University of Alberta
PAE-7: Measuring Campus Diversity Culture

Here are two assessment examples that allow UAlberta to measure diversity and equity on campus: EMPLOYMENT EQUITY PROGRAM http://www.hrs.ualberta.ca/index.aspx?Pg=2056 Through its employment equity program, the University of Alberta endeavours to recruit and retain a diverse and representative workforce. Creating and maintaining a teaching and research environment that is supportive and welcoming for members of the designated groups is critical to the successful implementation of employment equity on campus. Since the early 1990s, the employment equity program manages the UAlberta’s collection of equity data through the distribution of the Equity Census Questionnaire to new permanent employees both full- and part-time on a monthly basis. Employees are asked to self-report on their membership in federally designated equity-seeking groups (women, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and Aboriginal people). At this time, we do not specifically ask for feedback on their experiences; however the data collected in the census is used to shape employment equity-related programming. TRACKING HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUITY CASES http://www.osdhr.ualberta.ca/ The Office of Safe Disclosure and Human Rights has been tracking human rights complaints since 2008. All campus organizations that deal with reporting and referring human rights complaints (examples include the Office of the Dean of Students, the Non Academic Staff Association, the Students’ Union and the Graduate Students’ Association) currently meet biannually to share resources and ideas, and to informally assess campus equity. In addition to these measures, all these stakeholders are participating in the implementation of shared software expected to be in use by the end of 2012, meaning that one database will house all cases and will be managed by the Office of Safe Disclosure and Human Rights. This system would allow for appropriate referrals and tracking of issues.

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY PROGRAM http://www.hrs.ualberta.ca/AllStaff.aspx The results of the Employment Equity Census Questionnaire are used to provide internal stakeholders and the Federal Contractors Program with quantitative data on the university’s progress in achieving a representative workforce. The Employment Equity Assistant provides advice to administrators and supervisors on fair and equitable hiring practices and offers training sessions on equity in recruitment. The focus of these sessions is on helping recruiters become familiar with human rights and employment equity considerations to help them meet the challenge of fairly choosing new employees and to avoid legal liabilities. In addition to offering advice and training sessions, we can provide statistical reports on the composition of the university’s workforce to assist with the recruitment process. The reports can be university-wide or tailored to the needs of each individual unit, department, or faculty. Only aggregate data are reported to ensure confidentiality. OPENING DOORS http://www.hrs.ualberta.ca/EmploymentEquity/OpeningDoors.pdf. In 1994, the Board of Governors, our highest decision making body, approved Opening Doors: A Plan for Employment Equity at the University of Alberta. Since its adoption, this plan has been influencing equity and decision making on campus. The university’s Employment Equity Advisory Committee has reviewed the current plan and is in the process of gathering university feedback on its recommendations.

Responsible Party Information: EMPLOYMENT EQUITY PROGRAM Name: Catherine Anley Department: Human Resource Services Position: Employment Equity Advisor HUMAN RIGHTS CASE TRACKING Responsible Party Information Name: Wade King Department: Office of Safe Disclosure and Human Rights Position: Advisor STUDENT’S UNION http://www.su.ualberta.ca/ In addition to the Employment Equity Program and Human Rights Case Tracking, the Student’s Union operates an annual survey. With the support of the institution, they implement an electronic assessment of all 30,000 plus undergraduate students every year. November 2011 marks the implementation of the third annual survey with the ultimate goal of collecting feedback on student experiences and perspectives in order to better support and serve the population. Many of the questions are the same year to year, in order to track progress and change. However, each year has a variety of new questions that refer to specific decisions or ideas (i.e. opinions on a winter reading week or method of transportation used to arrive on campus). The results of this annual assessment influence the Students’ Union in various ways, dependant on the questions asked from year to year. Survey responses are used for planning purposes by senior management and the executive team, but also inform every aspect of the Students’ Union including its services, advocacy and governance departments. No public data is available yet, but there are plans to make it accessible in the future. For more information, please contact the Students’ Union.