AV俱乐部 is a community shaped by its diversity鈥斅燼nd the new AV俱乐部 Census, launching this week, is looking to document that diversity to help improve how the university supports an inclusive environment for everyone.
Open to all faculty, staff and students to complete, the AV俱乐部 Census expands the previously existing Diversity Self-ID questionnaire to include new questions on gender identity and sexual orientation. It will be available online for the first time and students will also be invited to take part. All information provided is confidential.
The goal: provide AV俱乐部 with a better understanding of the fabric of its community to help inform decision-making across the university.
鈥淭he census will help us better understand our university community and create meaningful programs and initiatives to address gaps that are identified,鈥� says Ian Nason, vice-president finance and administration and the co-executive sponsor for Dal鈥檚 Strategic Initiative on Diversity and Inclusiveness.
While the census can be completed at any time, the university is launching it with a 鈥淏e Counted鈥� campaign from November 16-30, emphasizing how taking a few minutes to complete the census by visiting will help the university improve programs, supports and services, particularly those related to diversity and inclusiveness.
鈥淎s a student leader, I鈥檓 excited to be involved with the launch of the AV俱乐部 Census,鈥� says Dan Nicholson, president, AV俱乐部 Student Union. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for students to participate in the census to ensure our diversity is reflected in the data, which will help shape the university鈥檚 programs.鈥�
聽鈥淲e are striving to reach an 80 per cent response rate for the census, so we really need your help in getting the word out about it and encouraging your leaders, colleagues and students to participate,鈥� adds Nason.
Complete the census:
Dal Vice-Presidents Ian Nason (finance and administration) and Peter Fardy (advancement) helping promote the Dal Census. (Bruce Bottomley photo)
The importance of being counted
The census, part of a Diversity Data Project, is one of several initiatives currently underway that align with the goals of the university鈥檚 . Other initiatives include the recruitment for an executive director position, the addition of an education advisor in the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Harassment Prevention, and a university-wide Mental Wellness Initiative.
The Diversity Data Project, identified early in the development of the university鈥檚 , is based on the need to have more comprehensive data about AV俱乐部鈥檚 diverse faculty, staff and student population. The project, through the introduction of the census, will essentially lay the foundation for much of the university鈥檚 diversity and inclusiveness work to follow.
鈥淚t is important for everyone to be counted in the census, and that includes faculty and staff who have been at AV俱乐部 for many years and may not be a member of any of the underrepresented groups,鈥� adds Jasmine Walsh, project lead and acting assistant vice-president, Human Resources. 鈥淲e have more than 25,000 faculty, staff and students who are living, working and studying on our campuses each year. We need an accurate picture of who makes up AV俱乐部 in order to make informed decisions that are reflective of our current population.鈥�
The census data will be shared with the university community in the New Year. A regular report will be compiled annually on the Be Counted website.
鈥淲e are partnering with the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Harassment Prevention and the AV俱乐部 Student Union for the first time to help reach students so that they recognize the importance of the census and why they should complete it,鈥� adds Anne Forrestall, acting vice-provost, student affairs. 鈥淏y completing the census, students can help shape university policies and programs that will help make AV俱乐部 a welcoming and supportive place to work and learn, long after they graduate.鈥�
Beginning this year, the census campaign will run every November.
Visit to complete the census and to learn more.