Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 54.38
Liaison Jennifer Martel
Submission Date Jan. 31, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of the Fraser Valley
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.83 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a publicly posted non-discrimination statement? :
Yes

The non-discrimination statement, including the website URL where the policy is publicly accessible:

UFV's Discrimination Bullying and Harassment Prevention Policy:
All members of the university community must:
- not engage in discrimination, bullying or harassment;
- report discrimination, bullying or harassment they observe or experience; and
- apply and comply with the university’s policies and procedures on discrimination, bullying and harassment.

Senior administrators, deans and directors have the primary responsibility for maintaining a working and learning environment free from discrimination, bullying and harassment. They are expected to model appropriate behaviour and to act on this responsibility whenever necessary, whether or not they are in receipt of a complaint.

Human resources is responsible to:
- develop and maintain procedures necessary to give effect to this policy. Such procedures will be published on the website and will include:
- confidential consultation and advice for all members of the university community,
- educational and pro-active approaches to informal resolution, and
- fair, transparent investigation and adjudication procedures.
- communicate this policy and accompanying procedures to all employees of the University.

https://www.ufv.ca/media/assets/secretariat/policies/Discrimination,-Bullying-and-Harassment-Prevention-(18).pdf


Does the institution have a discrimination response protocol or committee (sometimes called a bias response team)?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s discrimination response protocol or team:

UFV's Discrimination Bullying and Harassment Prevention Produces Policy outlines the institutions response protocol.

https://www.ufv.ca/media/assets/human-rights-and-conflict-resolution/Discrimination-Bullying-Harassment-Prevention-Procedures-(Online).pdf

The Policy outlines how Human Resources department are responsible for developing and maintaining procedures necessary to give effect to this policy and support those who have experienced or witnessed a bias incident. Such procedures include:
- confidential consultation and advice for all members of the university community that have experienced or witness a bias incident, act of discrimination or hate crime;
- educational and pro-active approaches to informal resolution; and
- fair, transparent investigation and adjudication procedures.


Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit students from underrepresented groups?:
Yes

Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
No

Does the institution have programs designed specifically to recruit non-academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
No

A brief description of the institution’s programs to recruit students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:

Students, Staff, and Non-academic Staff

Presidents Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
In the fall of 2019, President MacLean formed a President's Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to provide leadership in creating and fostering an environment that supports and creates best practices, policies, and pedagogy for EDI. The Task Force on EDI focuses on the identification and elimination of barriers blocking career advancement, recruitment, and retention of underrepresented groups in our organization. Over 40 faculty and staff responded to the call and a task force was formed with sixteen people selected to represent the UFV community.

UFV's EDI Guiding Principles to recruit students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups
- We commit to identifying and addressing barriers to equity of access and opportunity, and to providing support for the recruitment and retention of students, faculty, staff, senior university leaders, and university Board and Senate members, particularly from underrepresented groups.

https://www.ufv.ca/media/assets/presidents-office/edi-resources/EDI-Guiding-Principles-with-feedback-from-Feb-19-meeting.pdf

UFV CLIMB orientation for international students
CLIMB is UFV's orientation program for international students, designed for people who come to UFV each year from more than 75 countries around the world. International students will get practical information and opportunities to ask questions. Students also get to meet their CLIMB Guides, who are second-year students.

CLIMB includes live sessions guiding students through practical things such as:
- Preparing for Canada
- Medical insurance
- Online learning
- Academic support services
- Immigration workshops
- Campus resources
- How to use student accounts: myClass/Blackboard (our online learning platform), myUFV, and myMail

https://international.ufv.ca/new-students/orientation/attend-orientation/


Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support, academic support, or other programs designed specifically to support students from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs designed specifically to support academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs to support non-academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s programs designed specifically to support students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:

UFV's Race and Antiracism Network
The Race and Antiracism Network (RAN) is committed to raising the profile of race-related issues at UFV and beyond; addressing issues of racism, and developing theoretical and practical strategies and tools of anti-racism.

RAN objectives include:
- Raising awareness about racism and race-related (gender, sexuality, religious, class, dis/ability) issues at UFV, the Fraser Valley, and society at large;
- Organizing events for members of UFV related to race and anti-racism;
- Bringing together individuals and communities at UFV and beyond working on anti-racism, decolonization, and anti-colonial projects;
- Providing a space for people of colour, Indigenous peoples and allies to work on issues related to race and colonial politics;
- Resources pending, responding to local, regional, national, and international events and issues relevant to RAN;
- Facilitating dialogues and discussions within UFV among staff, faculty, administrators and students;
- Advocating for changes within UFV that are consistent with the above objectives.

