TIDE delivers talks or workshops designed to start conversations about inclusion, illustrate common patterns of (unconscious) bias, provide practical tools to mitigate bias in academic practices and processes, and discuss promising ways to create more diverse and equitable unit cultures. TIDE content is constantly evolving, and draws on the literature, the experiences of members at all levels of the professoriate and in leadership, and the ideas, programs, and challenges shared with us by colleagues across the university.
- Talks (1h) typically include relevant data on representation, an explanation of how bias can affect professional decisions and assessment, examples of bias from the literature, and practical advice for personal practices or structural changes that can increase inclusion. Talks end with time for questions, and slides shared after the talk include links to resources.
- Workshops (2-3h) include a talk followed by break-out group discussions centred on the analysis of scenarios that capture real-world manifestations of bias and exclusionary practices in academic contexts. Break-outs are followed by a plenary discussion, including additional slides providing resources on mitigating the main challenges in the scenario.
TIDE holds standing workshop sessions each year, open to University of Toronto faculty and trainees. This is an excellent way to begin education on bias and inclusion. More information about these sessions and registration information is shared below.
TIDE also accepts requests for specialized sessions customized for faculty in academic units across the University and affiliated groups. These may be talks or workshops that cover specific issues such as inclusive recruitment, or focus on particular challenges of specific scholarly fields (e.g. under-representation of particular population groups). Learn more about requesting a specialized session below.
TIDE maintains a curated group of recorded talks that may be used for self-directed education.
Upcoming Standing Workshop Sessions
Requesting specialized TIDE sessions
Given the current volume of requests and TIDE capacity, specialized sessions will typically occur in the semester following the one in which the request is made, unless there is a time-sensitive need. Unit heads are asked to encourage faculty members take advantage of standing workshops where relevant, before requesting a specialized session.
Recorded Talks
Most of TIDE’s recorded talks are available only to University of Toronto Community members, others are posted for the public (see below). Using excerpts of these talks, or sharing password-protected talks outside the University community is prohibited without permission.
Unconscious Bias 101: Workshop for U of T Faculty, Oct. 27th 2022
Presenters: Professor Ernie Lam (Associate Dean, Graduate Education, Graduate Program Director, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Professor, Dentistry) and Prof. Anthony Wensley (Associate Professor, Emeritus, Information Systems and Accounting)
The purpose of this workshop is to:
- Explore the existing evidence on representation and bias
- Explore case studies that illustrate how bias might intersect with various aspects of faculty experience, both within academia and beyond (e.g., everyday interactions, grant applications, interviews, award nominations, committee decisions)
- Provide an overview of how bias can affect decision-making
- Suggest strategies for reducing the effect of bias on structural and personal practices
Bias & Inclusion 102, Nov. 21 & Nov. 28 2022
Presenters: Professor Bryan Gaensler (Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics) and Professor Julie MacArthur (Historical Studies).
The purpose of the “Bias and Inclusion 102” workshop was to provide concrete guidance to faculty on advancing equity and inclusion, by making change at both the individual and structural levels. It took place in two parts.
Part 1: Monday, Nov 21st 2022
- Case studies on individual and structural biases
- The importance of individual responsibility in an academic landscape
- Advancing equity and inclusion through individual actions and practices
Part 2: Monday, Nov 28th 2022
- Advancing equity and inclusion through structural changes to institutional culture and policies
- Mitigating bias and cognitive errors in peer assessment and in recruitment/hiring
- Concepts of privilege, anti-racism, intersectionality, and allyship
Workshop for search committees: Inclusive Practices in Recruitment, Sept. 29 2022
Presenter: Professor Maydianne Andrade (Dept. of Biological Sciences)
The focus of the session is specifically on recruitment, but many of the approaches discussed can be leveraged in other contexts. The purpose of this workshop is to share promising practices on how to advance equity and inclusion in hiring by:
- providing an overview of how bias can affect decision-making in the academic context and beyond; and
- suggesting practical strategies for reducing the effect of bias on processes, procedures and personal practices associated with faculty recruitment.
