Designing a Framework for Integrating Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access in Graduate Admissions

• In Event: Digging Into Degrees: Exploring Graduate Education

Abstract

This paper provides a preliminary framework for graduate admission processes at one Canadian university. Through conducting a two-part qualitative study this paper describes strategies to narrow down the applicant pool used by faculty and identifies where conversations and issues of equity diversity inclusion, and access (EDIA) arise. Our findings observed that faculty use different sets of strategies for domestic and international applicants and certain evaluation practices prioritize certain applicant groups impacting timely and fair evaluation of strong candidates from EDIA-seeking groups. As a result, procedures determined by the programs for efficiency brought upon tensions and consequences at the individual assessment level. This paper and the framework described attempts to problematize academic gatekeeping at the institutional, program, and applicant level.

Authors

• Susan He, University of Toronto
  Presenting Author

• Joanne Lieu, OISE/University of Toronto
  Presenting Author

• Christina Arayata, OISE/University of Toronto
  Presenting Author

• Ruth A. Childs, University of Toronto - OISE
  Presenting Author