A return to campus, tuition costs and the prevention of sexual violence at Carleton were discussed at the Board of Governors’ last meeting of the 2020-21 academic year.
The meeting, held on June 1, began with a motion approving the reappointment of Benoit-Antoine Bacon for a second five-year term as Carleton’s president and vice-chancellor.
Bacon presented the president’s annual report, which featured Carleton’s recent actions on equity, diversity and inclusion such as the implementation of Kinàmàgawin, guided by the school’s strategic Indigenous initiatives committee.
The board was also presented with an update on Carleton’s return to campus plan for fall by Steven Levitt, the university’s general counsel.
Levitt said safety measures would include mandatory physical distancing of two metres, hand sanitizing stations, mandatory mask use, COVID-19 screening, mandatory symptom reporting and restricted tunnel access.
According to Levitt, the university also committed to regularly cleaning all high-touch surfaces and expects all main air-handling systems to be fitted with MERV-13 high-efficiency filters by June.
Levitt said mandatory vaccinations will not be enforced for students moving into residences.
“Without public health and the government taking the steps to mandate [vaccinations], it will be extremely difficult for any university to do that,” Levitt said.
Levitt said Carleton has instead placed a statement in residence contracts that students must disclose their vaccination status, if requested.
Recommended by provost Jerry Tomberlin and the finance committee, the board voted to approve tuition fees for students for the upcoming academic year pursuant to Ontario’s tuition framework.
Ontario released a provincial tuition framework in April which stated tuition fees for Ontario students will remain frozen at 2020-21 levels while institutions are permitted to increase tuition fees for domestic out-of-province students by up to three per cent for the 2021-22 academic year.
Nathaniel Black, an undergraduate student representative on the board and the only member to oppose the motion, said he was concerned about the precedent set by the board’s approval.
“Approving this motion in principle will only mean that this board is giving a rubber stamp to increase tuition,” Black said.
Tomberlin said due to a tight timeline and logistical concerns, Carleton will not increase tuition fees by three per cent for domestic out-of-province students.
Carleton’s increase in international tuition fees ranging from zero to eight per cent was approved for a two-year period in April 2020 and is not affected by this new framework.
Reflecting on the past academic year online due to COVID-19, Suzanne Blanchard, vice-president (students and enrolment), presented an annual report on sexual violence to the board.
According to the report, there were 40 cases of sexual assault, 16 cases of sexual harassment, four cases of stalking and three cases of sexual exploitation reported in 2020. Twenty-three incidents occurred on campus. Four cases moved to a formal investigation process.
Blanchard said there were a total of 67 disclosures in relation to sexual violence who sought support services since January 2020, compared to 130 disclosures the year before.
“When comparing the statistics to 2019, the changes in 2020 data reflect the reality of COVID-19. While 2020 statistics are lower, the intensity of support was higher. This is consistent with what we are seeing across the sector,” Blanchard said.
The report states 1,728 campus members were trained on sexual violence prevention and response and more than 350 self-care kits including a journal, affirmation cards and tissues were mailed to students.
Michael Charles, assistant vice-president and university advisor of Equity and Inclusive Communities (EIC), presented a report outlining the equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives at Carleton.
Charles said over 40 students and staff were recruited for the launch of three groups who will work under the board’s sexual violence prevention and education committee. He said these groups will focus on public education and training, communications and community outreach and researching the university’s consent culture.
Featured image by Jeffrey Ben.
