Share this Story : Edmonton Journal Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Opinion: After EDI, why fairness matters more than ever at the U of A

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

The University of Alberta’s decision to remove explicit equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) language from its hiring policy has sparked swift concern. Supporters frame the move as a necessary recalibration. Critics describe it as an ideological retreat. In a political climate where equity debates often become symbolic flashpoints, much of the reaction has centred on whether the acronym remains in policy text.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.

Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.

Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.

Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.

Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

But the more consequential issue lies beneath the terminology.

Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.

There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

The real question is not whether a hiring policy includes the letters “EDI.” It is whether the institution’s systems continue to identify and mitigate structural bias, expand access to opportunity, and uphold its obligations to fairness and academic excellence.

That is the governance test now facing not only the University of Alberta, but universities across Canada.

Organizational science research is clear: Policy language signals priorities. Equity-oriented commitments shape workplace climate and influence those who believe they are welcome to compete. Universities operate in a global marketplace for talent. Public signals matter.

Removing explicit equity language alters more than a document. It changes the message the institution sends about how it understands fairness and opportunity.

That shift warrants scrutiny. Decades of social science scholarship demonstrate that disparities rarely disappear when they are no longer explicitly named. Structural inequities persist unless institutions intentionally design systems to counteract them. Assuming neutrality in unequal contexts does not create equality.

At the same time, it is equally true that the presence of EDI terminology never guaranteed equitable outcomes. Across sectors, organizations have learned that symbolic commitments without operational infrastructure can breed cynicism. When equity language exists without structured hiring criteria, bias safeguards, outcome tracking, and transparency, it risks becoming performative rather than transformative.

Equity is not achieved through branding. It is achieved through architecture.

By removing explicit equity language, the U of A has not inherently dismantled fairness in hiring. But it has raised the burden of proof.

If explicit commitments are no longer articulated in policy language, they must be demonstrated through system design. That requires clear, public answers to concrete questions:

How are hiring criteria structured to reduce subjectivity and bias?

What mechanisms exist to ensure evaluation consistency across departments?

How will representation and hiring outcomes be measured and reported?

How will the university maintain compliance with federal frameworks tied to research funding and equity requirements?

What oversight mechanisms ensure that commitments are translated into practice?

Trade talk gets loud for first time around Darnell Nurse Cult of Hockey

Trade talk gets loud for first time around Darnell Nurse

Edmonton Oilers might trade for Team Canada goalie, NHL insider says Cult of Hockey

Edmonton Oilers might trade for Team Canada goalie, NHL insider says

Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

Trade deadline isn't going to matter if Edmonton Oilers don't wake up Sports

Trade deadline isn't going to matter if Edmonton Oilers don't wake up

Ottawa Senators left stunned after patented Edmonton Oilers comeback Edmonton Oilers

Ottawa Senators left stunned after patented Edmonton Oilers comeback

Mangiapane plays just one AHL shift, a sure sign he's coming back to NHL. But where? Cult of Hockey

Mangiapane plays just one AHL shift, a sure sign he's coming back to NHL. But where?

These are governance questions. They cannot be resolved through rhetorical reassurance or public outrage. Trust in public institutions is built through transparency, data, and accountability. When terminology shifts, transparency must increase.

These systems are not procedural formalities. They are the foundation of institutional excellence. Still, the reaction to the U of A’s policy change has often been framed as a clash between merit and equity. That framing is a false binary.

Well-designed equity mechanisms such as standardized evaluation criteria strengthen meritocracy. They help ensure that talent is not filtered through unexamined assumptions or structural barriers. Academic excellence depends on attracting the best minds. Talent is widely distributed; opportunity has not always been.

Hiring systems that fail to account for structural bias do not protect merit — they distort it. Conversely, systems that actively broaden access while maintaining rigorous standards reinforce the integrity of merit-based selection.

The critical question is not whether an acronym appears in a policy document. It is whether the university’s hiring framework actively expands access to opportunity while preserving excellence.

That is the information the public should be seeking — rather than remaining fixed on whether particular language survives in text.

Universities occupy a unique role in democratic societies. They steward public funding, conduct world-class research, and educate future generations. Their credibility depends not only on academic output but also on public trust.

At a moment when equity initiatives are being contested across jurisdictions, institutional leadership requires clarity. If the language has changed, the university must clearly demonstrate how fairness and excellence will be upheld in practice.

The U of A now has an opportunity to prove that fairness and excellence remain operational priorities — through structured processes, measurable outcomes, and transparent reporting. If those systems are robust, they should be visible. If they are not, this moment will expose the gap.

The debate over acronyms will fade. The demand for institutional integrity will not. That is where the real work — and the real accountability — now lies.

Ho Kwan Cheung, PH,. is an assistant professor of Psychology at the University of Calgary, where she conducts research on effective organizational diversity management. 

Erin Davis is a University of Alberta alumna and equity practitioner with over 15 years of experience advancing evidence-based approaches that move beyond language and toward measurable outcomes.

We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 150 words is preferred. Letters must carry a first and last name, or two initials and a last name, and include an address and daytime telephone number. All letters are subject to editing. We don’t publish letters addressed to others or sent to other publications. Email: letters@edmontonjournal.com

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks andsign up for our newsletters here.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal |The Edmonton Sun.

Share this Story : Edmonton Journal Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

© Edmonton Journal