Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Count yourself in
We are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces. We must measure where we are now, how we are doing compared to the diverse make-up of our wider community, and evaluate progress.
In this image, a clustered group of people in a line is featured, as viewed from the back looking forward. This symbolizes the forward movement of progress the cluster hiring initiative seeks to facilitate. These people are intrinsically linked together through common struggles and goals but rely on each other during this forward march.
Our Mission
The OEDI is committed to establishing an equitable, diverse, and inclusive campus that is accessible to all and free from harassment, bullying, and discrimination. We strive to remove barriers that have been, and continue to be, encountered by equity seeking groups, including women, Indigenous peoples, visible/racialized minorities, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2S+.
The OEDI serves as a centralized resource for equity, diversity, and inclusion through resources and education, we will continue to foster a community of change-makers. We will support the development of future leaders to work effectively in a safe community where individuals feel valued for their skills, abilities, and contributions.
Our Mandate
- Collaborate with UCalgary’s 14 faculties and cross-campus support services to develop and implement frameworks, policies, and initiatives that foster an institutional culture of engagement, excellence, innovation, and accountability in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA).
- Develop and administer an integrated institutional strategic plan to continue building an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible campus community.
- Develop a spectrum of learning opportunities for the campus community on equity, diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility (EDIA).
- Develop and collaborate with campus units to cultivate Equitable Pathways at UCalgary for the federally designated groups (FDGs), including women, Indigenous peoples, visible/racialized minorities, persons with disabilities, as well as LGBTQ2S+
- Engage the campus community about EDI via research, teaching and learning, program development, and partnerships.
- Contribute to the development of equitable and inclusive leadership skillset and a campus culture of respect for diversity within the university and the broader community.
- Support the development of future leaders able to work effectively in an equitable, diverse, inclusive, accessible and pluralistic society by acquiring equity, anti-racism, and intercultural competence.
- Provide a central repository for equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and decolonial resources and link related initiatives/programs across campus.
- Maintain knowledge and awareness of the best, new, and promising EDIA trends, and the potential for UCalgary.
- Develop and disseminate institutional EDI and diversity data reports for university leaders and the broader campus community.
- Contribute to fostering a community of change makers.
Dr. Malinda S. Smith, Ph.D.
she/her
Vice-Provost
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The University of Calgary’s Vice-Provost (equity, diversity, and inclusion) is the institution’s primary representative responsible for advising the campus community and the Executive and other Administrative and Academic leaders on issues of human rights, and equity, diversity, and inclusion. The vice-provost (EDI) is the institutional lead in strategic planning processes, ensuring that the University’s strategic initiatives succeed in advancing sustainable EDI goals and objectives. The vice-provost (EDI) works collaboratively with campus units to advance human rights and human dignity and foster equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible learning, research, working environments, a culture of respect, and an institutional environment free from harassment, discrimination and violence.
The vice-provost (EDI) works collaboratively with colleagues and the campus community to promote academic and research activities in human rights, pluralism, and EDI. Drawing on research, promising practices, and personal experience, the vice-provost (EDI) and the OEDI team help enhance EDI literacy, education, and awareness of current, emerging, and promising practices necessary to effect systemic and sustainable change. This work requires engaging with senior leaders, other Vice-Provosts, Deans, Associate Deans, Department Heads, academic and non-academic staff, and students to champion the design and creation of national and local EDI initiatives. This work is carried out within and through existing portfolios and structures and the creation of new processes in order to enhance human rights and equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility on our campuses.
Key Accountabilities
The key accountabilities of the vice-provost (EDI) include serving as the institutional lead on human right and EDI, and the administration and advocacy related to human rights and EDI at UCalgary.
- Serves as a role model and mentor to motivate and encourage colleagues to enhance UCalgary's reputation for excellence in this area.
- Participates as a member of the Provost’s Team and the university's Senior Leadership Team.
- Collaborates with the 14 faculties and cross-campus support services, develops and leads a strong team of faculty and staff who support the development and implementation of frameworks, policies, and initiatives that foster a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration, engagement, and accountability for EDI initiatives.
