Safer Campus

At UVic, we take pride in creating a connected campus community where we take care of each other. Whether it's encouraging students to look out for each other, promoting responsible behaviour or providing supportive programs and services, your safety is a top priority. 

Student conduct | Discrimination and Harassment | Preventing sexualized violence | Campus Security | Substance use

Student conduct

As part of the UVic community, each student is responsible for their personal conduct as it affects other community members, university activities, and property. To support a respectful, safe and responsible community, all students are required to maintain the expectations outlined in the university’s academic and non-academic policies, including the Non-Academic Misconduct policy.

The Office of Student Life oversees the response to non-academic conduct concerns on university premises or when participating in a university activity. We work with students, staff, and community members to navigate options for addressing concerns that are reported to our office. Any university community member can connect with the Office of Student Life for support to bring forward concerns, learn about resolution options, and learn about the expectations for all students.

Examples of non-academic student misconduct include, but are not limited to:

• Dangerous or disruptive behaviour
• Physical violence
• Theft or vandalism
• Health and safety risks
• Verbal or written threats
• Unlawful possession or use of alcohol that violates the university liquor policy

The university recognizes its responsibility to take measures to prevent non-academic misconduct within the university community. The Office of Student Life takes several approaches to addressing conduct concerns when they arise. This may include consulting with those involved, investigating allegations of non-academic misconduct, or engaging students in informal resolution processes. Students engaging in a resolution process can be connected to supports to navigate the impacts and experience. Learn more about conduct expectations for students and your options for support.

Discrimination and Harassment

We recognize that for students to thrive at UVic, they need learning, living and working environments that are free from discrimination and harassment. The Discrimination and Harassment Prevention and Response Policy sets out the University’s expectations and framework to prevent and respond to discrimination and harassment.

Addressing all forms of discrimination and harassment requires all university community members to actively participate in creating change. This means we all have responsibilities under this policy.

The Equity and Human Rights (EQHR) office can provide advice and support related to discrimination and harassment at UVic. If you or someone you know is impacted by it, contact EQHR’s Case Management Officer at eqhr01@uvic.ca or 250-721-8486 to learn about your options.

Preventing Sexualized Violence

Everyone has a right to live, learn, and play in an environment free from sexualized violence. We know that sexualized violence impacts people’s ability to feel safe and excel at their work and studies. As a UVic student, you have a responsibility to help create and maintain a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.  There are resources and services available to all students seeking education or support.

UVic's Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response Policy defines Sexualized Violence as any non-consensual, unwanted, attempted, actual or threatened act or behavior that is carried out through sexual means or by targeting a person’s sex, sexual identity or gender identity or expression. Sexualized Violence is a continuum of behaviour that may take place through any form or means of communication (e.g., online, social media, verbal, written, visual) or physical contact. Sexualized Violence can occur between individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender, gender expression and gender identity. Sexualized violence includes verbal and non-verbal actions online and in-person. Sexualized Violence can occur between those currently or previously in an intimate relationship, those in a nonintimate relationship (e.g., acquaintances, friends and coworkers) and between strangers.

Sexualized Violence includes but is not limited to innapropriate sexualized comments, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, stealthing, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism, and/or the distribution of a sexually explicit images or video without consent.

Consent

One of the most important ways we can prevent sexualized violence is by integrating respect and consent in all areas of our daily lives. 

How UVic defines consent:

Consent is the voluntary agreement to engage in sexualized contact or activity and to continue to engage in the contact or activity. Consent means that all individuals involved demonstrate, through words or actions, that they freely and mutually agree to participate in a contact or activity.

