Dalhousie University
PAE-8: Support Programs for Underrepresented Groups

Indigenous Blacks & Mi'kmaq (IB&M) Initiative
The Indigenous Blacks & Mi'kmaq (IB&M) Initiative was established at Dalhousie Law School in 1989 with the purpose of reducing structural and systemic discrimination by increasing the representation of Indigenous Blacks and Mi'kmaq in the legal profession.
The Initiative involves community outreach and recruiting; providing student financial and other support; developing scholarships in the areas of Aboriginal law and African Canadian legal perspectives, and promoting the hiring and retention of graduates.

Black Student Advisor
The mandate of the Black Student Advising Centre (BSAC) is to promote awareness and fulfil the need for increased access and retention of indigenous Black students, while encouraging education equity for all within the University environment. The Advisor is available to assist and support new, prospective and returning students of African descent.

Native Education Counseling Unit
The Native Education Counseling Unit, a division of The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, is a program providing educational and support services to all native postsecondary students in the Halifax/Metro area. The unit prides itself on being accessible and its ability to address the needs of native students from various First Nation communities. It also provides students with the opportunity to form networks in the areas of study relating to Arts, Science, Law, Health and Social Work.

Transition Year Program (TYP)
The Transition Year Program (TYP) is a one-year program designed for First Nations and African Canadian students who wish to enter university but who do not meet the standard entrance requirements.

Peer Ally Advisor
The Dal Ally Peer Advisor allows the Dalhousie community to access support and/or referrals, provides e-mail support to those who inquire with questions, gives individuals support on Rainbow issues, and develops and presents public presentations as requested. The Peer Advisor has a broad knowledge and appreciation of diversity and human rights issues and, in particular, an awareness of Rainbow issues. The Advisor works under the direction of the Allies Steering Committee and its designed chair/chairs and is located within the Office of the Vice President, Student Services.

Student Accessibility Services
Dalhousie is committed to providing an accessible environment in which members of the community can pursue their educational goals. Ongoing efforts consistent with a reasonable and practical allocation of resources are being made to improve accessibility and provide special services. The Advisor, in cooperation with faculty and staff, and other student services, provides support and advocacy for students with a disability at the University.
Dalhousie Women’s Centre

The Centre offers events, a safe space, and volunteer opportunities in a women's setting. The Centre exists in recognition of women's common and diverse social, cultural, cognitive, and physiological needs. The Centre is a gender-positive space with a resource library, materials on social justice concerns, etc. that represents women's rights on campus and within the wider community. The Centre offers a referral service to community services and has its own trained volunteers who meet with people.

Centre for Learning and Teaching
The Centre for Learning and Teaching provides training to faculty regarding diversity in the classroom.

In addition, there are numerous student societies at Dalhousie who provide support to students, including DalOut, OutLaw, and several multicultural societies.

The Office of Human Rights, Equity and Harassment Prevention offers the following workshops to faculty and staff: Academic Recruitment Process at Dalhousie: Fair and Equitable Hiring for Faculty & Administration, Accommodation, Certificate in Supervision, Creating a More Inclusive and Respectful Working and Learning Environment, Diversity at Dalhousie – What part will you play, Employees’ Rights and Employers’ Obligations under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act.

The HREHP Office also administers university polices such as, Employment Equity Through Affirmative Action Policy, the Statement on Prohibited Discrimination, and the Accommodation Policy.

The Employment Equity Office released on the website, for the convenience of the Dalhousie and the outside community, a list of the equity documents available on campus. The Compendium of University and Equity Documents resulted as a part of the Memorandum of Understanding Agreement between the Board of Governors and the Dalhousie Faculty Association (DFA) on the prevention and elimination of systemic, adverse and direct discrimination.

The President’s Office coordinated three information sessions as part of an educational program on equity issues for Senior Administrators, including Deans and Directors. These programs were designed to enhance understanding of the issues, their origins, the principles which inform equity law and institutional responses. These programs focus principally upon the issues facing Aboriginal peoples (especially Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq) and racially visible people (especially persons of Black African descent indigenous to Nova Scotia).

The Office of Human Rights, Equity and Harassment Prevention offers the following workshops to faculty and staff: Academic Recruitment Process at Dalhousie: Fair and Equitable Hiring for Faculty & Administration, Accommodation, Certificate in Supervision, Creating a More Inclusive and Respectful Working and Learning Environment, Diversity at Dalhousie – What part will you play, Employees’ Rights and Employers’ Obligations under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act.

The HREHP Office also administers university polices such as, Employment Equity Through Affirmative Action Policy, the Statement on Prohibited Discrimination, and the Accommodation Policy.

The President’s Office coordinated three information sessions as part of an educational program on equity issues for Senior Administrators, including Deans and Directors. These programs were designed to enhance understanding of the issues, their origins, the principles which inform equity law and institutional responses. These programs focus principally upon the issues facing Aboriginal peoples (especially Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq) and racially visible people (especially persons of Black African descent indigenous to Nova Scotia).

Principles for Fair Consideration in the Hiring of Designated Groups- Proposed by the Employment Equity Council and approved for implementation by the President, the following strategy is to be used in order to reach the University’s equity goals:
- hiring units will give preference to qualified candidates from designated groups unless other qualified candidates are substantially better qualified for the position.
- a candidate from a less well-represented group shall be given preference unless other candidate are substantially better qualified for the position