Student Charter of Rights and Responsibilities

Trent University strives to provide a supportive environment in which all students have the opportunity to pursue their academic interests and to participate in extra-curricular and social activities.  The University environment is necessarily tolerant of diverse ideas, points of view and interests.  The purpose of this Charter is to establish and inform students of their rights and responsibilities and to provide avenues for response to any issues regarding such rights and responsibilities.

The Trent University Charter of Student Rights and Responsibilities 

The Trent University Charter of Student Rights and Responsibilities (Text only version)

Printed copies of the Charter are also available in the Office of Student Affairs, Suite CCS 110. 

Contents

About the Charter

Behaviour concerns and ways to approach them

Staff Resource People (SRPs)

Formal complaints

Student safety resources

Records

Contact Information
 

About the Charter

The Charter of Student Rights and Responsibilities outlines how we seek to create a supportive learning environment, address disruptive behaviour, and protect the safety, dignity and reputation of students and the community as a whole.

The Charter includes:

Outline of student rights and responsibilities
Community life
Prevention and capacity-building around inclusive and respectful behaviour
Charter procedures and outcomes
Appendices, with additional information

This version of the Charter has been developed by the College and Student Services Committee (CASSC), which is primarily comprised of student leaders, as well as faculty, student services and college staff. After further community consultation, it was approved by the Trent Board of Governors in June, 2017.

Behaviour concerns and ways to approach them

Examples of behaviour challenges students can encounter:

Escalating issues which start small but which get worse over time
Relationship difficulties – friends, roommates, classmates, partners
Lack of care/respect for others, including insults, bullying, discrimination
Lack of respect for community (e.g. vandalism)
Criminal activity causing harm

If you encounter behaviour challenges, what are some options?

For situations you feel you can resolve yourself, raise them directly with the individual. Helpful steps:

Identify the specific behaviour and the impact it has on you.
Think about what you’d like as an outcome
Raise the concern with the individual:

When you say/do ______, (behaviour)

I feel _____ / It does _____ (impact)

Can we talk about it? and/or It would be really helpful if _____ (desired outcome)

If you are uncomfortable speaking with the individual directly, you can seek help from a staff resource person.
If the behaviour causes you to feel threatened or unsafe, Campus Security and student services are always available to help you.
If you wish to make a formal complaint about a person’s behaviour, the staff resource people can provide information about the process and what your options are.

Everyone at Trent has both a right and a responsibility to work towards a community in which we are all safe, respected and included. 

Charter processes

This chart outlines the different processes available to students. Complaints will be resolved using the simplest option possible given the circumstances.

Complaint resolution processes: Complaints will be resolved using the simplest option given the circumstances. Consultation: Complainant seeks help from Staff Resource Person (SRP), or complaint forwarded from a university department (e.g. Campus Security). The SRP assesses impact of incident and students’ current needs, options are reviewed together, and the complainant decides how to proceed. Any time there is an imminent risk of harm, staff members are obligated to act to protect safety. Within reason, participants may choose to change from one process to another in order to best serve their needs. Option 1 -- Complainant chooses to resolve the matter with the respondent independently. Option 2 -- With some coaching from a Staff Resource Person, complainant chooses to engage with respondent directly. Option 3 -- A Staff Resource Person facilitates discussion with the parties and resolution is reached together. Option 4 -- Formal negotiated process seeks a solution that repairs the harm done and is satisfactory to all. Option 5 -- Formal adjudicated process assesses evidence, draws conclusions, and imposes an outcome where appropriate. Record-keeping: For options 2-5, a summary of case forwarded to the office of the AVP Students

Staff Resource People (SRPs)

A Staff Resource Person is a staff member who is experienced in receiving complaints, coaching students regarding options, and assisting students in seeking resolutions.

When you go to an SRP with an issue, they will be able to help you with the following:

Checking your safety and that of other students
Listening to what you are dealing with and helping you to frame the issue
Providing information about your different options
Helping you to decide what course of action will work best for you
Providing coaching if you want to engage the problem directly
Providing a facilitated discussion if you want assistance communicating with the other party
Referring you to the appropriate resource if you want a more formal process, or if the issue is severe
Providing information about the different Trent policies and procedures

SRPs provide brief summaries of the complaint and the description of the incident and any outcomes to the Office of the AVP Students; otherwise confidentiality is maintained unless the University is obligated to act to protect safety.

Staff Resource people - Peterborough

Melanie Buddle, Gzowski College Principal, Growski College Office,  GCS 213, 705-748-1011 ext. 7902, melaniebuddle@trentu.ca

Christine Freeman-Roth, Lady Eaton College Principal, Lady Eaton College Office, EC 119.2,  705-748-1011 ext.7625, cfreemanroth@trentu.ca

Stephanie Muehlethaler, Otonabee College Principal, Otonabee College Office, OC W102.1, 705-748-1011 ext. 7660, smuehlethaler@trentu.ca

Staff Resource people – Durham

Jenifer Richardson, Manager Student Affair Durham, DUR 101.2, 905-435-5102 ext. 5054, jrichardson@trentu.ca

Formal Complaints

There are two formal approaches available to students:

Formal negotiated process

In this process, both the complainant and respondent are interviewed by the Adjudicator, along with any witnesses as appropriate. Options include:
Developing a proposal in consultation with both the complainant and respondent, which is designed to prevent recurrence of any behaviour and repair the harm of any incident.
Having a mediation with both parties present with a facilitator exploring the issue, its causes, what the effects have been, and what remedies there might be.
Having a conciliatory meeting in which the parties don’t meet face-to-face but information is shared back and forth by the facilitator
Administrative recommendations are made that both parties agree on, designed to remedy any harm that has been caused.

