Preamble
Vancouver School of Theology (VST) is a community that operates on Christian values including caring and integrity in relationships. We endeavor at all times to provide a working and learning environment that is free of discrimination and supportive of spiritual and academic life, and the dignity, self-esteem and fair treatment of all members of the community. The basis of interaction at the School is one of mutual respect, cooperation and understanding, and we will not tolerate any behavior that is likely to undermine this.
Harassment is a form of discrimination that violates human rights, dignity and integrity, and poisons the work and learning environment. This policy includes both Human Rights Based Harassment, and Personal Harassment. The British Columbia Human Rights Code specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of ‘race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, martial status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation or age of that person or because that person has been convicted of a criminal or summary conviction offence that is unrelated to the employment/membership or to the intended employment/membership of that person’. Personal Harassment is behavior directed at an individual, such as taunting, mocking, or stalking another member of the School community for reasons that may be more personal than outlined in the Human Rights Based code.
Behavior constituting harassment is considered by VST to be a serious offence that affects the well being of the whole School, and it is subject to a range of disciplinary measures up to and including dismissal or expulsion.
A vexatious complaint is one that is deliberately invented in order to damage the reputation of the respondent. A frivolous complaint is one that is deemed by the committee that lacks serious implications to be a complaint. This concept is not to be confused with a complaint made in good faith that is found to be without merit. A vexatious complaint under this policy is a violation of the policy and the responsible person or persons would normally be subject to disciplinary action
This policy does not replace denominational, UBC, or other VST policies. It is consistent with related existing School policies, including the Sexual Harassment Policy.
Definitions of Harassment
Harassment, for the purposes of this policy, means a single incident or a course of vexatious comments or conduct; psychological, verbal or physical, based on a prohibited ground of discrimination as defined by the British Columbia Human Rights Code, or Personal Harassment, that is known or ought reasonably to be known as unwelcome. Harassment:
• May occur during one incident, or over a series of incidents, which, in isolation, would not necessarily constitute harassment.
• Is behavior, which has the intent or effect of creating an environment, which is intimidating, hostile, offensive, or undermining of an individual or group’s well being.
• May be directed to a group as well as at an individual. It may take the form of repeatedly excluding an individual or a group from rights and/or privileges to which they are entitled.
• May be alleged against in any context under the jurisdiction of VST, whether on or off campus, during or not during School related events.
Anonymous complaints will not be accepted or investigated. All complaints will be kept in strict confidence as per the attached procedures.
VST Community
As VST is an interdenominational School, community members will behave in ways that will respectfully acknowledge denominational differences. To protect the integrity of VST’s programs, academic freedoms of both faculty and students will be encouraged and respected. As well, differences of thought will be communicated & listened to in a mutually respectful manner. In classroom discussion, certain subjects, for example, class and gender privilege, may cause discomfort to some, but this kind of uncomfortable subject matter is not to be equated with harassment. Should classroom behavior exceed the bounds of academic content then questions of harassment may arise.
Responsibility
All members of the VST community are responsible for promoting a positive and spiritually affirming, work and learning environment. A person who has the authority to prevent or discourage harassment is considered responsible if he or she has failed to exercise appropriate authority to do so. Any member of the School community who is aware of a case or situation of harassment should inform the person who is experiencing the alleged harassing behavior of the Harassment Policy & Committee.
Visitors to the School, while not subject to our policies, will be expected to comply with the standards of behavior in the Harassment policy, or may be asked to leave under the School’s authority, or be subject to civil procedures.