UFV LEAD Program
UFV Lead is a dynamic and personalized peer mentorship and leadership development program for students at any stage in their studies at UFV.

The program’s four-tier mentorship network gives students at various stages in their academic careers an opportunity to receive mentorship, and to mentor others, as they study at UFV, participate in program activities, and take on new and exciting leadership roles in their community.

UFV Lead students get access to unique experiential learning opportunities, personal and professional development workshops, and social connections that will prepare them for academic success, workplace success, and responsible citizenship.

Through personalized support from program staff, students are guided to reflect on their learning and to mentor each other as they continue to identify and work towards their personal, professional, and academic goals.

UFV Counselling (Students)
UFV's Counselling office provides support and resources to students. Counsellors assist students with:
- Career planning
- Study skills
- Crisis support and assistance with personal issues.

Counselling resources include:
- group workshops
- online information handouts
- support sources in other UFV departments
- Counselling awareness events

https://www.ufv.ca/counselling/

UFV's Employee and Family Assistance Program
Provided by Homewood Health, the Employee and Family Assistance Programs (EFAP) is a voluntary support service that offers immediate, confidential help at no charge for all kinds of problems and life challenges.

Staff and immediate family members (as defined in your employee benefit plan) can receive support over the telephone, in person, online, and through a variety of issue-based health and wellness resources.

https://www.ufv.ca/hr/compensation-benefits/employee-family-assistance/

UFV's Indigenous Students Centre (ISC)
The purpose of UFV's Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) is to provide easy-access resources and a friendly, home-away-from-home environment to help students in reaching their maximum potential. The ISC works to provide cultural and academic support, to help bridge the gap between the University and Indigenous peoples, and to help facilitate the Indigenization of UFV.

Cultural events are open to all students, and include lunches, circle meetings, Elder visits and gatherings, workshops, welcoming ceremonies, and several other activities on and off campus.

ISC Services include:
- Advocate for students with other UFV departments
- Make referrals and coordinate requests within UFV and to community agencies and other institutions.
- Provide academic support, tutoring, and liaison with other UFV departments
- Act as a liaison with post-secondary education authorities and First Nation organizations.
- Provide information on courses with Indigenous content
- Provide academic and trades program information
- Assist with applications and admissions processes
- Provide information on scholarships and bursaries

More information on this can be found at: https://www.ufv.ca/isc/

UFV Wellness Centre (Peer Resource and Leadership Centre)
The Wellness Centre provides peer to peer support for students needing support with health and wellbeing including:
- Harm reduction support (Naloxone Training and Kit distribution),
- Sex education programming, access to free sexual health products, Gender free Sexual Health and pleasure product Sales
- SafeTalk, Suicide Prevention education, training an events
- Connection groups that host peer to peer support groups.

https://www.ufv.ca/prlc/

UFV Centre for Accessibility Services
The Centre for Accessibility Services (CAS) is a part of the Student Affairs department and represents UFV’s commitment to enhancing and facilitating the support of students with documented permanent and temporary disabilities at the University of the Fraser Valley. The Centre operates as the central contact point for students with disabilities at UFV. The Centre's focus is on providing accommodations and services that support overall student success. This can include additional time for examinations, note taking assistance, applications for disability-related funding, and more.

https://www.ufv.ca/accessibility/

UFV Sexualized Violence Program
The UFV Sexualized Violence Program with Student Life provides education on consent, sexualized violence, and prevention. UFV offers three workshops on sexualized violence prevention. Each workshop is 75 minutes long and is facilitated by two UFV Peer Educators.

https://www.ufv.ca/sexualized-violence-prevention/get-involved/

The Advocates for Change - Living and Learning Community (LLC)
The LLC is part of UFV Housing and tackles issues of racism and diversity. Participants dig into the complex issues: race, equity, diversity, inclusion and identity.

Participants are expected to commit 2-3 hours weekly to participate in extracurricular programs and educational activities on and off campus. Participants will also take part in a service initiative that helps affect change.

The service initiative is where ideas of how to make a change will come into play. Some examples include:
- Raising awareness on a social justice issue(s)
- Hosting an event on campus
- Leading a discussion or awareness campaign
- Sitting in on important meetings to offer a student perspective
- Sharing what you have learned with K-12 Students

https://www.ufv.ca/housing/living-learning-community-llc/


Does the institution have training and development programs, teaching fellowships and/or other programs that specifically aim to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members?:
No

A brief description of the institution’s programs to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members:
---

Does the institution produce a publicly accessible inventory of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus?:
---

Does the institution offer housing options to accommodate the special needs of transgender and transitioning students?:
---

Website URL where information about the institution’s support for underrepresented groups is available:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.