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Dear Sheridan Community, x
Effective today, March 31, Sheridan has adopted a new stand-alone policy and response protocol that addresses sexual violence and sexual assault, both of which are publicly available on our website and can be found by clicking here.
The documents acknowledge that all members of our community have the right to study, live and work in an environment that is free from any form of sexual violence. They specify what constitutes sexual violence, sexual assault, and consent and the conditions under which consent is not attainable.
The policy and protocol aim to better support survivors by making information easier to find and by making the reporting process clearer --detailing who to call, what supports and referrals are available and how to file a formal complaint. They establish clear standards for those responding and investigating. They ensure that individuals who make complaints are believed and their rights are protected. They also hold those who have committed an act of sexual violence accountable.
The new documents differ from Sheridan's existing codes of conduct in that they explicitly prohibit sexual relationships between an employee and a student where the employee teaches or has professional contact with the student as part of his/her responsibility. The documents also specify that sexual relationships between an employee with supervisory responsibilities and an employee who reports to him/her must be reported to their manager and to Human Resources who will work with the parties to address any potential conflicts of interest.
Sheridan's new policy and protocol are based on a provincial template that was developed by a specialized provincial taskforce that included Sheridan's Dean of Students, Maria Lucido Bezely. Consultations took place with students, student leaders and employees from Ontario's 24 colleges. Legal experts, the Ontario Women's Directorate, provincial student associations and government officials also provided input to the template.
At Sheridan, the policy and protocol were then reviewed by a working committee consisting of staff in HR, Security, Student Services, and Legal Counsel. Student leaders at Sheridan were also consulted. The policy and protocol were recommended for approval by Sheridan's Administrative Policy Committee to Sheridan's President's Council and President.
Sheridan's entire community has a shared responsibility to build and maintain a culture that is intolerant of violence, abuse and assault and that promotes consent and respect. We are now developing related awareness, prevention and education campaigns. This issue continues to remain a priority at Sheridan and we are grateful to everyone who has helped to bring these documents to fruition.
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