Respectful And Fair Treatment Of Students Policy
Policy Guidelines
Vancouver Lions Gate College Inc. is committed to ensuring that its learning environment promotes the respectful and fair treatment of all students.
While on Vancouver Lions Gate College Inc. premises or in the course of activities or events hosted by Vancouver Lions Gate College Inc. the following activities are prohibited:
- Bullying; Bullying happens when someone hurts or scares another person on purpose and the person being bullied has a hard time defending themselves.
- Harassment; Harassment is a form of discrimination. It involves any unwanted physical or verbal behaviour that offends or humiliates you.
- Discrimination; Discrimination is the act of treating a person differently — negatively or positively — because of that person’s race, class, sexual orientation or gender or any other group to which that person belongs, rather than assessing individual needs and merits.
If under any circumstances, a prohibited activity occurs, the following outlines the process for addressing the activity:
- It is the College’s policy that Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying will not be tolerated. College members who violate this Policy may be subject to a range of corrective measures, up to and including expulsion or dismissal from the College.
- College members will be treated equitably under this Policy. All matters arising under this Policy will be dealt with in a fair, unbiased and timely manner.
- The filing of a complaint under this Policy is the right of every College member and may be exercised without fear of reprisal. However, complaints of Harassment, Discrimination, and Bullying are serious matters. Persons who are found to have made frivolous, vexatious, or malicious complaints of Discrimination or Harassment may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or dismissal from the College.
- Retaliation against any person who is involved in a complaint of Harassment, Discrimination, and Bullying under this Policy will not be tolerated by the College and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or dismissal from the College.
- Handling complaints of Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying requires the collection, use, and disclosure of sensitive personal information. Confidentiality is required so that those who may have experienced Discrimination or Harassment will feel free to come forward, and so that the reputations and interests of those accused are protected.
- All members of the College community are required to maintain the confidentiality of any information they may receive during the course of the complaint process and/or investigation. Any student or employee who breaches confidentiality may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or dismissal from the College. Other members of the College community may be subject to sanctions, as appropriate.
- Subject to disclosure which is required by law or is necessary in order to investigate or resolve a complaint, the College, in addressing alleged Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying will make every effort to keep confidential any information pertaining to the complaint. Confidentiality, however, must be distinguished from anonymity. For a complaint to proceed the identity of the Complainant and the details of the complaint must be released to the Respondent and those involved in the investigation and disposition of the complaint. The Complainant must therefore be prepared to be identified.
- All recorded personal information will be treated as “supplied in confidence” for the purposes of compliance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and responding to access requests under that legislation.
- This Policy is not to be interpreted, administered, or applied in such a way as to detract from the right and obligation of those in supervisory roles to manage and discipline employees and students in accordance with the College’s collective agreements, policies and procedures. The exercise in good faith of the College’s management rights for operational requirements, performance management or progressive discipline does not cons
- If a complaint made under another College policy contains allegations of Discrimination, Harassment or Bullying, this Policy will apply to the handling and disposition of that complaint.
- If a Complainant pursues a course of action outside this Policy in connection with a complaint of Harassment, Discrimination, or Bullying the Senior Administrator may, in his/her sole discretion, decide to place the process under this Policy in abeyance pending the conclusion of the other proceeding.
- Contractors, their employees and agents, visitors to the College, and other third parties (collectively, “Third Parties”) are expected to conduct themselves in any College-related activity in a manner consistent with this Policy. Complaints raised by members of the College community against Third Parties, or by Third Parties against members of the College community, that allege Discrimination, Harassment, or Bullying in connection with a College-related activity will be dealt with by the College under this Policy.