KPU launches Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan
The plan focuses on supporting EDI practices across the university and strengthening employee awareness
Canadian Senator Baltej Dhillon, who is a graduate from KPU, was the keynote speaker at the launch event for the action plan in July. (Kwantlen Polytechnic University/Flickr)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has launched an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan to promote the understanding of EDI practices among employees and help incorporate them into the university’s curriculum.
The action plan, which launched last month, includes 80 recommendations divided into nine themes: broad institutional support; education, training, and resources; leadership; complaint reporting and processes; health and wellness; accommodations and supports; hiring; retention and advancement; and ongoing data collection.
The recommendations were developed over a three-year period through institution-wide consultations and a feedback process, KPU Vice-President Equity and Inclusive Communities Asma Sayed wrote in an email statement to The Runner.
“The recommendations are also guided by eight principles ensuring that EDI work is done in a thoughtful and meaningful way centring decolonization, anti-racism, intersectionality, and equity-denied groups,” Sayed wrote.
The EDI Action Plan is mandated by Tri Council, the three federal granting agencies that fund research for Canadian post-secondary institutions and have the Canada Research Chair program.
“KPU is obliged to follow these requirements. As we embarked on the process, we decided to make the plan broader and part of KPU’s overall commitment to social justice to benefit all employees.”
The first step in developing the plan was conducting the diversity census and inclusion survey among all employees through the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion.
The collected data made an initial draft plan, which was sent to KPU employees for feedback through a survey, which was later incorporated in the final plan.
One of the goals of the EDI Action Plan is addressing systemic barriers to create space for full participation of employees, Sayed wrote.
“Implementation of the recommendations will ensure that all employees feel welcome, that they have equitable opportunities to succeed in their roles, and that KPU builds a supportive educational and work experience for all.”
The Office of Equity and Inclusive Communities will oversee the process and work on ensuring that all the recommendations are assigned to relevant leadership teams.
“We will track the progress through metrics which we have developed with support from our Office of Planning and Accountability,” Sayed wrote.
The plan highlights the need to address barriers and make ongoing systemic and structural changes to shape KPU into a more just and inclusive place.
The implementation of recommendations will bring KPU closer to making a more diverse and equitable space, she wrote.
“We thank everyone who was involved in providing feedback and developing the action plan. We hope that the KPU community will come together to champion equity and justice and work together to build a more inclusive institution.”
