Office of Inclusive Communities
About EDI at Sheridan
Download Sheridan's Statement of Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Diversity is a Sheridan strength and leveraging it to unleash the potential of faculty, staff and students is our priority. Across our campuses, we’re making meaningful strides towards developing an equitable and inclusive community.
Sheridan is actively embedding values of equity, diversity and inclusion into policies, procedures and decision-making at all levels of the institution, while recognizing that this is an ongoing process fuelled by collective dedication and commitment.
Community engagement, collaborative consultation, respect for Indigenous ways of knowing and diverse perspectives, truth and reconciliation and putting people first, are considerations at the fore of Sheridan’s approach to building inclusive communities.
At Sheridan, we define:
- Equity as fair treatment and access to opportunities. Sheridan values the fair and just treatment of all community members through the creation of opportunities and the removal of barriers to address historic and current disadvantages for equity-seeking and marginalized groups.
- Diversity as all the ways in which we are different. Sheridan values and respects diversity in all its forms, including knowledge, worldviews and experiences. Diversity is born out of membership in different groups.
- Inclusion as a process of intentional efforts to understand another perspective and feel empathy. An inclusive learning and working environment is one where every individual can maximize their potential, irrespective of personal characteristics.
The following four areas work towards advancing a culture of inclusion across Sheridan:
Communications from the Office of Inclusive Communities
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Reports, statements and more:
- EDI commitment report prepared for the Board of Governors (April, 2022)
- EDI commitment report prepared for the Board of Governors (February, 2022)
- EDI commitment report prepared for the Board of Governors (November, 2021)
- Sheridan responds to request from the Ontario Human Rights Commission about creating and sustaining equitable and inclusive education environments (April 29, 2021)
- Email to FAAD and statement regarding launch of a Panel of Inquiry into Music Theatre Program (April 23, 2021)
- Email regarding Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance Program reform (March 22, 2021)
- Global email to staff and students: Our steadfast commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (January 29, 2021)
- EDI commitment report prepared for the Board of Governors (December, 2020)
- EDI commitment report prepared for the Board of Governors (October, 2020)
- Global email to students outlining Sheridan’s plan to address Anti-Black racism (June 12, 2020)
- Global email to staff outlining Sheridan’s plan to address Anti-Black racism (June 11, 2020)
- Message of solidarity and support in recognition of Pride 2020 (June 3, 2020)
- Message of solidarity regarding Anti-Black racism (June 1, 2020)
- Message from Sheridan’s President and Vice Chancellor Reaffirming our Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (April 28, 2020)
Dimensions EDI Canada program
About Dimensions
The Dimensions: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Canada program seeks to foster transformative change within the research ecosystem at Canadian postsecondary institutions by addressing systemic barriers and inequities faced by members of historically and currently underrepresented and/or excluded groups, including but not limited to women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, members of racialized groups, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons.
The Dimensions program is jointly administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Sheridan’s participation in Dimensions
Sheridan is a proud participant in the Dimensions program and has earned a Stage 2: Construction level of recognition.
This level demonstrates a strategic and coordinated approach to addressing EDI. It also means that Sheridan is recognized for having successfully implemented and assessed the outcomes of previous EDI initiatives while also systematically collecting and analyzing representational data.
Sheridan's Dimensions Action Plan
Since we signed the Dimensions charter in 2019, we’ve engaged with employees across Sheridan and garnered input from key areas in order to assess gaps and needs in employment systems.
Our five-year Dimensions Action Plan addresses these gaps and will serve as an important guiding force in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion at Sheridan.
Sheridan’s action plan incorporates quantifiable objectives and transparent reporting to monitor progress and maintain accountability. The action plan will be monitored by the Inclusive Communities Advisory Body.
As we embark on this five-year journey, Sheridan emphasizes that EDI is not merely an initiative but a foundational principle that steers its day-to-day operations, as we aim to embed EDI in everything we do.
Employee Diversity Self-Identification Census
Sheridan conducted its first Employee Diversity Self-Identification Census in 2020. The Census was an important first step towards achieving our goals for equity, diversity and inclusion at Sheridan, as it allowed us to capture baseline understanding on the diversity of our employees. This information will contribute to our efforts to understand and leverage the diversity, perspectives, and lived experience of employees on our campuses.
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How to access the Census and Census results
How to access the Census
Employees can access the Census through Sheridan Central. (On Sheridan Central, navigate to PeopleSoft HR > Self Service > Diversity Self-Identify.)
Employees who completed the survey during its initial launch in April 2020 or during onboarding as a recent hire are not required to take any action. Please note that employees may view, enter or update their self-identification information at any time through the self-service portal.
2020 Census results
The 2020 Census Results Report is available for download:
Download full 2020 Census report
Download 2020 Census report in an accessible format