Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Our Commitment to Equity, Racial Justice, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization

The Faculty of Social Work (FSW), University of Calgary (UCalgary), is committed to promoting and actualizing equity, racial justice, diversity, inclusion and decolonization.  We align our work with the UCalgary’s commitment to the Alberta Human Rights Act, Canada Employment Equity Act, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, Scarborough Charter, Dimensions: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Canada Charter, as well as related UCalgary strategies, including: the Canada Research Chair Program’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Awareness Strategy and Action Plan, ii' taa'poh'to'p Indigenous Strategy, and Campus Mental Health Strategy. Our work is guided by a number of UCalgary policies and procedures, including: Code of Conduct, Employment Equity Policy, Workplace Violence Policy, Workplace Accommodation Policy, and Student Accommodation Policy.  In line with the Eyes High Strategy 2017-22, FSW Strategic Plan and Anti-Black Racism Action Plan, we affirm that diversity and uniqueness are enriching and valuable, and that they can strengthen our teaching, learning, research, scholarship, and community connections.

We, thus, state our intention to foster an inclusive, thriving and equitable environment for our students, non-academic and academic staff, and community members. We take the stand that equity does not mean sameness in treatment of people, but rather requires measures and accommodations for diverse life experiences and circumstances to ensure that no one of a particular social group is disadvantaged, underrepresented or overlooked in all aspects of our work.  We intend to address systemic inequities and compounded disadvantages due to intersectionality of social locations, particularly for those who are members of racialized communities, Indigenous peoples, Black peoples, persons with disabilities, migrant groups (including refugees and immigrants), 2SLGBTQ+ communities, linguistic minorities as well as those who have experienced socioeconomic, caregiving, religious, political, and/or cultural barriers to their education and employment. We also recognize, honour, and integrate into our work diverse perspectives, ways of knowing and doing, experiences, and strengths. An anti-oppressive lens, particularly intersectional, anti-colonial, ant-racist and decolonizing frameworks, will inform our work.