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Public Disclosure

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are fundamental to fostering a culture that supports the systematic removal of barriers and creates multiple means of representation, engagement and expression. Athabasca University is committed to creating and sustaining an environment in which qualified individuals, including those from the four designated and other under-represented groups have equal opportunities to participate in teaching and research and ultimately contribute to the University's Imagine Plan, of Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities.

Athabasca University’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan outlines its commitment to research excellence and to sustaining participation of individuals from the four designated groups (i.e., women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and members of visible minorities) in its Canada Research Chair complement. The plan is based on the premise that sound equity practices afford access to all qualified candidates; uphold the integrity of the selection, nomination and appointment process, and support research excellence and training.

The plan also provides a framework for attaining Athabasca University’s Canada Research Chair program equity and diversity targets by identifying and addressing equity gaps, fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace, and measuring progress made in addressing equity gaps on an ongoing basis. While the plan was developed specifically in relation to the Canada Research Chair program, it may also have relevance for the recruitment of other research chairs within the academy.

The CRC EDI Action Plan represents a foundational component of strategies to embed equity, diversity, and inclusion principles and practices into AU processes and practices beyond the CRC program. AU is committed to expanding the CRC EDI program to all staff at the institution.

Dimensions Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Charter, endorsed by Dr. Neil Fassina, President.

This charter is foundational to the Tri-Agency Dimensions program to foster increased research excellence, innovation and creativity within the post-secondary sector across the disciplines, through greater equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

By endorsing this charter, and by implementing actions to achieve its objective, Athabasca University commits to adopting the enclosed principles to achieve greater equity, diversity and inclusion throughout its practices and culture.

The Research Centre in conjunction with the offices of the Provost & Vice President Academic and Human Resources are developing a plan to raise awareness and implement an institution-wide equity, diversity and inclusion program.

AU will evaluate its CRCP EDI action plan, hiring practices, response to individual EDI concerns raised by research chairs within the next year.

It is anticipated that an overall EDI institutional strategy will be formulated, prioritized, and implemented over the next two years.

EDI Action Plan approved by the Athabasca University Executive, 08 November 2017

In developing this Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, input was sought from numerous individuals and groups within the university, including but not limited to:

  • Individuals from the four designated groups
  • Deans and the Chair Centre for Distance Education
  • Chairholders (current and former)
  • Academic researchers
  • Academic Research Committee
  • General Faculties Council
  • Chief Human Resources Officer and Human Resources Advisors
  • Athabasca University Faculty Association Employment Equity Committee
  • Senior university administrators
  • Administrators responsible for implementing the Canada Research Chair program, including the Research Ethics Officer.

A key goal of this stakeholder engagement was to identify and ameliorate barriers to the recruitment and retention of individuals from the four designated groups in Athabasca University’s Canada Research Chair complement.

The Associate Vice President Research is responsible for addressing equity concerns related to the management of the university’s Canada Research Chair allocations. Their contact information is found on the Research Centre website.

The Employment Equity Committee, which was established in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of Agreement Between the Governors of Athabasca University and Athabasca University Faculty Association (AUFA), addresses equity concerns of professionals and academics, including Chairholders within the academy. It is comprised of two members appointed by the Faculty Association and two members appointed by the Board of Governors. Included also in the collective agreement are clauses related to discrimination and harassment. The Athabasca University Addressing Concerns of Harassment by University Employees and Representatives Policy and Procedures offer further guidance.

Chairholders are strongly encouraged to discuss issues and concerns, including concerns related to equity among Chairholders, with the Associate Vice President Research so that they can be resolved in a timely manner. The Associate Vice President Research shall communicate Chairholders’ concerns to the Provost and Vice President Academic and seek advice from others about possible courses of action.

CRCP Equity Targets and Results of Participating Institutions

Athabasca University's CRCP Utilization Spreadsheet, generated by the Canada Research Chairs Program, outlines how many chair allocations AU has, how many are filled and by which chair holders (with their term end and start dates), type of flex moves used and which allocations are available.

  • Athabasca University CRCP Utilization Spreadsheet (20/21)

Current:

  •  CRC in Disruptive Pedagogies

Archived:

  • CRC in Digital Disruption and Organizational Transformation

Current:

  • None

Archived:

  • None

AU's target numbers are less than five and as a result they must be withheld to protect the privacy of our CRCs. CRCP statistics and equity target data can be found on the CRCP Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Practices page.

  • Athabasca University's 2021 CRC EDI Action Plan
  • Athabasca University's 2019 EDI Action Plan
  • Athabasca University's 2018 EDI Progress Report

Important Links

View these important EDI documents:

  • the 2019 Addendum to the 2006 Canadian Human Rights Settlement Agreement;
  • the program's Statistics page ;
  • the program's Requirements for Recruiting and Nominating Canada Research Chairs .

Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund

  • The Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund (CRCEF) was announced on May 15, 2020, as part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. The temporary program has been established to help sustain the research enterprise at Canadian universities and health research institutions that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected that the program will help reduce negative impacts of the pandemic and ensure that the benefits of significant investments to date in universities and health research institutions are protected. This will maintain Canada’s international competitiveness in the global, knowledge-based economy, and contribute to Canadians’ health and social and cultural life, as well as the health of Canada’s natural environment.

    CRCEF is a tri-agency program and is administered by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) on behalf of the three federal research funding agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and SSHRC. The Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) provides strategic oversight for the program and approves awards. The Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS) provides administration.
  • Strategy for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Decision-Making
    Athabasca University has struck an institutional equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) committee. If we had received more than one (1) completed Attestation Form, a review committee would have been struck, members of which would have been from the AU EDI committee. The members of the review committee would have been required to take unconscious bias training and read two related published articles, if they had not already done so as part of the institutional EDI committee.
  • List of affiliated health research institutions receiving funding is not applicable.
  • Athabasca University Associate Vice President, Research (Interim), Dr. Pamela Hawranik is responsible for ensuring the CRCEF program requirements are followed.

Research Support Fund

Athabasca University gratefully acknowledges the financial contribution of the federal government's Research Support Fund (formerly the Indirect Cost Program), which helps to offset the costs associated with administering Tri-Agency grants and awards.

How the RSF funding will be utilized each year is outlined in the documents below:

  • 2020-2021
  • 2019-2020
  • 2018-2019
  • 2017-2018
  • 2016-2017
  • 2015-2016
  • 2014-2015
  • 2013-2014

Updated April 09, 2021 by Research (research@athabascau.ca)

https://www.athabascau.ca/research-centre/ b66426870a2a32ea0a1fd18e0ac4b01c
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  • Athabasca University Strategic Research Plan 2018-2022