Université de Sherbrooke
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

One of the Université de Sherbrooke's 2018-2022 Strategic Plan target is to "make of the Université de Sherbrooke an exemplary environment in terms of equity, diversity and inclusion", both for students and employees. In this context, an Equity-Diversity-Inclusion Strategic Committee (Comité stratégique équité-diversité-inclusion (EDI)) was created to organize and carry out actions to make the University more inclusive and equitable for individuals from designated groups (i.e. women, First Peoples, visible minorities and people with disabilities). Several working subcommittees such as the EDI Canada Research Chairs (CRC), the one for inclusion of sexual and gender diversity, and the one on cultural and linguistic skills support the Equity-Diversity-Inclusion Strategic Committee in achieving its objectives.

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/actualites/nouvelles/nouvelles-details/article/40920/

The Université de Sherbrooke also created an Equity Research Officer position, who acts as a resource person regarding diversity, equity and inclusion issues at the University. More specifically, the main responsibilities of the Equity Research Officer are to:
• Provide advice to senior management on how best to take into account equity, diversity and inclusion in planning and procedures;
• Ensure that education and means of awareness-raising are in place to promote and support an inclusive and diverse environment across the campuses;
• Provide awareness-raising training on the needs and realities of members from the four designated groups;
• Promote the value of diversity and inclusion;
• Organize events to celebrate and promote diversity and inclusion;
• Respond to questions or concerns from the university community and from outside the University.

In addition, as part of the Equity Action Plan for the Federal Tri-Agency Programs (2017-2022) (Plan d’action d’équité pour les programmes interorganismes fédéraux (2017-2022)), an Advisory Committee, coordinated by the Equity Research Officer, has been established. It is made up of faculty representatives, Canada Research Chairs holders and administrators. The main objective of this Advisory Committee is to guide the University management on the proper measures to adopt in order to reach the action plan targets and to make recommendations on progress made in implementing the action plan.

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/recherche/fr/organisation/equite/equite/

Nearly 85% of the people who choose the Université de Sherbrooke for their studies do not come from the Estrie region. Like the City of Sherbrooke, which has seen its immigrant population grow over the past thirty years, the Université de Sherbrooke is a true welcoming place. Furthermore, many faculty members, recognized leaders in their field, come from abroad.

In this regard, cross-cultural skills development is an important issue for success and integration. Beyond the welcome given to these people, it is important to seek to better integrate them, to better understand their reality, in order to promote their full potential.

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/actualites/nouvelles/capsules-video/capsules-video-details/article/39676/

Several services, trainings and activities relate to students, enabling them to develop cultural competencies:
1. The Université de Sherbrooke Trans Action Group (Groupe d’action trans de l’Université de Sherbrooke (GATUS) is an association created in 2016 and comprised of students, which is recognized by the University Student Life Services. Its mission is to defend the rights of trans, non-binary and non-conforming gender persons. The GATUS offers several services to students such as financial aid, offering to take part to discussion groups and distributing gender affirmation articles. Moreover, it informs the university community and raises awareness on issues regarding trans, non-binary and non-conforming gender persons.
https://gatus.association.usherbrooke.ca/

2. The Université de Sherbrooke Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Association (Association des gais, lesbiennes et bisexuels de l'UdeS (AGLEBUS) is a group that, through social activities such as dinner discussions and sports activities, connects people from the LGBT+ community in Sherbrooke.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/etudiants/vie-etudiante/associations-etudiantes/regroupements-etudiants/#c115358-8

3. Each year, on May 17th, the Université de Sherbrooke proudly raises the rainbow flag (the LGBTQ pride flag) in the heart of its main campus to highlight the fight against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia. Several raising-awareness activities against intolerance and stigmatization are organized during this day. In making this symbolic gesture, the University reiterates explicitly its solidarity with people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/diplomes/accueil/babillard/babillard-details/article/37492/

1. The Université de Sherbrooke's Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences offers, using an interdisciplinary approach (involving cross-cultural social work, management, law and education), a Master's degree in Cross-Cultural Mediation. Being the only one of its kind in Canada, this program is intended for young graduates who wish to acquire graduate training as soon as they complete their bachelor's studies or to provide professionals with training adapted to today's reality, preparing them to carry out concrete mediation actions taking into account the diversity of the people involved.
The courses offered focus mainly on issues related to culture and population movements and include international exchanges, national law, international law, cross-cultural intervention and relationships between individuals and groups. Each learning activity is designed to give the student the opportunity to conduct an analysis of cross-cultural situations and to take a critical look at his or her practice and himself or herself.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/mediation-interculturelle/programme/

Trainings relate to faculty members as well. For example, compulsory training on equity, diversity and inclusion is now required for those who are candidates for the Canada Research Chairs Program. In this context, the Université de Sherbrooke offers two distinct trainings:
1. "Training module on unconscious biases". This workshop seeks to highlight the unconscious biases that are conveyed through attitudes, stereotypes, motivations or implicit assumptions.
2. "Introduction to equity, diversity, and inclusion in higher education and research: what and for what". This basic training summarizes the key concepts of equity, equality, diversity, inclusion, designated groups and intersectionality. It also highlights the importance of diversity in a university environment as well as existing challenges on the matter.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/recherche/fr/organisation/equite/strategie-de-sensibilisation-et-formation/#c261856-1
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/recherche/fr/organisation/equite/strategie-de-sensibilisation-et-formation/#c261856-2

Trainings related to cultural competence are also offered to Université de Sherbrooke’s employees. For instance, the University Continuing Education Center (Centre universitaire de formation continue (CUFC)) offers in its latest programming various workshops with such subject as women's leadership, management of cultural diversity in the workplace, and psychological health and misconduct at work, just to name those.