Campus Spotlights
- Niagara College’s Accessibility Hub provides a range of resources, including articles, checklists, and videos, designed to support faculty and staff in adopting accessibility-first approaches to teaching and communication. Developed through a collaborative, cross-institutional effort involving staff, faculty, alumni, and students with lived experience, the Hub reflects a strong commitment to inclusive practice. Among its featured resources are training materials on topics such as Understanding and Supporting Neurodiversity, Accessibility and Social Media, Accessible Meetings and Presentations, and more.
- Loyalist College’s Accommodation of Students at Risk policy outlines the institution’s responsibility to accommodate, assist, and support students experiencing challenges in either Residence or Academic settings. The policy affirms that the college will take all reasonable steps to help students navigate and overcome these difficulties. Reports indicating that a student may be at risk are reviewed by the Risk Assessment Review Committee, which evaluates the situation and determines appropriate interventions. When necessary, students may be required to participate in a risk-reducing intervention as prescribed by the committee.
The following recommendations are designed to guide faculty and staff in responding to student conduct concerns with compassion and collaboration.
Recommendations:
Integrate mental health throughout
Consider mental health at every stage of the conduct process and train faculty/staff to recognize and respond to distress. Normalize conversations about stress, burnout, and mental health in your classroom, residence, or office. Identify the signs of distress and know where to refer students for help.
- Tip: A simple check-in like “how are you managing everything right now?” can open the door to connection and support.
- Keep in mind that some students may default to saying “I’m fine”, especially if they are not used to being asked or don’t yet feel safe opening up. You may need to gently ask follow-up questions to help them feel supported.
- Check out the More Feet on the Ground training to identify some of the mental health concerns students on your campus may be living with.
Foster cross-campus collaboration
Coordinate with departments (e.g., counselling, accessibility, equity, security services) to provide wrap-around holistic support. Building relationships across departments helps ensure students get the appropriate care. You are not expected to manage student conflict on your own.
- Ask yourself: “Who else should be a part of this conversation?”
Ensure transparency and trust
Communicate clearly and consistently to build trust, especially with students who may have experienced systemic harm in the past. Be upfront about what is happening, what comes next, and what supports are available.
- Tip: Avoid language that is vague in written and oral communication and use plain terms.
Center accessibility
Proactively offer accommodations and flexible approaches. Make accessibility a visible, standard part of conduct policy and practice.
- Ask your student: “Is there anything you need to fully participate in this process?”
Ensure staff are trained on confidentiality and privacy
Provide training and resources so faculty and staff understand the boundaries and parameters of confidentiality according to their professional roles.
