Overall Rating	Gold - expired
Overall Score	67.42
Liaison	Mary-Lee Townsend
Submission Date	Oct. 6, 2014
Executive Letter	Download

STARS v2.0

Western University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	2.00 / 2.00	Stefanie De Adder Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Management

"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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

Yes

A brief description of the programs sponsored by the institution to support underrepresented groups:

Western offers the following programs to support under-represented groups for students:
- Indigenous Services offer counseling services and programs to First Nations, Métis and Inuit students in a supportive environment. Outreach and recruitment services are provided through educational presentations to elementary, secondary, post-secondary and mature prospective students. Additional information provided include: Western's services and programs, admission requirements, financial assistance, and student life.
- Services for Students with Disabilities in the Student Development Centre (SDC) has staff members who specialize in assisting students with various disabilities to adjust to the university environment. These disabilities include, but are not limited to: vision, hearing and mobility impairments, learning disabilities, chronic illnesses, chronic pain, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders. Services provided include: academic accommodation, on-campus transportation, alternative format texts, counseling, etc.
- PrideWestern is a University Students’ Council service dedicated to supporting and celebrating gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, intersex, asexual, queer, questioning students, and their allies at the University of Western Ontario. Run entirely by students, PrideWestern provides support, organizes speakers, and events such as coffeehouses on and off-campus, discussion groups, Rainbow Revolution, Pride Ball, and bi-weekly movie nights.
- 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 on campus, and many other concerns.
- 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.
- 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.

The website URL where more information about the support programs for underrepresented groups is available:

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

Does the institution have a discrimination response policy and/or team (or the equivalent) to respond to and support those who have experienced or witnessed a bias incident, act of discrimination or hate crime?:

Yes

A brief description of the institution’s discrimination response policy, program and/or team:

Equity & Human Rights Services (EHRS) manages all discrimination responses and related issues (see the annual report / source for the following information http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/board/minutes/2010/r1009aud_ES_report_2010.pdf).

EHRS categorizes matters related to harassment and/or discrimination as either complaints or consultations:

Complaint: Where a  formal complaint is filed pursuant to Western’s non-discrimination and harassment policies. Or where, a formal complaint has not been filed, but EHRS has taken an active and on‐going role in providing advice or assistance.

Consultation: Where EHRS is contacted for information or advice on a harassment, discrimination and/or equity‐related issue, but has not taken an active and on‐going role.  More than one
consultation related to a matter may occur without a complaint file being opened.  A consultation may also be a request for resources or equity‐based training.

More information about specific examples of actions taken during previous years can be found at the above website.

The non-discrimination/Harassment Policy defining the terms by which disciplinary measures may be taken against an individual who has committed an act of discrimination can be found here: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/policies_procedures/section1/mapp135.pdf

The website URL where more information about the institution’s discrimination response policy, program and/or team is available:

http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/policies_procedures/section1/mapp135.pdf

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

Yes

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

Yes

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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

Women's Issues Network at UWO - http://winuwo.ca/

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

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

Data source(s) and notes about the submission