ASE STUDY APPLICANT TESTING AT THE RCMP Applicants to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) must pass a written examination, an inter- view, and a physical ability test before being accepted for basic training at the RCMP's training centre in Regina. As a federally regulated agency, the RCMP falls under the jurisdiction of the Employment Equity Act, designed to further the employment of the four desig- nated The RCMP has had difficulty meeting groups. recruiting targets of 20 percent women, 4.5 percent Indigenous peoples, and 8.3 percent visible minorities that were set in compliance with the objectives of the Act. A review of testing data showed that Indigenous peoples and visible minorities scored slightly lower than other groups on the written tests and that 40-50 cent of women applicants fail the physical ability test, a rate considerably higher than that for men. In per- response to concerns over failing to meet its recruiting objectives, the RCMP undertook a revision of the cognitive ability test. The new test retains "aca- demic" items related to composition and computation, but it also has new items in the form of scenarios that are directed at problem solving. The new questions are more job directed and operational in nature. Test items were rewritten to minimize the impact of different regional language styles to ensure that the questions are fair and equitable for all applicants. With respect to the physical ability test, women had difficulty with the upper-body strength require- ments. To deal with this problem, the RCMP instituted a six-week pre-training fitness program to help women prepare for the fitness test. It also revised the evaluation procedure. Information on the new physical ability requirements and details on how to prepare for the test can be reviewed at https://www .gprc.ab.ca/files/forms_documents/PAREinfo.pdf. QUESTIONS 1. Did the RCMP do the right thing in revising its written examination and fitness test? Did the RCMP reduce the rigour of its entrance require- ments? Base your response on what you have learned in this chapter. 2. If physical ability is a job requirement for police officers, is it appropriate to have different stan- dards for male and female applicants to the RCMP? Argue your point. 3. Is the revised test fair and equitable for all candi- dates? Why or why not? 4. Design and describe a recruiting campaign to attract more women and visible-minority appli- cants to the RCMP 5. Chapter 10 looks at another method that can be used to improve the number of minority appli- cants: banding. This procedure is also controver- sial. You may want to read that section now and discuss this as an option. How would the public likely react to using banding?