MacEwan University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Peer Support Program:
Students' Association of MacEwan University's Peer Support is a volunteer-based supportive listening program where students can share their concerns and gain access to professional resources in a supportive and confidential environment. Peer Support volunteers are available to actively listen to student concerns, facilitate discussion with students and refer them to outside services such as the counseling services available through MacEwan Student Life. With Peer Support, volunteers have the opportunity to develop supportive listening skills, practice confidentiality and build relationships. http://samu.ca/get-involved/volunteer/peer-support/

Aboriginal Education Centre:
The Aboriginal Education Centre (AEC) staff are available to consult and assist with understanding the Aboriginal community and its cultural diversity. The AEC can also provide support to faculty and staff who are seeking Aboriginal guest speakers to share their knowledge.The AEC offers a diverse range of services, such as:
- Academic Counselling
- Personal Support Services
- Cultural Programming & Activities
- Elders Support Services for personal guidance and traditional teachings

Wellness and Psychological Services:
Professional counselors in Student Life help students with individual student development and building resiliency and decision making skills to support academic and life success. They can provide information on coming out, being out, working on personal issues, and more.

U-SOLVE:
U-SOLVE (University Students Offering Leadership for Violence Elimination) is a partnership between MacEwan University and the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, funded by Status of Women Canada. Their mission is to create and implement a sustainable response to gender-based violence on campus. Their goal is to develop student focused measures that reflect intersectional feminist principles and promote diversity and respect for all people.

InQUEERies:
InQUEERies is a student group that welcomes all LGBTTQ, straight, and allied students. The group aims to promote diversity at MacEwan University in social and educational settings. They can provide students with LGBTTQ information and guidance.

University Studies International (USI) program:
The USI program at MacEwan has knowledgeable academic advisors to assist international students with achieving their academic goals through proper academic planning. All USI students must meet with their program advisor before registering in any courses. All USI students also meet with their academic advisor at least once during each term to review their progress and discuss their future plans.

International Student Counsellors:
International student counsellors, located in the Student Life office, have expertise and specialized skills in cross-cultural counselling. They can assist international students that experience difficulties due to cultural adjustment and intercultural differences.

Services to Students with Disabilities:
Services to Students with Disabilities (SSD) offers a range of services to foster the full and self-directed participation of students with disabilities in courses and other academic activities. Their services include:
- Review documentation of disability
- Identify disability-related accommodations and services
- Develop individual accommodation and service plans
- Prepare accommodation letters for teaching faculty
- Coordinate disability-related accommodations and services
- Provide educational and career planning advice
- Assist with funding applications for services and technology
- Coach students to develop self-advocacy skills
- Communicate with faculty and staff about accommodating students with disabilities

Minerva Senior Studies Institute:
The mission of Minerva Senior Studies Institute is to provide learning opportunities for mature adults (50 plus) by developing, sponsoring, promoting, offering and participating in educational events designed to enhance seniors' intellectual pursuits that enrich their lives. Minerva Senior Studies undertakes to:
- Promote lifelong learning
- Extend educational access to seniors
- Deliver a sound “senior friendly” volunteer program
- Be innovative and responsive in program planning and evaluation
- Be fiscally responsible
- Share expertise and demonstrate leadership in educational initiatives

POLICY D1125 - Harassment:
MacEwan University is committed to maintaining an educational and working environment that is free from all forms of harassment. Harassment is a serious offense that will not be tolerated and it is the responsibility of all administration, faculty, staff and students to create an environment that is free of harassment. MacEwan University recognizes its responsibility to deal efficiently, effectively and fairly with allegations of harassment. The reporting of all incidents of harassment, regardless of who the potential offender may be, is encouraged.

This policy applies to all members of the MacEwan University community. The jurisdiction of the policy covers MacEwan University functions and persons performing duties for MacEwan University and all learners engaged with MacEwan University, whether on or off campus, and during working and non-working hours as long as there is a relationship between these matters and MacEwan University activities.

As defined within the policy, discrimination (for the purpose of this and related policies) means differential treatment, whether intentional or not, of an individual or group of individuals which is based, in whole or in part, on one or more than one of the protected grounds identified in the Alberta Human Rights Act; and which has an adverse impact on an individual or group of individuals, (subject to the good faith, reasonable and justifiable defenses outlined in the Act).

POLICY E3400 - Students with Disabilities:
MacEwan University shall take all reasonable measures, short of undue hardship, to provide accommodation to students with disabilities. The reasonable accommodation of students with disabilities shall not require MacEwan University to lower its standards, academic or otherwise, nor shall it relieve a student of the responsibility to develop and demonstrate the essential skills and competencies expected of all students pursuing post-secondary studies.

This policy is intended to support MacEwan University’s mission and the provision of an accessible environment in support of teaching and learning excellence, as well as judicious stewardship of resources, respecting the importance of a consultative learning community. This policy is guided by federal and provincial human rights legislation and by the following principles:
- MacEwan University is committed to the principles of equality and inclusion.
- Members of the MacEwan University community are required to act in compliance with federal and provincial legislation regarding the accommodation of persons with disabilities and the regulations and rules set out in this policy.
- Students with disabilities have an equal right to access all MacEwan University programs and services subject only to MacEwan policies, regulations and procedures that provide for admission to MacEwan University programs and those which regulate student conduct.
- Students with disabilities are responsible for identifying all need(s) for academic accommodation to MacEwan University’s Services to Students with Disabilities department in accordance with this policy. A student’s responsibility to identify the need for accommodation is an on-going responsibility that may begin at the admission stage and continue throughout the student’s enrollment at MacEwan University.
- Upon admission to a MacEwan University program in accordance with policy C5010, students with disabilities are presumed to be capable of fulfilling the academic requirements of their program with the provision of reasonable accommodation.

MacEwan University Residence is currently working on offering Gender Neutral Housing options. It is anticipated that this will be available on housing applications on October 1 for the 2015/16 year.