University of Regina Joins National Dimensions EDI Recognition Program

Introduction: A Defining Step Toward Institutional Inclusion

The University of Regina (U of R) has achieved a major milestone by being named one of just eighteen institutions across Canada to receive recognition under the Dimensions: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Canada program. This honor reflects not only a growing national awareness of equity and social justice but also the university's long-term commitment to ensuring an inclusive research culture. The Dimensions program, developed as a federal tri-agency initiative, seeks to transform research institutions by rooting EDI deeply into policies, practices, leadership, and community partnerships.

The program stands at the intersection of research excellence and inclusive values, offering a vision of academia that moves beyond performative gestures. It insists on genuine institutional change, and U of R’s selection validates years of groundwork laid by faculty, students, administrators, and local communities working in alignment with these goals.

Understanding the Dimensions EDI Program

The Dimensions EDI program was created to inspire post-secondary institutions in Canada to address systemic inequities in the research landscape. Through a four-stage recognition framework—Foundation, Construction, Consolidation, and Transformation—the program assists institutions in assessing their current climate, developing action plans, and embedding sustainable practices that reflect EDI principles across every aspect of research activity.

Unlike checkbox compliance initiatives, Dimensions demands rigorous self-assessment, evidence-based transformation, and accountability. Institutions that are recognized undergo peer reviews and demonstrate meaningful progress in dismantling systemic barriers that prevent full participation by underrepresented groups.

Why This Recognition Matters

The Dimensions designation goes beyond a title. It validates a university’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all researchers, particularly those from historically marginalized or equity-deserving groups. These include—but are not limited to—Indigenous peoples, women, racialized communities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, and newcomers.

Being chosen indicates a university has shown progress in several key areas:

• Increasing representation in faculty hiring and leadership

• Supporting inclusive student pathways

• Ensuring accessibility in research infrastructure

• Promoting Indigenous ways of knowing

• Addressing harassment, discrimination, and unconscious bias

For U of R, this recognition offers a platform to further its reputation not only as an academic institution but also as a progressive leader in Canadian research.

U of R’s Path to Recognition

The University of Regina’s participation in the Dimensions Canada program is the result of deliberate, sustained effort. Its selection is rooted in a multiyear journey that includes comprehensive institutional self-assessment, engagement with equity-deserving communities, strategic reforms, and transformative planning. The university took the following steps:

1. Conducting Institutional Self-Assessment

The process began with a detailed self-assessment designed to reveal the state of EDI within the institution. This included both quantitative and qualitative methods such as:

• Demographic audits of faculty and students

• Surveys on inclusion, discrimination, and institutional support

• Focus groups and interviews with equity-deserving populations

• Departmental reviews of hiring and promotion criteria

The findings pointed to systemic gaps in access, representation, and outcomes. Rather than hiding or minimizing these results, the university used them to design real-time corrective action.

2. Creating a Governance Framework for EDI

U of R established a cross-functional governance model that included:

• An EDI Steering Committee

• Indigenous Advisory Councils

• Departmental EDI champions

• Faculty and student consultation groups

These bodies ensured that policy and program recommendations were grounded in the lived experiences of those affected by inequity. The result was a framework for governance that embedded EDI into institutional DNA.

3. Designing an Actionable, Multi-Year EDI Plan

Armed with assessment data and guided by lived experience, the university created a roadmap with specific, measurable outcomes. These included:

• Hiring goals for equity-deserving faculty

• Mandatory anti-racism and anti-oppression training

• Improvements in disability access across campus

• Revisions to research ethics to include culturally safe practices

• Expanded mentorship for underrepresented graduate researchers

Unlike aspirational plans, this strategy included timelines, resource allocations, and impact metrics.

4. Building Evidence of Cultural Change

To demonstrate that its efforts were more than symbolic, U of R documented how its institutional culture was evolving. They showed progress in areas such as:

• Increased representation of women and racialized persons in STEM

• Indigenous knowledge incorporated into core curriculum

• Adoption of universal design principles in research spaces

• Increased retention of graduate students from equity groups

• Development of inclusive ethics review processes

The university’s submission to the Dimensions program was filled with proof of change—an uncommon but essential ingredient for recognition.

The National Landscape of EDI in Research

EDI has become a central theme in Canada’s academic and scientific agenda. Research shows that diversity in teams leads to greater creativity, richer analysis, and broader relevance. However, academia remains burdened by long-standing inequities that are often invisible to dominant groups.

