Mohawk College
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Harassment and discrimination at the College is not tolerated.
Mohawk College is committed to maintaining the health, safety, and well-being of every student, faculty, staff, and community member at Mohawk College; creating an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment and free from sexualized violence and supporting those who experience sexual violence. https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/student-life/wellness/end-sexual-assault-and-sexual-violence-at-mohawk/about-sexual-assault-and-0

The College treats all incidents and complaints of harassment or discrimination seriously whether they are made informally or formally. The College will act on all incidents and complaints in accordance with Appendix A- Harassment and Discrimination Complaints Procedure to to ensure that they are resolved quickly and fairly. Employees who are found to have harassed or discriminated against another individual, who have created a poisoned environment, or managers who do no act properly to end harassment or discrimination may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination. This includes any employee who:
- interferes with the resolution of harassment or discrimination complaint;
- retaliates against an individual for making a harassment or discrimination complaint or participating in the complaint resolution process;
- breaches the confidentiality of a haraasment or discrimination inquiry or investigation

Please referred to the policy under "Human Resources" - "Respectful Workplace (Harassment & Discrimination) https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/about-mohawk/leadership-and-administration/policies-and-procedures/corporate-policies-and/view

Mohawk College has also developed 5 key commitments to increas inclusiveness on campus. They can be found here: https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/about-mohawk/inclusiveness

According to Appendix A: Harassment & Discrimination Complaints Procedure, the College, through either the Student Rights & Responsibilities Office or the Human Resource Department will conduct an investigation that is appropriate in the circumstances into reported incidents and complaints of harassment or discrimination. There is a preliminary investigation where the person is provided a copy of the Policy and Procedures and the inquiry is responded to. The alleged offender is informed of the allegations and provided with a copy of Policy and Procedures. There is an investigation into the viability of an informal process by discussing the Informal Resolution options with the parties, explain and offering these options and seeking their voluntary participation in an informal process. The College then assesses whether a Formal Investigation is appropriate. Where the complaint is substantiated, a written record of the outcome of the investigation, including corrective action, will be retained on file in the Human Resources Department and/or the Student Rights & Responsibilities Office. During a Formal Invesitgation, the College will take resonable interim measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the employees and students involved and the integrity of the investigation process.

For more detailed information please see Appendix A: Harassment & Discrimination Complaints Procedure from the Policy "Respectful Workplace (Harassement and Discrimination)" found here https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/about-mohawk/leadership-and-administration/policies-and-procedures/corporate-policies-and/view

Mohawk College has a "Preventing and Responding to Violence in the Workplace" guideline. These are safety tips and guidelines that can be used as a resource or training materials to employees. We also have procedures on violence protection and prevention, student behaviour, responding to violence and reporting on violence protocal. Mohawk College also has a "Sexual Assault and Sexualized Violence Policy" where they consulted students and the student association for the policy. This resulted in an online space for students to go to when they have experienced sexual violence and how to talk steps to address the experience.

Mohawk College has also recently launched a "Bringing in the Bystander Training" and other training opportunities that is available to staff and students. Bringing in the Bystander Training (BIBT) aims to empower the community and encourage bystanders to intervene safely and effectively in cases where sexual assault may be occurring or where there may be a risk of sexual violence. Everyone has a role to play in the intervention and prevention of sexual violence.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
-Understand the concept of bystander intervention
-Identify a continuum of inappropriate sexual behavior
-Learn to safely intervene as a bystander
-Help create a College culture that proactively addresses sexual violence

Within the Student Recruitment portfolio, College in Motion offers a suite of services to youth and adults across the regions we serve. With dedicated advisors conducting onsite appointments at high schools, alternative education and adult learning centres and community agencies, we provide 1 on 1 support to those aspiring to post secondary pathways. Since 2012, this model has provided services to over 10,000 individuals within priority neighborhoods (with lower than average high school graduation and post secondary participation rates). Since 2014, we have had 316 graduates with and additional 500 students currently enrolled at the college. We provide additional transition supports to help navigate the path to paying for college, and accessing needed services. We have been active in working with ESL learners, Indigenous populations, LGBTQ, person with disabilities, and individuals with socio-economic barriers. We work closely with Ontario Works, EO funded-agencies, Crown Wards, specialized treatment centres, and youth programs. In addition to the service model, we offer events and activities for these equity groups to familiarize themselves with the college experience. We also are fortunate that Mohawk College offers a menu of academic preparatory programs that allow individuals to take shallower first steps towards an Ontario College Diploma, or Ontario College Advanced Diploma.

