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University of Regina Policy

Violence Prevention

Category:Governance
Number:GOV-100-016
Audience:All University Employees, Students and Third Parties
Issued:November 09, 2004
Revised:December 03, 2019
Owner(s):VP (Administration)
Approved by:Board of Governors
Contact:Director, Health, Safety & Wellness - 306-585-4776

Introduction

The University of Regina is committed to providing a safe and healthy living, learning and working environment which includes minimizing the risk of violence to members of the University community. The University recognizes the destructive nature of violence in our society, and its responsibility to educate and inform the University community on violence and violence prevention.

This policy applies to members of the University community, which in this policy includes:

  • employees,
  • students,
  • all people who conduct research at the University, and
  • all members of University committees (including the Senate and Board of Governors).

Third parties are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this policy. Compliance with this policy shall be deemed to be an implied term of all contracts and agreements with the University and is a condition of access to the University.

Incidents which occur during a University sponsored work placement/practicum, instructional activity or at events that take place on and off campus are included in this policy.

Harassment and discrimination complaints are dealt with under the Respectful University policy. Incidents or threats involving sexual violence are dealt with under the Sexual Violence/Misconduct policy.

Definitions

  • Early Intervention Team - the Early Intervention Team (EIT) works to bring together information from key stakeholders in order to proactively identify violence threats and concerns and respond to them in a timely and deliberate manner. EIT works together with the University community to develop proactive measures to address violence and uses a Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) Protocol in order to promote a culture of safety.
  • SSA - Site Security Assessment
  • Third Parties - visitors, guests, clients, customers, suppliers, patients, volunteers, contractors, subcontractors and/or their employees and others who are on University property.
  • Threat-any communication or action of intent to injure that gives an employee or student reasonable cause to believe there is a risk of injury. Examples of threats include:
    - threats (direct or indirect) delivered in person or through letters, email, phone calls, social media, etc
    - intimidating or frightening gestures such as shaking fists at another person, pounding a desk or counter, punching a wall, angrily jumping up and down, or screaming
    -throwing or striking objects
    -stalking
    -wielding a weapon, or carrying a concealed weapon for the purpose of threatening or injuring a person
  • Violence - the attempted, threatened or actual conduct of a person which causes or is likely to cause injury, and includes any threatening statement or behaviour that gives any person reasonable cause to believe that they are at risk of injury (The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Section 37).
  • VTRA - Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) protocol is a multi-disciplinary model, developed by J. Kevin Cameron and implemented across North America, intended to help communities identify and respond to threats of violence. Several external community partners such as the Regina Police Service, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Regina Public Schools and Regina Catholic Schools use this model as well as other post-secondary institutions including University of Saskatchewan, University of Calgary, York University, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

Policy

The University will not tolerate or condone any form of violence, and will make every reasonable practicable effort to ensure that no member of the University community is subjected to violence in the University environment.  The University will act quickly to investigate or have Law Enforcement Officers investigate any reports of violence, and will take appropriate corrective action where violence is substantiated.

The University will also act to minimize the psychological and physical harm done to members of the University community if violence does occur.

The University is a large and open community where individuals interact with many other people, increasing the potential for violence. The risk of violence may be increased for University community members who:

  • make or transmit decisions about the financial obligations or the academic standing of others
  • work directly with money or other valuables
  • work or study alone or under other circumstances where they are relatively isolated from the assistance of others
  • deal with the public (reception)
  • provide security services or crisis counseling and intervention services

The University has a duty to inform employees and students who are identified as being “at risk” to violence. This includes providing information related to the risk of violence posed by persons who have a history of violent behavior and who are likely to be encountered in the course of their work or learning activities. In order to identify the sites or employee and student positions where violence has occurred or may be reasonably expected to occur, a Site Security Assessment (SSA) must be conducted by Campus Security.

(For help in completing the SSA and creating a safety plan, please contact the Manager, Campus Security.)

