Study: Canada's university faculties lack diversity

Summary

The Canadian Association of University Teachers reports that staff diversity in universities has stagnated, with visible minorities constituting only a fifth of instructors and less than 2% being indigenous. At McGill University, students like Christina Lau note the lack of diversity among senior professors, which impacts their educational experience. Dalhousie University faculty members echo this sentiment, highlighting feelings of isolation. Institutions like McGill are taking steps to address this by conducting diversity surveys to inform policies and increase representation, aiming to reflect the diversity of the student body in their staff.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Canadian Association of University Teachers notes a lack of diversity among university instructors, suggesting that progress has stalled.
• 🌐 There's a call for proactive strategies to increase staff diversity in universities and post-secondary systems.
• 🔢 Visible minorities constitute just over a fifth of university instructors in Canada, with indigenous academics making up less than 2%.
• 🖤 Only 2% of professors in Canada are Black, a statistic that has remained unchanged for ten years.
• 🎓 Students at McGill University in Montreal have observed a lack of diversity among senior professors, with many being white.
• 🗣️ Students report having different experiences when interacting with professors of color compared to their white counterparts.
• 🏫 Dalhousie University faculty members share experiences of isolation and encountering condescending attitudes from colleagues.
• 📊 McGill University initiated a diversity survey to gather data on the racial and ethnic backgrounds of staff members.
• 📈 The survey aims to inform policies and address underrepresentation of certain racialized minority groups in the workforce.
• 🌟 The First Nations University of Canada in Regina serves as a model for creating an inclusive environment for indigenous students.

Q & A

What is the current situation regarding staff diversity among Canadian university instructors?

Staff diversity among Canadian university instructors has stalled, with visible minorities making up just over a fifth of instructors and indigenous academics less than 2%.

What is the percentage of black professors in Canadian universities according to the script?

Only 2% of professors are black, and this number has remained constant for a decade.

What is the Canadian Association of University Teachers' stance on staff diversity?

The Canadian Association of University Teachers believes that action on staff diversity has stalled and emphasizes the need for positive strategies to change the composition of university staff.

What is the experience of a black faculty member at Dalhousie University as described in the script?

The black faculty member at Dalhousie University experiences isolation and often has to deal with condescending attitudes from faculty colleagues.

What steps has McGill University taken to address workforce diversity?

McGill University launched a diversity survey for all staff members to gather data on their racial and ethnic backgrounds, aiming to inform policies and address underrepresentation.

How does the presence of diverse staff impact students at McGill University?

Having diverse staff, such as a black environmental studies professor, allows for different discussions, including experiences with racism, which can be beneficial for students.

What is the goal of the diversity survey at McGill University?

The goal of the diversity survey is to collect data that can be used to inform policies and address underrepresentation of certain racialized minority groups in the workforce.

How does the First Nations University of Canada in Regina create an inclusive environment?

The First Nations University of Canada in Regina creates an inclusive environment by having a significant presence of indigenous staff and faculty, which inspires indigenous students to strive for success.

What is the importance of having diverse role models in higher education as per the script?

Diverse role models in higher education, like successful indigenous individuals, can serve as inspiration for students from similar backgrounds to pursue success.

What is the script's overall message regarding the need for change in university staff diversity?

The script emphasizes that it is time for a change in university staff diversity, with a focus on increasing representation of underrepresented groups to reflect the broader population.