College Policies and Procedures
SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT POLICY
1) BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY is committed to providing its students with an educational environment free from sexual violence and treating its students who report incidents of sexual violence with dignity and
2) BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY adopted this Sexual Violence Policy, which defines sexual violence and outlines its training, reporting, investigative, and disciplinary responses to complaints of sexual violence made by its students that have occurred on its facilities or at one of its events and involve its students.
3) The person accused of engaging in sexual violence will be referred to as the “Respondent” and the person making the allegation as the “Complainant.”
Sexual violence means any sexual act or act targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression, whether the act is physical or psychological, that is committed, threatened, or attempted against a person without the person’s consent, and includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism, and sexual exploitation.
1) BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY shall include a copy of the Sexual Violence Policy in every contract made between it and its students and provide a copy of the Sexual Violence Policy to career college management (corporate directors, controlling shareholders, owners, partners, other persons who manage or direct the career college’s affairs, and their agents), instructors, staff, other employees and contractors and train them about the policy and its processes of reporting, investigating and responding to complaints of sexual violence involving its students. *Any company participating in offering student internships on their premises must provide an undertaking in writing that it follows all applicable legislation, including the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and will provide students access to those policies should they encounter issues relating to sexual violence in the
2) The Sexual Violence Policy shall be published on its website and in conspicuous locations on its current and future facilities.
3) Career college management, instructors, staff, other employees, and contractors of BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY will report incidents of or complaints of sexual violence to the Director upon becoming aware of them.
4) Students who have been affected by sexual violence or who need information about the supports and services available at the BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY should contact Dr. Pooja Trivedi at pooja@mybeta.ca or via phone at +1.905.497.9999 or make an in-person appointment to speak to him via the instructor, facilitator, or receptionist.
5) Subject to Section 4 below, to the extent it is possible, BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY will attempt to keep all personal information of persons involved in the investigation confidential except in those circumstances where it believes an individual is at imminent risk of self-harm, or of harming another, or there are reasonable grounds to believe that others on its campus or the broader community are at risk.
6) This will be done by:
Ensuring that all complaints/reports and information gathered because of the complaint/reports will be only available to those who need to know for purposes of investigation, implementing safety measures, and other circumstances that arise from any given case; and
Ensuring that the documentation is kept in a separate file from that of the Complainant/student or the Respondent.
7) The BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY will appropriately accommodate the needs of students affected by sexual violence.
8) BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY recognizes the Complainant’s right not to report an incident of or make a complaint about sexual violence, not to request an investigation, and not to participate in any investigation that may
9) Notwithstanding (8), in certain circumstances, BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY may be required by law or its internal policies to initiate an internal investigation and/or inform police without the complainant’s consent if it believes the safety of members of its campus or the broader community is at risk.
10) In all cases, including (8) above, BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY will appropriately accommodate the needs of its students who are affected by sexual violence. Students seeking accommodation should contact the Director.
In this regard, BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY will assist students who have experienced sexual violence in obtaining counseling and medical care and provide them with information about sexual violence supports and services available in the community listed in the Appendix. Students are not required to file a formal complaint to access support and services.
Please note that a formal report of an incident of sexual violence is NOT necessary to access support, services, or accommodations.
1) Under this Sexual Violence Policy, any BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY student may file a report of an incident or a complaint to the Director, Dr. Pooja Trivedi, at pooja@mybeta.ca or in writing.
2) Upon receipt of a report of an incident or a complaint of alleged sexual violence being made, the Director will respond promptly and:
- determine whether an investigation should proceed and if the Complainant wishes to participate in an investigation;
- determine who should investigate concerning the seriousness of the allegation and the parties involved;
- determine whether the incident should be referred immediately to the police;
In such cases or where civil proceedings are commenced in respect of allegations of sexual violence, BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY may conduct its independent investigation and make its determination in accordance with its policies and procedures and determine what interim measures ought to be put in place pending the investigation process such as removal of the Respondent or seeking alternate methods of providing necessary course studies.
3) If students, in good faith, report an incident of, or make a complaint about, sexual violence, they will not be subject to discipline or sanctions for violations of the career college’s policies relating to drug or alcohol use at the time the alleged sexual violence occurred.
4) During the institution’s investigative process, students who disclose their experience of sexual violence through reporting an incident of, making a complaint about, or accessing support and services for sexual violence will not be asked irrelevant questions during the investigation process by the career college’s staff or investigators, including irrelevant questions relating to the student’s sexual expression or past sexual history. Examples of such irrelevant questions would include those relating to past sexual history or sexual expression.
Once an investigation is initiated, the following will occur:
- The Complainant and the Respondent will be advised that they may ask another person to be present throughout the investigation.
- Interview the Complainant to ensure a complete understanding of the allegation and gather additional information that may not have been included in the written complaint, such as the date and time of the incident, the persons involved, the names of any person who witnessed the incident, and a complete description of what occurred.
- Informing and interviewing the Respondent of the complaint, providing details of the allegations, allowing the Respondent to respond to those allegations, and providing any witnesses the Respondent feels are essential to the investigation.
- Interviewing any person involved or who has, or may have, knowledge of the incident and any identified witnesses.
- Providing reasonable updates to the Complainant and the Respondent about the status of the investigation; and
- following the investigation, the Director will:
- review all the evidence collected during the investigation.
- determine whether sexual violence occurred, and if so
- determine what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken as set out in Section 5
If it is determined by BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY that the Respondent did engage in sexual violence, immediate disciplinary or corrective action will be taken.
