Universities Canada Approves Antibias Requirement

Members of the Universities Canada association voted Wednesday in favor of a new criterion for membership related to nondiscrimination.

The new criterion approved by more than two-thirds of members present at the association’s fall meeting states: “With respect to all institutional policies and practices, the institution affirms its commitment to equal treatment of all persons without discrimination, on the basis of race, religious beliefs, color, gender, physical or mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status, sex, and sexual orientation, or other grounds identified in applicable human rights law.”

Prospective Universities Canada members must immediately meet the new criterion, while existing members have until 2020 to make any changes necessary to meet it.

Helen Murphy, a spokeswoman for Universities Canada, said the addition of the criterion was not prompted “by any one incident or issue. Rather, the board believes that this new criterion reflects the views and principles of a majority of our members and Canadians. The decision of our membership demonstrates a commitment to diversity and inclusion by Canada’s universities.”

More information: https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2016/10/28/universities-canada-approves-antibias-requirement