The University of Alberta encourages and supports individual, collaborative, and collective efforts to protect human rights and to identify, address, and reduce inequities and barriers to access for all members of the university community.
Removing specific EDI language from our recruitment policy does not signal a retreat from human rights or fairness obligations. Instead, it reflects a shift toward embedding access and excellence more holistically and equitably across hiring practices.
The University of Alberta hires on the basis of merit while remaining committed to identifying and removing systemic barriers to attract and retain the most qualified faculty and staff. This ensures we live up to our strategic commitments and that we continue to grow and support our diverse and vibrant community.
This commitment has enabled the U of A to attract world-class talent and maintain excellence in both teaching and research. We are confident that will continue.
It is important to note that the University of Alberta remains in compliance with all research funding requirements. Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) expectations established by major funders continue to guide our practices, and we are committed to ensuring the conditions for success for U of A researchers.
Changes to the policy were carefully considered to ensure continued compliance with funder expectations, including those of the Tri-agencies. The university has been in communication with the Tri-agencies to ensure continued compliance.
We are grateful for the valuable input from our faculty and student partners, and will continue to work closely with them as we implement this revised policy.