| Timeline (Estimated) | |
|---|---|
| Participant Recruitment听 | Early Fall 2025 |
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PEP Information Session听(New!) |
Early Fall 2025 |
| PEP Career Orientation Session听(New!) | Fall 2025 |
| PEP Launch Day听 | Mid-Late Fall 2025 |
| Host Training Session听 | December 2025 |
| PEP Projects Begin听 | January 2026听 |
| Program Closing Celebration听 |
June 2026 |
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What is the PEP?
涩里番鈥檚 Professional Exchange Program is a dynamic and ever-evolving career development program for Black-identifying (MPEX) employees.听 It involves Participants working for a specific and limited time with a Host from another part of the University 鈥� either job shadowing or undertaking a project.听
The PEP was initially designed in 2022 in response to the 鈥�Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism鈥� (ABR) Workforce Action Item #3: 鈥淲ork to increase the representation of, and career opportunities for, Black administrative and support staff.鈥澨�
With the enthusiastic engagement of Participants, Hosts and Buddies, the PEP continues to evolve.听Originally intended as an internship program, it has become recognized as an impactful means of providing valuable learning for Participants and Hosts teams alike 鈥� thus being rebranded a Professional Exchange Program.听听听
This year, PEP has expanded to include a career orientation session where Participants access tools and coaching, enabling them to explore their strengths, skills and attributes in a safe and supportive environment.听 Participants may subsequently engage in a learning experience with a Host who has posted an available opportunity OR can be supported to find a Host that best meets their learning needs and aspirations.听听
At its core, the PEP aims to:听
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address inequities and employment barriers that Black-identifying employees at 涩里番 may experience听
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provide employees with greater exposure to areas of professional interest听听
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support engagement, retention and meaningful professional development at the University听
Notably by:听
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providing access to career coaching and experiential learning opportunities from 涩里番 professionals听
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fostering meaningful connections and greater networks across the University听
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enabling employees to be appreciated and recognized in new ways for their abilities and contributions听
This program is a learning opportunity that provides exposure to a new work environment at the University, in accordance with the terms agreed upon by the various parties involved.听 In formal terms, this program is neither considered a "developmental assignment" nor a "term appointment". As such, it does not impact on salary nor on any other employment conditions.听听听听
Over a three-to-six-month period, participants perform a weekly average of 2鈥�3 hours of work for their Host unit, for a minimum total of 30 hours and not exceeding 60 hours in all.听
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Participation & Eligibility
Partners
Success of the program involves the commitment of three important parties:听
Host: The Host is the representative of the Host unit that accepts to host a PEP participant who is currently employed in another area of 涩里番. The Host must prepare for the internship so that the experience is rewarding and useful for both the Host and the Participant. To ensure that they can be sufficiently involved, Hosts are encouraged to consider current work obligations, timing, and assurance of the commitment of the direct host supervisor to concretely support this work arrangement.听
Participant: The Participant is a qualified 涩里番 employee who spends a limited amount of time working with another unit (Host), in accordance with the terms defined within the PEP. Participants must consider their current work obligations and have their possible participation in the program approved by their Home Supervisor.听
Home Supervisor: The Home Supervisor is the Participant鈥檚 涩里番 Supervisor. In supporting the employee鈥檚 request to participate in the PEP, the Home Supervisor agrees to allow the employee to spend time with the Host on specific, predetermined days and times. The Home Supervisor will explore the following questions with the prospective Participant:听
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How is the arrangement aligned with the Participant鈥檚 current development plan as outlined in their performance dialogue or an individual development plan?听
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How, concretely, could the Participant鈥檚 home unit benefit from the learning that the Participant will acquire through their experience with the Host?听
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In alignment with the Home unit objectives, what development opportunities could be extended to the employee at the end of their placement?听
Eligibility
The Program is open to MPEX Black-identifying employees.
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Expectations & Timing
Expectations
The Host must be able to welcome, onboard, train and integrate the Participant into the Host unit鈥檚 activities.听
The Participant must be able to maintain their duties in their home units.听
The Home Supervisor is expected to allow the Participant to perform a weekly average of 2鈥�3 hours of work for their Host unit, unless an alternative schedule has been agreed upon between the Host, Participant and themselves.听 (NB Under circumstances of duress for the home unit, this agreement may need to be reviewed)听
Timing
The exact scheduling of the exchange depends on the needs and circumstances of the Host, the Participant, and the Home Supervisor.听
To be meaningful, the minimum duration should be at least 30 hours over a period of several months but cannot exceed 60 hours over a period of six months, starting from January 2026 at the earliest.听
By the end of the exchange period, the Participant should have engaged in job shadowing and have potentially led a supervised project.听
The work assigned can be either a typical representation of the Host鈥檚 usual activities, and/or can be based on specific activities assigned by the Host.听
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Benefits of Participation
The Professional Exchange Program has the following potential benefits, as described by participants:听
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Networking opportunities that can help to break down employment barriers and provide equal opportunities for all employees.听
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Insight into the roles and responsibilities of their colleagues and other units.听
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Increased experience and learning from colleagues within 涩里番.听
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Widening their lens and understanding more about how the University, as a whole, functions.听
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Encouraging 涩里番 to remain an employer of choice for our staff, notably staff from very underrepresented groups.听
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Opportunities for leadership and mentorship in the Host unit.听
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Skill development and capacity-building for staff that will benefit them during and following their exchange experiences听
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Fostering growth, knowledge and confidence at individual and collective levels.听
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New opportunities for collaboration across home and host units.听
At the end of the exchange, both the Home Supervisor and the Host will be recognized by the Associate Vice-President Human Resources and the community for their efforts in supporting the career development, retention and promotion of Black-identifying employees at 涩里番, in accordance with the Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism. All Participants, Hosts and Home Supervisors will be invited to a celebratory event.听
The benefits have encouraged both Participants and Hosts to seek new exchanges over multiple years.听听听
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Process & Contact
Process of the Professional Exchange Program
Important Dates / How to participate:听
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In early Fall 2025, prospective Participants (with approval from their immediate supervisor) and hosts will be invited to complete the Application Form.听
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There will also be Information & Career Orientation Session(s) for prospective participants to discuss their needs and interests that they are looking forward to in the Professional Exchange Program.听听
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A prospective Participant may also include a special request to be matched with a specific unit.
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Hosts will decide who and how many Participants they can welcome.听
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In November 2025, we will hold our PEP Launch event!听听
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Training for Hosts on anti-Black racism and hosting will take place in December 2025.听
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The earliest start date of the Professional Exchange Program (Special Project or Job Shadowing) would be January 5, 2026.听
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In June 2026, we will hold our Program Closing Celebration! This is the latest end date of the exchange.听
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*Participants and Hosts must be available to attend both the Launch Event and the Closing Celebration of the Program.听
If you have questions or would like to speak with someone about the program, please feel free to contact Organizational Development (od.hr [at] mcgill.ca). We look forward to hearing from you!听