Calgary universities considering gender neutral applications

[taco.vidal]

http://m.metronews.ca/#/article/news...lications.html

An excerpt from the article is below. Read the article as theres a few more oiints in it.

Its an intresting problem. They want to create and inclusive environment where everyone is welcome but if you dont ask people if theyre different, how can you give them special treatment?

Published on Feb 16 2016
Helen Pike
METRO
Two post-secondary institutions have come out and recognized the need for a third application option when it comes to registration.

In January, The University of Alberta became the among first Canadian post-secondary institutions to add the "another/prefer not to disclose' option to applications after a member of student government made it their mission to see a third box in support of the transgendered and questioning community.

But in Calgary another gender option is easier said than done.

Angelique Saweczko, the University of Calgary registrar, wrote in a statement their student information system would need enhancements to add another gender option. She continued to write the Alberta Postsecondary Application Service form, (APAS) also has a male or female gender response option.

"Changes to this form require a formal approval process and would apply to all institutions using APAS," Saweczko writes. "Given timelines, we are looking at an internal process that will allow students to indicate a third option after they have been admitted."

Romy Garrido, the VP external at the University of Calgary Students' Union and the chair of the Canadian Alliance of Students' Associations (CAUS), said both groups support and applaud the University of Alberta's move towards inclusion.

"It just provides more inclusivity for students," said Garrido. "I think students who identify as non-binary or perhaps as trans students, they may feel alienated from the very beginning, as soon as they apply to University, seeing that there isn't really a spot for them to identify."

Garrido added it's important for universities to set that precedence from the get go, as it lets students know they are welcome right from the point of application.

[llwhiteoutll]

If you're going to do this, might as well go all the way. Strip all applications down to an assigned number and transcripts.

Admissions staff don't see name, gender, race or anything like that. 100% fair admission across the board and no one gets preferential treatment based on somethibg arbitrary.

[Locke]

Do either men or women or otherwise get preferential admittance based on them being men, women or otherwise?

If so maybe instead of looking at the application forms themselves we should be looking at the people in charge of admissions?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

If you're going to do this, might as well go all the way. Strip all applications down to an assigned number and transcripts.

Admissions staff don't see name, gender, race or anything like that. 100% fair admission across the board and no one gets preferential treatment based on somethibg arbitrary.

yeah

or Asians should change all their names to Tracy Brown.

[CampbellsTransgressions]

The point would be that they aren't asking for special treatment.

[InBurkeWeTrust]

I don't really understand the need for this. I agree with others on this point. Why not slash everyone's last name and apply with only your first name? Gender shouldn't matter..

[FlamesAddiction]

I read an article about a study before that suggested that in universities that use "race blindness" in their admissions policies, you see racial inclusion to meet or exceed what would be considered equal representation. I think it is the way to go with all demographics, whether race, gender... whatever.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by InBurkeWeTrust

I don't really understand the need for this. I agree with others on this point. Why not slash everyone's last name and apply with only your first name? Gender shouldn't matter..

Why bother with a name at all? As whiteout mentioned, a generic student id number is all that is necessary for any application/interaction.

Having to indicate gender on pretty much any application is unnecessary.

[Locke]

Well, there has to be some indicator of race otherwise how can they be sure they're meeting their Diversity requirements?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Why bother with a name at all? As whiteout mentioned, a generic student id number is all that is necessary for any application/interaction.

Having to indicate gender on pretty much any application is unnecessary.

I especially love it when you have to fill out those pre screening questionnaires when submitting CVs and resumes online. You're all pumped and excited about the opportunity, spent a couple of hours polishing everything up, then that buzzkill comes up.

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by Locke

Well, there has to be some indicator of race otherwise how can they be sure they're meeting their Diversity requirements?

Get rid of them.

The only downside will be the complaints from people who need special treatment based on gender, race, age, whatever else they make up.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

Get rid of them.

The only downside will be the complaints from people who need special treatment based on gender, race, age, whatever else they make up.

I'm not 100% against Diversity requirements, I think they should be implemented to assist demographics that otherwise wouldnt get the opportunity for a post-secondary education.

I just dont think you need to do it by race necessarily.

[troutman]

Co-ed Residences!

The Zoo:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saugee...3Maitland_Hall

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Honest question: if I were to apply to the University of Calgary, and check off the "male" box on the application form... what is that information used for? What impact does it have? I can't imagine it weighs on anything at all.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Locke

I'm not 100% against Diversity requirements, I think they should be implemented to assist demographics that otherwise wouldnt get the opportunity for a post-secondary education.

I just dont think you need to do it by race necessarily.

Yeah, I would like to see diversity questions like:

• Did you have to get a job before the age of 15 to help supplement your family's income?
• Were you too poor to participate is extra-curricular learning programs and activities?
• Were you raised by a single parent?
• Are you an orphan?
• Did you, or do expect to get an inheritance?
• Did your high school have up to date facilities for learning?

There are a lot of questions they can ask that would give a better idea of who is disadvantaged and who isn't. It would be a lot more work though. It's easier to just target groups and generalize.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Honest question: if I were to apply to the University of Calgary, and check off the "male" box on the application form... what is that information used for? What impact does it have? I can't imagine it weighs on anything at all.

I would hope it is just to track demographics. Information like that is always useful, knowing if application and graduate patterns change, from year to year and department to department. I don't think throwing that info away is worth the trade off, though if they want to add another category, who cares?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Yeah, I would like to see diversity questions like:

• Did you have to get a job before the age of 15 to help supplement your family's income?
• Were you too poor to participate is extra-curricular learning programs and activities?
• Were you raised by a single parent?
• Are you an orphan?
• Did you, or do expect to get an inheritance?
• Did your high school have up to date facilities for learning?

There are a lot of questions they can ask that would give a better idea of who is disadvantaged and who isn't. It would be a lot more work though. It's easier to just target groups and generalize.

Those questions make their way on to a lot of bursary and scholarship applications.