Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA)
The Office of Institutional Commitments (OIC) serves as a centralized resource for EDIA. Through resources and education, we will continue to foster a community of change-makers.
UCalgary awarded Dimensions Construction recognition
The award marks an important milestone in our institutional EDIA journey.
Presidential Task Force on EDIA
UCalgary Presidential Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (PTF-EDIA): co-constituting an inspiring, strong, evidence-based EDIA strategy to advance and embed the university’s commitment to a more equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible campus community.
Serious Events
Here you will find resources to help you deal with a social, political, or environmental crisis while you’re studying at UCalgary.
Our Mission
We are 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 deserving groups, including women, Indigenous peoples, visible/racialized minorities, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2S+.
We are a centralized resource for equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Through resources and education, we will continue to foster a community of change-makers. We will also support the development of future leaders who will 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 EDIA 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 EDIA and diversity data reports for university leaders and the broader campus community.
- Contribute to fostering a community of change makers.
Key Accountabilities
The key accountabilities of the OIC's EDIA team include serving as the institutional lead on human rights and EDIA, and the administration and advocacy related to human rights and EDIA 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 EDIA 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 EDIA.
- 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 EDIA objectives.
- Reviews and assesses existing policies, frameworks and programs on their effective implementation of EDIA objectives.
- Develops and sustains an effective budget and organizational structure that addresses the needs of the University and ensures that EDIA 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 EDIA 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 EDIA activities, research, teaching, program development, and partnerships.
- Builds effective relationships, promotes and serves as a dedicated advocate for EDIA 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 EDIA issues affecting post-secondary institutions.
What do we mean by EDIA?
OIC's EDIA unit 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 unit recognizes the importance of EDIA literacy and cultivating a shared EDIA vocabulary. It draws on key principles and terms to advance EDIA in all spheres of university life and work. The work of the EDIA unit is informed by foundational principles in equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, and key terms related to better and promising EDIA 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.
Assesibility
Accessibility is a foundational principle necessary for the removal of barriers to equitable participation in all aspects of life for people living with diverse visual, motor, auditory, learning, and cognitive abilities.
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.
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, 2023 and 2024)
Canada's best diversity employers
(2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024)
Alberta’s first Fair Trade Campus
WorldatWork Alliance for WorkLife Progress Seal of Distinction
(2015, 2016, 2017)
Most imagery on EDIA'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