Consultation on Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy and Response Procedures

Date:
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
Thursday, March 23, 2017 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
Location:
Winter Garden
Campus:
Prince George

The UNBC Steering Committee on Sexual Violence will be hosting an information table in the Winter Garden on Wednesday, March 22 and Thursday, March 23 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Steering Committee aims to raise awareness and invite feedback from the UNBC community on the first draft of the UNBC Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy and Response Procedures.

For more information regarding this initiative, please visit the new Sexual Violence and Misconduct website.


Why is UNBC developing a Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy?

Sexual violence and misconduct are never acceptable. UNBC is committed to providing members of the university community with a safe, supportive and respectful environment in which to live, learn and work.  UNBC already has protocols and procedures in place to respond to incidents of sexual violence and misconduct, and this Policy will support and reinforce these existing protocols and procedures. The Policy will also contribute to a broader and longer term conversation about the issue of sexual violence and misconduct at our campuses. Like many post-secondary institutions in British Columbia, UNBC currently does not have a stand-alone policy on sexual violence and misconduct. The new policy is a response to Bill 23 – 2016: Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act, provincial legislation which mandates the creation of such a policy at all post-secondary institutions in British Columbia. While this new Policy is under development, existing protocols and procedures will enable UNBC to continue to respond to any situations that arise.

What has UNBC done so far?

The Presidential Taskforce on Sexual Violence was created in the spring of 2014 and submitted its final report in September 2016. The report contained a series of recommendations about how UNBC should respond to the issue of sexual violence and misconduct. The Steering Committee on Sexual Violence was created in October 2016 to respond to the recommendations of the Taskforce. The first objective of the Steering Committee was to consult with students on the issue of sexual violence and misconduct in order to inform the development of a stand-alone policy and response procedures. This consultation process started in February 2017 with an online questionnaire, and several focus groups and opportunities for one on one interviews. This was followed in March 2017 with the release of the draft Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy and accompanying Response Procedures to the university community and an opportunity to provide feedback via an online portal.

What happens now?

The review of the draft Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy and Response Procedures will be open until April 21, 2017. The Policy and Response Procedures will be discussed by the University Senate on March 22, 2017 and by the University Board of Governors on March 31, 2017.  Feedback from the university community will be considered and the final drafts of the Policy and Response Procedures will be presented to the Board of Governors for approval in May 2017.

For more information and an opportunity to comment on the draft Policy and Response Procedures, please visit the Sexual Violence and Misconduct website.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact us via email at sexual.violence.policy@unbc.ca.

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