Anna Voskuil | News Editor
Victoria Silman | Assistant News Editor
Featured Image: The human resources department released the report on September 3. | Fatema Ali
On September 3, York’s human resources department released the 2017 Statistical Employment Equity report. The report examines the representation of various groups on campus, including: women, Indigenous persons, visible minorities (racialized), and persons with disabilities. The report takes figures from previous years to determine the progress the university has made to ensure inclusivity and equality amongst employees.
In total, women represented 56 per cent of York employees, with an external availability figure of 53 per cent. Percentages of women represented within York employees remained comparable to the 2016 report.
According to York Media Advisor and Specialty Spokesperson, Yanni Dagonas, this has been maintained through programs to ensure inclusivity and equity at York.
“Initiatives like the 2015 Lassonde School of Engineering’s $1.5-million challenge to become the first engineering school in Canada to reach a 50:50 gender balance are examples of York’s commitment to achieving gender balance,” he says.
Those who identify as persons with disabilities made up 4.5 per cent of York employees; however, their representation—excluding casual staff and CUPE 3903 employees—exceeds in three out of five York divisions, as well as in six out of 11 faculties.
As well, visible minorities represented 27 per cent of internal representation, with an external availability of 27.8 per cent.
Indigenous persons were deemed highly underrepresented, as only one percent of the employee base identified as Indigenous persons. Additionally, this group only represented one per cent of new hires and total terminations, and none represented total promotions.
According to the report, there tends to be a significant underrepresentation within middle and other managers, Professionals, Semi-Professional,s and Technicians employment equity occupational groups.
Dagonas explains: “York recently announced a new Indigenous teacher education degree rooted in Indigenous thought. The Bachelor of Education—Wabaan Indigenous Teacher Education—has been developed to address the persistent need for more Indigenous educators, and education, across Ontario.
“Wabaan will be grounded in Indigenous knowledge and pedagogy and will include teachings from Indigenous Elders, educators, and community leaders,” he further explains.
The report also aims to address initiatives related to diversity inclusion. Such initiatives include Unconscious Bias Training, which provides training to non-academic and academic selection/search committees on the removal of bias in the hiring, interview, and selection process. Alongside this is an analysis of racialized data for all groups, enhancing the understanding of racialized groups on campus.
As well, a York Student Identity Census—which will capture equity data from all students, informing York’s policy, service, program, and environment evaluation—is set to begin in the coming years; among many others.
“We recognize that York has more work to do with respect to equity, diversity, and inclusion,” Dagonas explains. “Inclusion happens when diversity of experience, thought, and identity harmonize around common purpose.”
