Community Updates
Spring 2024 Update
May 6, 2024
Since our last update to the U of A community ( see below), we have had valuable discussions with university and community representatives and partners. With the advice of these partners, we have been envisioning how to build on the Centre’s 30+ years of service for not only the next academic year, but also the next generation of support and awareness for U of A students. Our heartfelt thanks to all those that have contributed to these conversations so far, and to the strong history of support and engagement that has grown within our community because of the Centre. Today, we’re sharing a few important updates from the last couple of months and introducing a community engagement and action plan initiative for the Centre for the 2024-25 academic term.
Service delivery for U of A students
As we head into the Spring and Summer terms, the Sexual Assault Centre continues to provide confidential support, guidance, referrals and assistance for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in person and virtually. See how to best access support services according to your needs and preferences. Every call and need is being addressed as soon as it comes in whether in-person, by appointment or virtually.
We have heard the concerns of U of A students, and drop-in hours at the Centre have recently increased across five days a week and we will continue to add more hours when possible. We also commit to having full-time drop-in hours and educational and volunteer programming available for the Fall 2024 term.
Leading U of A community wellness and sexual and gender-based violence support services
As part of the U of A’s holistic approach to student wellness support, we are pleased to share that the university is currently recruiting an Assistant Dean, Community Wellness and Sexual Violence Supports. As part of the Associate Vice-President (Student Experience) and Dean of Students’ Senior Leadership Team, this new role will be responsible for delivering integrated wellness support for students. The Assistant Dean will lead the Community Wellness Supports unit and the Sexual Assault Centre, overseeing a multi-disciplinary team that includes psychological support and crisis management services for sexual or gender-based violence survivors, community well-being programs, and health promotion and educational initiatives. We are actively working to have a successful candidate in place before the 2024-25 academic year.
Planting - Growing - Flourishing
The U of A is undertaking a community engagement and action plan initiative focused on growth for the Sexual Assault Centre. For the initial phase of that process in May and June, we have engaged Possibility Seeds, a Canadian systems change consultancy. Possibility Seeds led the award-winning Courage to Act project, a national multi-year initiative funded by the Government of Canada, to foster safer, trauma-informed post-secondary campuses. Possibility Seeds will provide actionable, transparent, and evidence-based recommendations to guide the Centre’s community engagement, programs and activities throughout the 2024-25 academic year, and beyond. Their recommendations will be informed by conversations with campus partners and community members, a literature review and data from the 2023 Alberta Campus Climate Survey on Sexual and Gender-based Violence, and 20+ years of leadership and participation in campus sexual violence prevention.
Sexual Violence Awareness Month
While we take time to reflect on our Centre’s next steps, we are also mindful that May is Sexual Violence Awareness Month, a time for greater pause and reflection, prioritizing awareness, and promoting a culture of consent. One way students, staff and faculty members can get involved is by learning about or sharing Building a Culture of Consent on Campus, a six-module online course. We also encourage all members of our community to be mindful of additional ways to participate and support services in our local communities.
We greatly appreciate the continuing support of the U of A community and our partners both on and off-campus. We have much to accomplish in the coming months and we look forward to sharing more progress again soon in our summer update.
Sincerely,
Tim Tang
Associate Vice-President (Student Experience)
Ravina Sanghera
Vice-Provost and Dean of Students
Winter 2024 Update
February 1, 2024
In November, we experienced an unexpected disruption to the U of A’s Sexual Assault Centre, which has impacted people across our university community in many ways. We wanted to take this opportunity to update you on how we've been working to find a path forward while making some adjustments along the way.
Guiding our work is a campus culture where all those who learn, live and work in our community can do so in a safe environment free from any form of harassment and sexual violence. The U of A’s Sexual Assault Centre is a core wellness service that enables us to deliver on that commitment. We are working with the university’s dedicated Lead, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response on next steps and priorities for the Winter 2024 term. We are hopeful that these commitments will help rebuild trust in the important services provided by the university to the community.
Reviewing service delivery
Last November’s changes to the operations of the U of A’s Sexual Assault Centre prompted a mindful review of the comprehensive wellness services delivered through the centre. The ongoing review will inform a renewed structure that is firmly focused on prevention, education, dedicated support for survivors, and community wellness. We are eager to work through this transition period as swiftly as possible; however, these reviews and meaningful change take time, care and due diligence to be sustainable, survivor-centred, and in alignment with leading practices.
Prioritizing accessible survivor support services
Providing crisis care and support services for survivors is our priority. Survivor support continues to be available and accessible on and off campus for all U of A members. Find how to best access support services according to your needs and preferences. The in-person locations of some services have changed -- and we are working towards having additional in-person drop-in service opportunities very soon.
At this time, the Centre will not be able to host community education programming—such as the volunteer program, workshops and educational awareness campaigns.
Leading with purpose
We are actively recruiting new leadership with expertise in sexual and gender-based violence. The priority of this role will be to guide and oversee the new vision and service delivery of our crisis intervention, wellness, education, and support services. It’s important that we take the time required to ensure we appoint a leader with deep expertise and a commitment to leading practices in this field. The role is expected to be listed on the U of A Careers site within the next two weeks.
We are looking forward to supporting a renewed, welcoming and safe space for survivors in the U of A community. We greatly appreciate the ongoing patience, understanding and supportive generosity that community members and our partners have shown over these months of transition. While sexual and gender-based violence support services continue to evolve at the university, the U of A remains fully committed to supporting all survivors in need of assistance.
If you require any additional support or have feedback or questions, please email dosdean@ualberta.ca.
Sincerely,
Tim Tang
Associate Vice-President, Student Experience + Interim Director, U of A Sexual Assault Centre
Ravina Sanghera
Vice-Provost and Dean of Students