Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

On this page:

CRC Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Plan
Simon Fraser University Commitment Statement
Strategy for Raising Awareness
Governance
Monitoring Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Concerns
SFU’s Equity Targets & Gaps
Policies and Procedures that Govern Staffing of Canada Research Chairs
Simon Fraser University Canada Research Chairs Equity Committee
Canada Research Chairs Program Utilization Spreadsheet
Canada Research Chairs Program: Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Information
Public Reports

SFU is committed to ensuring that all CRC nominations and recruitment processes follow best practices and adhere to equity requirements.

CRC Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Plan

The Tri–Agency Programs Secretariat (TIPS) requires all institutions with five or more chair allocations to develop an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan for the Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP). This webpage details SFU’s equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives and fulfills TIPS’ public transparency requirements.

This action plan guides SFU’s efforts to sustain the participation of and/or address the underrepresentation of individuals from the four designated groups (FDGs)—women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and members of visible minorities—among SFU's chairholders. The CRC EDI action plan captures our efforts to embed equity, diversity, and inclusion principles into SFU processes and practices within the CRC program and beyond.

View SFU's CRC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan

Institutionally, the Equity Office at SFU is at the forefront of transforming the SFU experience to uplift and uphold human rights of all people in our community, while identifying and addressing systemic inequities. By translating the university's value of equity and belonging into tangible actions, as outlined in the Equity Compass, we guide the institution towards a more inclusive future through a sustainable and holistic approach to Inclusive Excellence. 

View SFU’s Institutional Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy: Equity Compass

Simon Fraser University Commitment Statement

In accordance with the mandate from the Federal Government and the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program, Simon Fraser University (SFU) offers this commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion:

Simon Fraser University is an institution whose strength is based on our shared commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Equity Compass upholds all of SFU’s values as noted in our What’s Next: The SFU Strategy but in particular operationalizes the value of equity and belonging. SFU is committed to ensuring no individual is denied access to employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability or qualifications. Consistent with this principle, SFU will advance the interests of underrepresented members of the work force, specifically Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized persons and women; embrace gender and sexual diversity; ensure that equal opportunity is afforded to all who seek employment at the University; and treat all employees equitably. Candidates that belong to underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

View SFU’s Employment Equity Policy

Strategy for Raising Awareness

SFU is committed to uplift and uphold human rights of all people in our community, while identifying and addressing systemic inequities and ensuring the university community is aware of the benefits of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the CRC Program and beyond.

• The SFU CRC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan is guided by SFU’s Strategic Research Plan’s identified challenge of “strengthening civil society by advancing justice, equity, and social responsibility”; CRC Program resource guide: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Best Practices for Recruitment, Hiring and Retention; and the SFU Faculty Association Salary Equity Recommendation Committee’s guiding principle “to advance equity, distributive justice, fairness and high integrity of all procedures and recommendations.”
• SFU’s commitment to operationalizing our value of equity and belonging and raising awareness of the benefits of equity, diversity, and inclusion with the CRC Program include:
  • advancing SFU’s institutional EDI work over the next five years, as outlined in the Equity Compass 
  • creating and publicizing the work of the SFU CRC Equity Committee, whose mandate was to oversee the creation of SFU’s CRC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan;
  • communicating equity and diversity objectives of SFU’s CRC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan to all faculty, staff, and students via the SFU Research website and email correspondence to staff and faculty from the VPRI Office;
  • holding information sessions for faculty and staff to learn more about SFU’s CRC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan in 2017; 
  • overviews and detailed processes on all aspects of CRC administration (internal and external), along with training, templates, forms and checklists to assist CRC search committees, and information on equity requirements and best practices; and 
  • regular communications with faculties and departments to ensure compliance with equity requirements for CRC search processes. 
• In 2021, SFU launched two new resources to raise awareness:
  • The Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Research webpage. EDI is tightly related to research excellence and research cannot meet the bar to be considered excellent if it not inclusive. The webpage provides context of the Canadian Research Funding ecosystem and resources for incorporating EDI in research.
  • The Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in hiring training module. The module was created to help ensure procedural fairness, increase diversity in chairholders and develop diversity competencies. The module is comprehensive and includes an overview of unconscious bias, but also how unconscious bias is applied throughout various stages of the hiring process including: the job advertisement, long listing, shortlisting, interviewing and negotiating with candidates. It was first piloted with CRC search committees and is available to the University community upon request.
• In 2023, two initiatives have advanced institutional equity, diversity and inclusion:
  • The Equity Compass, which is a strategic framework outlining the focus for SFU’s institutional equity, diversity and inclusion work over the next five years (2023-2028) to help build an SFU where all can thrive. The CRC EDI action plan (2017) was used to inform the Equity Compass.
  • The EDI action plan recommended the establishment of faculty mentoring programs. The 2022-23 CRC EDI stipend was used to advance this goal by conducting a needs assessment and internal and external environmental scans. The stipend will also be used to deliver events that enable networking and informal mentorship. A mentorship resources page was also created to support existing mentors and mentees.

