Concern or Complaint
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The Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy (RWLEP) is OCAD U’s human rights policy. The Office of Diversity, Equity and Sustainability Initiatives (ODESI) is available to guide you and answer your questions regarding your concerns of racism, hate, discrimination, harassment or bullying under the RWLEP.
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The information you provide will be treated with care. While ODESI strives to maintain confidentiality, some information may be shared internally on a need-to-know basis to address your concern. We do not share your information externally without your consent, unless required by law.
To ensure we can respond to your concerns promptly and effectively, we ask that you complete a form as the first step. Please fill out and submit the Case Resolution form.
This first step of collecting information through the Case Resolution Form is essential:
It helps us better understand your concern clearly and thoroughly from the beginning.
It allows us to assess your concerns accurately and connect you with the appropriate support.
It ensures nothing is missed and that the notable dates and individuals involved are documented properly.
Completing this form with as much detail as possible helps us serve you more efficiently and equitably. It ensures that we understand your concerns in your own words.
Please provide as much detail as you can. The better we can understand your situation will help us try to offer meaningful support. Once you submit the form, our Team will carefully review the details and contact you for a follow-up meeting.
Confidentiality Notice: Please know that we are committed to treating the information you provide with care and respect. ODESI endeavours to maintain the confidentiality of all information shared with us; however, we cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality or anonymity.
Once your information has been received and reviewed by a member of our Team, ODESI endeavours to contact you within two weeks to schedule an introductory meeting. This meeting may be scheduled as an on-line (Teams) or in-person meeting. Please indicate your preference on the form.
At this introductory meeting, an ODESI human rights advisor will gather any additional information regarding your concerns or questions. You may have a support person attend this meeting with you. Your support person is expected to respect the privacy of the matter.
After this meeting, we may need your consent to share some of your details on a strictly need-to-know basis within the University to address your concern effectively, for example, we may need to reach out Student Services or People & Culture to obtain additional information or clarification. This limited sharing allows us to understand the issues fully, explore options and work toward a meaningful solution. We do not share your information outside of OCAD U without your consent, except where required by law.
After reviewing your completed case resolution form and meeting with you to better understand the nature of your concern(s), ODESI will determine if we can assist you with the situation. Throughout the process, we aim to listen, be respectful and remain impartial. Our goal is to ensure that your concerns are addressed appropriately and that all members of the OCAD U community are treated with respect and procedural fairness.
If your concerns do not appear to come within the scope of the RWLEP, the ODESI human rights advisor may refer you to other OCAD U resources or related policies.
If your concerns come within the scope of the RWLEP, the ODESI human rights advisor will provide you with information about the available informal or formal resolution options.
Most of the human rights concerns brought forward by our OCAD U community are resolved through confidential informal processes, some options include:
Clarification of the issues
Informal dispute resolution
Mediation
As outlined in the RWLEP, these ameliorative processes are facilitated by ODESI and aim to resolve your concerns through alternate dispute processes other than a formalized complaint.
A formal process of complaint resolution is initiated when parties have not reached an agreeable resolution or wish to have their human rights concerns addressed through a confidential investigation: refer to sections 64-72 of the RWLEP.