College focused on student safety as classes resume

“I think there’s been more attention to it,” he said. “Provincially, all post-secondary institutions worked collectively in that regard to have policies in place to ensure our campus is safe.”

Henderson says the policy gives the college guidance on how to respond to incidents if they occur.

“It really would depend on the severity of the incident and the nature of it, but we do have a policy and procedure,” said Henderson. “We would work with the individuals who may have experienced this to offer the support they need, and also to ensure the safety of people on campus.”

The college has worked with the Southeastern Alberta Sexual Assault Response Committee (SARC) to help develop the policy and train staff.

Currently, there are 40 members of the college’s management team who have been trained on the policy. Medicine Hat College also has three counsellors on staff, along with one mental health programmer. The college has a student at-risk support team, led by their mental health and counselling manager, to respond to concerns about the mental and physical well-being of students.

“Sometimes, these can be really sensitive and difficult issues to work through, and by having the support here on campus, both by the number of people who are able to respond, and who know the policies and procedures we have on campus, just really ensures the safety and security on campus,” said Henderson.

The Students’ Association at the college helps promote resources available to students regarding sexual violence throughout the year, says Henderson.

The full policy can be viewed online here, under the Student Development/Student Services category.

by Charles Lefebvre

College focused on student safety as classes resume

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