Western University
PAE-8: Support Programs for Underrepresented Groups

Western offers the following programs to support under-represented groups for students: - Indigenous Services offer counseling services and programs to First Nations, Métis and Inuit students in a supportive environment. Outreach and recruitment services are provided through educational presentations to elementary, secondary, post-secondary and mature prospective students. Additional information provided include: Western's services and programs, admission requirements, financial assistance, and student life. - Services for Students with Disabilities in the Student Development Centre (SDC) has staff members who specialize in assisting students with various disabilities to adjust to the university environment. These disabilities include, but are not limited to: vision, hearing and mobility impairments, learning disabilities, chronic illnesses, chronic pain, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders. Services provided include: academic accommodation, on-campus transportation, alternative format texts, counseling, etc. - PrideWestern is a University Students’ Council service dedicated to supporting and celebrating gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, intersex, asexual, queer, questioning students, and their allies at the University of Western Ontario. Run entirely by students, PrideWestern provides support, organizes speakers, and events such as coffeehouses on and off-campus, discussion groups, Rainbow Revolution, Pride Ball, and bi-weekly movie nights. - SDC's Psychological Services has several counselors with expertise in the provision of services to LGBTQ2 students. These services include assisting students with coming out issues, family matters, isolation, dealing with queer phobia on campus, and many other concerns. - SDC's International and Exchange Student Centre offer a full range of services and programs specifically tailored to meet the needs of international students and enhance their academic, social, and cultural experience at the university. - The Women’s Issues Network is a service provided by the University Students Council at the University of Western Ontario. It is dedicated to recognizing, representing, and rectifying gender inequalities affecting students at Western.

Some of the programs offered to under-represented faculty members are: - Western's Caucus on Women's Issues is open to all women on-campus, who work together to serve as agents of change and to support the aspirations of women in the Western community. Past activities include: working on mentoring issues and trying to work out strategies for women who are establishing and developing their careers whether as undergraduate or graduate students, or as staff or faculty members. - The Teaching Support Centre is committed to offering an opportunity for discussion of diversity issues as they affect teaching at Western. This includes facilitating understanding and awareness of diversity within the student body and among faculty and how this affects classroom dynamics. The Faculty Mentor Program is also offered at the Centre.

The following are some of the programs sponsored to support under-represented staff: - Western is committed to achieving barrier-free accessibility for persons with disabilities studying, visiting and working at Western through Western’s Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee. The Committee is responsible for consulting with people with disabilities in preparing Western’s annual accessibility plan. - Western's Educational Assistance Plan for Staff provides financial assistance to help staff seek or finish a degree, pursue professional development, or take individual courses that are relevant to their career aspirations and provide advance funding for many courses. - Western Staff Development Steering Team Overview supports the development of staff across the University to be successful with their present and changing roles and accountabilities. The team plans, creates, access, advocates for, or sponsors opportunities to support identified development needs. - Western's Welcome to New Staff Program is held three times a year and all new employees are strongly encouraged to attend. The orientation features the Western President, and other university leaders. Staff will learn about the organization as a whole - its mission, vision, and goals; and how their work contributes to Western's overall success.

Student Development Centre - http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/ University Students' Council - http://www.usc.uwo.ca/services.asp Western's Caucus on Women's Issues - http://www.uwo.ca/wcwi/welcome/index.htm UWO's Teaching Support Centre - http://www.uwo.ca/tsc/fostering_diversity.html Faculty Mentor Program - http://www.uwo.ca/tsc/faculty_mentor.html Women's Issues Network at UWO - http://winuwo.ca/?page_id=2 Accessibility at Western - http://accessibility.uwo.ca/wodac.htm Human Resource Services, Learning and Development - http://www.uwo.ca/humanresources/facultystaff/learn_car_dev/learn_car_index.htm Western's Welcome to New Staff Program http://www.uwo.ca/humanresources/facultystaff/new_employ/ww_idx.htm