Goal 5 - Institutional Stewardship Initiatives
Institutional Services and Policies
Affiliated Child Care
Access to child care is disproportionately beneficial to women due to the unbalanced share of unpaid labour taken on by mothers. The University of Alberta is affiliated with six non-profit, accredited child care centres including Garneau and University Early Learning Centre, Students Union and Community Early Learning Centre, University Infant Toddler Centre, and others, that provide on-campus and near-campus care options for children as young as one month. These affiliated childcare facilities are accessible to students and staff.
Student access to the affiliated childcare facilities allows recent mothers to attend university courses. Graduate students can apply for the GSA Child Care Grants which help offset or cover the cost of child care for graduate students at the University of Alberta. Students and staff can access additional financial support through the Alberta Child Care Subsidy to help subsidize the cost of childcare.
Maternity and Paternity Leave
The University of Alberta has an established maternity and paternity leave policy that is available to the various staff categories at the University of Alberta including Support Staff, Academic Staff, Management and Professional Staff, Post-Doctoral Fellows, and Graduate Students. A portion of maternity and/or paternity leave may be paid, depending on the various staff categories. University of Alberta employees can access additional federal financial support, such as Employment Insurance (EI) during their leave.
The option to take maternity and/or paternity leave supports women’s participation as employees and students at the University of Alberta.
Discrimination and Harassment Policies
The University of Alberta has a variety of policies that protect those reporting discrimination or harassment from education or employment disadvantage. The Violations + Reporting page has policies encouraging individuals to report violations of the University's stated expectations regarding ethical conduct, and in certain cases, such as those involving fraud, report to the appropriate University authority.
The Discrimination and Harassment Policy is to protect and ensure a safe and respectful working and learning environment. This policy establishes general responsibilities related to discrimination and harassment and specific procedures which apply where a disclosure or formal complaint of discrimination or harassment is brought against a member of the university community.
In tandem with these policies, the Office of Safe Disclosure and Human Rights provides a confidential, neutral and safe space for members of the university community to speak in confidence about concerns including, but not limited to: discrimination and harassment, ethical concerns, health and safety violations, financial mismanagement, other concerns (wrongdoing/misconduct).
Access, Mentorship, and Supports for Women
The University of Alberta tracks the rates at which students graduate on time. In reporting for 2024, female undergraduate students' graduation rate has hit 77% and male undergraduate students' graduation rates are at 72% in 2024.
The University of Alberta offers various programs and access schemes for women which encourage women's applications in underrepresented subjects, and supports their success and graduation rates. The University of Alberta offers various scholarships for women and facilitates mentoring programs for women including UA-WiSE, WISEST, the Choices Conference, and more.
Scholarships
The University of Alberta offers various scholarships for women to support their participation and success across campus. Such scholarships include the Scheffer Scholarship for Women in Engineering, the Diane Reader Jones Award for Women in Computing Science, and the Edmonton Chapter Executive Women International Scholarship in Business.
Mentorship for Women in STEM
University of Alberta Women in Science and Engineering (UA-WiSE) is a student group that supports all undergraduate students underrepresented in STEM fields. Women in Science, Engineering & Research (WISER) is a group of graduate students and early-career professionals who support the retention and advancement of women and underrepresented groups in STEM.
Together, they run a mentorship program to connect students with mentors in academia and industry. This unique, eight-month program brings together mentorship trios of one undergrad student, one graduate student and one experienced professional. Mentors help develop students’ professional skills, such as professional conduct, negotiation and healthy work-life balance.
WISEST Summer Research Program
Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science & Technology (WISEST) empowers women to seek out opportunities in STEM fields. WISEST’s Summer Research Program provides grade 11 female and non-binary students summer jobs in STEM fields. It also provides young men with placements in nursing, nutrition and human ecology. These are paid, six-week positions in some of the University of Alberta’s top research labs.
WISEST is also committed to increasing indigenous representation in STEM through this program, and holds dedicated spots for indigenous students. Indigenous students are encouraged to apply for travel and accommodation subsidies.
Choices Conference
Each year, 600 Grade 6 girls and their teachers come to the WISEST Choices Conference to explore the worlds of science and engineering. Teams of up to four girls from each school, plus their teacher or principal, spend the day at the University of Alberta, challenging their ideas about engineers and scientists and developing their creativity, sense of wonder and teamwork skills. This program has impacted over 19, 304 students and 4,525 teachers since its beginning in 1991.
Young Indigenous Women’s Circle of Leadership
The Young Indigenous Women's Circle of Leadership (YIWCL) assists young Indigenous women ages 10-16 in their journeys to reclaim their ancestral Cree language, knowledge and spirituality.
YIWCL holds year round pop-up gatherings that provide opportunities for young women to stay engaged, learn and have fun while being immersed in Cree culture. Content includes outdoor adventure, arts and crafts, STEM, and community service projects. Each gathering offers something unique and exciting.
Department of Women's and Gender Studies Students' Association
The Women’s and Gender Studies Students’ Association (WGSSA) exists to promote Women’s and Gender Studies to the greater university community and to connect members to each, as well as the greater university and local community. Our members foster an inclusive community which highlights the need for intersectionality within academia and governance spaces, and fights for equality on campus.