- Pursues strategies that consider individuals, populations with distinct needs, and relevant communities to deliver education using multiple formats, strategies and contexts designed to provide universal access.
- Contributes to effective, collaborative relations with faculty, staff, and student associations.
- Reinforces UCalgary's strategic initiatives and works collaboratively with the leads of the initiatives with the intersections between them and EDI.
- Contributes to and reinforces a strong sense of community and the articulation of a shared vision.
- Ensures education and response strategies are accessible to all University community members.
- Supports the development of leadership skills and a culture of inclusiveness and respect within the UCalgary community.
- Develops and administers frameworks, policies, and programmes that support our EDI objectives.
- Reviews and assesses existing policies, frameworks and programs on their effective implementation of EDI objectives.
- Develops and sustains an effective budget and organizational structure that addresses the needs of the University and ensures that EDI efforts are financially sustainable.
- Maintains close liaison with the University of Calgary community through advisory committees, student groups, and administrative officers and direct consultation, presentations, surveys, reports, and any relevant feedback system.
- Ensures compliance with University regulations, policies and procedures.
- Collaborates with the Vice-Provost (Student Experience) and the Vice-Provost and Dean (Graduate Studies) to achieve diversity enrolment goals at the undergraduate and graduate levels and develop initiatives to improve the student experience.
- Engages in developing a spectrum of learning opportunities for the campus community on EDI principles, enacting the principles, and ways to overcome barriers to their effective implementation.
- Acknowledges and appreciates the intersection of social identities, systems of oppression, and the discrimination connected to unequal distributions of power in general and those within university structures, hierarchies, and power relations.
- Engages the campus community about EDI activities, research, teaching, program development, and partnerships.
- Builds effective relationships, promotes and serves as a dedicated advocate for EDI within and outside our campus community to a broad spectrum of constituents.
- Participates in and leads initiatives and projects at the local, regional, national, and international levels, dealing with EDI issues affecting post-secondary institutions.
What do we mean by equity, diversity, and inclusion?
This University of Calgary’s OEDI draws on the best available research and scholarship, and on proven and promising practices to advance an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible campus community. The OEDI recognizes the importance of EDI literacy and cultivating a shared EDI vocabulary. It draws on key principles and terms to advance EDI in all spheres of university life and work. The work of the OEDI is informed by foundational principles in equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, and key terms related to better and promising EDI practices.
Equity
Equity as a principle, condition, process, and outcome is rooted in human rights and the inviolability of human dignity.
Diversity
Diversity, difference, or variety is a characteristic of nature, human society, and the academic world.
Inclusion
Inclusion encompasses norms, practices, and actions that promote participation, engagement, empowerment, and a sense of belonging for equity-deserving groups.
Dimensions EDI
UCalgary is one of 17 Canadian post-secondary institutions selected nationally as a Tri-Agency Dimensions EDI pilot. The UCalgary endorsed the Dimensions Charter on May 30, 2019. Originally announced in the federal budget 2018 as a “made-in-Canada-Athena SWAN” initiative, it has since become a distinctive Canadian vision to expand EDI in the national research ecosystem.
CRC EDI Action Plan
The Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP) is a federal tri-agency initiative of SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR. The program includes two types of research chairs: Tier 1 Canadian Research Chairs are tenable for seven years and renewable once, and Tier 2 Canadian Research Chairs are tenable for five years and renewable once.
Our newsletter
Read about pertinent stories out of our Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Featured events
ii’ taa’poh’to’p
Walking parallel paths together in a good way.
The Office of Indigenous Engagement and its strategy ii’ taa’poh’to’p guide UCalgary on its path of transformation and communicate its commitment and responsibility for truth and reconciliation.
Alberta’s top employers
(2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
Canada's best diversity employers
(2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
Alberta’s first Fair Trade Campus
WorldatWork Alliance for WorkLife Progress Seal of Distinction
(2015, 2016, 2017)
Most imagery on OEDI's web pages is free of gender, skin tone, and other identifying attributes. An exception was made for the Black History Month series, which intentionally featured prominent Black Canadians in illustrations of their recognizable silhouette.
Designers: Tosin Odugbemi, Anjay Seabrook
Atelier Oluwatosin
www.oluwatosin.net