Formal adjudicated process

In this process, both the complainant and respondent provide information and evidence with respect to the complaint, and the Adjudicator determines the validity of the complaint based on a balance of probabilities.
If the complaint is judged to be valid, the Adjudicator decides the outcomes, which can include educational tasks, restorative measures, or sanctions.
If the complaint is serious enough that the outcome could be suspension or expulsion, it is heard by an Adjudication Panel, made up of the AVP Students (or designate), a faculty member, and an elected student representative.

Appeals may be heard based on these grounds:

Formal complaints on the Peterborough campus are filed with the Office of the AVP Students, and should be addressed to the Student Conduct and Conduct Education Coordinator at studentcharter@trentu.ca or (705)748-1011 ext. 7192. The Student Conduct Coordinator can also provide you with information about your options under the Charter and other Trent policies.

Formal complaints on the Durham campus are filed with Jenifer Richardson, the Manager of Student Affairs, at jrichardson@trentu.ca or 905-435-5102  ext. 5054. Jenifer can also provide you with information about your options under the Charter and other Trent policies.

Student Safety Resources

Peterborough Campus

If you are experiencing a situation that is causing you to fear for your safety on campus, please call Campus Security at (705) 748-1333 or call 911. If you wish to make a security report, please contact security@trentu.ca. Students are advised to download the Trent U Safety App available on Google Play and the Apple Store. 

If you would like advice or support on handling an incident of discrimination, or if you would like to report an incident of discrimination please contact Rona Jualla Van Oudenhoven, Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Equity and Human Rights Office (EHRO) at 705-748-1011 ext. 7725 or by email at rjuallavanoudenhoven@trentu.ca – more information is available here: www.trentu.ca/chrea/. You can also contact the Office of Student Affairs for advice at studentaffairs@trentu.ca or at 705-748-1011 ext. 7754.

For advice or support about approaching the University with any concerns you may have, you can contact the Trent Central Student Association: http://trentcentral.ca/

If you would like to seek support after being sexually assaulted, please visit /sexualviolence/ if-you-have-experienced-sexual-violence for a list of resources. If you have been sexually assaulted within the last 72 hours, during office hours (9:00 am – 4:00 pm) you can phone or visit Health Services at 705-748-1481, Blackburn Hall 111. After hours: You can go to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s emergency department and ask for the sexual assault on-call nurse.

If you wish to seek counseling: www.trentu.ca/counselling.

If you are an Indigenous student wishing to seek cultural counseling: Madisyn Brownlee, Indigenous Student Therapist, First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL) at mbrownlee@trentu.ca.

Durham Campus

In an emergency, please call 911. Security guards are available at the front desk of the campus and can assist with an emergency.

If you are experiencing a situation that is causing you to fear for your safety on campus, please contact the Manager of Student Affairs, Jenifer Richardson, at 905-435-5102 x5054
jrichardson@trentu.ca. You can also contact Trent Campus Security at (705) 748-1333. If you wish to make a security report, please contact security@trentu.ca.

If you would like advice or support on handling an incident of discrimination, or if you would like to report an incident of discrimination please contact the Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility (CHREA) at 705-748-1011 ext. 7725 or by email at humanrights@trentu.ca – more information is available here: www.trentu.ca/chrea/. You can also contact the Office of Student Affairs for advice at studentaffairs@trentu.ca or at 705-748-1011 ext. 7754.

For advice or support about approaching the University with any concerns you may have, you can contact the Trent Durham Student Association: http://www.mytdsa.ca/

If you would like to seek support after being sexually assaulted, please visit /sexualviolence/if-you-have-experienced-sexual-viol... for a list of resources. Durham resources include the Durham Rape Crisis Centre 905-668-9200 24 hour counseling and support groups for recent or past abuse and the Durham Region Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault Care Centre (Lakeridge Health) 905-576-8711, 24 hour crisis line. Counselling and referrals for male/female sexual assault victims, all ages.

If you wish to seek counselling: http://www.trentu.ca/durham/student-life/student-support-services/counse...

If you are an Indigenous student wishing to seek cultural counseling: Madisyn Brownlee, Indigenous Student Therapist, First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL) at mbrownlee@trentu.ca.

Records:

Records will be kept by the AVP Students office for SRP consultations and formal Charter processes. Records will include a statement of complaint and description of the incident(s), an overview of the timeline from the precipitating incident to the conclusion of the process, a description of any outcomes, and an explanation of how confidentiality applies in this circumstance.

An anonymized summary of offences and outcomes will be posted online to assist the community in understanding how the Charter is interpreted and applied. This summary will not include any identifying details related to individuals or the case.

Appeals and records are considered to be confidential, subject to applicable law.

Contact Information:

If you wish to file a complaint or have questions about the Charter, please contact:

The Student Conduct and Conduct Education Coordinator, Office of Student Affairs

studentcharter@trentu.ca or (705)748-1011 ext.7192

*Accessibility Notice*

This document is available in PDF and Microsoft Word format on the Student Affairs website. A printed copy can be attained at the Office of the AVP students in suite 206 in Champlain College.  Persons involved with the discipline process (complainants, witnesses or respondents) may conduct their involvement verbally or with the assistance of an interpreter upon request.

 

Trent University respectfully acknowledges it is located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishnaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

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