Presidential Task Force on EDIA: Community Engagement

These facilitated, table-type conversations are intended to gather input from members of the campus community from their role-based views of EDIA at UCalgary. 

The questions asked at these breakout tables, online and in person, will focus on your understanding and experiences of EDIA at UCalgary. Responses will be collected through verbal replies at the table, on white board notes. You will also have the option to share responses anonymously through QR codes. 

The design of these activities supports a one size does not fit all approach to developing actions for EDIA at UCalgary that focus on the needs and interests of community members, as they vary by role. If you hold more than one role at UCalgary (e.g. staff and student), please participate in the group that best corresponds with your primary affiliation with the University.

Please note that coffee, tea and light snacks will be provided at in-person Campus Community Conversations on EDIA events. Sessions that run over the lunch hour (11:30-1pm) will include pizza lunch. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available at all events. 

The focus groups will be facilitated by external consultants from Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) who hold EDIA and trauma-informed training. Each focus group will be separated into breakout rooms to minimize the occurrence of staff being in a room with their managers or leaders, or students with their TAs, instructors, or student-facing staff members at the University. Each focus group will be held online, and will last roughly 90 minutes, which includes time for a wellness break. 

Questions will focus on the experiences of different equity deserving groups, intersectional spaces, and international students, to inform strategic and action priorities for the university. All focus group participants will be asked to maintain the confidentiality of what is shared in the space. The focus group transcripts and notes will be held by the external consultants.  

Your input is critical for supporting the development of UCalgary’s first ever EDIA strategy, action and implementation plan and ensuring it is well-informed and reflective of our diverse campus community.  

The input gathered at these sessions will be summarized into high-level themes. All information will be de-personalized, including the removal of any details that could identify an individual.  

These themes will incorporate multiple data points gathered across all engagement activities including Campus Community Conversations on EDIA, focus groups, and the online survey. These high-level themes will be shared later in 2024 with the UCalgary community in the form of a What We Heard report.