Governance

To oversee the development of the CRC EDI Action Plan, SFU established a CRC Equity Committee comprised of members from faculty, administration, the SFU Faculty Association, and staff.

• The committee’s objectives were to oversee the creation of all required elements of SFU’s CRC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan, which included:
  • data collection on all current Canada Research Chairholders and applicants;
  • meeting the CRC Program’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Public Accountability and Transparency Requirements; and
  • SFU’s CRC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan.
• The committee met monthly and established a governance plan that included:
  • contracting the services of an external equity advisor;
  • appointment of a project lead to set timelines, organize meetings, manage deadlines, and liaise with equity advisory to design and create deliverables for consideration of the committee;
  • committee consensus on materials and deliverables related to SFU’s CRC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan; and
  • final approval and oversight from the Vice-President, Research and International, and Vice-President, Academic, on all documentation related to this initiative.

Oversight of the CRC program at SFU, including allocation of chairs and monitoring of equity targets, falls within the Vice-President, Research and Innovation portfolio; final approval of chair allocations requires Executive approval. Where needed, approval and oversight for equity, diversity and inclusion is provided by the Vice-President, People, Equity and Inclusion.

Monitoring Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Concerns

SFU’s Associate Vice President Research oversees the Canada Research Chair Program and is responsible for monitoring and responding to equity, diversity, and inclusion concerns in relation to the Program. Javier Tavitas, (javier_tavitas@sfu.ca), Associate Director of Research Development, Institutional Strategic Awards, is SFU’s first point of contact for bringing such concerns forward to the Director of Institutional Strategic Awards and to the AVP Research.

SFU has several dedicated offices in place to help support our community members through difficult situations and where possible, provide further protection from harm. These offices: 

• provide consultation and advice on individual workplace conflicts and complaints of discrimination or bullying and harassment, including providing coaching and support on conflict resolution and investigations when needed
• provide conflict resolution support to affected parties and collaborating as needed with other departments and stakeholder groups such as union representatives, Equity Office, Human Resources, and other Faculty Relations staff
• Navigate SFU’s supports here: Community Supports

The Equity Office supports the university’s academic mission by ensuring SFU is in compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks at the provincial and federal level and Canadian equity, diversity and inclusion standards and requirements for accreditation. Through partnerships with leaders and units across the university, the Equity Office team provides timely, evidence-informed guidance to support the implementation of equitable and inclusive practices. Where appropriate, the Equity Office partners with Indigenous faculty and staff to support Indigenization, Decolonization and Reconciliation efforts at SFU. 

SFU’s Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – Faculty Initiatives is responsible for:

• Identifying needs and developing institutional strategies related to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion goals and practices at SFU. 
• Working collaboratively with Faculty Relations (in the areas of faculty recruitment, career progression, as well as leadership and development) to ensure fair, inclusive and accessible practices
• Developing resources and providing training for Selection Committees and Tenure and Promotion Committees on strategies and best practices for achieving diversity and inclusion goals and ensuring compliance with the requirements of the SFU Faculty Association collective agreement.
• Providing consultation, coaching, and conflict-resolution services, related to developing and maintaining positive and inclusive workplace environments
• Along with the Director, EDI, Staff Initiatives, Administrates and coordinates activities as per the commitments to employment and pay equity as stated in SFU's Employment Equity Policy GP 19 
• Collaboration with the VPRI ISA office to ensure coordination of central EDI activities and resources with the EDI requirements of the CRC program.

SFU’s Equity Targets & Gaps

Data as of July 1, 2024

Policies and Procedures that Govern Staffing of Canada Research Chairs

The Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program provides the university with the opportunity to recruit world-class scholars across all research disciplines.

More information:

• The Faculty Association of Simon Fraser University Collective Agreement
• Simon Fraser University Academic Policies

Simon Fraser University Canada Research Chairs Equity Committee

The CRC Equity Committee was created in 2017 for the purpose of drafting SFU’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan for the Canada Research Chairs Program. The Committee was comprised of:

Faculty Representatives: Lesley Shannon, Nathalie Sinclair
Faculty Relations: Doug Thorpe-Dorward, Catherine Stoddard
Simon Fraser University Faculty Association: Ronda Arab
Major Projects Office: Theresa Burley
External Advisor: Grace Wong Sneddon

Canada Research Chairs Program Utilization Spreadsheet

SFU CRC Utilization Spreadsheet – November 7, 2024

Canada Research Chairs Program: Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Information

CRC Program: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Requirements and Practices
2021 Canadian Human Rights Settlement Agreement
2019 Addendum to the 2006 Canadian Human Rights Settlement Agreement
Further information on CRC Program Statistics
Requirements for recruiting and nominating Canada Research Chairs

Public Reports

SFU CRC EDI Progress Report 2021-22
SFU CRC EDI Progress Report 2020-21
SFU December 2029 Equity Target Plan
SFU CRC EDI Progress Report 2019-20
Institutional Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan: Progress Report (2018)
Population-based Institutional Equity Targets 2021 to 2029

SFU's CRC advertisements

SFU's active and archived advertisements for internal, external and emergency retention CRCs can be found here.