Bow Valley College strives to provide a respectful, inclusive, barrier-free learning environment and ensures fair and equitable access to programs and services to learners while maintaining established academic and college standards.
What does Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion mean to Bow Valley College?
Within Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, the meanings of words are constantly undergoing discussions, reflections, and revisions. Below are working definitions developed by members of the Bow Valley College Community. These definitions are subject to change as more consultations with the Bow Valley Community are undertaken in the coming months.
- Equity is the sense of well-being and experience of employees and learners on campus. Equity is achieved when structural and procedural barriers are removed and when equal outcomes in the workplace, in the classroom, and within the campus community are realized.
- Diversity is the community composition that employees and learners, especially equity- deserving populations, view as representative, trustworthy, and accountable. Diversity is achieved through actions that counter inequity and meet the unique needs of all populations.
- Inclusion is the achievement of an environment that employees, learners, especially equity-deserving populations, trust to be respectful and accountable. Inclusion is achieved through organizational actions that counter inequities and meet the unique needs of it community. Inclusion is a byproduct of equitable access to opportunity and resources.
What are Accommodations & Protected Grounds?
An accommodation “means making changes to certain rules, standards, policies, workplace cultures, and physical environments to eliminate or reduce the negative impact that a person or group faces because of a characteristic that falls within a protected ground or grounds.” (Alberta Human Rights Act). Bow Valley College has a diverse student population and recognizes that everyone may have unique needs. Learners are entitled to reasonable accommodation for one or more of the protected grounds defined by the Alberta Human Rights Act. Protected grounds include: race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status and sexual orientation.
Examples of accommodations include:
- If an exam, test, class, and/or assignment falls on a religious, spiritual, ceremonial observance, or celebration, an accommodation request can be made.
- If a student has exceptional circumstances impacting childcare needs, the student can request an accommodation. For example, students with a breastfeeding newborn or with medical care needs requiring their presence can request accommodations.
- If a student’s delivery date impacts exams, class schedule, and/or practicum placement the student can request an accommodation.
- Students can request class supports (such as accessible seating) under protected grounds of age, or if pregnant.
- For accessibility accommodations that are required because of disability related barriers, please connect with Accessibility Services.
What happens after I make an appointment?
- Student and Learner EDI Strategist meet (in-person, over the phone, or through teams)to discuss accommodation request.
- Learner EDI Strategist in collaboration with Manager of EDI (Student Services) reviews the request in relation to Alberta Human Rights Act, identifies options, and formalizes a decision.
- If accommodation is supported, Learner EDI Strategist writes an Accommodation Letter and submits this letter to the student to date and sign.
- Learner gives Accommodation Letter to instructor or gives permission to EDI Strategist to provide a copy to instructor.
Resources
Additional Resources
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Intercultural Centre
N322, Downtown North Campus
edi@bowvalleycollege.ca
