外流影片

外流影片 will add three Mi'kmaw or Indigenous scholars and three African Nova Scotian or African Canadian scholars to its ranks through a newly established cluster hiring initiative. A result of a Memorandum of Agreement between the University and the Faculty Association, the hiring plan is part of Acadia鈥檚 strategic priority to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion.

鈥淎肠补诲颈补鈥檚 cluster hiring initiative is a way to expedite closing gaps in diversity of our faculty,鈥� says Dr. Dale Keefe, Acadia鈥檚 Provost and Vice-President Academic. 鈥淭he University is committed to recruiting and ensuring the success of new scholars from equity-deserving groups.鈥�

The new cluster hiring came about in recognition of the systemic underrepresentation of Indigenous and Black faculty at Acadia. Positions are available in any academic area within Acadia's three faculties and at any academic rank. Recruitment for these positions is open and will continue until all positions have been filled.

CONFIRMING APPLICANTS鈥� SELF-IDENTITY

In light of high-profile cases where candidates have falsely asserted Indigenous identity, Acadia has introduced a protocol to ensure that candidates are part of the community to which they claim to belong.

鈥淲e start with self-identification, and we also have members of our hiring committee vet the applications,鈥� says Dr. Claudine Bonner in conversation with CBC Radio鈥檚 Portia Clark. Bonner is Acadia鈥檚 first Vice-Provost of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. She is the senior leader responsible for providing vision, excellence, and leadership to support the University鈥檚 equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.

鈥淚n the case of the Mi鈥檏maw hires, we have Mi鈥檏maw community members on our hiring committee,鈥� Bonner adds. 鈥淲e also have what is called an Indigenous Association and Board Council, and both groups are given the authority to help us determine the identity of our applicants.鈥�

INCREASING DIVERSITY OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

鈥淲e are also working to diversify our international student population and grow it from about 13 percent now to about 20 percent,鈥� Keefe says. 鈥淭hat would be about 800 international students from around the world to create a diverse community and bring in all those different experiences and cultures. It鈥檚 really exciting.鈥�

He explains that there is a desire to change the visible look of Acadia.

鈥淲e鈥檒l know we're successful when students no longer tell us that they don't see a faculty member who looks like them, or that they don't know anybody from their country or who shares their experience working at Acadia,鈥� says Keefe.

Most importantly, he adds, 鈥淲e鈥檒l know we're on the right path when students feel like this is a community they're included in as opposed to just being welcomed into.鈥�

Bonner agrees that visibility is vital.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important that students are able to see themselves represented in the people who teach them, the people who work around them, and to recognize that there are opportunities for them in terms of what they do when they leave the University,鈥� Bonner says.

鈥淧eople are very excited on campus,鈥� she explains. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to seeing new colleagues on campus in July. It鈥檚 an exciting period for the University.鈥�

MORE INFORMATION

Review the cluster hiring initiative details.

Listen to with CBC Radio鈥檚 Portia Clark.

Watch a Change Makers Series video about Dr. Claudine Bonner.

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