A diverse workplace signals that the faculty draws from the best talent available, that our students get a well-rounded education, and that our research programs are informed by diverse perspectives. Diversity is not only synergistic with excellence, but also promotes equitable access to the rewards of an academic career.
Recent reports on the working environment, parent leave and mentoring within the Faculty point to ways the university can foster excellence by providing a more supportive and equitable environment for all of our faculty. These reports, and consultation with the faculty, provided thoughtful recommendations on steps that UBC Science and the UBC administration can take to address current problems and concerns.
The Faculty of Science Dean's Office has already acted on several of these recommendations, but we have much work ahead of us and must all work together to be successful. We must increase our efforts to hire outstanding women and men from different cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or disability status. We must also ensure that all of our faculty are comfortable in expressing their viewpoints, are supported in doing their best work, have support for family responsibilities, and know that their accomplishments are valued.
As we move forward, we will use these web pages to update you on important developments and progress in implementing the recommendations of our task force.
- Simon Peacock, Dean of Science, UBC
Diversity and Equity
Equity and Working Climate Initiatives and Outcomes Pertaining to Tenure-track Faculty at UBC Science: 2007–2010 | February 2011
A key component of the recommendations resulting from the 2007 Working Climate Assessment (WCA) called for the collection of data to measure the effects of proposed diversity policy initiatives targeted toward tenure-track faculty members in UBC Science. This present report summarizes and highlights the findings of three years of data collection and analyses on recruitment and hiring, partner accommodation, promotion and tenure cases, leadership appointments, merit and retention cases, academic awards, and work-life balance. While the period studied is relatively brief and the data are therefore limited, these statistics provide new information on the status of women at UBC Science beyond that presented in the 2007 WCA report.
» Report: Equity and Working Climate Initiatives and Outcomes Pertaining to Tenure-Track Faculty at UBC Science: 2007–2010 | PDF, 180 kb
Up-date: Towards a Diverse Faculty of Science at UBC | November 2010
Download Dean Simon Peacock’s presentation to the NSERC Summit on Increasing Women’s Participation in Science and Engineering.
» Presentation: Towards a Diverse Faculty of Science at UBC | PDF, 230 kb
Towards a Diverse Faculty of Science at UBC Vancouver | January 2009
Dean Simon Peacock and Anne Condon, Associate Dean (2007-2010), proposed steps that UBC Science can take to increase the diversity of its faculty, and to support both excellence at work and balance with other life choices. In 2008, Faculty were invited to share their feedback on the draft proposal in order to shape these efforts. The final plan is now available on this website.
» Plan: Towards a Diverse Faculty of Science at UBC Vancouver | PDF, 95 kb
External Review of the UBC Faculty of Science Plan to Support a Diverse Faculty | Mar/April 2008
In March 2008, Professor Ana Mari Cauce, Executive Vice Provost, Academic Affairs and Planning, (since April Dean, College of Arts and Sciences), University of Washington, and Professor Angela Hildyard, Vice President, Human Resources and Equity, University of Toronto, visited UBC and conducted an assessment of the proposed UBC Faculty of Science plan to support a diverse faculty. In April, the review team provided their report including advice to the Dean and the Faculty on the effectiveness of the plan and recommendations for potential alternative and additional strategies.
» Review of the UBC Faculty of Science Plan to Support a Diverse Faculty | PDF, 20 kb
» Terms of Reference of the Review Committee | PDF, 57 kb
Assessment of the Working Climate for UBC Science Faculty | May 2007
In 2005, an advisory committee was struck to assess the working climate for science faculty at UBC, with an initial focus on concerns raised by women faculty. This study carefully analyzed both institutional and survey data. It was supported by the Faculty of Science, the Office of the Provost and the Vice President for Research. In 2007, a UBC-wide task force completed their work of developing recommendations based on the main findings of the study.
» Working Climate Assessment, 2007 – Executive Summary | PDF, 30 kb
» Working Climate Assessment, 2007 – Main Findings | PDF, 280 kb
» Working Climate Assessment, 2007 – Full Report of Findings | PDF, 470 kb
» Working Climate Assessment, 2007 – Faculty Member Questionnaire | PDF, 280 kb
» Working Climate Assessment, 2007 – Department Head Questionnaire | PDF, 130 kb
The steps being taken by the UBC Faculty of Science to address the findings of the study were the topic of an article published in University Affairs [online]. The article interviewed Dr. Anne Condon, Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Strategic Initiatives (2007-2010). Read the full article online.
» Online article: UBC Confronts Gender-Related Differences in Faculty of Science | Sep 2007
In 2008, the findings were presented to the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology (CCWESTT).
» CCWESTT Conference Proceedings: Improving the Working Climate in the Faculty of Science at UBC, May 2008 | PDF, 7 mb
Mentoring
Mentoring at UBC Science
The UBC Science page on mentoring provides guidelines for developing departmental policies on faculty mentoring, recommendations for establishing and maintaining a successful mentor-mentee relationship, and pointers to further internal and external resources on mentoring and related topics.
» Mentoring Science Faculty: Principles and Resources
UBC Science Mentoring Report 2004
Report of the UBC Faculty of Science ad-hoc Committee on Mentoring of New Faculty, 2004.
» Download the Mentoring Report 2004 | PDF, 80 kb
