Sexualized violence

Everyone in our college community has the right to live, learn, work and play in a safe environment. We offer confidential support to all NIC students who have been impacted by sexual violence, such as sexual assault or harassment, regardless of when or where it happened. 

Alerting the college to an incident

There are two main processes at NIC: 

1. Make a disclosure 
2. Make a report

We’ll explain the differences below.

Making a disclosure

A disclosure means telling a college employee (such as a counsellor or an instructor) that you experienced or witnessed sexualized violence. A disclosure does not initiate a formal investigative process.

Making a report

Reporting sexualized violence initiates a formal process, including an investigation or alternate resolution process to address the complaint.  

You can file a report through two main channels.

Direct contacts:

NIC will ensure that survivors and those impacted by sexualized violence are supported in accordance with our sexualized violence prevention and response policy. 

Confidentiality

NIC is committed to upholding the confidentiality of those who have been affected by sexualized violence. In rare cases, we may be compelled to breach confidentiality, such as where there is imminent harm to a person or a general risk to the community. We may also need to disclose information as part of a fair resolution process or as part of our legal obligations (for example, if one of the persons involved in a complaint is a minor or if a judge subpoenas the college’s case records).

Information for college employees

Employees who receive a disclosure from a student should follow these basic steps:

1. Express validation and support in a non-judgmental manner.
   "I believe you. Thank you for sharing that with me."
2. Ask: "What resources or support do you need right now?"
3. If a student requests help, ask for their permission to share specific information with appropriate supporters at the college.
4. Once you have permission from the student, file an Early Assist ticket to connect them to resources.
5. If the student needs advice on how to proceed, refer them to Student Affairs. 

Employees impacted by sexualized violence

NIC employees who have experienced or witnessed sexual violence should contact the college’s Human Resources manager. If you are sharing information disclosed to you by another person, please obtain their consent first.

External resources

If you’ve been impacted by sexualized violence, you can also choose to file a report with the RCMP or through a third party. VictimLinkBC is a 24/7 toll-free, confidential, multilingual service that can refer you to victim services and third-party anonymous reporting services in your area. Call or text 1-800-563-0808 or send an email to VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca.