Unconscious Bias

Understanding unconscious bias is an important first step to making structural and personal changes that support equity and inclusion. For some groups (e.g., faculty who self-identify as Black, Indigenous/Aboriginal People of North America, racialized, LGBTQ2S+, or persons with disabilities, as well as their intersecting identities), systemic or recurring bias contributes to lack of representation, advancement opportunities, and support across all stages of the academic life cycle.  To address underrepresentation and discrimination, members and chairs of committees or other groups making decisions about academic careers or activities can undertake efforts to identify, interrupt and mitigate unconscious bias.  Mitigating bias is one step towards making our institution more inclusive.

 

Inclusive Practices in Recruitment - A 45min talk geared to academic administrators and search committee members seeking information on promising practices for equitable faculty recruiting.
Unconscious Bias Education Modules - Online education available to U of T faculty and staff via Success Factors.  

Toronto Initiative for Diversity and Excellence (TIDE)  Talks and Workshops 

The Toronto Initiative for Diversity and Excellence (TIDE) is a grassroots service group consisting of University of Toronto (U of T) faculty members from across disciplines who volunteer their time to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion at the university. Founded in 2016, TIDE provides free, evidence-informed workshops and seminars to the U of T community, and shares resources and promising practices for inclusion. With a focus on how varied challenges to inclusion can negatively impact equity-deserving groups in the academic context, TIDE provides recommendations on practical actions that aim to mitigate and overcome these barriers. TIDE’s sessions cover various aspects of departmental culture and the academic career arc, and are customized to capture the issues most pressing in a given unit. TIDE also provides confidential counsel to academic leaders, staff units, and administrators.

TIDE gratefully acknowledges administrative support from the offices of the Vice President & Provost U of T and the Vice Principal Academic & Dean, University of Toronto Scarborough.

Learn more, or book a TIDE Session