Alberta’s government agrees with student leaders from across the province that more needs to be done to address sexual violence in campus communities. Post-secondary institutions are being asked to revisit and revise their sexual violence policies to ensure best practices are implemented.
This funding will support the development of a new provincewide survey to give us a better understanding of the state of sexual violence and harassment in Alberta’s post-secondary communities. A new grant of $2.5 million will be provided to post-secondary institutions to support training and awareness programs on campuses.
“We must do more to support survivors of sexual violence and create safer campus communities across our province. The steps we are taking today are a direct result of student advocacy. They have told us this is important and we have listened. The steps today also demonstrate tangible steps forward in implementing Alberta 2030, the province’s ten-year strategic plan for post-secondary education.”
Advanced Education, in collaboration with Culture and Status of Women, will work with post-secondary institutions to develop the survey to ensure it provides valuable information regarding sexual violence within campus communities.
One of the key goals of the Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs strategy is to improve access and the student experience, and within that, help address sexual violence in Alberta’s campus communities. Ensuring a safe and positive student experience will set students up for success during their studies and beyond.
“Creating a culture shift with respect to campus sexual violence is the only way to face this issue head on. Thank you to post-secondary students across Alberta who have advocated so passionately and worked tirelessly to address this. This investment will help post-secondary institutions work directly with students to develop sexual violence policies that will help protect everyone on campus, prevent sexual violence and ensure students get the support they need.”
“The Council of Alberta University Students is encouraged to see the government begin to implement student recommendations to address and prevent dating, domestic, and sexual violence. It is the responsibility of every member of our community to take active steps to promote safe and healthy relationships. We want to express our gratitude to the ministers for acting on this priority despite major ongoing global events.”
“SAIT is pleased the government continues to implement recommendations put forward by the Skills for Jobs Task Force and provide further support to encourage change throughout the post-secondary institutions across the province. Through this funding, we can continue to grow the support necessary to help those recovering from sexual violence.”
The survey is expected to launch when students return to campus for the fall 2022 semester, with results gathered before the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.
Post-secondary institutions will have until the end of 2022 to have their campus violence policy updated to reflect current best practices while ensuring they take a survivor-focused approach.
The Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs strategy is a transformational vision and direction for Alberta’s higher education system, which will develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, strengthen innovation and commercialization of research and forge stronger relationships between employers and post-secondary institutions.
Quick facts
- Goal 1 in the Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs strategy is ‘improve access and the student experience.’ Addressing campus sexual violence is listed as a flagship initiative under this goal:
- Modernize the existing provincial framework to address sexual violence in Alberta’s campus communities, and work with institutions and students to strengthen relevant policies and practices.
- Allocation of funds will be determined in the coming weeks.