Western University
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

STATEMENT ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Every member of the University community has the right to work and study in an environment free from discrimination and harassment. To that end, the University has a number of policies, which apply to all students, prohibiting harassment and discrimination and supporting the accommodation of students with disabilities.

Further information and assistance with these policies can be obtained from the following offices:

Equity & Human Rights Services
Somerville House, Room 2319
519-661-3334
www.uwo.ca/equity

Also see: Non-Discrimination/Harassment Policy available at:
https://www.uwo.ca/hro/about/policies.html

Services for Students with Disabilities
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Western Student Services Building, Room 4100
519-661-2147
email: ssd@uwo.ca
Also see: ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Also: http://www.uwo.ca/equity/doc/diversity_inclusion_plan.pdf
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2016/pg26.html

The Western Human Rights Office (HRO) provides advice and support to all members of Western's campus community: students, staff, faculty, and leaders. The HRO manages all reports of: Human rights-based harassment and discrimination, such as sexism, racism, transphobia, homophobia, islamophobia, xenophobia, antisemitism, and ableism. Concerns related to non-human rights-based harassment, such as personal harassment or workplace harassment, may also be reported.

Western's discrimination and harassment reporting procedures may be found here:
https://www.uwo.ca/hro/discrimination/help/index.html

The Office of Student Support & Case Management helps students who are experiencing challenges get back to thriving by facilitating a coordinated response at both the individual and community level.
This office supports students in navigating resources and making informed decisions.

Case Management is a supportive process that provides students who are experiencing distress, demonstrating disruptive behaviors, or facing other challenges with support, education, and coordination of resources.

Supports and Resources available to students via The Office of Student Support & Case Management may be found here: https://www.uwo.ca/health/student_support/

Western Employees are provided access to LifeWorks, a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP): https://www.uwo.ca/hr/benefits/eap/

STAFF/FACULTY
Western focuses on improving retention and recruitment of faculty and staff members from diverse backgrounds through a variety of programs supported by the Equity & Human Rights Services:

- Employment Outreach: The University advertises all positions in media targeted at members within diverse groups. Western is also continuously developing relationships with external clients to introduce greater diversity within the university community.

- Training sessions and information packages: These employment equity and diversity tools have been developed for appointment committees and those involved in hiring and promotion decisions on campus

- Special initiatives to encourage the recruitment of women faculty members: Financial
support is provided to Faculties to assist with the recruitment and retention of tenured/probationary female academics. These funds may cover special expenses as well as support general recruitment and retention programs (e.g. mentoring programs in teaching or research).

- Coordinated central support for recruitment and retention of faculty members: Under the direction of the Vice-Provost (Policy, Planning and Faculty), the Office of Faculty Recruitment and Retention (OFRR) has been established. This office acts as a resource to prospective, new and current faculty members and their spouses/partners at Western. In addition to offering assistance with spousal/partner employment placement, the OFRR has information on a variety of topics, including housing, childcare and eldercare, healthcare, ethno-cultural programs and immigration.

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
With the release of its first ever "Indigenous Strategic Plan", Western University has identified as a priority to become a university of choice for Indigenous students, as well as increasing indigenous representation in staff and faculty complement.

Western is committed to increasing Indigenous voices and presence across all levels of work, study and research. The Office of Indigenous Initiatives plays a lead role in championing Indigenous strategic directions, building collaborative and community-engaged partnerships, and supporting campus partners in implementing Western’s Indigenous Strategic Plan.
https://indigenous.uwo.ca/

STUDENTS
Western University has had an Internationalization strategy for over 6 years, which led to the creation of Western International, an area dedicated to recruiting and supporting students from around the world, as well as providing opportunities for Canadian students to travel abroad.

Western also has staff and resources dedicated to the recruitment of Mature students, and supporting them throughout their studies at Western.
http://www.success.uwo.ca/new_students/mature__transfer_students/index.html

Western offers the following programs to support under-represented groups for students:

Indigenous Services offers a variety of services and programs designed to assist Indigenous students in succeeding at Western. Services are housed in the Learning Resource Centre which offers an up to date computer lab exclusively for Indigenous students, a job board, a quiet study area, and an archival collection of more than 1,200 books (available in Weldon Library), as well as a variety of other academic, research, and informational needs resources. Services include a Visiting Elder Program, a Cultural/Personal Counsellor, and administrative support to serve as liaison between students, the University and Indigenous communities.

Outreach and Recruitment Services provides presentations to high schools and community agencies/groups. Also, youth are offered three different summer camps, as well as ongoing sport and academic activities in partnership with the faculties. The new Indigenous Services-Health Sciences and Sciences Access/Transition Program offers student intensive, academic, and personal supports centered on a general first and second-year academic program.

http://grad.uwo.ca/current_students/student_services/indigenous.html

Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) plays a central role in Western’s efforts to ensure that its academic programs are accessible for all students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. SSD arranges academic accommodation for classes, exams, internships and other course or program activities. SSD also provides digital and Braille textbooks, accessible campus transportation, learning strategy instruction for students with learning disabilities, access to computer labs that are equipped with assistive technology, referrals for assessments and other services, and bursaries for students who meet OSAP’s eligibility criteria.

http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/ssd/

PrideWestern is a University Students’ Council service dedicated to supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, intersex, asexual, queer, questioning students at the University of Western Ontario. Run by students, PrideWestern provides support, organizes speakers, and events such as coffeehouses on and off-campus, discussion groups, and bi-weekly movie nights.

https://www.facebook.com/PrideWesternUWO/

SDC's Psychological Services has several counselors with expertise in the provision of services to LGBTQ2 students. These services include assisting students with coming out issues, family matters, isolation, dealing with queer phobia, and many other concerns.

http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/psych/

SDC's International and Exchange Student Centre offer a full range of services and programs specifically tailored to meet the needs of international students and enhance their academic, social, and cultural experience at the university.

http://www.iesc.uwo.ca/

The Women’s Issues Network is a service provided by the University Students Council at the University of Western Ontario. It is dedicated to recognizing, representing, and rectifying gender inequalities affecting students at Western.

http://westernusc.ca/womens-issues-network/

STAFF/FACULTY
Western also offers an Accessibility program, which helps students, staff and faculty with accessibility needs to be accommodated to be able to study and/or work.
Human rights and equity services at Western provides consultation and support services to staff and faculty from underrepresented groups

Ergonomics and rehabilitation services works with staff/faculty to accommodate special needs in the workplace.

Finally, Western works with Family Services Thames Valley to provide services through the Family Service Employee Assistance Program (FSEAP), which allows Western staff and faculty to have access to counselling and other support services.

Student Development Centre - http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/

University Students' Council - http://www.usc.uwo.ca/services.asp

Western's Caucus on Women's Issues - http://www.uwo.ca/wcwi/

UWO's Teaching Support Centre -
http://www.uwo.ca/tsc/

Faculty Mentor Program - http://www.uwo.ca/tsc/faculty_programs/faculty_mentor_program.html

Accessibility at Western - http://accessibility.uwo.ca/

Human Resource Services, Learning and Development - http://www.uwo.ca/hr/learning/index.html