How diverse is Trent University? The short answer is: we don’t really know.  There are gaps in our knowledge and gaps in the way we ask questions. This is about to change. For the first time ever, Trent University is undertaking a comprehensive Equity and Diversity Survey of its students, faculty, and staff.  The survey is being led by the Centre for Human Rights, Equity, and Accessibility and the Presidential Advisory Council on Human Rights, Equity, and Accessibility (PACHREA).

We hope that every individual who is part of the Trent University community will be able to see themselves in the survey and is able to positively self-identify. What this means is that, instead of just asking whether you are male or female, we ask whether you identify as woman, man, transgender, intersex, two-spirited, gender queer, or another gender.

Questions on sexual orientation, Aboriginal identity, culture and ethnicity, ability, and more, follow this same spirit. Why do we want to know this? It is our hope that once we have a strong set of baseline data, we can begin to evaluate our current services and supports, identify gaps, and design targeted interventions to enhance equity across campus.

Oh, and one more thing: if you complete the survey, you can enter to win an iPad! You can access the survey at trentu.ca/equitysurvey.