University of Alberta
PAE-9: Support Programs for Future Faculty

The University of Alberta’s Dare to Discover vision document outlines the values of the institution and a diverse, dynamic collegial community is highlighted as a value of the institution. The university also outlines a goal to recruit and retain outstanding and diverse academic staff, enhancing the global perspective of campus and fostering an intercultural climate by celebrating and drawing upon the diversity within it. The plan outlines the University’s commitment to engage with, serve, and draw strength from the diversity of Aboriginal, Franco-Albertan, multicultural, rural, and northern communities in the province. We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all qualified women and men, including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Aboriginal persons. To read more on Dare to Discover see: http://www.president.ualberta.ca/en/DaretoDiscover.aspx. We work towards encouraging diversity in our faculty members in a variety of ways, many of the following initiatives work towards making the campus community a more inclusive and respectful place. The programs outlined below make the school more appealing to a diverse audience of future faculty members, encouraging recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty. WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science & Technology) works towards greater representation of women in faculty positions through providing formal and informal networking opportunities with the goal of improving retention of women in all levels of academia by providing mentorship supports (i.e. UAWISE, WISER) and developing leadership skills. This contributes to improved educational experiences for women and therefore also acts to encourage their involvement in higher education as professors. ISMSS (Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services) hosts the Safe Spaces Initiative, a comprehensive and multi-stakeholder action plan to improve the availability of safe spaces and inclusive learning environments on campus. In addition to safe spaces, iSMSS coordinates and delivers workshops to any faculty member that requests a presentation through their Education Coordinator, focused on increasing their awareness and of sexual minorities. Through a variety of means, the Council on Aboriginal Affairs create a campus environment that supports Aboriginal Faculty members. Gathering the 60-member Council with representation from five Aboriginal student groups, faculty members (from Native Studies, Education, Law, Medicine & Dentistry, and Family Medicine for example), Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal post secondary institutions, members of the Senate and City of Edmonton employees. This diverse group allows for incredibly rich and expansive discussions and opens up a space for meaningful and consultative dialogue and discuss topics. They organize informal brown bag lunches and other social gatherings for Aboriginal staff and faculty across campus and coordinate an Aboriginal Focus Groups comprised of staff and faculty members who meet regularly to coordinate their efforts and collaborate to better support Aboriginal students, staff and faculty. Examples of events they host are Aboriginal Health Speaker Series, traditional feasts, Powwows, round dances and an Aboriginal Writers Spring Gathering and Workshop. In addition to what is listed above, there are many programs and services hosted to support the learning and development of all current and future faculty members. Many of the examples listed below feature specific programming that works to support diverse individuals as well as current and future faculty members. Examples include: CENTRE FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING (CTL) http://ctl.ualberta.ca The Centre for Teaching & Learning (CTL) is the centrally administered unit mandated to provide educational leadership in support of excellence in teaching and learning to the university community. In collaboration with the Office of Safe Disclosure & Human Rights and Organizational Learning & Effectiveness, CTL presents a series of workshops for instructors on Inclusive Learning Environments. These sessions teach instructors about diversity and inclusion in the classroom. This helps instructors meet the University's legal and ethical responsibility to ensure all students have equal opportunity in their learning programs. THE CENTRE FOR WRITERS http://c4w.ualberta.ca The Centre for Writers offers free, one-on-one writing support to all students, instructors, staff, and alumni at the University of Alberta – in any subject, discipline, program, or faculty, and at all levels of study. Its tutors have been trained in helping ESL students. It offers free one-hour workshops to students, faculty members, staff, visiting scholars, post-docs, and alumni that help participants improve their writing skills. It also offers tips for writing in English as a second language, which helps students whose first language is not English succeed academically. FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH (FGSR) http://www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) provides professional development seminars on communication, career development, graduate teaching and learning and professional practice. FGSR Professional Development provides several tip sheets that will be beneficial to graduate students from underrepresented groups, including: Enhancing Life and Work Balance for Women, Teaching with an Accent, Teaching with English as a Second Language, and Teaching Tips for International Students. GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION (GSA) http://www.gsa.ualberta.ca The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is a not-for-profit body that represents graduate students to the University. It provides a number of services to graduate students, including fall and winter orientations that inform new graduate students about support programs and resources on campus. The GSA offers the Graduate Student Assistance Program (GSAP), which provides all graduate students with 24/7 access to psychological counselling services through a company called Homewood Human Solutions. GSAP provides support to underrepresented groups by offering Culture-Sensitive Counseling and Aboriginal Services. THE LEARNING SHOP http://www.learningshop.ualberta.ca/LearningShop.do The Learning Shop of the University of Alberta lists seminars and workshops that are available to all academic and support staff across the University of Alberta. Subjects include leadership development, managing, teaching, research, working, E-learning, computers and technology, personal development and health, wellness and fitness. For example, the Learning Shop enabled academic and support staff to register for sessions during Equity Week in March 2014, which included sessions on “Applying Cree Storytelling to Address Contemporary Justice and Governance Issues” and “The Art of Equity: From Inclusion to Innovation.” POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW ASSOCIATION Website: http://www.postdoc.ualberta.ca The Post-Doctoral Fellow Association advocates for post-doctoral fellows, raises awareness of the contributions of postdoctoral fellows, and ensures a rewarding postdoctoral experience at the University of Alberta by helping post-doctoral fellows maximize their research output. RESEARCH SERVICES OFFICE http://www.rso.ualberta.ca The Research Services Office (RSO) supports researchers and administrators by providing services focused on the identification of potential funding sources, assistance with the application process and guidance with the financial management of awards. The RSO serves the Faculties of the University of Alberta and its affiliated institutes, centres and hospitals. STUDENT SUCCESS CENTRE http://www.studentsuccess.ualberta.ca/en.aspx The Student Success Centre works with pre-university, undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students, international students, parents, and university instructors and advisors to maximize students’ success at all levels of achievement and study. It offers graduate student-specific workshops on time management, giving presentations, and writing funding proposals, dissertations, theses, literature reviews writing and scholarly abstracts. It provides support to International students by offering a course on Developing Your Academic English for non-native users of English.

Additional Responsible Parties: ASSC Suzanne Butler Transition Year Program Coordinator. WISEST Kristy Burke WISEST Assistant Coordinator ISMSS Kris Wells Director of Programs & Services Council on Aboriginal Affairs Tracy Bear Special Advisor to the Provost on Aboriginal Initiatives. For a comprehensive list of more of the programs and services provided by ASSC, CAI, ISMSS and WISEST please see PAE 8.