We are at our best when everyone has a seat at the table and contributes equally to the conversation. We know that barriers still exist, and that we have a collective responsibility to identify and eliminate obstacles that stand in the way of equity and inclusion.
Our commitment begins by recognizing the need for action, and that we must lead by example in order to overcome scepticism and statement fatigue. One way in which we are starting to affect change, is by promoting best practices for staff and faculty recruitment. These include more diversified and cross-functional selection committees, the use of standardized assessments, establishing the standards and criteria on which the hiring decision may be based before the search begins, and guarding against biases through education, policies and procedures.
The University of Ottawa is a dynamic community of students, academics, researchers, and professionals in pursuit of great things. We believe in the power of representation, and that increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff supports this objective. Our vision for tomorrow’s university is one that reflects the diversity of its people, their ideas, and their identities. While biases will always exist, we can mitigate their effect by promoting balanced representation at all levels of decision-making.
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