BOARD OF TRUSTEES Report

To: Audit and Risk Committee & Board of Trustees Date of Report: 2/20/2019

From: Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)

Date of Committee Approval: N/A

Subject: Sexual Violence Report Date of Board Committee Meeting: 3/1/2019

Responsible Portfolio:

Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Date of Board Meeting: 3/1/2019

1.0 PURPOSE

☐ For Approval ☒ For Information ☐ For Discussion

2.0 MOTION/DISCUSSION

This report is for information only

3.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Sexual Violence Report is presented to the Board of Trustees as required under the provincial

Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act. This report includes information about services

and programs related to sexual violence support and education, as well as annual statistics related

to incidents of sexual violence and the effectiveness of the Policy on Sexual Violence Involving

Queen’s University Students, (2016), herein referred to as the “Policy”.

This is the first annual report submitted to the Board of Trustees. Annual reports will be submitted

to the Board of Trustees following the conclusion of each academic year.

4.0 INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES

Sources of information to complete this report include the Division of Student Affairs, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator, Human Resources, and Faculty Relations.

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5.0 ANALYSIS Executive Summary

The Policy was first approved by the Board of Trustees on December 2, 2016 in accordance with the requirements under Bill 132.

A review of this Policy is currently being undertaken under the direction of the Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs.

The Implementation Team on Prevention and Response to Sexual Violence meets approximately three (3) times a year and is chaired by the Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs.

The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Working Group, chaired by the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator (SVPRC), meets approximately six (6) times a year. This working group includes a number of student and student group representatives.

A variety of educational activities and initiatives are undertaken each year by many units on campus (see section 3 of the annual report).

Practices related to prevention, education, and response are in line with best practices and regularly reviewed among the Council of Ontario Universities’ Reference Group on Sexual Violence.

6.0 STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT / COMPLIANCE The Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Schedule 3, ss.7.1) requires each college or

university to provide its Board of Governors with an annual report setting out, in respect of the

preceding year, the information described in Schedule 3, ss. (7), paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4, which

includes the following:

The number of times supports, services and accommodations are requested and obtained by students;

Initiatives and programs that promote awareness of supports and services available to students;

The number of incidents and complaints of sexual violence reported by students, and information about such complaints*;

Implementation and effectiveness of the Policy.

While this particular section of the legislation has yet to come into force, we are providing this

report to the Board and the University to provide information regarding this important issue.

*This data will be in accordance with Schedule 3 ss.(8) Personal Information: a college or university shall take

reasonable steps to ensure that information provided pursuant to ss. (7) does not disclose personal information.

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7.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS There are no financial implications. 8.0 ENTERPRISE RISK ASSESSMENT This report addresses mitigations identified for the Student Health, Wellness and Safety risk and supports the Board oversight responsibilities of this risk. 9.0 COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY This report is for information only. We are in discussions with University Communications on a communications plan. ATTACHMENTS 1. Queen’s University Annual Sexual Violence Report (September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018).

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Queen’s University Annual Sexual Violence Report

Reporting Period: September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018

Submitted to: Board of Trustees

Prepared by: The Office of the Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs

The Office of Human Rights and Equity

1.0 Preamble

The Board of Trustees approved the Policy on Sexual Violence Involving Queen’s University Students (herein

after “the Policy”) on December 2, 2016. The Policy is a critical component to Queen’s overall strategy

regarding sexual violence awareness, education, prevention, and response. The information contained in

this report will not only serve to inform our campus community, but will also contribute to sector-wide

collaborative efforts and learning among post-secondary institutions.

Pursuant to Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development requirements, and the Sexual Violence

and Harassment Action Plan Act, every college or university is required to provide its board of governors

with an annual report setting out, in respect of the preceding year, the information described in paragraphs

1,2,3 and 4 of subsection (7), which includes the following:

The number of times supports, services and accommodations are requested and obtained by students;

Initiatives and programs that promote awareness of supports and services available to students;

The number of incidents and complaints of sexual violence reported by students, and information about such complaints1;

Implementation and effectiveness of the Policy.

A Disclosure is defined in the Policy as an act, by a Student affected by Sexual Violence, of telling a staff or

faculty member about an incident of Sexual Violence, to seek support, counselling, or other services, or, to

obtain information about formal reporting options. Whereas a Complaint (i.e. Report) means a formal

allegation by a Student affected by Sexual Violence, which invokes the investigatory and adjudicative

procedures set out in the Policy. Students affected by Sexual Violence are not required to submit a

Complaint of Sexual Violence to access the supports, accommodations or other resources outlined in the

Policy.

2.0 Supports, Services and Accommodations

During the reporting period (September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018), a total of eighty-two (82)2 students

contacted the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator (herein after “SVPRC”) to access

1 This data will be in accordance with Schedule 3 ss.(8) Personal Information “a college or university shall take reasonable steps to ensure that information provided pursuant to ss. (7) does not disclose personal information 2 Student Wellness Services’ statistics are not included. This number may include students who have connected with the SVPRC for historical incidents and/or incidents where there is no connection to the campus or a member of the Queen’s community.

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support services, in addition to standard educational information. Services included safety planning,

referrals to on and off campus resources, and support for filing a report with police and/or through the

university’s systems.

Thirty-two (32) students of the eighty-two (82) students who made contact with the SVPRC requested and

were assisted with some form of accommodation(s) from the University through the office of the SVPRC.

Accommodations and supports were also provided through other services/departments across campus,

including Student Wellness Services, Faculties and Schools, Housing & Ancillary Services, the Office of the

Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs, the Ban Righ Centre, and Faith and Spiritual Life.

Accommodations included exam deferrals, academic consideration for course work, alternative class

schedules, and alternative housing assignments.

