Sexual Violence Prevention

Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey now available for U of T students

noreen.rasbach — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey now available for U of T students

noreen.rasbach Mon, 02/26/2018 - 00:00

Rachel Halpern

Topic

Our Community

Sexual Violence Prevention

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

Starting this week, full-time undergraduate students and all graduate students at the �ؿ�ζSM are being asked to complete the Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey.

The survey is intended to provide information about how students perceive, understand and respond to sexual violence, as well as how institutions address sexual violence.

CCI Research is administering this survey on behalf of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, colleges, private career colleges and universities in Ontario. The survey is available until March 26.

“We encourage our students to participate in this important survey,” said Sandy Welsh, vice-provost, students. “The feedback we receive will help us better understand the experiences of our students and their needs and concerns. This will ultimately help us improve the university’s support services for our community.”

Students will receive a personalized link to complete the 20-minute survey and a $5 electronic gift card as an incentive for completion. More information can be found at www.info-sv-vs.ca. The results of this survey are expected to be made available later in 2018.

The university’s Sexual Violence Climate Survey Advisory Board provided feedback on the survey and the protocol has been approved by the Health Sciences Research Ethics Board at U of T.

“This is the first survey of its kind and we were happy to be part of the consultation process as it came together,” said Welsh. “This is also an important time to remind our community of the campus resources and supports available to them year-round.”

Earlier this year, the university implemented its sexual violence education and prevention training module. All students, staff and faculty are encouraged to complete the training module. Instructions on how to access the module are available at UofT.me/SVEPtraining until the end of the semester.

“This survey is another way we can gather feedback from our students, as we continue to build a culture of consent at the university,” said Terry McQuaid, executive director, Sexual Violence Prevention & Support. “This initiative contributes to the university’s commitment that all of its community members should be able to study, work and live in a campus environment that is free from sexual violence.”

Accessing support at the �ؿ�ζSM:

The tri-campus Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, and by phone (416-978-2266).

Downtown Toronto campus – 702 Spadina Ave.
U of T Mississauga – 3094G, Davis Building
U of T Scarborough – Room 141, Environmental Science & Chemistry Building

Those who have experienced sexual violence can also call Campus Police to make a report at 416-978-2222 (St. George and U of T Scarborough) or 905-569-4333 (U of T Mississauga).

After-hours support is also available at Women's College Hospital Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre (416-323-6040), Scarborough Grace Sexual Assault Care Centre (416-495-2400), and Trillium Hospital Sexual Assault Care Centre (905-848-7100).

Read about the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre at U of T Scarborough

Read about the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre at U of T Mississauga

U of T releases sexual violence education and prevention training for all members of the University

noreen.rasbach — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 15:35:16 +0000

U of T releases sexual violence education and prevention training for all members of the University

noreen.rasbach Thu, 01/18/2018 - 10:35

Cutline

Terry McQuaid is the executive director of Sexual Violence Prevention & Support at U of T (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Rachel Halpern

Topic

Our Community

Sexual Violence Prevention

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

The �ؿ�ζSM has released its sexual violence education and prevention training module for all students, staff, faculty and members of Governing Council.

The online resource is part of the University’s commitment that all of its community members should be able to study, work and live in a campus environment that is free from sexual violence.

“This training provides education for the University community on the prevention of and response to sexual violence,” Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr said. “It is a continued part of the University’s action plan to address sexual violence on campus. We are grateful to all the students, staff and faculty on all three campuses who were part of the consultation process that helped us develop the module.”

Accessing training

Instructions on how to access the module can be found at UofT.me/SVEPtraining until the end of the semester.

The University strongly recommends all students, staff and faculty complete the training module. It was developed in part from the principles submitted by the Expert Panel on the Education and Prevention of Sexual Violence, chaired by Professor Gretchen Kerr, vice-dean, academic in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education.

Read U of T releases guiding principles for sexual violence education and prevention

“It’s important that everyone complete the training, so that we can all work together to create a culture of consent, and so that people are supported in a consistent manner when they come forward,” said Terry McQuaid, executive director, Sexual Violence Prevention & Support.

McQuaid said the training is designed to help members of the U of T community:

Recognize sexual violence, including sexual harassment, as it is defined in the University’s Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment;
Identify ways in which sexual violence affects members of the University community;
Understand the difference between disclosing and reporting an incident of sexual violence as defined in the policy;
Respond supportively to a disclosure of sexual violence; and
Refer someone to the services of the University’s tri-campus Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre.

“We heard from our community that they’re looking for more support and a clear place to go – and that is what we developed with the tri-campus Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre,” McQuaid said. “This new training module is the next step in making sure all members of our community understand how they can give or receive support, the role of the centre, and the range of supports available to them.”

Accessing support

The tri-campus Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, and by phone (416-978-2266)
St. George campus – 702 Spadina Ave.
U of T Mississauga – 3094G, Davis Building
U of T Scarborough – Room 141, Environmental Science & Chemistry Building

Those who have experienced sexual violence can also call Campus Police to make a report at 416-978-2222 (St. George and U of T Scarborough) or 905-569-4333 (U of T Mississauga). After-hours support is also available at Women's College Hospital Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre (416-323-6040), Scarborough Grace Sexual Assault Care Centre (416-495-2400), and Trillium Hospital Sexual Assault Care Centre (905-848-7100).

