Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 47.15
Liaison Drew Dullen
Submission Date Nov. 24, 2020

STARS v2.2

Brock University
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.44 / 2.00 Leela Madhava Rau
Director, Human Rights & Equity
Office of Human Rights & Equity Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a diversity and equity committee, office, and/or officer tasked by the administration or governing body to advise on and implement policies, programs, and trainings related to diversity, equity, inclusion and human rights?:
Yes

Does the committee, office and/or officer focus on students, employees, or both?:
Both students and employees

A brief description of the diversity and equity committee, office and/or officer, including purview and activities:

Brock University has a team of dedicated staff working towards creating a Brock community where everyone takes responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights; where everyone is valued and treated with dignity and respect; and, everyone’s human rights are a lived reality. Brock University and the Human Rights and Equity (HRE) team provide resources for the entire Brock community with regards to information, education, assistance, and advice on issues related to human rights, harassment discrimination and bullying. This includes harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, ancestry, creed, sex, gender identification, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, receipt of public assistance (in housing), record of offences (in employment) and disability, as well as personal or workplace harassment and bullying.

Human Rights and Equity works with many other departments and services on campus to prevent harassment and discrimination from occurring and to quickly address incidents as they arise. They assist community members with issues of harassment and discrimination and help guide them to understand the range of options available to resolve the situation.

Within HRE, there are specialists working in the following areas: Gender and Sexual Violence Support and Education; Accessibility, Anti-Ableism and Inclusion; Anti-Racism and Human Rights; Intercultural Education; 2SLGBTQ Issues; and, Complaint Receipt and Resolution.

Human Rights Task Force – Established to improve and advance human rights policies, processes, services and supports at Brock by providing recommendations to the President. In May 2017, the Human Rights Task Force Released Pushing Onward, the final report outlining 46 recommendations on six key themes for maintaining and advancing humans rights on Brocks campus. In subsequent years all 46 of the recommendations were addressed.

President’s Advisory Committee on Human Rights, Equity, and Decolonization (PACHRED) – Formed in 2018 in response to the recommendations of the Human Rights Task Force. PACHRED is tasked with advising the President on the recommendations of the Task Force’s final report and issues relating to human rights, equity, and decolonization. There are six Working Groups associated with PACHRED: Employment Equity; Sexual Violence Prevention; Decolonization; Anti-Racism; Anti-Ableism and Mental Health; and, 2SLGBTQ Issues.

Brock University also has resources dedicated to another important component in its Institutional Strategic Plan – that of Reconciliation and Decolonization. In addition to the Office of the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement, there is Two Row Council and the Aboriginal Education Committee. Educational initiatives such as Orange Shirt Day, REDress Day and more are within the purview of this office, working in collaboration with HRE.


Estimated proportion of students that has participated in cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
Some

Estimated proportion of academic staff that has participated in cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
Most

Estimated proportion of non-academic staff that has participated in cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
Some

A brief description of the institution’s cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:

Human Rights and Equity provides trainings for many groups and departments on campus. They provide customized training upon request for groups and departments in the Brock community on a wide variety of topics including: AODA Training, Anti-Racism Training, Sexual Violence Prevention Training, and Intercultural Training.

The Human Rights and Equity Office also offers a series of workshops aimed to raise awareness for issues of sexual violence. These workshops take an intersectional approach to confronting sexual violence by highlighting different communities’ perspectives. Those who complete 5 workshops over the course of the year will be awarded the Sexual Violence Education and Support Certificate. Those who complete all 7 workshops will be awarded the Advanced Sexual Violence Education and Support Certificate. In the past two years, over 2,000 students have participated in these trainings.

Any faculty member sitting on a search committee to nominate a Canada Research Chair is required to take an Unconscious Bias workshop offered by HRE. To date, nearly 70% of faculty have taken this workshop. The workshop includes a focus on cultural humility, prejudice, stereotyping as well as unconscious bias.

Staff, faculty and students also participate in workshops on human rights and equity, anti-racism, anti-ableism and mental health, culturally responsive pedagogy, holding courageous conversations, intercultural communication and religious bias (offered with Faith and Life Centre).


Website URL where information about the institution’s diversity and equity office or trainings is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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