Sexualized violence policy in development
The University of Victoria has begun its work on a new policy to prevent and respond to sexualized violence in its commitment to provide students, faculty and staff with a safe and respectful place to learn, work and live.
Developing a new policy will strengthen UVic's current approach through a review of the university's current policies and programs, widespread consultation and consideration of promising practices and policies at other institutions.
“Sexualized violence is a significant issue both on our campus and in the wider community and we have an important role to play as leaders, educators, students and community partners in addressing the issue,” said President Jamie Cassels, who initiated the review.
“UVic is committed to the principles of equal rights and dignity of all persons. I want to make it clear that sexualized violence is unacceptable. I am inviting broad engagement in the process to reaffirm the values we share as a community.”
A working group with diverse members has begun to meet biweekly. Information and updates about the review, including summaries from the working group’s meetings are available on the website uvic.ca/info/sexualizedviolencepolicy.
While UVic has policies, programs and resources that include education and prevention, support for those who experience sexualized violence and investigations of violations of university policies, it does not have a single encompassing policy focused on sexualized violence.
Recent attention to sexualized violence on university and college campuses and the emergence of new educational and policy initiatives has provided a new focus for this challenging issue. The review is being conducted under the lead of Valerie Kuehne, vice-president academic and provost.
“I appreciate the commitment of the working group members to help the university to develop the best policy possible,” said Kuehne. “This is an important and complex issue.”
The working group, headed by Dr. Annalee Lepp, chair of the Department of Gender Studies, includes students, people who have experienced sexualized violence, faculty and staff. Based on the consultations and research, the group will draft and recommend a campus-wide policy on sexualized violence for students, faculty and staff.
Consultations will begin in June and continue through the Fall when an interim report will be issued. A draft policy is expected to be ready in early 2017 for another round of input. The recommendations will go to the president and then to the university’s Board of Governors in Spring 2017.
UVic will continue to consider and implement ways it can enhance its work related to sexualized violence while a new policy is being developed including new bystander intervention training in the Fall.
The university will also stay abreast of developments at the provincial level. Work on a policy review at UVic was already well underway when the BC government introduced new legislation on April 27 requiring post-secondary institutions to develop a policy on sexualized violence. The government will be providing guidelines and regulations that UVic will take into account as its policy is developed.