Sheridan selected to participate in a nation-wide program aimed at increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in postsecondary research

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, and the Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance, today announced Sheridan as one of 17 postsecondary institutions chosen to participate in the Government of Canada’s newly established Dimensions pilot program.

Dimensions is an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiative led by the Canadian granting agencies Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Its objective is to foster transformational change within the Canadian postsecondary research community by identifying and eliminating obstacles and inequities related to funding, participation and practices.

Colleges and universities across Canada were selected based on their demonstration of a commitment to EDI through existing programs, resources and supports.

Earlier this year, Sheridan signed on to the Dimensions Charter – a voluntary, symbolic commitment to prioritizing research EDI initiatives – in a ceremony involving Minister Duncan and Dr. Janet Morrison, Sheridan’s President and Vice Chancellor.

In March, Sheridan was awarded an Institutional Capacity-Building Grant that provides funding to advance our research EDI objectives. Dr. Mary Louise Noce, Associate Dean in the School of Community Studies, has been seconded to serve as Director of Research EDI Initiatives for a two-year term. Her role will work to embed EDI in Sheridan’s existing culture of scholarship, research and creative activities (SRCA).

In Sheridan's soon-to-be public five-year Strategic Plan titled Sheridan 2024: Galvanizing Education for a Complex World, EDI is a cornerstone of the institution’s trajectory. It was identified as a priority by the Sheridan community through a lengthy consultative process involving more than 3,000 stakeholders. In the spring, an EDI Advisory Council was struck with student, faculty and staff representatives from across Sheridan with a mandate to establish an EDI Action Plan.

“It’s a significant achievement for Sheridan to be named alongside other exemplary institutions working to embed EDI in policies and practices,” said Andrea England, Vice Provost of Research. “We are continually striving to build on Sheridan’s reputation for research excellence and ensuring that we include broader participation from often underrepresented communities, which will only serve to improve our research efforts and their impact.”

Dr. Jane Ngobia, Vice President of Inclusive Communities has played an integral role in positioning Sheridan as an EDI leader in the postsecondary sector. “We’re taking action on what we’ve heard from members of our community and working collaboratively to ensure that our structures, culture and practices are fostering broad participation in research and creative activities.”

Of the 17 postsecondary institutions named at the Dimensions announcement at Ryerson University, Sheridan is one of only two Ontario colleges to be selected and one of only five colleges across Canada. As a pilot institution, Sheridan will be in a unique position to help steer the Dimensions program by providing institution-specific data and analysis to further develop the program and its delivery.

Learn more about research at Sheridan.