Read about the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre at U of T Scarborough

Read about the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre at U of T Mississauga

U of T seeks feedback on new education and prevention initiatives about sexual violence

lanthierj — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 13:52:29 +0000

U of T seeks feedback on new education and prevention initiatives about sexual violence

lanthierj Thu, 03/09/2017 - 08:52

Cutline

A consultation website is available until April 10 to collect feedback online, and there will be three days of in-person consultation meetings in March on the new education and prevention initiatives about sexual violence (photo by Jason Krygier-Baum)

Topic

Our Community

Provost

HR and Equity

Sexual Violence Prevention

Students, faculty and staff have an opportunity to provide feedback on the principles that will guide the university’s new education and prevention initiatives about sexual violence.

The expert panel developing the guidelines will hold three days of in-person consultation meetings in March, with sessions on all three campuses. The day-long events will include two sessions for students and one each for faculty and staff. A consultation website is also available until April 10 to collect feedback online, and panel members will be meeting with key student, staff and faculty groups in the coming weeks.

Give your feedback online

“We want a collective community effort around prevention, which requires a broad education about why sexual violence occurs and how to prevent it,” said Gretchen Kerr, the vice-dean, academic (on administrative leave) in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, and chair of the Expert Panel on Education and Prevention of Sexual Violence.

�ؿ�ζSM Provost Cheryl Regehr thanked all members of the panel.

“These draft principles are the result of many hours of work,” Regehr said. “And this important work continues in this consultation phase.”

The expert panel was created last year as part of U of T’s action plan to prevent and respond to sexual violence. At the centre of that response is a new Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment, which took effect in January. The policy applies to all members of the U of T community and sets up a centralized system for reporting and investigation.

Under the new policy, a Tri-Campus Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre also is being set up on all three campuses with work expected to be completed this spring. Under the draft guidelines, the centre will take the lead in developing curricula and delivering training in consultation with members across the university.

It's an opportunity for the centre to take the lead on implementing a comprehensive, consistent education and prevention program across the university, which can be adapted for local audiences said Terry McQuaid, U of T's executive director, personal safety, high risk, sexual violence prevention and support. A director of the tri-campus centre joined the university in January 02, 2017, some services are now being offered following up on referrals to the centre from various points in the university, and additional staffing will be in place by the spring, McQuaid said.

“It’s important that our education and prevention efforts reflect the voices of our community and the expertise that our university has to offer,” said Kelly Hannah-Moffat, vice-president of human resources and equity.

The draft principles call for all members of the community to receive education on the contents of the university’s new policy, including the roles and responsibilities of those who witness or become aware of incidents or complaints of sexual violence. Additional training would be developed for student leaders and some faculty and staff including advisers, counsellors, campus police and senior administrators.

The panel also recommends that some content become part of course curriculum.

Kerr said such efforts could be included in discussions of classroom behaviour or could be a video shown in class. “We want to reach all students,” she said.

The schedule for the three, in-person consultation days will run as follows:

U of T Scarborough – Wednesday, March 15 (all sessions in AA160 – UTSC Council Chamber)

9:30-10:30 staff session

11:00-12:00 student session

2:30-3:30 faculty session

4:00-5:00 student session

U of T Mississauga – Thursday, March 16 (all sessions in Deerfield Hall 3075)

9:00-10:00 staff session

10:30-11:30 student session

12:30-1:30 student session

2:00-3:00 faculty session

Downtown Toronto campus – Monday, March 20 (all sessions in Governing Council Chamber, Simcoe Hall 2nd floor)

10:00-11:00 staff session

11:30-12:30 student session

1:30-2:30 student session

3:00-4:00 faculty session

Individuals who plan on attending a session and have any accessibility needs are asked to email provost@utoronto.ca to indicate any accommodations they may require.

Update on U of T’s policy on sexual violence and sexual harassment

lanthierj — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 12:47:01 +0000

Update on U of T’s policy on sexual violence and sexual harassment

lanthierj Wed, 11/16/2016 - 07:47

Topic

Our Community

Provost

Sexual Violence Prevention

A final draft of the �ؿ�ζSM’s new policy on sexual violence and sexual harassment is headed to governance to be considered for approval – with changes that reflect feedback received during the final round of consultations.

“This new policy puts the University in a stronger position to effectively address the challenge of sexual violence on our campuses,” said Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr.

“We heard a lot of very thoughtful comments from diverse and sometimes opposing points of view,” Regehr said. “We have tried to strike a balance with this policy, and I think the feedback shows we achieved that.”

The new policy will go through governance beginning this week and will go to Governing Council in December for final approval. It will apply to all members of the U of T community and gives everyone – students, faculty and staff – access to the same supports and services.

