Public disclosure

Athabasca University’s research community advances academic and inclusive excellence with support from Canada’s provincially and federally funded grant agencies. Our Public Disclosures reflect our commitment to compliance, transparency, and effective management of publicly funded research.

Canada Research Chairs (CRC)

Athabasca University’s commitment to inclusive excellence extends into the development and delivery of our Canada Research Chairs program. Advances in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in this leading research program align with AU’s Canada Research Chairs EDI Action Plan, which is guided by Canada Research Chairs policies and requirements. Commitment to the strategic equity targets for representation is a key component in enhancing representation in and through AU’s Canada Research Chairs program.

As part of living its I-CARE values (integrity, community, adaptability, respect, and excellence), Athabasca University is committed to Inclusive Excellence in teaching and learning, research, and service.

As a signatory to the Dimensions Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Charter, Athabasca University is committed to building research excellence through a research culture that welcomes, supports, and values research and researchers from diverse communities and perspectives.

The Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan (approved March 2021) commits to specific actions to:

  1. Ensure an equitable and inclusive research environment for traditionally minoritized groups such as women, Indigenous Peoples, people of colour, people with disabilities (visible and invisible), and LGBTQ2S+ people, recognizing the intersectionality of identities,
  2. Enhance the recruitment and retention processes for the CRC program to increase representation of traditionally minoritized groups, and
  3. Establish meaningful and culturally safe research environments in which the participating community, group or individual is a partner in decision-making during research.

Athabasca University’s commitment to Inclusive Excellence can only be realized with and through its whole community. Ensuring that the community is aware of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts is an ongoing process through:

  1.  Joint executive sponsorship of EDI initiatives through the provost and vice-president academic and chief human resources officer,
  2.  Institutional EDI committees such as the cross-institutional EDI Working Group and the EDI Champion Network,
  3.  AU’s Canada Research Chairs committee, and
  4.  Developing and recommending resources related to embedding EDI in research projects, such as those provided by Canada Research Chairs (CRC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
  5. Offering the Unconscious Bias Training to all staff.

The Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan was approved by the president of Athabasca University. The associate vice-president research, deputy chief human resources officer, and associate vice-president academic resources have responsibility under the shared executive sponsorship of the provost and vice-president academic, and chief human resources officer to work with the AU community to deliver on the CRC EDI Action Plan.

Objectives and ongoing evaluation of the plan are coordinated through both the EDI Committee and Canada Research Chairs Committee.

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee co-chairs are responsible for addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion questions and concerns related to the university's Canada Research Chair Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan as well as for receiving any complaints/questions/concerns related to EDI.

EDI Committee co-chairs are Dr. Alain May (associate vice-president academic resources), and Pauline Smeltz (deputy chief human resources officer). They may be reached through the shared communications channel edicochairs@athabascau.ca.

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 will communicate chairholders’ concerns to the provost and vice-president academic.

AU's EDI policy and procedures will be developed and implemented under the leadership of the forthcoming EDI Office. Complaints are currently managed within the parameters of the Harassment, Violence, and Sexual Violence Policy sponsored by Human Resources.

The Canada Research Chairs Equity Targets and Results of Participating Institutions provides the program statistics that guide the growth and development of Athabasca University’s program.

Athabasca University is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, persons of any gender identity and expression, and members of visible minorities. The management and development of Athabasca's University Canada Research Chair program is guided by the policies and procedures that govern faculty recruitment and advancement as well as those that provide a framework for research. These include but are not limited to the AU Academic/Professional Staff - Hiring Guidelines, the AU Academic Staff Promotion Policy and the Research Integrity Policy. These, and other relevant policies and procedures, are publicly available on the Office of the Chief Governance Officer and General Counsel site.

Athabasca University's Equity Target Plan can be found here.

Population-Based Institutional Equity Targets 2021 to 2029 can be found here.

Athabasca University's Canada Research Chairs utilization spreadsheet is prepared by the Canada Research Chairs program and outlines the number of Athabasca University’s present chair allocations, how many are filled and by which chairholders, the type of flex moves used, and which allocations are available.

Current:

  • None

Archived:

Current:

  • None

Archived:

  • None

Athabasca University's current active chairs are fewer than 5 and as a result, demographics data must be withheld to protect the privacy of our chairholders.

Canada Research Chairs Program Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Requirements and Practices

Important links

View these important equity, diversity, and inclusion documents:

Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund

The Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund was announced on May 15, 2020, as part of the Government of Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. The temporary program was established to help sustain the research enterprise at Canadian universities and health research institutions that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will help reduce negative impacts of the pandemic and ensured that the benefits of significant investments to date in universities and health research institutions were 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.

The fund is a tri-agency program and is administered by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council on behalf of the 3 federal research funding agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. The Canada Research Coordinating Committee provides strategic oversight for the program and approves awards. The Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat provides administration.

AU Research Data Management Institutional Strategy

In March of 2021, the Tri-Agency Councils adopted a Research Data Management (RDM) Policy. This policy requires institutions eligible to administer Tri-Agency funding to create and publicly post an Institutional RDM Strategy. AU's General Faculties Council approved AU's strategy on May 4, 2023. The strategy articulates overarching principles to guide its implementation, including: RDM as an aspect of research excellence; consideration for context and the importance of collaboration; building a culture of RDM; and an emphasis on AU as an open institution supporting open practices. The strategy outlines AU's goals to further support for RDM in three areas over the next five years: policy and governance, support services, and infrastructure for RDM. The Academic Research Committee (ARC), a sub-committee of General Faculties Council, will provide oversight and review as AU works to implement the goals outlined in the strategy.

AU Research Data Management Institutional Strategy

Research Support Fund

The Government of Canada introduced the Research Support Fund (RSF) as part of its strategy to position Canada as one of the world's top countries in research and development.  The RSF is an annual grant awarded to Athabasca University to support the indirect costs of research.

Program Overview

The RSF program helps Canadian postsecondary institutions cover a portion of the expenses associated with managing research funds awarded by the three federal granting agencies: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

The RSF provides essential supports for indirect costs of research. Indirect costs of research are operational expenditures incurred by AU to provide the necessary and ongoing support and infrastructure to facilitate the endeavours of researchers. These may include administrative support; ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements; improving research infrastructure (physical or virtual); and provision of research resources benefitting the entire ecosystem.

Institutions may utilize the RSF for expenditures in five categories: (1) Research Facilities, (2) Research Resources (3) Management and Administration of an Institution's Research Enterprise, (4) Regulatory Requirements and Accreditation, and (5) Intellectual Property and Knowledge Mobilization.

How the Research Support Fund will be allocated and utilized each year is outlined in the documents below:

2025/26 RSF Allocation Proposed Strategic Investments and Performance Objectives

Historical reports

Research policies

Athabasca University has instituted a number of policies and procedures to support our researchers, maintain integrity in research and scholarly activities, and provide a foundation for research practice at the university. These policies apply to all Athabasca University research activities.

The policies and procedures specify Athabasca University's:

  • research infrastructure
  • standards
  • ethical practices

It is your responsibility as a researcher to familiarize yourself with Athabasca University's research policies. Misconduct in carrying out or reporting research is considered to be a serious breach of academic responsibility.

Updated November 26, 2025 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)