SDG 10 - Strategic Initiatives
Accessible Facilities
Western provides accessible facilities for people with disabilities. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requires universities to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility.
- Accessibility at Western policy: This policy ensures that persons with disabilities have genuine, open, and unhindered access to university goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures, and premises.
- Accessible Campus Transportation: This is a call-for-pickup service for campus members with disabilities.
- Accessible Western Parking Permit: Community members with long-term or temporary physical disabilities may apply for access to park in all areas designated with the accessible symbol.
- Accessibility Campus Map: This map displays accessible paths, ramps, automated door openers, and curb cuts in sidewalks.
- Accessible Housing: All but one of Western’s residences are accessible to persons with disabilities. Five of the residences have incorporated a barrier-free design features, including specially designed suites.
Accessibility Support Services and Accommodations
Western provides a wide range of support services for people with disabilities, including access schemes, accommodation policies, and funding.
- Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities: Provides non-repayable financial assistance to students for disability-related services and equipment that they need to participate in postsecondary education. They may also apply for other financial support.
- Bursary for Students with Disabilities: Helps students with financial need to meet their disability-related educational costs.
- Accessibility Western: Provides a central resource to learn about all the supports available to students with a disability.
- Accessible Education: Provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western, in all programs and faculties, including the following:
- Academic Accommodation consists of arrangements that allow a student with a disability a fair opportunity to engage in academic activities and fulfill essential course and program requirements.
- Accommodated Exams coordinates exams and assessments, both online and in-person, for students with disabilities.
- Alternative Format Text is available to students who are blind, have low vision, or who have a learning or mobility disability.
- Interpretation and Note-taking services are for students who are deaf or have moderate-to-profound hearing loss.
- Assistive Technology offers a wide array of technologies and communication methods to assist students with disabilities.
- Access Ed Transition Program has been designed for students with disabilities to gain the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to confidently navigate university life.
- Access Ed Peer Mentorship Program connects students with an upper-year student who has experience navigating university with a disability.
- Student Supports: Students with a disability may also access a variety of additional supports designed to help them succeed academically.
- Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities Policy: Ensures that students with disabilities have a reasonable opportunity to engage in academic activities and to fulfill essential course and program requirements.
- Other Policies: The accessibility site lists other applicable policies and programs in place.
- Accessibility Plan Reports: Western maintains multi-year accessibility plans and reviews and documents progress in the achievement of our accessibility goals.
Support for Underrepresented Groups 
Mentoring, counselling, peer support, and more are available to Western students, staff, and faculty from underrepresented groups.
Disability Support:
- Accessible Education
- Policy on Service Animals
- Academic Accommodations
- Accessible Campus Transportation
- Assistive Technology
- Accessible Map & Floor Plans
- Access Ed Peer Mentorship Program
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Supports:
- Black Student Leadership University Experience
- Anti-Racism Foundation Certificate Program
- Guide for Inclusive Language
- Mental Health programming for Black and racialized students
- Mental Health programming for 2SLGBTQIA+
- Black and Indigenous Scholarships
- Asian Heritage Month
- Queer Connections for 2SLGBTQIA+
- Trans Care Team provides medical care
- Black Faculty and Staff Network
- Indigenous Students' Association
- Black Youth Mentorship Program
- LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program
- Ethnocultural Support Services USC
Other Supports:
- First Generation Bursary
- Scholarships for Globally Displaced Students
- International Student Network
- Registered Dietician for those with food restrictions
- Multi-faith prayers spaces
- Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program
- Mentorship Programs for New Students
- Residence Counselling
- Female & Non-Binary Self-Defense Training
- Peer Support Centre
Anti-Discrimination & Anti-Harassment Policies
Western is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our policies of non-discrimination and non-harassment apply regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, record of offences, marital status, family status, gender identity, or gender expression.
- Non-Discrimination/Harassment/Sexual Misconduct Policy: All members of the university community share responsibility for ensuring and promoting a safe and respectful working and learning environment that is free from discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct.
- EDI policy: We recognize that equity-seeking groups include but are not limited to women, members of racialized groups (visible minorities), Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2S+ individuals.
- Policy on Gender-Based and Sexual Violence (GBSV): The university is committed to providing and maintaining an environment in which GBSV is not tolerated.
- Procedures for reports of GBSV: These procedures keep disclosures confidential and prioritize the well-being of the victim.
- Safe Campus Community Policy: Every member of the university community has the right to study, work, and conduct his or her activities in an environment free of violence.
- Western Human Rights Office: This office supports reporting any incidents of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct.
- Western University Code of Student Conduct: Students are responsible for observing a standard of conduct that will contribute to the university’s mission, including respecting the rights, property, and well-being of other members of the university community and visitors to the campus.
Non-discriminatory Admissions
Western has policies to ensure non-discriminatory admissions for women, Indigenous peoples, and other minority groups. The Non-Discrimination/Harassment/Sexual Misconduct Policy applies to all areas of the institution, including admissions. It prohibits withholding or limiting access on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status, or disability. The Undergraduate Degree Admissions Policy actively encourages applications from Indigenous, Black, students with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+, and additional underrepresented communities. Western actively recruits students from minority groups for admission.
At Western, admissions are solely grade-based and gender-blind, yet female students surpass male students.
Mentoring and Other Supports
We believe the diversity of our campus enriches the Western community. We strive to support underrepresented groups through admissions access categories, financial support, and mentoring.
- Indigenous Admissions Access Category
- Medicine and Dentistry Access Pathway
- Mature and Senior Applicants
- Youth in Extended Care
- Extenuating Circumstances
- Financial Support
The Resources for Students from Equity-Deserving Groups website details scholarships, mental health supports, training, guides, mentoring programs, and more for students with disabilities, as well as Black, racialized, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, women (including trans women), and first-generation students, youth in extended care, and allies.
Staff and Faculty
Western University is collecting applicant equity and diversity data to fulfill our commitments to hiring more Indigenous, Black, women, persons with disability, and LGBTQ2S+ staff and faculty. The University has launched two cluster hires, supported through the Provost’s Academic Renewal Fund, to recruit Black and Indigenous faculty members.
The Work-learn project recruits new immigrants who struggle with English, allowing them to work morning shifts and study English in the afternoons through Western’s English Language Centre.
We strive to attract and retain the best talent available in an increasingly diverse workplace.
