Staff + Faculty Resources
We are all responsible for creating a safe campus environment. Here, you’ll find resources to help you ensure classrooms and workspaces are supportive for all members of our community.
Responding to a disclosure
If someone tells you that they have experienced sexual violence or misconduct, it’s important to listen, respond with empathy, and offer support if requested. Please visit Support Someone Else for more information on responding to a disclosure.
If a student discloses in an assignment or class discussion, you can contact Counselling Services to identify the purpose of the disclosure and get referral information. Are they providing context, seeking support, or seeking accountability?
Consultations with Counselling are entirely confidential, and do not require you to share any details or identifying information about the person who has disclosed.
The Coordinator of Student Rights, Responsibility and Safety is also available to support staff and faculty navigating a disclosure from a student around sexualized violence.
Creating Supportive Learning Environments
Group agreements — sometimes called Safer Space or Braver Space agreements — are a simple and highly effective way to co-create a supportive atmosphere in your classrooms. Together with your students, you can discuss Information about expectations about respect, language, conduct and behavioural expectations in your class, and include academic flexibility for students who may have experienced traumatic incidents. Information about creating a class group agreement can be found here.
Using content warnings
Content warnings indicate that materials you intend to share (an artwork, media or text) may include information that could be distressing to someone impacted by past or ongoing trauma.
Content warnings are helpful in contextualizing information and can be used for all types of course content related to violence, oppression or other challenging topics shared in an academic environment.
Informing an audience about the content of a work does not indicate that a topic should be avoided or that students may avoid engaging in the material, but enables them to prepare themselves for the perspective that will be shared with them.
A content note explains what material will be covered and in what way. The surprise of the content is often what activates trauma. A content note ensures those impacted can make the best decision for their personal wellbeing and safety.
If possible, try to create choices for difficult materials. Offer students alternative ways to participate, or alternative materials or topics.
Addressing incidents in classes or learning spaces
Any incident of threatening or violent behaviour in a classroom must be reported to the Threat Assessment Team (TAT). The TAT will assess the risk, recommend safety measures, and make recommendations.
If there is an immediate risk to anyone, contact Security (604-844-3838) or 911. Individuals who are endangering others may be removed from campus. For more details, please see:
Contact Us
If you have questions about sexual violence prevention and support, please reach out to sgbvm@ecuad.ca or contact Justine Langille by phone or email.