Diversity Meter: FAQs and Data Privacy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Diversity Meter 2019 at Simon Fraser University?

The Diversity Meter is a voluntary survey that measures levels of diversity and inclusion in the workforce.

Who is conducting the Diversity Meter?

An external organization, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), will be administering the survey process using the Data Collection Tool^©, an online tool that collects the data.

SFU selected CCDI based on their expertise in diversity and inclusion, experience in implementing a survey that collects sensitive information and strong data protection and privacy protocols.

Who is invited to participate in Diversity Meter?

Continuing and temporary SFU employees are invited to participate (as outlined below). A secure unique link to access to the online survey will be sent (via email by the CCDI’s Data Collection Tool^©) to employees in the groups below:

• Administrative & Professional Staff Association (APSA)
• Administrative Professional Excluded Staff (APEX)
• Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE, Local 3338)
• Internal Postdoctoral Fellows
• Faculty Association of Simon Fraser University (SFUFA)
• Poly Party
• Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU)
• University Executives

Why should I participate in the Diversity Meter?

Completing the Diversity Meter will help SFU develop an accurate picture of our current workforce; who our people are and what characteristics they bring to the workforce. The more people that respond, the more accurate our understanding of the composition and needs of our workforce.

Will my privacy be protected?

Yes absolutely.

The information you provide will only be analyzed by the external organization, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI). SFU has contracted with CCDI to process the survey, compile the results and de-identify the data. The contract terms include not disclosing personally identifying information to SFU unless required by law.

The information in the Diversity Meter is collected for the University under the general authority of the University Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 468), and under the authority of the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and is subject to protections under the Act.

To further ensure the protection of personal information, a baseline for reporting has been set at a minimum of ten. If there are less than 10 responses in a specific category, the data will not be displayed in reporting. Your responses will be combined with other employees’ responses and only collective results will be shared with SFU.

For more detailed information on how your privacy will be protected, see the Data Privacy and Protection Charter.

What will SFU do with results?

Your responses will be combined with other employees’ responses and only collective results will be shared with SFU. The final report and recommendations from the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) will be shared with the SFU community in Spring 2020.

The Diversity Meter results will provide SFU with the ability to identify demographic characteristics of our workforce, not individuals. This information will, in turn, be used to develop and tailor programs, policies, and practices that best support a diverse workforce.

Is it mandatory that I participate in the survey?

No, completing the online survey is voluntary.

We are however, strongly encouraging everyone to participate. By doing so, we’ll get an accurate picture of the composition of our workforce and will be in a better position to determine if new programs, policies and practices need to be implemented based on the information you provide.

When will the survey be available to complete?

The survey will be available between November 13, 2019 and December 18, 2019.

How long will it take me to complete the online survey?

Approximately 15 minutes.

Will my responses to the Diversity Meter be connected to my employee profile at SFU?

No.

Do I have to complete the whole survey?

The survey is voluntary.

To fully complete the survey, you must provide a response or select ‘Prefer not to answer’ to each question and you must select ‘submit’ at the very end of the survey.  

Some of the questions seem a bit personal. Why are you asking them?

We know that our people are made up of many different ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, abilities and genders. In our society, people experience discrimination on these and other grounds. It’s important for us to know who our people are, and how they experience the workplace, so we can make changes to be more inclusive.

If there are any questions you do not want to answer, simply select the ‘Prefer not to answer’ option.

Why are you asking questions about my role at SFU?

We are interested in the demographic makeup of SFU, but also how this compares to the structure of the university itself. For example, the proportion of men vs. women in leadership positions. Results will be summarized, to ensure anonymity of the data.

When will the Diversity Meter results be released?

The final report and recommendations from CCDI will be shared with the Simon Fraser University community in Spring 2020.

Who is leading the Diversity Meter project at SFU?

Joy Johnson (Vice President, Research and International) and the Executive Sub-Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (Jon Driver, Vice President, Academic; Sandi de Domenico, Associate Vice-President, Human Resources; Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan, Associate Vice-President, External Relations; Rummana Khan Hemani, Vice Provost, Students and International; Kera McArthur Executive Director, President’s Office)

Please contact edi@sfu.ca with any questions.

Who can I contact for more information on Diversity Meter?

If you have any additional questions, please contact edi@sfu.ca