All campus community members – whether studying, working or visiting U of A campuses – deserve to feel safe. And, for safety to become a shared core value, we need to ensure that everyone has access to spaces where they feel safe, comfortable and welcome. Considering and engaging with the various needs of our diverse campus groups must remain a priority. We will continue to improve safety and accessibility over the many months ahead.
The university is committed to meeting the safety needs of students, faculty, staff and visitors who require accessible washrooms that are inclusive of all gender identities, religions and parent/caregiver needs. As part of the university's responsibility to equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI), Facilities & Operations partnered with the Vice-Provost and Dean of Students to determine how best to address safety and EDI concerns raised across our campus communities.
"All-gender washrooms are an excellent example of the work we are doing to provide safe, inclusive spaces in our campus community,” says Allen Ball, Provost’s Fellow (Student Accessibility and Implementation Lead) and chair of a campus accessibility committee. “They enable dignity, access and equity for everybody."
In May 2022, funds were dedicated to enhance student accessibility initiatives on campus, including all gender washrooms, ramp access to buildings, and power door entry. The all-gender washroom initiative became a pilot program with the design currently underway and focused on a comprehensive, campus-wide strategy for all-gender washrooms which will involve:
- an assessment of the current state, location and accessibility of all-gender washrooms on campus;
- additional recommendations for future locations for all-gender washroom installations; and
- guiding principles on the planning and delivery of all-gender washrooms in the context of the university’s capital budget and planning efforts.
Currently, the university has purpose-built all-gender washroom stalls across our campuses in: Enterprise Square, Health Sciences Library, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, ECHA proper, Morrison Structural Lab and South Academic Building. In addition, there are over 400 single washrooms across all our campuses that are also being evaluated for improved accessibility for all-gender needs. In 2024, University Commons will open with at least 49 all-gender washroom stalls.
Further renovations within the pilot program will expand all-gender washroom capacity to an additional 49 stalls by converting one floor’s washroom in each of the following buildings:
- Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science, lower level (14)
- Tory (11)
- Education South (4)
- Education North (5)
- Katz Centre (5)
- Natural Resources Engineering Facility (10)
These renovations will also include additional updates to plumbing, added partitions and change tables, and new wayfinding signage. "This is a very important project that will provide greater dignity to our campus community. This pilot presents a significant learning opportunity that will allow us to advance our infrastructure planning going forward, within Alberta Building Code requirements,” says Andrew Sharman, VP Facilities and Operations.
With a commitment to a culture of care and service excellence, we have a responsibility to each other. We must work together to meet and exceed accessibility standards and to recognize and address barriers appropriately. Becoming more diligent and conscious in our efforts toward a more safe, accessible and welcoming campus environment ensures that everyone can engage fully and meaningfully in their studies, work and play.
Additional resources
The University of Alberta is committed to the safety, health and well-being of our faculty, staff and students. Every day, we advance this commitment to safety through the Culture of Care.