Equity refers to achieving parity in policy, process and outcomes for historically and/or currently underrepresented and/or marginalized people and groups while accounting for diversity.
It considers power, access, opportunities, treatment, impacts and outcomes, in three main areas:
Representational equity: the proportional participation at all levels of an institution; Resource equity: the distribution of resources in order to close equity gaps; and Equity-mindedness: the demonstration of an awareness of, and willingness to, address equity issues.
In the university context, equity requires the creation of opportunities for historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized populations of students, staff, and faculty to have equal access to education, programs, and growth opportunities that are capable of closing achievement gaps. This requires recognizing that not everyone is starting from the same place or history, and that deliberate measures to remove barriers to opportunities may be needed to ensure fair processes and outcomes.
For more information visit equity.ubc.ca