On this page
In June 2017, the Pearson College UWC Board of Directors approved revised and new policies to ensure and maintain the best possible standards and practices in Human Resources and Health, Safety and Wellness at Pearson College. These policies included a revised Respectful Community Policy and Non-Discrimination and Accommodation Policy and a new Gender Diversity Policy and new Sexual Misconduct-Sexual Violence Policy.
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.
The section Taking Our Responsibilities Seriously, as well as the Health, Wellness & Safety web page, 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. We welcome comments from alumni on these policies.
College Policies
Respectful community policy
In keeping with Canadian culture, federal and provincial laws, the BC Child, Family and Community Service Act, the BC Human Rights Code and the ethos of the United World Colleges movement, 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.
This Policy is adopted in furtherance of Pearson College UWC’s commitments, set out above, and in compliance with the College’s obligations under the British Columbia Human Rights Code. Therefore, the policy shall be interpreted per applicable legislation and jurisprudence.
Pearson College UWC is a respectful community and an organization that does not tolerate harassment, bullying and/or discrimination of any kind.
Non-discrimination and accommodation Policy
Gender diversity policy
This Policy ensures that all members of the College community understand their responsibilities in fostering an inclusive living, working and learning environment free from discrimination and harassment based on gender identity and gender expression.
Sexual misconduct - Sexual violence policy
This Policy aims to ensure that Pearson College UWC builds and sustains a community of respect and consent between its members to prevent, educate and assist in all matters related to Sexual Misconduct, Harassment, Abuse, Assault, and/or Violence.
UWC common safeguarding standards
The UWC International Board regards the well-being of all involved in the UWC Movement as a key part of the Movement’s ethos and values. The Board expressly acknowledges and honours the nature of all UWC schools as separate and independent legal bodies governed by regulation in their respective countries and connected to UWC International through memorandums of understanding governing a relationship of mutual trust, mindful of the diverse nature of Entities. In adopting the Common Standards for safeguarding, the Board intends to assist each Entity to take all reasonable steps to keep the Students safe.
Essential agreements
Learn more about our ESSENTIAL AGREEMENTS 
At Pearson College UWC, we have zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviour. We are unequivocally committed to a safe and respectful experience for every individual – students, alumni, faculty, staff and guests – associated with the educational institution.
This page summarizes and provides links to the health, wellness and safety updates shared widely over the past three years. The key health, safety and wellness initiatives noted have been implemented, or are in the process of being put in place to support and protect students, alumni and all adults who are part of the Pearson community.
Policies, procedures and actions are not static – they need to be living documents and incorporate approaches that reflect enlightened thinking and current best practices. We will continue to work with independent experts, as well as encourage our alumni, current students and all members of our community to share their knowledge and perspectives so that collective wisdom informs how we conduct ourselves in supporting the best possible experience at Pearson College UWC.
We welcome additional comments from all members of the Pearson community. If you wish, please contact Special Advisor – Respectful Community at respect@pearsoncollege.ca.
Updates
October 2019 – Mental Health and Wellness in the Wintertime
February 2019
On Monday, 4 February, Pearson College UWC shared an important statement with our communities. Please view this statement here.
January 2019
In October 2018, the UWC International Board adopted the UWC Common Safeguarding Standards. Pearson College, together with all UWC schools and colleges, is aligned with and fully supports these health, well-being and safety standards. Read more.
On 15 October, President and Head of College Désirée McGraw announced the appointment of Pat Patton as Head of Human Resources / Special Advisor – Respectful Community for Pearson College UWC. While maintaining her previous portfolio as Special Advisor-Respectful Community, Pat in her new full-time role, will report directly to the President as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team bringing to bear her considerable experience in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Pat’s mandate includes the important role of support, inclusion and engagement of diverse College employees, campus residents and volunteers as we work to achieve our “People” goals under Strategic Plan 2022. Pat’s role as Special Advisor – Respectful Community continues her strong focus on the College’s culture, policies and practices to ensure alignment as a respectful community.
In order to assist and advise the College in implementing the Respectful Campus Policies, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Patricia (Pat) Patton as Special Advisor – Respectful Community for Pearson College. Engaged on a part-time basis for the next year, Pat will work closely with me to ensure that our policies and practices are robust and aligned with leading practices as we implement our Taking Our Responsibilities Seriously theme outlined in my ongoing communications with the Pearson community both on and off campus.
President’s Update – January 2018
As we begin a new year and school term with refreshed enthusiasm, I would like to update you on the key health, safety and wellness initiatives we have implemented to support and protect students, past and present, who are part of the Pearson College UWC community.
President’s Holiday Message – December 2017
Policies are to be reviewed periodically to ensure continuous implementation of leading health, wellness and safety practices.
College Policies – November 2017
Subpage created in November 2017 to highlight the development or updating of specific policies. Content on the page specifically invited anyone interested in providing comments or additional input on these or other policies or any other concerns to contact the designated HR Officer.
President’s Update – Fall 2017
Independent consultant and subject expert Pat Patton led the community through a discussion of our updated Respectful Community and related policies.
President’s Update – Spring 2017
The independent review showed that our existing policies and complaint procedures are largely consistent with best practices among similar institutions. A number of recommendations for improvement were made that are being reviewed and implemented.
President’s Update – April 2017
Within days of my assuming the headship of Pearson in August 2015, I became directly aware of allegations of past misconduct impacting some of our alumni. After bringing my concerns to the Board at my first meeting with them, the College, in the fall of 2015, engaged human rights lawyer Cynthia Petersen. She was tasked with a two-part mandate deliberately designed to ensure that best practices were in place for current students and to review the historical concerns that had been brought to my attention.
President’s Update – January 2017
Every adult on campus took part in several days worth of health, wellness and safety training in August 2016. This is a long-term annual commitment that is essential for a modern independent school.
President’s Update – April – May 2016
Following a review of College policies, and how we apply these to ensure we continue to meet best practices to ensure student safety, a Vulnerable Sector Check has been incorporated in our mandatory Criminal Record Check (CRC) Policy.
President’s Update – April 2016
The College engaged Cynthia Petersen, who is one of Canada’s top human rights and labour lawyers and currently holds the position of Ontario’s Superior Court Justice.
President’s Update – Autumn 2015
With new leadership in place, we are reviewing all facets of our mandate and operations
At Pearson College we are committed to the health and safety of every student in our community.
I have shared with you, through our Taking Our Responsibilities Seriously website page and my regular President’s Updates, several measures taken over the past three years to implement a comprehensive program to promote student and community safety as well as to address historic issues related to past sexual misconduct. These measures included the creation of a robust set of policies and an independent review by an external expert.
These efforts are ongoing and today, I am writing to communicate an important message we shared with former students who were affected by past sexual misconduct during their time at Pearson College. Today, in a gathering with some of these former students, the Chair of our Board of Directors and I shared a Statement of Apology for the hurt and harm caused by these experiences.
We live and learn in a community guided by understanding, compassion and respect. Please be assured that no current employees or residents on campus were named in the reports we received. Our journey has opened up dialogues about consent, and everyone on our campus has received training to help ensure that our community is safe and respectful for all who live here.
We also created the position of Special Advisor-Respectful Community, which reports directly to the President and Head of College. This position is a dedicated resource to assist any individual who wishes to inform the College, in confidence, of their experience and to seek support. The Advisor can be reached at respect@pearsoncollege.ca or through the EthicsPoint helpline.
We have strengthened our culture of respect and safety through this process, and you have my firm commitment that we will continue to do so.
Respectfully,
Désirée McGraw
President and Head of College