A letter to the Brock community from Jack Lightstone:

I am writing to update the Brock community about an important initiative that I announced three weeks ago, after receiving campus-wide feedback about the University’s handling of a sexual harassment complaint by a former student.

In a letter to you March 18, I committed to creating a task force that would examine all of Brock’s policies and procedures that deal with sexual harassment, sexual violence and unprofessional behaviour. I also promised to provide an update before the end of April on the mandate, composition and timelines of this task force.

We are making progress on this initiative. I am writing to tell you that the review body will be known as the Human Rights Task Force, and below you will find terms of reference that have been drafted to define its purpose and makeup.

Brock will be inclusive of all stakeholders on campus in developing this task force, and before the end of April I expect to be writing to you again, as more of the operational details are established for the Human Rights Task Force.

In the meantime, if anyone in the Brock community has comments or suggestions regarding this initiative, I invite you to please email me at president@brocku.ca

Sincerely,

Jack Lightstone
President and Vice Chancellor

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Human Rights Task Force

Terms of Reference

1. Mandate

The Brock University Human Rights Task Force has been established to make recommendations to improve and advance human rights at Brock.

The Task Force will provide recommendations to the President to improve Brock’s human rights policies, processes, services and supports. Within the context of meeting all of our legal obligations and, further, adopting best practices, the Task Force is to review and make recommendations regarding:

a. Renewal and harmonization of all policies and procedures that impact human rights at Brock, including, but not limited to:

i. Complaint resolution process for human rights matters including investigation, resulting actions, and appeal;
ii. The support and protection provided to parties in a complaint resolution process;
iii. The privacy and confidentiality requirements of the complaint resolution process;

b. Building awareness of human rights obligations and culture at Brock;
c. Enhancing diversity and inclusivity within the Brock community; and,
d. The organization, staffing and resources of Brock’s human rights office.

2. Membership

The members of the Task Force shall be appointed by the President and shall comprise:

Chair
Vice-Chair
Students:
- Undergraduate student (in consultation with BUSU)
- Graduate student (in consultation with GSA)
Faculty member (in consultation with BUFA)
Staff member (in consultation with HR, OSSTF & CUPE)
A Faculty Dean (in consultation with the Provost)
External (someone who is not currently an employee, student or trustee of Brock and whose background or expertise adds value to the work of the Committee)

3. Resources

The daily work of the Task Force and the renewal of policies and procedures resulting from its recommendations will be co-ordinated and managed by the Office of the University Legal Counsel/University Secretariat, which may engage external resources.

In addition, representatives of the following offices will support the work of the Committee, and be present at Task Force meetings as expert resources:

Human rights – The Office of Human Rights and Equity Services, Sexual Violence Prevention Committee, the Racial Climate Task Force, the AODA Coordinator
Human resources and labour relations – Associate Vice-President, Human Resources
Security and policing – Director, Campus Security Services

4. Process

The Task Force will follow the steps below:

Understand Brock’s legal obligations
Understand the concerns with the current policies, processes and supports
Solicit input from the University community
Develop recommendations for the President for the renewal and harmonization of all relevant policies and procedures

5. Meetings

The Task Force will meet as determined necessary by the Task Force, but no less than monthly, and at the request of the President.

6. Procedure

The Task Force will determine its own procedures.

7. Reporting

Between Oct. 1, 2016 and Jan. 1, 2017, the Task Force will have made all of its recommendations to the President.

8. Term

It is anticipated that upon completion of its mandate, the Task Force will be dissolved, but the President may elect to continue the Task Force on an ongoing basis to support and further the University’s human rights processes.