Employees (Faculty and Staff)
Mohawk College is committed to promoting equal opportunities and providing an inclusive place of employment. The College aims to ensure its workforce reflects the diversity of the community it serves. As part of an inclusiveness commitement, Mohawk College commits to attracting and retaining talent reflective of the community by putting processes and systems in place that remove barriers in all Human Resources policies and practices. This will be done to ensure that Mohawk employees are representative of the diversity within the Hamilton community.

Mohawk College also has a "Recruiting and Selection" policy to ensure that the college is promoting equal opportunitites, providing an inclusive place of work, and creating a workforce reflective of the diversity in the community. This includes staff and faculty recruitment.The policy can be found here under the Human Resources section: https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/about-mohawk/leadership-and-administration/policies-and-procedures/corporate-policies-and/view.

Bundled Arrows Initiative
Led by Mohawk College, the Bundled Arrows Initiative is a regional collaboration between Aboriginal communities that works to create a Regional Indigenous Education Plan. Key objectives include: expanding curriculum design and development, cross-cultural awareness building and Aboriginal faculty recruitment and training.

Indigenous Education and Student Services Centre
At the Indigenous Education and Student Services Centre staff can help with launching student college experience, access to resources for indigenous students and access to cultural events. Some of their programs include: Elder as Resource, Indigenous Peer Tutoring, Student workshops, Indigenous self-identification, Indigenous Student awards and more.The Elders as Resource program offers additional spiritual and cultural support to Indigenous students, staff and faculty of Mohawk College. Mohawk also has a Facilitated Admission Process for Indigenous Students that gives individual consideration to Indigenous Students applying to oversubscribed programs at the college.

Mohawk International offers a full set of services designed to help ensure international students have the support they need to begin their educational journey through the International Square. It offers support in permits and visas, academic, health, housing, awards and scholarships and career pathways. Every international student is provided a "Check-in session" where they go through all their documentation and the supports available for them at the College when they arrive.

The Language and Culture Centre (LCC) is a place to meet new friends, get involved through volunteer experiences, join in for social and cultural events throughout the year and participate in short term ESL programming. Every year the LCC specifically hosts welcoming events and orientation for international students. This centre also hosts a number of international student clubs. In September, the LCC held an Airport Welcoming event to make sure international students felt supported when arriving to Hamilton. The LCC is open to all faculty and staff as well.

Mohawk College's Accessible Learning Services (ALS) works in collaboration with students, faculty and support staff to create a barrier-free learning environment. Together, ALS identifies and implements accommodations and strategies to ensure that all students can have an equal opportunity to achieve their educational goals and employees to reach their professional goals. Services are available to students and employees (faculty and staff) with disabilities at all campuses.

The Learning Technology and Education Centre
The LTEC is an open access lab and quiet work space for students registered with Accessible Learning Services to collaborate, study, and access their Adaptive Technology. The Centre also offers accommodation guides for students, parents and employees (staff and faculty). https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/student-life-at-mohawk/accessible-learning-services/accessible-learning-services-resources

Social Inc. is a place where human rights are respected. We celebrate social inclusion and work toward erasing discrimination. This process includes identifying and confronting oppression. We do this by supporting students, staff and faculty with a physical positive space located in G112 at Fennell and delivering a message of harmony outside of our safe space.

Mohawk College offers an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) that provides employees (faculty and staff) and families with confidential support to help resolve work, health and life challenges. This includes support and counselling for health and well-being, family and relationships, addictions, diseases and conditions and mental health.

Mohawk College also offers a mentorship program where employees (faculty and staff) can work alongside other employees of the college. In fact, the College offers a Women in Technology and Trades program where staff, faculty and students from all backgrounds, genders and races can be involved. It offers mentoring and coaching, networking opportunity and career exploration services.

The Health Centre of at Mohawk offers counselling and other support services to all staff, faculty and students such as mental health counselling, yoga therapy, physiotherapy, nautropathic services and more.

Mohawk College is looking to evaluate how we are doing as a community, at creating a welcoming and inclusive environment that reflects the diverse experiences of our students and staff.

We want to ensure that we not only provide services, spaces, activities and curricula that represent all aspects of our diverse student and staff community, but also that our campuses are accessible and inviting. We want to create an environment where students and staff see themselves reflected in our learning community, and in which diversity is respected and celebrated. Join the discussion today!

Here are some helpful definitions we use when talking about diversity at Mohawk College.

Diversity:
The presence of a wide range of human qualities and attributes within a group, organization, or society. The dimensions of diversity include, but are not limited to, ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, physical and intellectual ability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.

Equity:
A condition or state of fair, inclusive, and respectful treatment of all people. Equity does not mean treating people the same without regard for individual differences.

Inclusive Education:
Education that is based on the principles of acceptance and inclusion of all students. Students see themselves reflected in their curriculum, their physical surroundings, and the broader environment, in which diversity is honoured and all individuals are respected.