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Further reading
Our Commitment
Pearson College UWC has a strong commitment to the health, wellness and safety of students and all campus community members. Our commitment to a safe and supportive campus environment includes several measures:
- All new staff at the College must first successfully complete a Criminal Records Check prior to the start of employment and every five years thereafter.
- All students receive the College’s Student Handbook before they arrive on campus. The handbook, including a key section on “Learning to Live Responsibly and Independently”, is reviewed and discussed during orientation week and again during the second term.
- As noted, the College has a nurse whose office includes access to all physical and mental health support resources. Health centre staff can confidentially discuss concerns, provide support, and work with students to access appropriate assistance and/or agencies as needed.
- The health centre also organizes and advises student-led groups, including those supporting LGBTQ, women, men, and other groups.
- All employees and residents (adults and students) are required to sign the College’s Respectful Campus Policy upon joining the institution and review and re-certify this commitment each September.
- Through our Dean of Students office, the College continually reviews and incorporates leading practices in pastoral and residential student wellness and living.
- The College initiated a comprehensive accreditation process through the Council of International Schools in 2015/16, and we were re-accredited in 2023. This is designed to assess our overall approach to areas including student safety and health. Recommendations for further improvements will be reviewed and incorporated.
- In June 2016, our Dean of Students and then School Nurse led a multi-day educational conference focused on residential health and well-being on campus for staff and faculty in student care leadership at worldwide UWC schools to share leading practices and learn from experiences in institutions.
- The College maintains several policies and procedures designed to support the concepts of health, wellness and safety, which are available to students, staff and alumni. These complement the College’s EthicsPoint process that enables private telephone and online reporting to an independent third party in order to report and, as necessary, facilitate the investigation of concerns.
Student Well-being and Support
We are passionate about wellbeing at Pearson—both personal and community. In fact, since the College’s founding, all aspects of life here have been guided by a simple principle: consideration for others.
The Pearson College UWC Student Handbook includes Student Support and Consideration for Others sections, and we encourage everyone to review these. We also encourage all students to take time to regularly contemplate their role within the Pearson community and their participation in all aspects of the program. This includes actively thinking about how they interact with others and taking responsibility to build a respectful, progressive and joyful community.
To ensure that the College is a safe, secure, healthy, happy and respectful place for everyone and to follow the rule of law in Canada, all community members must abide by the school policies both in spirit and in action at all times. Read the UWC Code of Conduct.
There are a number of individuals on Campus to help ensure student well-being, as well as that of the community as a whole:
Houseparents
Houseparents and their families live in an apartment attached to each of the five student residential houses. They play an integral part in the life of each residence and are key members of the support community for students.
Advisors
Each student has an advisor to assist him or her with balancing the overall program. This person is usually a teacher and is available for both personal and academic support.
Dean of Students
The Dean of Students is responsible for the overall well-being of students. The Dean also works with advisors, houseparents and other campus adult residents and members of the community to support a healthy community for living, learning and working together.
Health Centre
The College Health Centre team offers access to a full range of supporting medical and healthcare professionals and community services. Students can work with the Health Centre team and access community support services directly.
Safeguarding
Pearson College UWC is committed and obliged to provide a safe and respectful environment for all its youth, child and adult populations; and all employees, volunteers, students, and other campus residents of Pearson College UWC.
The College is committed to providing a respectful working, living and learning environment that is free of discrimination, supportive of personal growth and achievement and upholds the dignity, self-esteem and fair treatment of all members of the College Community, including employees, volunteers, students, campus residents, contractors and visitors. This commitment represents the rights and responsibilities of every member of the College Community.
Pearson College UWC is a respectful community and an organization that does not tolerate harassment, bullying and/or discrimination of any kind and builds and sustains a community of respect and consent between its members to prevent, educate and assist in all matters.
Our Taking Our Responsibilities Seriously and respectful community policies sections provide comprehensive information on measures such as mandatory community safety and well-being training, consent education, mental health support and resource awareness to help ensure we maintain a respectful and meaningful culture of safety and wellness.
Our Safeguarding team reports directly to the Head of College and will assist any individual who wishes to inform the College, in confidence, of any experience and seek support. Learn more in the Safeguarding Procedures brochure.
If an individual prefers to speak to another UWC entity about an experience of misconduct, harm, abuse or neglect, the following reporting mechanisms provided by UWC International can be used:
- Contact the Safeguarding Officer of UWC International via email at safeguarding@uwc.org
- Visit the UWC Safeguarding Page
More information about the reporting mechanisms from UWC International can be found on its website here.
Further reading
The College is committed to a safe and respectful experience, free from harassment for every individual.
Pearson has contracted with EthicsPoint, an independent 24/7 service that provides an anonymous method for anyone, including current and former students, faculty, and staff, to file a report. For example, concerns about behaviour or actions that may be unethical, illegal, fraudulent, or involve substance abuse, a violation of safety regulations, abuse of College property, misuse of College funds or other conduct that violates Pearson’s Respectful Community Policy and related policies.
EthicsPoint is contractually obliged not to pursue a caller’s identity. Reports to EthicsPoint are communicated to a designated Pearson College UWC Board of Directors member. EthicsPoint also explains the procedure and timeline to individuals who file reports and serves as an intermediary between the person filing a report and the Head of College.
EthicsPoint is not intended as a substitute for existing College procedures that deal with the reporting of personal complaints of harassment. Nor is EthicsPoint designed to deal with faculty and staff employment-related grievances which are covered by other specific policies and procedures.
An employee should first bring a concern to their immediate supervisor. If it is not resolved, it should be brought to the attention of the Head of College or the Director of Human Resources.
A student should first bring their concern directly to a trusted adult such as a teacher, activity leader, advisor or houseparent. If it is not resolved, it should be brought to the attention of the Dean of Students and, if not resolved at that level, then to the Head of College. If the concern involves the illegal or unethical behaviour of the Head of College or a member of the Board of Directors, the concern should be reported via EthicsPoint or communicated to the designated member of the Pearson College UWC Board of Directors via board@pearsoncollege.ca.
The College is committed to a safe and respectful experience, free from harassment for every individual on campus. Strong College policies and procedures and 24/7 access to the independent EthicsPoint reporting option are tools to help ensure this.