British Columbia Institute of Technology
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion (RDI) office helps BCIT foster a respectful and inclusive working and learning environment by creating awareness and belonging through education, events, and training. The RDI team provides assistance and support to individuals with concerns of bullying, harassment, and discrimination and strives to help people resolve conflicts informally. They also assist individuals who have formal complaints and coordinate workplace investigations.

As embedded in our BCIT values, we champion diversity of experiences, ideas, cultures, and perspectives, fostering a community permeated with equality and inclusivity. To that end, BCIT is committed to:

• Ensuring all employees receive training on diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism.


• Actively working to ensure employees come from diverse groups and represent the communities within which we live and work by creating equitable hiring practices to remove systemic barriers and unconscious bias.


• Acknowledging that BCIT is located on the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations. Recognizing that the relationship with Indigenous peoples in Canada has been troubled and must be reconciled.


• Providing platforms and training to staff and students to address issues of racism, diversity, unconscious bias, and allyship.


• Supporting Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships, RDI, and other community groups and ensuring these critical services continue to respond to racist behaviour.


• Continuing to provide a complaint mechanism for anyone who is subjected to such behaviour within the BCIT learning or working environment through various channels, including the RDI department.

BCIT’s policy 7507, which prohibits harassment, bullying, and discrimination does not only apply to conduct in class or on campus. It also applies to all BCIT-related activities and communications including:

• Discord servers and school Facebook or other social media groups related to BCIT activities.


• Interactions during lunch, in campus stores, or restaurants on campus.


• After-hours activities including study groups, private messages between students or staff.


• Work and school conferences and trips.

The Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion (RDI) Buzz is a monthly newsletter by the RDI Office that contains information about events, initiatives, and resources to help foster a respectful and inclusive working and learning environment for all.

BCIT, the BCGEU Support Staff and Instructional units, and the Faculty and Staff Association (FSA) are committed to providing a learning and working environment free from discrimination, bullying and harassment.

In support of this commitment, BCIT has a mandatory respectful workplace training program, developed with extensive input from, and collaboration with, each of the employee stakeholder groups at BCIT. The program also satisfies part of BCIT’s obligation under WorkSafe BC to train employees on preventing, recognizing, and responding to bullying and harassment.

“Respect in the Workplace” is a mandatory interactive online training course that provides information about staff rights and responsibilities in responding to discrimination, bullying and harassment. Credit for completion of the online training and assessment is sent to Human Resources. Courses in Human Rights 101, Understanding Unconscious Bias, and Relearning Gender are also available free to employees.

All students have a right to a safe and respectful education as outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities policies. Students are expected to be familiar with BCIT’s code of Student Conduct. The Student Success Hub provides students access to these policies including:

• Student Code of Conduct (Non-academic)


• Harassment and Discrimination


• Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion


• Sexual Violence and Misconduct

The RDI office is available to provide assistance to students by phone or email. The Student Association (BCITSA) advocates are available to provide confidential, unbiased services and information, advice, intervention, and referrals related to student rights and responsibilities. Bystander training workshops are available upon request. Diversity Circles events are open to students.