The Presidential Task Force on EDIA (PTF-EDIA) Journey
Welcome to the PTF-EDIA Journey page. This page maps the task force's work since it received governance approval under the leadership of Vice Provost and AVP Research, Dr. Malinda S. Smith.
The PTF EDIA is an inclusive body, with five working groups supported by a project manager and administrative support from the OEDI team and from the offices of the three Executive sponsors.
On this page, you will find the Executive sponsors, meeting topics, internal and external speakers, and updates on the work of the Task Force.
Dr. Ed McCauley, President and Vice-Chancellor
Dr. Penny Werthner, Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
Dr. William Ghali, Vice-President (Research)
Dr. Malinda Smith Vice-Provost, Associate Vice-President Research (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion)
Co-Chair
- Progress updates to task force from working group co-leads
- Breakout group brainstorm on Conversations on EDIA events
- Discussion and action items for promoting and championing community engagement
- Finalize PTF EDIA Survey for launch in January 2024 Campus-wide surveys
- Finalize campus meaningful engagement plan
- Review role of 5 Working Groups in relation to internal and external scans
- Review of the PTF EDIA feedback on the IECB plan: key takeaways.
- Review of preliminary internal scan of EDIA at UCalgary
- HESA presentation on preliminary scan of EDIA at the UCalgary based on external scan and internal scan and interviews.
- PTF EDIA discussion of findings of preliminary scan using SOAR tool, and feedback guidance for the April 2024 “What We Heard Report”.
- Finalize Winter 2024 meaningful community engagement.
- Drafting of the PTF EDIA Survey for launch in Winter 2024
Presenters and Guest Speakers
Dr. Malinda Smith - Presidential Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Meeting 9: UCalgary State of EDIA Scan Preliminary Analysis
Presentation by Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) - Preliminary Internal Analysis of the Current State of EDIA at the University of Calgary
- Review of key takeaways from UCalgary strategy leads.
- IECB Road Ahead: PTF EDIA monthly key activities and deliverables.
- Presentation by HESA of supports and deliverables.
- Small group discussions of mandate, principles, SOAR tool in relation to key takeaways from internal and external presentations
- Continued work on internal scans, interviews with EDIA leaders.
- Start of external scans
Presenters and Guest Speakers
Dr. Penny Werthner and Dr. Malinda Smith - Presidential Task Force on Equity, Diversity,
Inclusion and Accessibility Meeting 8: IECB Roadmap to EDIA Strategy, Action, and Implementation Plans
Presentation by Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA)
- Mr. Barry Burciul, Vice President & Director of Research
- Ms. Nikita Kapur, Research Manager
- Janelle Curry, Research Associate
- Ms. Sandrine Desforges, Research Associate
- Alexandria Petit-Thorne, Research Associate
- Ms. Samantha Pufek, Graphic Designer
- Review of the UCalgary EDIA strategy development: Roadmap and timelines to governance approvals - Smith and Werthner
- Insights from the other UCalgary strategy leads panel.
- Corey Hogan (Ahead of Tomorrow, 2023-2030)
- Shawna Cunningham (ii' taa'poh'to'p, Indigenous strategy)
- Janaka Ruwanpura (International Global Engagement Plan)
- Andrew Szeto (Community Mental Health/Well-Being Strategy)
- Joanne Perdue (Sustainability strategy)
- Working Groups are established.
- Start of internal scans
- SOAR analysis begins
Presenters and Guest Speakers
Dr. Penny Werthner. Dr. William Ghali and Dr. Malinda Smith - Presidential Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility - Meeting 7: UCalgary EDIA Strategy Roadmap and Strategy Leads Panel
UCalgary Strategy Leads
- Mr. Corey Hogan – Chief Communications Officer - Ahead of Tomorrow
- Dr. Shawna Cunningham – Acting Vice Provost and Associate Vice President Research Indigenous Engagement - ii’taa’poh’to’p
- Dr. Janaka Ruwanpura – Vice Provost and Associate Vice President Research, International - Global Engagement Plan
- Dr. Andrew Szeto – Director, Campus Mental Health Strategy - Campus Mental Health Strategy
- Ms. Joanne Perdue – Associate Vice President, Sustainability - Institutional Sustainability Strategy
- Evaluation and selection of external consultant.
- Appointment of Working Group co-leads.
- Operational and administrative readiness to launch IECB strategic framework.
- Preparation and launch of RFP for external consultant;
- conduct internal scans
- conduct external scans
- support EDI strategy and action planning engagement activities.
- IECB strategic framework
- Importance of institutional readiness
- Examining the importance of intersectionality, the need for concrete actions, and implementation tools in EDIA strategy development.
- Discuss challenges to EDIA work: infrastructure, resources, resistance, culture and difficult conversations.