The Sexual Violence Counsellor within Student Wellness Services also provided counselling support for

students who experienced sexual violence and referrals to the counsellor were made by the SVPRC and

other University staff.

Additionally, the SVPRC provided support for faculty and staff who were responding to student disclosures

and related needs, as well as providing information and support to family members of students impacted

by sexual violence.

The BISC Student Services staff provided support to five (5) students who sought additional information;

two (2) of these students also connected with the SVPRC at the Kingston campus.

It should be noted that students may seek support in response to incidents of sexual violence, that are

reported to have happened on or off campus, and for recent or historical experiences of sexual violence.

3.0 Initiatives and Programs

The university is committed to sexual violence prevention, awareness, education & training. Much of this

work is guided by the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Framework. The SVPRC and the Division of

Student Affairs work to support a multi-pronged approach with campus partners, including student groups,

to develop and implement an annual education strategy that is designed to:

promote a culture of Consent;

address issues of Sexual Violence; and,

facilitate access to support for students affected by Sexual Violence.

Programming on sexual violence prevention and awareness continued to be offered this past year through

coordinated and collaborative efforts across campus. This work is facilitated through the Sexual Violence

Prevention and Response Working Group, comprising student, staff and faculty representatives from across

the University. Examples of these include:

Annual presentation on consent to the incoming class during Orientation Week and within Residence;

Sexual Violence Bystander Intervention Training to student leaders, groups/clubs and athletes;

Rape Aggression Defence (RAD) training sessions;

Enhance, Assess, Acknowledge, & Act (EAAA) “Flip the Script” training sessions;

Psychoeducational Group for Survivors (PEGaSUS);

Sexual violence awareness presentation to all varsity and club athletes;

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Sexual violence awareness communications and web content; and

A variety of workshops and presentations organized both by student groups and by University units (Sexual Health Resource Centre, AMS Peer Support Centre, AMS Mental Health Action Committee, Health Promotion, Connecting Healthy Attitudes about Masculinity & Privilege (CHAMP), SVPRC, and the Human Rights and Equity Office).

The SVPRC also offered training and information sessions for faculty and staff on topics including how to

respond to a disclosure of sexual violence and practical implications of the related policies (e.g., SV Policy,

Academic Considerations for Students in Extenuating Circumstances, Interim Harassment & Discrimination

Policy).

The BISC also facilitated a number of education, awareness and preventative initiatives, including a consent

workshop, bystander intervention sessions, awareness activities on healthy relationships and a mandatory

information seminar for faculty and staff on policy and response to incidents of sexual violence.

The University’s Implementation Team on Prevention and Response to Sexual Violence provides high level

oversight on policy implementation and legislative compliance. This group includes senior administration

and the presidents of the AMS and SGPS.

4.0 Annual Statistics

The reporting metrics below were established by the Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities and

outlined in the Common Institutional Metrics Reporting Guidelines. The University is required to report,

and has reported this information to the Ministry.

The numbers below reflect the occurrence of each metric, meaning either two metrics may be reflected in

one formal Complaint (e.g. one formal Complaint could involve both Stalking and Sexual Assault) or one

Complaint may involve multiple incidents of the same metric.*

During the reporting period of September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018, there were a total of thirty-one (31)

Complaints of sexual violence involving a total of thirty-seven (37) occurrences of a violation reported

through the student non-academic misconduct system, Human Resources, and Faculty Relations processes

where the complainant was a Queen’s student.

The number of formal Complaints may be an indicator that students who have experienced sexual violence

feel comfortable filing a Complaint, since the Policy came into force and/or there is growing awareness

within the campus community on the issue of sexual violence and the University’s response to Complaints.

An increase in awareness and education may also be a factor in the number of disclosures and referrals to

the SVPRC.

Table 4.1 – Sexual Violence Statistics*

TOTAL

Metric Total Number of Formal Complaints of Sexual Violence (Cases)

31

Metric 1 (a) Number involving Sexual Assault 13

Metric 1 (b) Number involving Sexual Harassment 22

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Metric 1 (c) Number of Formal Complaints involving Stalking 0

Metric 1 (d) Number involving Indecent Exposure 1

Metric 1 (e) Number involving Voyeurism 1

Metric 1 (f) Number involving Sexual Exploitation 0

* Note – Metrics (a) to (f) total more than overall metric of total cases, as each case may involve more than one sub

metric.

Disposition of Outcomes

A range of outcomes were utilized for those cases involving student respondents, either through the

informal or formal resolution process. For example, outcomes may include no contact directives,

educational or community focused activities, restorative processes, loss of privilege and/or notice of

prohibition (i.e. trespass) from campus. Some outcomes are interim measures, as some cases involve

ongoing court processes. More than one outcome may be included in a resolution to a case. Cases

involving faculty or staff respondents ranged from formal reprimand to job termination.

5.0 Implementation and Effectiveness of the Policy The policy implementation process at Queen’s included a comprehensive communication strategy targeting

a variety of stakeholder groups across campus and in the broader Kingston community. Policy effectiveness

is inherently difficult to measure, however, it appears as though the communications strategy related to

the complaint process and access to accommodations has been effective.

Indicators include, but are not limited to:

the number of students accessing both supports and services;

the referral paths that students have identified which are evidence of the collaborative partnerships between campus units and community agencies, specifically the Sexual Assault Centre, Kingston Police Service, Kingston General Hospital SA/DV Unit;

faculty/staff engagement evidenced by a continually increasing number of requests for in-service training; and

the number of students engaging in formal reporting processes.

This year provides us with a good baseline moving forward and we will continue to track information and

data. Queen’s is committed to continuous improvement of our processes, services, and supports. The

University is currently engaged in a consultative review of the Policy.