This may include:
- disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment of instructors or staff; or
- expulsion of a student; and /or
- the placement of certain restrictions on the Respondent’s ability to access certain premises or facilities; and/or
- any other actions that may be appropriate in the circumstances.
Should the Complainant or the Respondent not agree with the decision resulting from the investigation, he or she may appeal the decision to the Owner of the BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY, Mrs. Richa Jaiswal, by contacting her via email at richa@betacollege.ca or call her at +1.905.848.5050/+1.905.4197.9999 within ten business days by submitting a letter addressed to the Director of the BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY, advising of the person’s intent to appeal against the decision.
OR
Immediately contact one of the following organizations in the Appendix.
Should the Complainant or the Respondent not agree with the decision resulting from the investigation of the Owner of the BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY, he or she may appeal the decision to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities by submitting the inquiry at the Program Approval & Registration Information System (PARIS).
Students shall register in PARIS at this link: https://www.pcc.tcu.gov.on.ca/PARISExtWeb/public/register.xhtml with a “Student” type profile. Once they log in, students will click on Inquiry.
For any issues with the PARIS profile, please contact the administration office at support@mybeta.ca, and one of the student support officers will assist the student.
It is a violation of this Sexual Violence Policy for anyone to make a false complaint of sexual violence knowingly or to provide false information about a complaint.
Individuals who violate this Sexual Violence Policy are subject to disciplinary and / or corrective action up to and including termination of employment of instructors or staff or expulsion of a student.
It is a violation of this Sexual Violence Policy to retaliate or threaten to retaliate against a complainant who has brought forward a complaint of sexual violence, provided information related to a complaint, or otherwise been involved in the complaint investigation process.
Individuals who violate the Sexual Violence Policy are subject to disciplinary and /or corrective action, up to and including termination of employment of instructors or staff or expulsion of a student.
BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY shall ensure that student input is considered when developing its Sexual Violence Policy every time it is reviewed or amended.
BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY shall review its sexual violence policy three years after its implementation and amend it where appropriate. This date is March 26, 2024.
BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY shall collect and be prepared to provide upon request by the Superintendent of Ontario Career Colleges such data and information as required according to Subsections 32. 3 (8), (9), and (10) of Schedule 5 of the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005, as amended.
BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY shall provide information to the Superintendent concerning:
- the number of times supports, services and accommodation relating to sexual violence are requested and obtained by students
- any initiatives and programs to promote awareness of supports and services available to students
- the number of incidents and complaints of sexual violence reported by students
- the implementation and effectiveness of its sexual violence policy
BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY shall ensure that the information it provides to the Superintendent does not include personal information within the meaning of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
BETA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY shall conduct a survey of its students regarding sexual violence as directed by the Superintendent and disclose the results to the Superintendent.
APPENDIX
Assaulted Women’s Helpline at 1-866-863-0511. This is a 24-hour crisis line. www.awhl.org
Interim Place (Women who experienced domestic violence)
Phone: 905-676-8517, 905-403-0864
Victim Witness Assistance Program (VWAP)
The Victim Witness Assistance Program provides information, assistance, and support to victims and witnesses of crime to increase their understanding of and participation in the criminal court process. VWAP provides crisis intervention, emotional support, case-specific information (court dates, bail conditions), court preparation and orientation information, needs assessment, and referrals to community agencies. The Ministry of the Attorney General funds this agency.
http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/ovss/programs.asp#vwap
Family Transition Place
Family Transition Place is working to raise respect in relationships and eliminate violence in the community. This is done by providing shelter and counseling to abused women and their children as well as through skill-building education for youth, women, and men to help them build healthy relationships.
www.familytransitionplace.ca
Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre of Peel
905-273-9442 (24hrs/day crisis line)
905-273-3337-Information
Mississauga
Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Care Centre for York Region at Mackenzie Health
Phone Numbers: 905-832-1406 ext. 2 Vaughan
Call the Assaulted Women’s Helpline
1-866-863-0511 (Toll Free) 1-866-863-7868 (TTY) 416-863-0511 (Toronto)
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape
Toronto, ON, M5T 2T2
416-597-1171
trccmwar.ca
Women’s College Hospital
76 Grenville St, Toronto, ON M5S 1B2
Switchboard 416-323-6400
Patient Inquiry 416-323-6100
Medical Services 905-848-7580 ext. 2548
Clients may access our 24-hour, 7-days-a-week service through Mississauga Hospital’s Emergency Department at the southwest corner of Queensway West and Hurontario Street.
Peel Region’s Hope 24/7 (24-hour sexual assault crisis line) at 1-800-810-0180.
Medical Services
905-848-7580 ext. 2548
The Follow-Up Clinic provides survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence with an opportunity to receive a range of medical services that may include:
- Re-documentation of injuries
- Care related to medication and/or results of testing
- Referral to social service agencies
Ontario Network of Sexual Assault /Domestic Violence Treatment Centre
https://www.sadvtreatmentcentres.ca/
Safe Centre of Peel contact
905-450-4650
Peel Regional Police – Special Victims’ Unit
905-453-3311 ext. 3460
Peel Regional Police – Domestic/Family Violence Bureau
905-453-3311 ext. 3614.
Peel Children’s Centre provides treatment for children who have been sexually abused. Referrals to the Sexual Abuse Treatment Program can be made through Centralized Intake at 905-451-4655. Peel Children’s Centre also provides the Child Witness Program for children up to age 18 who may need to testify in court.
