Nova Scotia Community College
PA-5: Assessing Diversity and Equity

• All campuses have embraced Diversity and Inclusion and several have active Diversity Committees. • Campus Principals are working with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) to support the expansion of the diversity committee model to include all campuses and respectful workplace and learning environment focus, which will include individual campus outreach and needs assessment focus groups (begun Spring 2016 and continuing through winter 2016/17). • Campus needs assessment opportunities have been slow to arise as a result of schedule and ODI resources. However, some results of the initial assessment have informed ODI planning for 2016/17. o Campus leaders found the needs assessment to be very valuable and advocated for all campuses to receive similar support. This work will be continued through winter 2016/17. o There is a felt need for staff learning opportunities in the area of transgender student needs which supports respectful workplace and learning environment trends. o ODI is working with specific campus Student Services to provide learning opportunities for staff in the area of transgender student needs (begun summer 2016 and continuing through winter 2016/17). o ODI is working with the Central Facilities team to audit the number of gender neutral washrooms and provide gender neutral washroom guidelines.

The students are asked to voluntarily self-identify (if they identify with one of four equity groups: women, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal and African Canadian) when they apply for studies at the College. The data collected through this process allow the College to maintain and measure trends related to student diversity. The development of the new Employment and Educational Equity Policies (outlined in PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination) will further advance the College's ability to maintain this information.

September 2016 marked the launch of NSCC Employment Equity Self-Identification Survey. ODI and Human Resources are currently working to analyze results to inform policy, programs and initiatives. Refer to PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

Diversity and inclusion is included in NSCC’s eight core values, considered part of the driving force within our organization. The creation of the ODI stems from consultations across all 13 campuses with key stakeholders, the resulting creation of a diversity framework and key recommendations - including the strategic commitment to Diversity and Inclusion and creation of the ODI infrastructure. The Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion provides regular updates on diversity and inclusion activities to the Board of Governors.