Student Diversity Census

Welcome 

At UBC, students bring a wide range of identities, experiences, and perspectives. The Student Diversity Census is your opportunity to help ensure that diversity is recognized and supported. By sharing information about your background—such as gender identity, race, disability status, languages spoken, and any barriers you’ve faced—you help UBC create programs, policies, and spaces that reflect and support all students. 

Why Your Participation Matters 

Your input helps UBC: 

  • Strengthen programs and services that meet students’ needs 
  • Identify and remove systemic barriers 
  • Track progress toward equity, diversity, and inclusion goals 

Every response makes a difference. Participation is voluntary, and each question includes a “choose not to disclose” option. 

What to Expect 

  • Quick: Takes about 5–10 minutes. 
  • Flexible: You can update your responses anytime. Just use the unique census link in your Canvas inbox.
  • Respectful of your privacy: Your responses are confidential and protected under FIPPA. 

Start the Census

Data Collection, Use, and Disclosure

The information on the Census is collected by UBC under the authority of section 26(c) and (e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) in order to fulfill its mandate under the University Act, Accessible British Columbia Act, and other legislation. Questions about the collection of this information may be directed to student.demographic@ubc.ca.

Your Student Diversity Census results will only be used and disclosed as follows: 

They will be augmented with other information already on file at UBC, analyzed for statistical purposes by UBC, and the results of such analyses will be reported to the University community in anonymized aggregate form only, without identifying individual students.  

They will be made available to researchers under strict conditions of confidentiality and security through UBC’s Data Governance Program; the results of this research may be published in anonymized aggregate form only, without identifying individual students.  

They will be provided to UBC units through UBC’s Data Governance Program to administer programs that are intended to advance equity and ameliorate adverse conditions of members of HPSM groups. 

Your Student Diversity Census results will be stored in a secure location and will be protected in accordance with UBC’s Information Security Standards.

You can update your census responses at any time by following the unique census link provided in your Canvas inbox or email.