By Tim Kalinowski on March 18, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDtkalinowski@lethbridgeherald.com
Lethbridge College has received a two-year $400,000 grant to enhance inclusion, diversity and equity on campus.
The federal government grant comes from pilot funding provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
The Institutional Capacity Building Grant is intended to help the college to “identify and overcome systemic barriers that impede the career advancement, recruitment and retention of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups,” and allows provision of resources to allow, “underrepresented or disadvantaged groups to carry out their own research and to encourage research related to EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion).”
“When we have diverse voices and thoughts, we get more impactful results in science and research,” said François-Philippe Champagne, federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry in a press release provided to local media. “That’s why we are taking action to make sure that everyone has access to equal opportunities, treatment and recognition in the Canadian academic world. I applaud the work of Canada’s institutions to increase equity, diversity and inclusion in research and eagerly await the positive changes this will bring to the health, well-being and success of Canadians.”
“This is a monumental grant that will help ensure our college community is inclusive to all,” said Dr. Paula Burns, Lethbridge College President and CEO, in the same release.
“With this grant, we will be able to build on the inclusive work already underway in our college. Our community is at its strongest when people with a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences have an equal opportunity to thrive.”
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