Several Ontario universities have expressed interest in implementing the diversity and equity planning tool created by Queen’s University.

“It’s often difficult to identify opportunities and measure successes. It’s hard to say ‘this is the progress we’ve made or the progress we are making,’” says Jane Ngobia, Assistant Vice-President, Diversity and Human Rights, University of Guelph. “So it would be great to have a tool like this to help us with that work.”

Dr. Ngobia and other senior equity officers from several Ontario universities met in Kingston recently where they saw a demonstration of the Diversity and Equity Assessment Planning Tool (DEAP).  The online interactive tool, which the Equity Office began rolling out at Queen’s earlier this year, allows deans and department heads to assess equity and diversity in their areas and set targets for improvement.

Laura Mae Lind, Director, Diversity and Equity, Wilfrid Laurier University, says she was impressed by the tool’s ability to guide strategic planning at both the departmental and university-wide levels.

“We are trying to figure out the strategies we can use to help people pull these pieces together, and I think a tool like this would be really applicable,” Dr. Lind says.

The DEAP tool allows faculties as well their departments or units to assess the demographic profile of their staff, faculty and students. Using that information, they can develop an action plan and timeline for improvements.

Queen’s Equity Office developed the tool in conjunction with the Senate Educational Equity Committee and other campus stakeholders. The Equity Office drafted the self-assessment survey – a major component of the tool – drawing on, and with the support of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, which has its own diversity and equity audit tool.

“We’ve had great buy-in from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Medicine; now it’s great to see that positive response at other universities,” says Irène Bujara, University Advisor on Equity and Human Rights. “As more and more institutions adopt the DEAP tool, my colleagues and I will have common data that will help us work collaboratively to meet our commitments to equity and diversity in our workplaces and classrooms.”

Visit the Equity Office website to learn more about DEAP.