- Value of relationship building, flexibility to change course, mitigation of diversity and cultural taxes faced by members of equity-deserving groups
Presenters and Guest Speakers
EDIA in the Canadian and Post-secondary Sector
- Dr. Enakshi Dua, Professor of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s’ Studies at York University
- Dr. Sheila Cote-Meek, Anishinaabe from the Teme-Augama Anishnabai, Professor and Director of Indigenous Educational Studies Program at Brock University, and former inaugural Vice President, Equity, People and Culture at York University
- Ms. Chi Iliya-Ndule, alumni representative on PTF-EDIA, Co-Founder and President of the Calgary Black Chambers and corporate commercial lawyer in the Calgary Office of Blake, Cassels, and Graydon LLP.
- UCalgary has developed capacity and infrastructure in the use of disaggregated data-informed initiatives;
- Inclusive Excellence Cluster Hiring Initiative
- Program for Undergraduate Research Experience
- Examine UCalgary’s EDI data infrastructure and use of data-informed and evidence-based decision-making.
- Understanding student engagement, teaching and learning with an EDI data lens.
- EDI data and equity gaps overview.
Presenters and Guest Speakers
Dr. Malinda Smith - EDI at UCalgary: What We’ve Heard
Dr. Leslie Reid, Dr. Kyla Flanagan and Erin Kaipainen - Understanding student engagement and teaching & learning through an EDIA lens
Dr. Malinda Smith and Dr. Tolu Sajobi - Using EDI Data to Understand Equity Gaps in Representation at UCalgary: An Equity Gap Analysis
Mr. Adnan Ahmed and Ms. Jacqueline Lambert - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Dashboard
- Overview of evaluation and expansion of data collection and assets at UCalgary leveraging EDI data for analysis for equitable, inclusive initiatives.
- Importance of FOIP, data governance, management, and trust in data collection in alignment with Stats Can standards.
- We can leverage this data for a gap analysis that informs equity-focused initiatives (e.g., Inclusive Excellence Cluster Hiring Initiative).
- Currently working on an institutional standard demographic self-identification data collection for administrative uses.
- EDI Data dashboard and Data Hub reflects commitment to transparency and community access to broader EDI data.
Presenters and Guest Speakers
Ms. Pamela Hinman - EDI Data and FOIP, Application of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FOIP”)
Dr. Malinda Smith, and Ms. Jacqueline Lambert - EDI Data Assets at the UCalgary, Presentation prepared for the Presidential Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA)
Dr. Tolu Sajobi and Ms. Jacqueline Lambert - EDI Data-in-Action at the University of Calgary, Selected Examples of EDI in Research Ecosystem and EDI in Recruiting Talent (Inclusive Excellence Cluster Hiring Initiative)
- EDIA quantitative and qualita-tive data, priorities, literacy, trust, and transparency.
- Shifting from good intentions to institutional implementation and impact requires EDIA education, training and practical supports.
- Moving from EDIA led by indi-vidual champions toward EDIA embedded within our institu-tional programs, policies, processes and frameworks.
- Recognizing that people need to see themselves reflected in institutional EDIA, no matter how they identify.
- The EDIA strategy action and implementation plan must reflects and responds to the interests of all UCalgary roles and equity deserving groups.
Presenters and Guest Speakers
Dr. Malinda Smith - Update on EDIA Strategic Planning – Road Travelled, Road Ahead
- Review and final revisions to Terms of Reference.
- Overview of EDIA history and foundations at UCalgary.
- Review of EDIA initiatives to foundational initiatives:
- CRC-EDI Action Plan
- Dimensions EDI Plan
- EDI in Research and Teaching Awards Plan
- Inclusive Excellence Teaching Awards
- Plenary community engagement strategy.
Presenters and Guest Speakers
Dr. Malinda Smith and Dr. Susan Skone - University of Calgary CRC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan
Dr. Malinda Smith, Dr. Gregor Wolbring and Ms. Jaya Dixit - University of Calgary’s Dimensions EDI Initiative
Dr. Malinda Smith, Dr. Rob Thompson and Dr. Leslie Reid - Plan for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Research & Teaching Awards
- Opening with President Dr. Ed. McCauley.
- Introductions with co-chairs, Interim Provost Dr. Penny Werthner and Vice-Provost EDI, Dr. Malinda Smith.
- Review of PTF-EDIA governance structure and importance of focus on the consultation with all roles (students, staff, post-docs, sessional, faculty, leader-ship).
- Review and discussion of Terms of Reference, governance structure and EDIA trends in the post-secondary sector.
- Discussion of the language of EDIA and alignment with broader EDIA and post-secondary directions.
