Western University
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The office of Equity and Human Rights at Western (http://www.uwo.ca/equity/about/index.html) provides information on the University’s discrimination and harassment policies, employment equity and diversity and other human rights related issues. The office, whose services are available to all students, staff and faculty members, support the community to make Western an equitable, safe and supportive environment for all members of the University community.

The office of Equity and Human Rights is responsible of:
- providing information, education and training on human rights and equity issues to all members of the Western community, individually or in groups
- administering the University’s policies on harassment and discrimination
- giving advice to people who feel they have been harassed or discriminated against, -
advising on University policies or non-discrimination/harassment clauses in collective and employment agreements, and facilitating alternate resolutions (where appropriate)
- facilitating and overseeing Western’s employment equity policies and initiatives

Equity and Human Rights Services (EHRS) provides training or educational workshops on equity or human-rights issues. It is believed that on-going training is the most effective method of providing tools to all members of the community to share in the responsibility of creating a safe and supportive teaching, learning and working environment.

EHRS’s training and workshops are available to students, staff and faculty groups free of charge. The following is a sample of the workshops that this office provides:

- Harassment 101
- Bullying – Not just for the playground anymore!
- What? Me liable?! Harassment training for supervisors and managers!
- Diversity matters!
- Employment Equity at Western

Western's HR department has also made mandatory the following training workshops for all employees:
Safe Campus Community: Preventing Harassment, Violence and Domestic Violence in the workplace
AODA (in service and in teaching)

A variety of committees and services on campus help to promote employment equity, create an environment free of harassment and discrimination, promote the safety of all individuals, and celebrate our diversity. The following is a list of committees and services devoted to creating a supportive environment on campus:

- The President’s Standing Committee for Employment Equity (PSCEE)
- The President’s Committee for the Safety of Women on Campus
- The Barrier-Free Access Committee
- The Joint Faculty/Administration Employment Equity Committee
- The Professional and Managerial Association Committee on Employment Equity
- The Aboriginal Education and Employment Council of the University of Western Ontario
- The University Students Council Accessibility Development Committee
- Teaching Support Centre (Fostering diversity in the classroom)
- Student Development Centre: Indigenous Services
- Student Development Centre: Services for Students with Disabilities
- Western’s Caucus on Women’s issues
- Western’s Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee (WODAC)