Carleton University
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Carleton University and all its members share responsibility for ensuring that the university’s educational, work and living environments are safe and free from discrimination and harassment. We strive to provide accommodation and protect against discrimination and harassment within the meaning of Carleton’s Human Rights policies and procedures.

https://carleton.ca/safety/resources/knowledge-bank/know-the-law/discrimination-and-harassment/

The Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities is the office designated to receive and manage all complaints of harassment or discrimination as related to those who have experienced or witnessed a bias incident, act of discrimination or hate crime.

EIC staff listen in confidence and will do everything they can to provide advice and guidance. EIC also provides fair and impartial resolution of human rights-related concerns and complaints from faculty, staff, and students.

As required by provincial human rights legislation and related university policies, principally Carleton University’s Human Rights and Procedures policy, EIC responds to and receives concerns and complaints of harassment and discrimination on the grounds of age, race, citizenship, creed (including religious and non-religious systems of belief), disability (incl. mental health and addictions), family status (including pregnancy and care-giver responsibility), marital status, gender identity/expression, sex, and sexual orientation.

EIC provides confidential and non-adversarial informal complaint services using a variety of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms including negotiation and mediation. We collaborate with the parties to prevent escalation wherever possible, empower and educate community members as to their rights and responsibilities and assist in the timely resolution of human rights issues.

Where needed a consultation involves a conversation between a party and a discrimination and harassment prevention officer. This discussion allows the officer to provide information on our services so the party can make informed choices about a complaint and dispute resolution options.
EIC also provides education, training and professional development for the entire Carleton community on the best practices to instill respect for and compliance with human rights in all facets of university operations and governance.

Attention to human rights at the university minimizes the human, financial and reputational costs arising from their non-observance. Attention to human rights gives everybody equal rights and opportunities without discrimination in university activities including the receipt of services, jobs, housing, facilities, and contracts or agreements.

EIC also provides:
• education and professional development on human rights in the workplace
• training on human rights and responsibilities for students in the receipt of services and engagement with the university community
• education on what does not constitute a violation of human rights at the university.

In addition, The Carleton University Student Emergency Response Team (CUSERT) is a volunteer campus emergency response team serving the Carleton University community. Operating under Carleton’s Campus Safety Services, including enforcing the human rights policies and procedures, which covers discrimination.

The Policy offers both formal and informal procedures for handling complaints. Wherever possible, complaints are managed using the informal process. Equity Advisors are advocates for the Policy; they do not act as advocates for complainants or respondents.

Carleton’s Equity Services works to prevent discrimination and harassment on campus. They provide informal and formal procedures for handling complaints, offer education on a wide variety of human rights and diversity issues and coordinate Carleton University’s employment and educational equity programs.

To maintain accountability and to provide data about community human rights performance, EIC will produce reports showing the incidence of rights occurrences and inquires at the university. This information will inform and improve programs and planning across the Carleton University campus.

Carleton University is committed to the recruitment of students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups. Carleton strategy towards equity is both policy and action plan led. The formal Employment Equity in Recruitment and Selection for Academic Appointments at Carleton University policy outlines key requirements for search committees including, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment experienced by four designated groups (women, Aboriginal peoples, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities).

In addition Carleton University's newly published Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (https://carleton.ca/edi-plan/wp-content/uploads/Carleton-University-EDI-Action-Plan-Full.pdf) highlights the importance of recruiting students and staff from underrepresented groups.

Within the Plan and under the key action SA8 – Representation and Outreach, attention is made to EDI in the form of equitable and inclusive representation throughout Carleton University, its students, staff, and instructors, heightens student success and enhances a sense of belonging and community. But this effort does not stop at the borders of our campus, and requires the university to actively reach out to the broader communities to support change, to learn and to dismantle structural underrepresentation.

For employees, Carleton will socialize its intention to establish and publish employment equity goals having regard to labour market availability and Carleton student disaggregated demographic representation. This will not preclude faculties and administrative divisions from proactively initiating EDI-related hiring and outreach initiatives.

Among employee examples at Carleton, we acknowledge the approval within FASS for the
intended academic posting in Human Rights for a specialist in Blackness, precarity and labour.

Carleton also recognises the Racialized and Indigenous Faculty Alliance (RIFA), a group of self-identified Black, Indigenous, or racialized faculty and instructors from across Carleton University. Formed in 2020, their mandate is to foster mutual support and solidarity for Alliance members.

Carleton has also joined a trio of external organization: the steering committee of Ottawa’s Employer’s Accessibility and Resource Network; the Indigenous Employment Leadership Advisory Table; and the Hire Immigrants Ottawa working group.

For students, Carleton will socialize its intention to establish and publish recruitment and retention goals for underrepresented student populations having regard to the population proportions in the most recent National Household Survey (disaggregated demographic information) as well as circumstances of historical and present marginalization. This will not preclude faculties and administrative Divisions from proactively initiating EDI-related recruitment and outreach initiatives.

Carleton has formalised a new role as Diversity, Equity and Community Programs Coordinator in the Student Experience Office (SEO). Working to act as a liaison between the EIC Department and SEO, working to apply EDI initiatives in a way that best serves, recruits and supports students.

Another new position, Carleton’s inaugural EDI Learning Specialist, will co-develop and deliver curricular and teaching support for faculty, professional staff and students to enhance integration of decolonized, anti-racist and inclusive practices throughout the university. These are crucial steps in programs to recruit students from underrepresented groups.

Centre for Indigenous Initiatives
- Carleton University offers a range of supports to all students as well resources specifically for Indigenous students. Below you can find some helpful documents & links to Carleton student resources.

- The Centre for Indigenous Initiatives offers a range of cultural programming throughout the academic year. For more information please visit the Weekly and Monthly Programming page.
- Upon request, students can seek an individual meeting with one of the knowledge keepers/elders that work with the Centre. For more information please email indigenous@carleton.ca

The Paul Menton Centre (PMC)

-The Paul Menton Centre is responsible for the coordination of academic accommodations and support services for students with disabilities. Some of our functions include:
- Liaising with faculty, departments, Scheduling and Examination Services, Educational Development Centre, and other student services to ensure that students’ needs are met
- Facilitating the resolution of problems or misunderstandings as they arise between students and faculty/departments
- Providing information about disabilities, policies and procedures pertaining to students with disabilities to faculty and to the broader Carleton community
- Providing a variety of support services for students with disabilities such as one-on-one learning support, note taking, adaptive equipment loans, sign language interpretation, and screening and referral for LD/ADHD assessment
https://carleton.ca/pmc/

The Womxn’s Centre

- The Womxn’s Centre aims to be a safe(r) space for those who identify as Womxn’s but also anyone interested in gendered based issues. The Womxn’s Centre provides free male/female condoms, pregnancy tests, menstrual products, and a wealth of resources and material. The centre is home to the only Womxn’s only space on campus. All Womxn’s can use the quiet space for resting, prayer, breastfeeding, and self-care.
http://www.carletonspc.ca/womyns-centre-community-service/

Gender and Sexuality Resource Centre
The Gender and Sexuality Resource Centre (GSRC) aims to be a safe(r) space for Carleton students of all gender identities and sexual orientations through education, advocacy, and support.

https://carleton.ca/trans/resources/washrooms/

https://carleton.ca/trans/housing/