Core principles of consent include: 

• Clear communication: say what you want so the other person can decide freely.
• Asking before acting: check in at the start and before changing activities.
• Taking responsibility: it’s your job to ask for consent, and remember that it can be withdrawn at any time.
• Respecting boundaries: if someone sets a limit, stop and honor it.
• Accepting rejection: be prepared to hear “no” and stop immediately.
• Learning body language: pay attention to non-verbal cues as well as words.
• Ongoing dialogue: consent is a continuous conversation, not a one-time check box activity.
• Recognizing power dynamics: consent is not valid if someone is pressured, threatened, or intimidated through power, trust or authority
• If someone is slurring, not making sense, not able to stand on their own, passed out, sleeping or has vomited – they are incapacitated and cannot consent. 

Campus Security

Campus Security provides a safe and welcoming environment for our students, staff, faculty and visitors 24 hours a day.

Campus Alone: Studying or working alone in the evening or on weekends? Let Campus Security know your location and they'll check in every so often to ensure your safety.

Direct Dial Phones: Public phones located around campus are equipped with emergency buttons that immediately connect to Campus Security. These phones have been identified with red and white signage.

Emergency Alerts: Although major emergencies on campus are unlikely, it's a good idea to be prepared. Download the UVic SafetyApp and sign up for UVic Emergency alerts. At the time of an emergency, check uvic.ca for information.

Medical Response: Security officers are first responders trained to handle all medical emergencies. For urgent, life-threatening situations, please call 9-1-1.

Safehaven: The area inside the front door of the Campus Security building is accessible after-hours to speak with our staff or make a telephone call. SafeHaven is secure space in the front foyer of the Campus Security Building. You can stay here safely for as long as you need and speak with a security officer if you want to.

SafeWalk: If you feel uncomfortable walking alone on campus, call SafeWalk, and Campus Security will send an escort to accompany you to your on-campus destination at any time of the day or night. SafeWalk is available to everyone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Personal Safety Manager: Campus Security has a Manager of Personal Safety who can provide assistance and referrals to all members of the campus community who have experienced or have concerns about any personal safety issues. We employ a Personal Safety and Risk Prevention Team to connect with the UVic community, address safety concerns and complaints and develop personal safety programs.

Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning helps the university prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies. They offer resources for what to do in case of an emergency, how to use emergency equipment, and emergency procedures and evacuations. 

See something, say something. Call the Campus Security 24/7 at 250-721-7599 to report unusual behaviour or a personal safety concern.

Additional Campus Security services include locker rental, lost and found, on-campus parking and security engraving.

Substance Use and Safety 

At UVic, we recognize that students may make different choices about substance use. Our goal is to support your health, safety, and well-being, no matter what those choices look like. We take a harm reduction approach, which means providing education, resources, and supports to reduce the potential harms of using alcohol and other drugs. 

If you choose to use substances, we encourage you to do so in ways that are informed and lower-risk. Everyone’s relationship with substances is different and it's okay to ask questions, be curious, and seek support if you need it. 

Some things to keep in mind: 

• Know what you’re using. Be cautious with unknown substances and avoid mixing substances (including alcohol and medications), as this can increase risks. 
• Start low and go slow. Everyone reacts differently, especially if you're new to a substance or haven't used it in a while. 
• Stay with people you trust. Have a plan to get home safely. Keep an eye on each other, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help if someone seems unwell. 
• Worried about someone? Place them in the recovery position and call for help. You won’t get in trouble for calling 911 in an emergency – your and other students’ safety comes first. 
• The legal drinking and cannabis use age in B.C. is 19. 
• Smoking or vaping tobacco or cannabis is only permitted in designated areas on campus.
   

Be aware: fentanyl contamination is common. 

Illicit substances – even those not intended to be opioids – may be contaminated with fentanyl or other powerful substances. This increases the risk of accidental overdose, especially when using alone or mixing drugs. You can reduce risks by: 

• Getting naloxone training and carrying a naloxone kit, which counters the effects of an opioid overdose. 
• Using a drug checking service (available for free in Victoria). 
• Never using alone – connect with someone or use an anonymous app like the Lifeguard app. 

Learn more about UVic’s harm reduction approach and resources