Other Frequently Asked Questions

We collect and analyze confidential self-identification data to:  

• Assess progress of on-going equity-related initiatives (e.g., limited or preferential hiring, recruitment initiatives, etc.);  
• Inform strategic direction for future equity-related initiatives through identifying trends in campus representation across both student and employee populations;  
• Adapt and improve upon the support structures on campus so that they are better equipped to meet the needs of UVic community members;  
• Fulfill equity-related reporting requirements (e.g., to the office of the BC Human Rights for employment related programs).

Having a better understanding of who is a part of the UVic community allows the institution to be more responsive to the diverse needs of community members through programming, policy, and strategic direction. Baseline representation data is the first step in planning, implementation, and on-going evaluation of equity action. With that said, representation data is one tool of many to use in combination with others. Find out what else UVic is doing concerning equity-related data here.

The Better Data Project collects demographic information – including Indigenous self-identification – to be used for ongoing reporting, evaluation, and implementation of equity initiatives across campus. In contrast, information collected through the proposed ICD process will not be used for reporting and strategic planning purposes, nor will it be cross-referenced with personal data collected through the Better Data Project. For more information about the ICD Process, please visit OVPI’s webpage.

The questionnaire asks for UVic community members to self-identify across six distinct identity categories: (1) Gender identity; (2) Sexual orientation; (3) Disability; (4) Indigenous identity; (5) Racial and/or ethnocultural identity; and (6) Religious and/or spiritual identity. The questions within each category are designed to capture the true breadth of diversity across the UVic community while maintaining an ability to report on the data that is collected.

The categories in the questionnaire were developed in consultation with UVic community partners, best practice experts across Canada, and related governing bodies/organizations (e.g., the Office of BC Human Rights Commissioner, Statistics Canada, etc.). In selecting the identity-based language to use, we consult to identify the preferred terminologies in communities as well as consider the terms used for relevant agencies with whom we have reporting relationships.

The six categories are consistent with census data collection and best-practice standards. With that said, we recognize that other aspects of your identity are not captured by the questionnaire (e.g., socioeconomic status or being a care giver). Data collection on more circumstantial aspects of identity is on-going in several areas across UVic and is therefore not included within the Better Data questionnaire.

Each of the six categories has a question designed to allow for disaggregated data collection. As highlighted in the Grandmother Perspective Report, “Disaggregated data is data that provides sub-categories of information, for example by ethnic group, gender, occupation, or educational status” (p. 8). By collecting information on these important subcategories, we hope to be able to identify inequalities, inequities, and barriers within and between groups.

In some cases, provincial legislation requires that information be collected in a particular space or time and therefore cannot be replaced (this is the case for information collected in the student applicant portal); in cases where it’s possible to make adjustments, the Better Data self-identification questionnaire will replace all former data collection methods (this is the case for the Employment Equity Survey).

The questionnaire is available to all current UVic employees and students. The questionnaire is linked within your UVic user profile under the ‘Online Tools’ section. The questionnaire can be accessed as of November 1, 2023 and you may amend or delete your responses at any point in time.  

Each question includes ‘prefer not to answer’ option some members of the university community may not wish to share such personal information with their employer or school. As you complete the questionnaire, you may choose to answer some questions, while selecting ‘prefer not to answer’ for others. Alternatively, you may choose to use the ‘select all prefer not to answer’ button at the top of the questionnaire; this function will automatically populate all your answers to ‘prefer not to answer’.

We recognize that the spectrum of identity is broad and constantly evolving. The ‘please specify’ fill in the blank options provide an opportunity for community members to share how they choose to identify across each category. This ensures that the collection tool is capturing the true breadth of diversity across UVic rather than pre-assuming identities based on the curated lists. The answers for the ‘please specify’ options will be collated and will help to inform questionnaire updates moving forward.