- Revised Sexual Violence Policy
- About the Consultation Process
- Work Plan and Timeline
- Miscellaneous Documents
Revised Sexual Violence Policy
Following an extensive consultation and review of Carleton’s Sexual Violence Policy that started in September, the Board of Governors approved the revised policy (pdf) at its meeting on April 25, 2019.
As part of our commitment to providing a transparent process, all feedback received throughout the consultation process has been made available on the feedback received web page.
A history of all outreach activities that took place during this review, including communications, workshops and consultation meetings, is available on the community outreach record web page.
Over the summer, we will develop a user-friendly flow chart to clearly outline the policy, processes and options available for both formal and informal complaints. We will also continue to develop additional educational material and training for members of our community.
The policy is one of many initiatives underway to combat sexual violence, and our work is far from over. Many of the feedback items identified throughout the consultation process will now be used to help develop a comprehensive Campus Sexual Violence Prevention Strategy.
The development of this Strategy is led by the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Committee (SVPEC) in consultation with key stakeholders and we aim to have it in place by the end of the calendar year in 2019.
Carleton University would like to thank members of its community for their feedback and participation during this collaborative review process.
About the Consultation Process
After the first year of Carleton University’s Sexual Violence Policy, we have heard feedback from key stakeholders. While the Policy has allowed enough flexibility to support survivors, so far, while balancing the requirement for procedural fairness, there are opportunities to further clarify policy language.
In order to address feedback concerning accessing supports and the complaint procedures outlined in the Sexual Violence Policy, consideration should be given to clarify the Policy in the following areas:
- the perceived requirement within the Policy for the Complainant and Respondent to face each other in a formal hearing;
- possibly adding a clause or statement which protects Complainants or those seeking help from punishment for minor violations relating to alcohol or drug use;
- reconciling the perceptions of cross-institutional applications of FIPPA as it relates to sharing information about disciplinary actions or consequences against the Respondent, and;
- clarifying the confidentiality section in the Policy.
Further, stakeholders have identified the following areas which could potentially be addressed through the Policy review process. Stakeholders have asked the University to consider:
- clarifying timelines throughout the Policy;
- whether to include visitors and alumni into the scope of the Policy under the definition of “University Community”;
- clarifying the accommodation process and interim measures;
- as the Policy applies both on and off campus, consider specifying how the Policy is applied to incidents which occur off campus;
- reviewing the role of the Director of Equity Services on the Sexual Violence Review Committee;
- reviewing the Section 10 appeal process, and;
- changing the font that the policy is published in to align with CNIB recommended fonts.
In order to do this in the most collaborative way possible, Equity Services, in partnership with the Office of the Vice-President (Students and Enrolment) (OVPSE), have consulted on the following work plan. After taking into consideration the feedback received, we will be implementing the work plan as described below.
In order to provide a transparent review process, all feedback submitted will be made available to the Carleton community on the feedback received web page. Members of the Carleton community are encouraged to keep up-to-date on the review process on this website.
Work Plan and Timeline
Process Consultation Phase
| Action | Responsible | Timeline | Status |
| Post work plan for input and public consultation about timelines, process, and strategy of the plan | Equity Services and OVPSE | September 11-September 30, 2018 | Complete |
| Feedback on consultation process can be given in meetings, or online | Equity Services and OVPSE | September 2018 | Complete |
Listening Phase
| Action | Responsible | Timeline | Status |
| Provide identified policy areas (as noted in memo) for clarification of language and process to the Campus community, and open an online feedback form about these areas, as well as general comment, for those who wish to participate digitally | Message from the President to the community
Supported by Equity Services and OVPSE |
October 2018 | Complete |
| Reach out to key stakeholder groups including labour unions, student governments and student groups to receive feedback | Equity Services | October 2018 | Complete |
| Host design-thinking workshops for students, faculty (including contract instructors, sessional lecturers, teaching assistants, etc.), staff (including academic and administrative staff), and senior administration. Each event is structured with a facilitator to lead the groups through activities where they work towards the co-creation of key policy changes.
Student consultations will include closed sessions for:
Additional closed sessions will be made available upon request for any key stakeholder groups including labour unions, student governments and student groups. Requests can be submitted to svpolicy@carleton.ca |
Equity Services | October-November 2018 | Complete |
Tactical Phase
| Action | Responsible | Timeline | Status |
| Compile feedback from each event, as well as digital feedback, and sort through responses (Included for policy/Actionable but not for policy/Not applicable) | Equity Services | November 2018 | Complete |
| Assess proposed changes for legal, procedural, and collective agreement impacts; continue to sort through the possible revisions | Equity Services in partnership with key stakeholders including labour unions, student governments and student groups | November-December 2018 | Complete |
| Pull actionable tactics not appropriate for the policy into a Campus Strategy on Sexual Violence Prevention, in partnership with key stakeholders including labour unions, student governments and student groups | Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Committee and key stakeholders including labour unions, student governments and student groups | November-December 2018 | Complete |
Drafting Phase
| Action | Responsible | Timeline | Status |
| Release draft of the policy to community for digital feedback | Equity Services and OVPSE | Mid-January-February 2019 | Complete |
| Host multiple design-thinking workshops for students, faculty, staff, and administration to review new draft of the policy.
Student consultations will include closed sessions for:
Additional closed sessions will be made available upon request for any key stakeholder groups including labour unions, student governments and student groups. Requests can be submitted to svpolicy@carleton.ca |
Equity Services and OVPSE | Mid-January-February 2019 | Complete |
Fine-Tuning Phase
| Action | Responsible | Timeline | Status |
| Review and include applicable feedback | Equity Services and OVPSE | February 2019 | Complete |
| Pull actionable tactics not appropriate for the policy into a Campus Strategy on Sexual Violence Prevention, in partnership with key stakeholders | Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Committee and key stakeholders including labour unions, student governments and student groups | February 2019 | Complete |
Finalization Phase
| Action | Responsible | Timeline | Status |
| Release final draft of Sexual Violence Policy to the Board of Governors for approval | OVPSE | April 25, 2019 | Complete |
| Release final Campus Strategy on Sexual Violence Prevention | Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Committee and key stakeholders including labour unions, student governments and student groups | April 2019 | Complete |