CAUT is revamping its structure for promoting equity, following a review of current practice and a vote called at the recent CAUT Council meeting in Ottawa.

Council delegates supported the creation of a permanent equity committee made up of two members from each of five marginalized groups — academic staff with disabilities; racialized academic staff; Aboriginal academic staff; women academic staff; and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered, queer and two-spirited (LGBTQ2S) academic staff. In addition there will be two co-chairs, elected by Council who will thereby become members of the CAUT executive committee as well. At least one of the co-chairs must be a woman.

To broaden involvement in CAUT’s equity outreach, Council also voted to establish four networks for academic staff with disabilities, those who are racialized, women and LGBTQ2S. It is hoped there will be individuals of each network from as many member associations as possible so that these bodies can provide broad-based advice to the equity committee, the executive and Council.

Members of the existing equity working groups will be invited to continue their involvement in CAUT through the new networks.

The changes follow a review of operations and protocols for equity work put in place two years ago on condition they be reviewed in mid-2013.

“We are optimistic that an equity committee, with members chosen for three year terms as are all other standing committees, will provide the continuity of membership to help advance our equity work,” said CAUT president Wayne Peters.

He also noted there was widespread enthusiasm for the new networks as they would provide opportunities for greater involvement of members from marginalized groups among member associations across the country.

The new structure will formally be put in place as of the April 2014 CAUT Council meeting and the new bodies will come into existence following that meeting.

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Members of marginalized groups interested in serving on the equity committee should submit their nominations by February 3, 2014. See the committee vacancies’ advertisement for more information.