As an inclusive learning institution, Sprott Shaw College firmly stands against any and all forms of racism, discrimination, violence, bias, homophobia, bullying, harassment, and prejudice.
For our students and staff, we are deeply committed to providing a learning and working atmosphere where all are treated with dignity, respect, and in a fair manner.
Discrimination Policy for Students
At Sprott Shaw, students have the right to learn in an environment that is free from racism, discrimination, violence, bias, homophobia, bullying, harassment, and prejudice. Sprott Shaw is a safe space and any forms of said acts in and off our campuses and other learning spaces are deemed unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
If you experience or witness any one of these acts, please report them to your campus director or an appropriate faculty member. These violations will be taken seriously regardless of who the offender may be. Students at Sprott Shaw who engage in such behaviour will be subject to discipline or corrective action.
For more information on rules, policies, and regulations, please see the Student Handbook.
Discrimination Policy for Staff
Employees and staff working at Sprott Shaw have the right to work in an environment that is free from racism, discrimination, violence, bias, homophobia, bullying, harassment, and prejudice. Sprott Shaw is committed to providing a safe working environment and any forms of said acts in and off our campuses, offices, and other working environments are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
If you experience or witness incidents of said acts, please report them to the Human Resources Director. Employees and staff at Sprott Shaw who engage in such behaviour will be subject to discipline or corrective action.
How to Deal with Discrimination
Be Aware
Acts of discrimination can range anywhere from very serious and life-threatening conflicts to relatively moderate acts like an ignorant joke. However, the degree of severity of the action does not make it any less discriminatory in nature.
When a discriminatory incidence occurs, the first step is to be aware. Once you’re aware of the incident, you can decide what to do next.
If the situation places you or anyone one else in physical danger, immediately contact your campus director or the police.
Keep All Evidence from the Incident
Regardless of the severity of the incident, it’s important to keep all records, evidence, and details of the act. Don’t rely solely on your own memory and write down what happened soon after it does. Make sure you keep all relevant voice mails, text messages, notes, letters, and other records as evidence.
Confide in a Trusted Friend
Talk to and confide in someone you trust whether it’s a parent, friend, or one of our Student Support Advisors with the My SSP app. These people are your support system who are there to listen carefully to you and offer constructive advice on how to deal with the situation at hand.
In addition to Student Support Advisors, the My SSP app offers online resources that can help you cope with stress, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, and much more.
Duty to Accommodate
The Duty to Accommodate is a legal requirement arising out of human rights legislation and case law in Canada. In this practice, Sprott Shaw has a legal obligation to ensure access to and remove barriers to participation experienced by persons with learning, cognitive, mental, developmental and/or physical disabilities.
It is important to note that the purpose of accommodating students with disabilities is not to provide them with an advantage, but rather to place them on a level playing field with students who do not have a disability. In most cases, a student who is seeking accommodation has an obligation to be proactive and request accommodation. Once accommodation has been requested, Sprott Shaw is expected to be innovative yet practical in its approach, and to make every reasonable effort to accommodate the student’s disability up to what is known as the point of undue hardship. It is important to note that the duty to accommodate will be different in every situation. This means that where an accommodation is requested, the institution has an obligation to conduct an individualized analysis, where it looks at the specific limitations and restrictions of the particular student, and then determines whether those can be accommodated.
In the post-secondary environment, students only need to disclose their disability if they are seeking accommodation or support for disability-related reasons. While the stigma of mental illness and/or lack of acceptance/awareness may make it difficult for some students to self-disclose, self-disclosure is needed to enable Sprott Shaw to support the student as needed.
Medical information is one of the most sensitive forms of personal information and Sprott Shaw has a legal obligation to maintain the confidentiality of a student’s disability-related information. Student’s information will remain confidential and Sprott Shaw staff are only permitted to release the level of information required to implement the student’s accommodations.
If you have any questions about our accommodation policies, please contact your Admissions Advisor or Campus Director.
