1. Project Eligibility
  2. Student Eligibility
  3. Application Process
  4. Definitions
    1. Equity
    2. Diversity and Intersectionality
    3. Inclusion

The Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) is now accepting applications for Summer 2021 Carleton University Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Research Awards. This initiative invites students from all Faculties to submit a proposal for an EDI-related research project that they intend to work on during the period from May 1 to August 30, 2021 in collaboration with a faculty member.

Up to five undergraduate student awards are available, each valued at $10,000. One graduate student award is available, valued at $15,000. Award amounts include 4% vacation pay and research costs.

The establishment of this award aligns with the strategic directions of Carleton’s Strategic Integrated Plan and responds to a specific recommendation in Carleton’s new EDI Action Plan, which outlines Carleton’s commitment to support, fund and disseminate research that advances EDI (Strategic Action 3).

Project Eligibility

Eligible projects will use EDI-informed considerations and reflect upon diversity and identity in substantial or significant ways.

  1. EDI-informed considerations may involve one or more of the following:
    1. research design, methodology (ex. GBA+ analysis),
    2. topic,
    3. identities of research authors relied upon,
    4. social application of the research,
    5. the lived experience and / or community engagement of the student researcher submitting the research question, and
    6. other considerations to be determined.
  2. “Diversity and identity” may refer to disability, gender identity or expression, racialization, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religion (creed), language, and other demographic dimensions.
  3. The EDI-informed consideration will be considered substantial where it is the dominant part of the research proposal. The consideration will be considered significant where it is an important but not the dominant part of the research proposal.

The one-page research proposal (single spaced, 12 pt. font) must be supported by a separate statement from the faculty member who will be supervising the project. Faculty members must be full-time instructors or research faculty. Student proposals must be clearly distinct from their supervisors’ ongoing research. Students must also submit their resume, an academic audit and a one-page cover letter.

In Fall 2021, students will be expected to give a brief presentation of the research they undertook, as well as submit a 500-word summary of their research that will be posted on the Provost’s website. Students agree to be photographed to showcase their work to the community.

Student Eligibility

To be eligible, undergraduate students must have completed at least second year of their undergraduate program, have a minimum GPA of 9.0, and be taking a program and/or a major at Carleton University. Undergraduate students are eligible for funding only in one Faculty and cannot hold two funded positions in different Faculties. Similarly, students may not hold a CUROP Award and an EDI Research Award during the same period. Students graduating in June are eligible for this program. Students can only hold this award once during their undergraduate degree. The expectation is that the research project undertaken will constitute a full-time position during the summer term. Students may not participate in a co-op program at the same time as the summer EDI research.

Graduate students should have a GPA of 9.0.

Please be sure to include in one document:

  1. Cover letter (one page). Please include:
    1. Student name
    2. Title of the project
    3. Carleton email address
    4. Supervisor name
    5. Student number
    6. Year standing
    7. Program and Major
    8. GPA
  2. Resume
  3. Proposal (one page, with title)
  4. Academic audit

Application Process

Applications should be sent via email to Katherine Gardner (KatherineGardner@cunet.carleton.ca) by April 9, 2021 at 5 p.m. Supervising faculty members should also send a letter of support, indicating their willingness to supervise the project, directly to Katherine Gardner.

Successful applicants will be notified by April 30, 2021.

Definitions

Equity

Through the removal of barriers and provision of appropriate supports, the principle of equity refers to fair access to opportunity and services for all, recognizing that members come to the university with relative advantages and disadvantages. Equity considerations extend beyond issues of legal human rights compliance, take up issues of demographic representation and underrepresentation, and examine questions of power and resource allocation.

Diversity and Intersectionality

Diversity describes the representation of various demographic segments and dimensions of identity within a population. In this sense, diversity includes the presence of intersectional identities, or the myriad ways in which individuals identify, live through and experience multiple dimensions of difference simultaneously.

Inclusion

The ongoing exercise of ensuring the university values and proactively cultivates difference so that every member can fulfil their potential and bring their whole selves in service of articulated common goals. While inclusion involves and mutually benefits every member of the university, its successful operation is predicated on the fulfilment of human rights and equity objectives.