SAPL’s Statement on Inclusive Education

The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL) stands in solidarity with the recent collaborative declaration made by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design Educators Council. Their statement articulates their firm "opposition to any legislation that hinders educators from imparting comprehensive and accurate knowledge about the built environment, with the intention of safeguarding students from "divisive" or "disagreeable" subject matter concerning the influence of race and racism in American and global society, as well as other educational approaches related to gender and LGBTQ+ identities." This unified stance emerged in response to the enactment of such legislation in various states in the US.

Creating socially equitable built environments necessitates well-informed decision-making and comprehensive approaches that cater to the unique needs of community members. This requires a profound understanding of how built environments impact both individuals and communities, as well as an awareness of the distinct challenges faced by equity-deserving groups, including women, Indigenous peoples, visible/racialized minorities, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2S+.

Our commitment to fostering inclusive education is unwavering. We prioritize acceptance and respect for all, regardless of their identity. As a school dedicated to design and planning, we recognize the significant advantages of embracing principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility both within our institution and throughout the broader community, to create an inclusive built environment for everyone.

SAPL’s dedication extends to a firm rejection of hate in any form. We stand against human rights-based discrimination and encourage all members of our community to join us in supporting our students and the design communities we serve.

Among the actions we have been taking are dedicated courses on different aspects of diversity and inclusion that cover critical topics such as legal frameworks for accessibility to public spaces, designing for neurodiversity, and leadership in architecture to name a few.  We continue to look for opportunities to work with students, faculty, the professions and the communities we serve in developing our programs and curriculums.

See more on SAPL’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access page https://sapl.ucalgary.ca/about/equity-diversity-inclusion-and-accessibility