University of Calgary seeking more diverse staff of professors

The University of Calgary is looking to improve the diversity of its faculty, and will be hiring dozens of professors over the next three years through a new program.

The Inclusive Excellence Cluster Hiring Initiative aims to attract 45 professors to a range of fields in the school. Job postings are specifically targeted towards equity-deserving groups including women, Indigenous and racialized people, as well as people with disabilities.

It's being launched after an equity, diversity and inclusion report completed in 2021showedthat nearly all faculties at the university lack professors from these groups.

The report added that under representation can create challenges for further recruitment and advancement of academic staff.

'Precisely what we need to be doing in this moment'

Malinda Smith, vice-provost and associate vice-president of research at the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion says it will also improve the experience for students.

"It will enhance the student experience by enabling our students to have access to, and to see themselves reflected in the professoriate, and to experience different ways of knowing and a plurality of knowledges in the classroom," she said.

"I think we are excited by it. I think it's transformative, I think it's bold, it's visionary, and I think it's precisely what we need to be doing in this moment."

Smith said Alberta already has an incredibly diverse population, and this initiative will help reflect that within the walls of the University of Calgary, and in turn attract more talent in the future.

Bill Rosehart, dean of the Schulich School of Engineering, added this reflects their mission to continue to innovate on education.

"It sends a very strong signal across the country to say that the University of Calgary is deeply committed to inclusion, to diversity, to Indigenous engagement. I know that through the three years that this initiative will run, we are going to be able to recruit truly outstanding candidates that are going to take the University of Calgary to the next level."

Responding to skeptics

While Smith and Rosehart say the early reaction to the initiative has been largely positive, there are some skeptics as well.

They point to the extensive research that has already been done, and is available on the university's website, to show their commitment to also be transparent on what is being done.

"We're being transparent in this initiative and we really want to take this not only as an opportunity. To enhance our community at the University of Calgary, but really as an opportunity to share the importance of these types of initiatives," said Rosehart.

Smith said this was a deliberate move to share all the research and help show the work that has already been done.

"We strongly believe it's the right thing to do. I would say that we believe diversity fuels creativity, ingenuity, innovation, we believe it enhances critical thinking. We believe, consistent with the research, it makes us smarter and leads to better decision making."

Setting the bar high

While the program is not the only one of its kind at a post-secondary institution, the university feels it is unique in how transparent it has been and there's hope it can be reflected further in other schools.

"While we aren't the first, I would say we are the most transparent, accountable and inclusive in terms of our approach," said Smith. "To let everyone in our community and our society know that the University of Calgary welcomes you and is committed to ensuring that you can thrive here."

Rosehart is very optimistic about what can come in the future as well, and when the initiative wraps up it will have a lasting impact.

"Through this, we will raise the bar at the University of Calgary and have a more positive impact in our community."