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Last approved: Fri, 24 Nov 2023 01:58:38 GMT

Last edit: Fri, 24 Nov 2023 01:58:37 GMT

 

Administrative
Prevention of Harassment, Discrimination, and Bullying
201
April 4, 2013
April 4, 2013
October 26, 2000
April 5, 2018
Board of Governors
President
Operations Council
People Services

Policy

Does this policy have procedures?
Yes

Procedures

References and Resources

 
Term Description
Academic Freedom has the meaning set out in the College’s policy statement on Principles of Academic Freedom.
Advisors the Human Resources Department, College Ombudsperson, and representatives of the VCC Faculty Association or CUPE who receive concerns and allegations of Harassment, Discrimination or Bullying.
Bad Faith Complaint is one in which a Complainant makes allegations of Harassment, Discrimination or Bullying knowing them to be false or submits a complaint for a purely malicious or vindictive purpose.
Bisexual generally used to describe people who are romantically and/or sexually attracted to people of more than one sex or gender.
Bullying is deliberate conduct or comment which a reasonable person would consider to be objectionable, directed towards a specific person, which serves no legitimate work or learning purpose and has the effect of creating an intimidating, humiliating, hostile or offensive work or learning environment, and is not based upon one of the grounds set out in the Human Rights Code. Bullying will normally be repeated, continuous or persistent behaviour, although a single incident, if sufficiently egregious, will constitute Bullying. Examples are provided in Appendix A.
College-Related Activity means any activity at any location that is engaged in by the College or by persons acting under the College’s control. All activities on the College’s campuses are College-related unless they conducted under the control of a person, organization, association or group that is separate from the College.
Complainant means a person who claims to have been harassed, discriminated against, or bullied in connection with a College-related activity.
Complaint means a complaint alleging Harassment, Discrimination, or Bullying in connection with a College-related activity.
Discrimination means any treatment or action (verbal or behavioural), covert or overt, intentional or unintentional, that has the purpose or effect of singling out an individual or group for differential treatment on a prohibited ground, and that has no bona fide and reasonable justification. Examples are provided in Appendix A.
Gay a man who is romantically and sexually attracted to other men. It is sometimes used to refer to the general gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, queer (GLBTQ) community, but most often refers to just gay men.
Gender Identity a person’s gender identity is the way in which they define and act on their gender. Gender expression is how they express their gender. An individual may be cisgender.
Cisgender a person’s own sense of gender is congruent with their genitalia and other gender markers such as hormones. They may be transsexual or transgender.
Gender Identity Discrimination Discrimination because of gender identity is any action based on a person’s sex or gender, intentional or not, that imposes burdens on a person or group and not on others, or that withholds or limits access to benefits available to other members of society. This can be obvious or subtle. Discrimination can also happen on a bigger, systemic level, such as when a rule or policy may appear to be neutral, but is not designed in an inclusive way.
Harassment conduct or comments which ought reasonably to be known to be objectionable or unwelcome and serves no legitimate work and/or education related purpose and which detrimentally affects people in the work and/or education environment; or has adverse job-related and/or education-related consequences and is based upon one of the grounds outlined in the BC Human Rights Code. Examples are provided in Appendix A.
Heterosexual created around the same time as ‘homosexual’ to describe individuals who are sexually attracted to the opposite sex/gender.
Homosexual a scientific term invented in the 1800’s to refer to individuals who are sexually attracted to their own sex/gender.
Lesbian a woman who is romantically and sexually attracted to other women.
Prohibited Ground means the grounds of prohibited Discrimination identified in the BC Human Rights Code; age, ancestry, colour, criminal conviction that is unrelated to employment or intended employment, ethnic origin, family status, gender, mental disability, physical disability, political beliefs, race, religion, and sexual orientation.
Queer the term queer has a history of being used as a derogatory name for members of the GLBTQ community and those whose sexual orientation is perceived as such, although some people use this word in a positive way to refer to the community. Sensitivity should be used with this term, as there are still many negative connotations with its use.
Record of Resolution means in the case of an informal resolution, the resolution report signed by both the Complainant and the Respondent; or in the case of a finding by the responsible Senior Administrator regarding a complaint, the written report of their determination in the matter including a summary of the findings of fact and the discipline imposed, if any.
Reprisals or Retaliation is Discrimination, Harassment or Bullying of an individual for invoking this Policy and for participating or cooperating in an investigation under this Policy or for associating with someone who has invoked this Policy or participated in the Policy’s procedures.
Respondent means a person against whom an allegation of Harassment, Discrimination, or Bullying is made in connection with a College-related activity.
Senior Administrator means the Vice President, People & Culture, or delegate. In the case of a complaint involving the Vice President, People & Culture, the “Senior Administrator” shall be the President or delegate. In the case of a complaint involving the President, the "Senior Administrator" shall be the Chair of the College’s Board of Governors or delegate.
Sex & Gender sex refers to the biological sex of a person. Gender refers to their societal appearance, mannerisms, and roles.
Sexual Harassment means conduct of a sexual nature by a person who knows or ought reasonably to know that such behaviour is unwanted or unwelcome, and which:
- leads to or implies employment or academic consequences for the person harassed; or
- interferes with a person’s participation in a College-related activity; or
- creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environment.
Examples of behaviors within this category are provided in Appendix A.
Sexual Orientation is a personal characteristic that covers the range of human sexuality from gay and lesbian, to bisexual, transgender and heterosexual orientations.
Sexual Orientation Harassment or Discrimination involves unfair, differential treatment of individuals and groups based not on individual merit but on assumptions and stereotypes about their (real or perceived) sexual orientation. Examples of behaviors, conduct and practices within this category are provided in Appendix A
Straight a slang word used to refer to the heterosexual members of our community.
Students and Employees means all employees of the College, including administration, faculty and staff and all students enrolled in any College course or program.
Systemic Harassment or Discrimination includes policies, practices, procedures, actions or inactions that appear neutral, but have an adverse impact associated with one of the prohibited grounds. These actions may include, but are not limited to, stereotypical portrayal of groups/individuals in materials, attendance policies that do not accommodate religious responsibilities, height and/or weight restrictions in course selection criteria and/or job postings that are not bona fide qualifications.
Transgender an umbrella term used to refer to people who transcend the traditional concept of gender. Many feel as though they are neither a man nor a woman specifically, and many feel as though their biological sex (male, female, etc.) and their socialized gender (man, woman, etc.) do not match up. Some opt to change/reassign their sex through hormones and/or surgery and some change their outward appearance, or gender expression, through clothing, hairstyles, mannerisms, etc.
Transsexual a subgroup of transgender people whose gender identity, sense of their own gender, contradicts gender markers, such as genitalia. Some, but not all, transsexuals take hormones, and/or have sex reassignment surgery to bring their body into line with their gender identity.
Two-Spirit used by some First Nations to describe people in their culture who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
VCC Policies Policy Number
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy 501
Sexual Violence and Misconduct 210
Standards of Employee Conduct & Conflict of Interest 202
Student Non-Academic Conduct 324
Students with Disabilities 327
Violence Prevention 211
Provide links to all supporting documents. These may include links to Appendices, Forms, Guidelines, Handbooks, Standards or other departmental or College resources that support the implementation of this policy and/or procedures.
Are there appendices for this policy?
Yes
 
Are there associated forms?

 
Are there supporting internal documents?
Yes
 

Rationale and Additional Information

Does this change require an implementation plan?
No

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. DO NOT EDIT. These fields are not required for governance approval.

Category 1: College Operations

 

Category 2: Employees

 
People Services

Category 3: Students

 
Student Support
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