Committee on Preventing & Responding to Sexual Violence
In March 2019, the provincial government set out a mandate for all post-secondary institutions to create a taskforce devoted to addressing and preventing sexual violence on campus. Humber Polytechnic & the University of Guelph-Humber established the Taskforce on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence on campus, which continued the work of the Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence Working Group established in 2014. The Taskforce was established to ensure government compliance, continue to grow existing policy, support, and awareness initiatives taking place on campus, and included diverse student representatives, alongside faculty and staff. The Taskforce was required to report its findings to the respective board of governors as well as the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. The Taskforce will now continue its work as a Committee at the campus.
The Committee is responsible for providing thoughtful, objective, and strategic leadership to the implementation of sexual violence prevention, awareness and education initiatives, including policy development and supports. A successful Committee will see increased awareness and engagement, a culture of courage as evidenced by increased disclosures and reporting, and a culture of consent that is broadly understood and embraced by the campus community.