Roles and Responsibilities

University President

  • has the power to exclude, as appropriate, any individual presenting a risk of violence from the University

Deans and Directors

  • will ensure that a SSA is conducted by Campus Security where violence has occurred or may be reasonably expected to occur within their areas of jurisdiction
  • will ensure that violence prevention measures are implemented
  • will coordinate an update to the SSA and prevention measures when there is a change in circumstances that may affect the health and safety of any member of the University community

Supervisors/Managers

  • will ensure employees and students in their area or department participate in the SSA and that prevention measures are implemented
  • will assist employees and students who are subjected to acts of violence in seeking medical attention or psychological support. The supervisor/manager will document that the employee or student has been advised to seek appropriate support
  • will inform employees and students about the nature and risk of violence at their place of employment or study
  • will ensure applicable employees attend Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) training

Employees and Students

  • will report any incidents of violence to their manager, supervisor or academic advisor
  • will complete as required the U of R Incident Report form for any actual or potential incidents of violence

Campus Security

  • will respond to and investigate reports of violence on campus
  • will work with local, provincial and federal authorities in managing violent incidents
  • will provide expertise in assisting academic and administrative departments in completing a SSA
  • will participate as a member of EIT
  • will analyze and report data related to incidences of violence, in cooperation with Health, Safety and Wellness
  • will regularly review and monitor the effectiveness of this policy

Health, Safety & Wellness

  • will record and work with Campus Security on investigating the root cause of reported incidents of violence
  • will analyze and report data related to incidences of violence, in cooperation with Campus Security
  • will use the Emergency Notification System to enhance the U of R’s response to violent incidents
  • will participate as a member of EIT
  • will regularly review and monitor the effectiveness of this policy

Vice-President (Administration)

  • in the event of a University emergency involving threats or acts of violence, will coordinate a meeting of the Early Intervention Team (EIT) who will:

-       assess the situation

-       recommend preventative and remedial action

-       make immediate arrangements to provide counseling and other supports as required

Consequences for Noncompliance

All members of the University community are subject to the requirements of this policy. Violations place the University at significant risk and are subject to appropriate corrective administrative, academic or non-academic discipline and could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of the member’s position with the University, or in the case of a student, an academic suspension or expulsion. The President may ban, as appropriate, any individual presenting a risk of violence from any U of R campus. Significant legal penalties may also be assessed under The Saskatchewan Employment Act and The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996.

Processes

SSA

To reduce the potential for injury, each faculty/department is required to conduct a Site Security Assessment (SSA) where violence has occurred or may be reasonably expected to occur and develop and implement prevention measures.

Conducting a SSA identifies:

  • employees and students who are exposed to violence
  • sites where violence may occur
  • interventions that will reduce the risk of violence

Prevention and Training

Where a risk of violence has been identified, the Dean, Director or designate is responsible for coordinating the development of site-specific violence prevention measures by:

  • creating written procedures that include the appropriate response to incidents of violence and procedures for reporting incidents and obtaining assistance
  • providing engineering and administrative controls or personal protective equipment which would reasonably be required to reduce the risk of violence
  • making any changes to work organization, operating procedures or other administrative arrangements that would reasonably be required to reduce identified risks of violence
  • providing training or information to employees and students that includes:

-       the means to recognize potentially violent situations

-       procedures, work practices, administrative arrangements and engineering controls that have been developed to minimize or eliminate the risk of violence

-       the appropriate responses to incidents of violence

-       how to obtain medical or psychological assistance

-       procedures for reporting violent incidents

Training and support for assistance in developing control measures is available by contacting the Manager, Campus Security.

Reporting

In the event of an act of violence, any university member will:

  • call 911 immediately for active violent situations, then call Campus Security 306-585-4999
  • in conjunction with applicable stakeholders (i.e. Campus Security; Health, Safety & Wellness), investigate the incident to determine the root cause
  • complete the U of R Incident Report Form
  • be advised to seek medical or psychological attention as appropriate

Procedures for Responding to Violent Situations

Emergency Situations

The first priority is your personal safety and that of the people around you. Immediately contact 911, then contact Campus Security at 306-585-4999 for assistance. Provide your location and details of the situation and ensure you inform your supervisor or others around you if safe to do so.

Non-Emergency Situations

All acts of violence should be reported immediately to Campus Security at 306-585-4999 and then to your immediate supervisor or manager. The supervisor/manager should then contact a member of EIT.

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