Each group will bring together members of our community who represent the diversity of our campus. The sessions are designed to provide a safe, comfortable forum for all participants including those who have traditionally faced barriers in trying to participate in the life of the University to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences.

Focus group participants will be requested to sign a letter of informed consent prior to each session. Information received through the focus groups will be maintained in strict confidence and the anonymity of individual responses will be protected.

To review the schedule of focus group sessions and to register online please go to: www.mcmaster.ca/hres/inclusivecommunity.htm or call the Human Rights & Equity Office at ext. 27581.