The HREO is located at the north side of the campus at Fielding House, 15 University Avenue East. All enquiries are confidential. Office hours are Monday-Friday: 8:45a.m.- 4:45p.m. Phone: 824-4120, ext. 53000; TTY: 767-0615; Website: http://www.uoguelph.ca/hre.

"The University of Guelph Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO) is dedicated to the removal of all systemic barriers, discrimination and harassment and will engage in advocacy within the university community towards this end."

(Mission Statement, Human Rights and Equity Office)

The University of Guelph prohibits harassment or discrimination in work, study, residential and university life on the basis of: race, colour, ancestry, place of origin (where you were born), ethnic background, citizenship, creed (religion), sex, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status, and family status. In some cases, discrimination includes unfair treatment on the basis of the receipt of public assistance or a pardoned criminal offense.

The Ontario Human Rights Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act, as well as the University's Sexual and Gender Harassment Policy and Procedure and Interim Human Rights Procedure, prohibit harassment or discrimination on the basis of these grounds. The University of Guelph is currently developing a comprehensive human rights policy and complaints procedure to integrate and replace these existing policies and procedures.

The University's human rights policies and complaint procedures are available on the HREO Web Page at http://www.uoguelph.ca/hre/.

Definitions

Harassment is defined as any attention or conduct (oral, written, graphic or physical) by an individual or group who knows, or ought reasonably to know, that such attention or conduct is unwelcome/unwanted, offensive or intimidating.

Discrimination is defined as the denial of equal treatment, civil liberties, and/or opportunity to a group or member of the group on the basis of: race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic background, citizenship, creed (religion), sex, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status and, in some cases, receipt of public assistance or a pardoned criminal offense. Discrimination may be systemic wherein the policies and practices that have become standard in established institutions appear to be neutral but result in the exclusion of certain groups.

Inquiries and Complaints

Members of the University community (including students, staff and faculty) have the right to seek confidential advice and information about concerns or complaints regarding harassment or discrimination. The HREO may assist individuals to resolve complaints by serving as a resource to the parties involved, providing mediation, or facilitating the University's human rights concern and complaint resolution procedures.

In addition, any party may consult with the HREO regarding an administrative, managerial or curriculum decision which may relate to a human rights or equity issue. The HREO also provides human rights education and training and works in partnership with the University constituents on matters of educational and employment equity.

Services

The HREO provides the following services to members of the University: information and advice regarding discrimination and harassment; facilitation of an internal human rights complaint procedure; mediation to resolve complaints; resource information on human rights and equity issues; training and education; participation on university committees; and research development and evaluation of equity initiatives.