Women continue to be underrepresented in tenured faculty roles, especially in STEM fields. Racialized and Indigenous scholars report disproportionately high levels of stress, discrimination, and isolation. LGBTQ2S+ and disabled researchers often face accessibility barriers and exclusion from informal research networks.

The Dimensions initiative seeks to correct these patterns by making EDI a non-negotiable element of research quality. Institutions are encouraged to shift from tokenism to transformation. Through official recognition, the program signals which universities are leading the way.

How Dimensions Recognition Elevates the University

1. Improved Research Funding Access

More and more, federal agencies and private foundations are requiring EDI strategies in research proposals. Recognized institutions are better positioned to attract grants, forge international partnerships, and lead national studies.

2. Enhanced Student and Faculty Recruitment

Students and faculty increasingly seek out institutions with values that match their own. EDI recognition makes U of R a more attractive destination for global talent.

3. Stronger Community Engagement

U of R’s focus on inclusion strengthens ties with Indigenous communities, newcomer populations, and historically underserved groups in Saskatchewan and beyond. This reciprocal relationship enriches both research and community life.

4. A Reputation of Integrity and Innovation

Being recognized for real change rather than performative politics positions U of R as an institution with integrity. It tells the world: "We don't just talk about change—we build it."

Examples of EDI in Practice at U of R

Inclusive Hiring Practices:
The university has revised hiring protocols to require equity considerations. Committees receive unconscious bias training, and job postings now emphasize inclusive values. Candidate pools are monitored for diversity, and support is provided throughout the recruitment cycle.

Accessible Research Spaces:
Laboratories and classrooms have undergone renovations to improve accessibility. Equipment has been adapted for varied physical needs, and digital research environments meet universal design standards.

Indigenous Engagement:
U of R has developed new protocols for ethical research involving Indigenous communities. These prioritize data sovereignty, cultural safety, and traditional knowledge integration. Elders are regularly consulted, and ceremonies are held to honor Indigenous research practices.

Mentorship and Career Development:
Early-career scholars from equity-deserving groups receive mentorship from both academic and community-based leaders. Workshops on publishing, grant-writing, and academic networking provide critical support for professional growth.

Curriculum Reform and Cultural Competency Training:
All students and faculty participate in training sessions that address racism, colonialism, gender bias, and ableism. These are not checkbox trainings—they involve critical discussions, self-reflection, and accountability.

The Role of Students in Driving Change

Students have played a key role in transforming U of R’s research climate. Through advocacy, reporting, and collaboration, student groups have held the university accountable. Student-led EDI councils, anti-racism coalitions, and mental health advocacy networks have helped shape the institutional agenda. Their lived experiences provide crucial insight into the realities of marginalization and the need for reform.

Next Steps in the Dimensions Journey

Being selected for the Dimensions Canada Recognition Program is only the beginning. U of R is now working toward advancing from the Foundation level to Construction and beyond. Future plans include:

• Creating new pathways for community-based participatory research

• Strengthening data collection on invisible minority populations

• Increasing financial aid and fellowships for marginalized students

• Scaling up recruitment and retention initiatives

• Publishing annual EDI progress reports

In the long term, the university hopes to achieve the Transformation stage, indicating a fully integrated culture of equity and accountability.

Broader Implications for Canadian Higher Education

As one of just eighteen institutions recognized nationally, U of R’s progress sets a benchmark for others. The Dimensions program may become a standard that defines institutional excellence in the next generation. With funding agencies, academic partners, and prospective students paying attention, universities that fail to embrace EDI risk falling behind.

Yet the program also shows how meaningful change is possible. It offers a model of how to assess, plan, act, and sustain transformation. U of R’s journey is a roadmap for other mid-sized universities working to make systemic equity a reality rather than a slogan.

An Inclusive Future Begins Here

The University of Regina’s participation in the Dimensions Canada Recognition Program represents more than institutional pride—it is a collective promise to transform research through equity. It means embracing complexity, admitting imperfection, and committing to deep structural change.

In doing so, the university steps into a future where research is not only excellent, but also just, representative, and rooted in the communities it serves.

U of R has taken a powerful step. The road ahead will be long, and the work continuous. But with sustained commitment, transparent leadership, and the strength of diverse voices, the university is well-positioned to lead Canadian academia into a more equitable era.