“It’s important that we provide a safe working and learning environment for our faculty, staff and students where everyone is treated with respect,” said Kelly Hannah-Moffat, vice-president of human resources and equity.

An earlier draft of the policy was released in September.

Read about the draft

In response to feedback, this final proposed policy emphasizes the supports available at various stages of the process and includes a strengthened commitment to due process and procedural fairness. Details about the investigation process also were added and expectations about confidentiality and its limits were described in more detail. The term sexual harassment has been added to the title to reflect the scope of the policy.

Creating the new policy is one of several actions U of T is taking to improve its response to sexual violence. It follows 18 months of consultations and research, including the advice of an expert panel that delivered its recommendations in August.

Read about the recommendations

Provincial law requires that all universities and colleges in the province have a policy on sexual violence in place by January 2017.

The changes set to take effect next year at U of T will apply to all incidents between members of the community whether they take place on or off campus or online.

The new policy aims to reduce the barriers to disclosure and reporting by minimizing the number of times complainants are asked to tell their story and maintaining as much confidentiality as possible.

It makes a clear distinction between disclosing an incident and making a formal report, and there is no requirement to make a report in order to access support as well as academic, employment and other accommodations. Informal resolution or mediation is only possible under the policy with the agreement of both parties and cannot involve face-to-face meetings between the complainant and the respondent.

Central to the new policy is the creation of a Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre, which will have a presence on all three campuses by January. The centre will manage the process for reporting sexual violence and sexual harassment and will offer support for those who disclose an incident, whether or not they choose to report it. It also will provide training and education and will be the first point of contact for those who want accommodations.

Executive director, personal safety, high risk and sexual violence prevention and support: Terry McQuaid

lanthierj — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 17:04:19 +0000

Executive director, personal safety, high risk and sexual violence prevention and support: Terry McQuaid

lanthierj Wed, 09/28/2016 - 13:04

Cutline

Terry McQuaid joins the university on October 11 (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Topic

Sexual Violence Prevention

Support

It’s the latest step in the �ؿ�ζSM’s efforts to improve and integrate support for those affected by sexual violence: filling a key new post to lead the initiative on all three campuses.

Terry McQuaid is joining U of T in the newly created role of executive director, personal safety, high risk and sexual violence prevention and support.

“The �ؿ�ζSM is taking a leadership role in looking at safety more broadly – considering threats, safe spaces and addressing issues of sexual violence,” Provost Cheryl Regehr said. “We are excited to welcome Terry. Her varied background and her skills make her ideal for this role.”

McQuaid comes from Seneca College, where she was the director of counselling and accessibility services for the past four years. She begins her new job Oct. 11.

The new role, created earlier this year in response to advice from an expert committee, is the latest in a series of actions taken by the university to address sexual violence. It comes as the university considers a new draft policy on sexual violence that includes a centralized system to access support and for reporting and investigating all complaints.

The new executive director post is central to those changes, Regehr said, along with plans for a new Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre, which will have a presence on all three campuses by January.

Halifax-born McQuaid, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology, has worked as a counsellor, psychotherapist, and clinical psychologist. She takes her new job at a time when sexual violence on campuses across North America is gaining increasing attention.

Here in Ontario, new legislation requires that all post-secondary campuses have a sexual violence policy in place by January of 2017.

“This is a pivotal time” McQuaid said, noting that the changes at U of T are a result of more than two years of work and consultations.

“That speaks volumes to the commitment of the university,” McQuaid said. “It is top of mind for the leadership. I think that is amazing.”

McQuaid said she has much to learn from U of T staff and plans to build on and enhance existing services.

“We need to provide support to a very diverse group of vulnerable people and help them navigate systems to get the support and services they need,” she said.

U of T also has named Laura Bradbury as the new director of the Office of Safety & High Risk under a one-year secondment. Bradbury has been the manager of the Community Safety Office at the university since 2008. In her new role she will report to the new executive director and work closely with the vice-president of Human Resources & Equity, the vice- provost of Students, and the vice-provost of Faculty & Academic Life.

The university is also recruiting a director for the new Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre.

Sexual Violence Prevention

Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey now available for U of T students

Accessing support at the �ؿ�ζSM:

U of T releases sexual violence education and prevention training for all members of the University

Accessing training

Read U of T releases guiding principles for sexual violence education and prevention

Accessing support

Read about the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre at U of T Scarborough

Read about the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre at U of T Mississauga

U of T seeks feedback on new education and prevention initiatives about sexual violence

Give your feedback online

U of T Scarborough – Wednesday, March 15 (all sessions in AA160 – UTSC Council Chamber)

U of T Mississauga – Thursday, March 16 (all sessions in Deerfield Hall 3075)

Downtown Toronto campus – Monday, March 20 (all sessions in Governing Council Chamber, Simcoe Hall 2nd floor)

Update on U of T’s policy on sexual violence and sexual harassment

Read about the draft

Read about the recommendations

Read more about the Centre

Read more about the executive director

Executive director, personal safety, high risk and sexual violence prevention and support: Terry McQuaid

Read more at Human Resources & Equity