Presenters and Guest Speakers
Dr. Ed McCauley, President and Vice Chancellor, University of Calgary - Opening remarks
Dr. Penny Werthner, Interim Provost & Vice-President (Academic), University of Calgary - Opening remarks
Dr. Malinda Smith, Vice-Provost, Associate Vice-President Research (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), University of Calgary - Opening remarks
Presenters and Guest Speakers
Preliminary Internal Analysis of the Current State of EDIA at the University of Calgary
November 28, 2023
Presentation by Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA)
Mr. Barry Burciul, Vice President & Director of Research
Ms. Nikita Kapur, Research Manager
Janelle Curry, Research Associate
Ms. Sandrine Desforges, Research Associate
Alexandria Petit-Thorne, Research Associate
Ms. Samantha Pufek, Graphic Designer
IECB Roadmap to EDIA Strategy, Action, and Implementation Plans
October 26, 2023
Presentation by Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA)
Mr. Barry Burciul, Vice President & Director of Research
Ms. Nikita Kapur, Research Manager
Janelle Curry, Research Associate
Ms. Sandrine Desforges, Research Associate
Alexandria Petit-Thorne, Research Associate
Ms. Samantha Pufek, Graphic Designer
EDIA Strategy Development Roadmap and UCalgary Strategy Leads Panel I
September 27, 2023
Mr. Corey Hogan – Chief Communications Officer - Ahead of Tomorrow
Dr. Shawna Cunningham – Acting Vice Provost and Associate Vice President Research Indigenous Engagement - ii’taa’poh’to’p
Dr. Janaka Ruwanpura – Vice Provost and Associate Vice President Research, International - Global Engagement Plan
Dr. Andrew Szeto – Director, Campus Mental Health Strategy - Campus Mental Health Strategy
Ms. Joanne Perdue – Associate Vice President, Sustainability - Institutional Sustainability Strategy
EDIA in the Canadian and Post-Secondary Landscapes at UCalgary
June 29, 2023
Dr. Enakshi Dua, Professor of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s’ Studies at York University, EDIA in the Canadian and Post-Secondary Sector
Dr. Sheila Cote-Meek, Anishinaabe from the Teme-Augama Anishnabai, Professor and Director of Indigenous Educational Studies Program at Brock University, and former inaugural Vice President Equity, People and Culture at York University, EDIA in the Canadian and Post-Secondary Sector
Ms. Chi Iliya-Ndule is an alumni representative on PTF-EDIA, Co-Founder and President of the Calgary Black Chambers and a corporate commercial lawyer in the Calgary Office of Blake, Cassels, and Graydon LLP., EDIA in the Canadian and Post-Secondary Sector
Review Disaggregated Data and EDI Data Trends
May 25, 2023
Dr. Malinda Smith - EDI at UCalgary: What We’ve Heard
Dr. Leslie Reid, Dr. Kyla Flanagan and Erin Kaipainen - Understanding student engagement and teaching & learning through an EDIA lens
Dr. Malinda Smith and Dr. Tolu Sajobi - Using EDI Data to Understand Equity Gaps in Representation at UCalgary: An Equity Gap Analysis
Mr. Adnan Ahmed and Ms. Jacqueline Lambert - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Dashboard
EDI Data Standards, Assets, Gaps and Needs
May 8, 2023
Ms. Pamela Hinman - EDI Data and FOIP, Application of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FOIP”)
Dr. Malinda Smith and Ms. Jacqueline Lambert - EDI Data Assets at the UCalgary, Presentation prepared for the Presidential Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA)
Dr. Tolu Sajobi and Ms. Jacqueline Lambert - EDI Data-in-Action at the University of Calgary, Selected Examples of EDI in Research Ecosystem and EDI in Recruiting Talent (Inclusive Excellence Cluster Hiring Initiative)
Review of EDIA Initiatives at UCalgary
March 29, 2023
Dr. Malinda Smith and Dr. Susan Skone - University of Calgary CRC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan
Dr. Malinda Smith, Dr. Gregor Wolbring and Ms. Jaya Dixit - University of Calgary’s Dimensions EDI Initiative
Dr. Malinda Smith, Dr. Rob Thompson and Dr. Leslie Reid - Plan for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Research & Teaching Awards
LAUNCH - Presidential Task Force on EDIA
March 8, 2023
Dr. Ed McCauley, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Calgary - Opening remarks
Dr. Penny Werthner, Interim Provost & Vice-President (Academic), University of Calgary - Opening remarks
Dr. Malinda Smith, Vice-Provost, Associate Vice-President Research (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), University of Calgary - Opening remarks
Presidential Task Force on EDIA Community Engagement
The Presidential Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (PTF-EDIA) will be undertaking its meaningful community consultation phase. Engagement opportunities will occur throughout early 2024, from February to April.