Campus Safety Audits

The Office of Human Rights and Equity is looking for enthusiastic and diverse volunteers from students, staff, and faculty to participate in campus safety audits. 

What is a Campus Safety Audit? 
A campus safety audit is the process by which campus spaces are assessed for their perceived safety and inclusivity. A diverse group of “auditors” will walk through a space, each with a checklist that asks questions to understand if a user feels welcome and comfortable moving through it.

Questions around signage, lighting, and access are some of the physical considerations, while non-physical elements include is it a welcoming space, or uncomfortable? 

Safety audits are premised on the notion that users of a space are often the experts on the problems and solutions for creating protective and inclusive environments. Thus it is key to have an audit group that is reflective of the diversity in our user population. 

How do I participate?

• Sign up for the buildings you wish to audit and when you are available by filling out this google form
• Once we have a group of participants, you will be sent information on the date and time of the audits. Each audit will be conducted in a group of three or more participants, with one person who will be responsible for leading the group on a walkabout of the building 

Other Information about the Audit

• The audits will take place during daytime hours
• Each audit will last approximately two hours, including time for a debrief where we can get together to discuss our observations 

As part of this process we would like to strongly encourage members of equity-seeking groups (women, gender minority, racialized, Indigenous, person with a disability, LGBTQ2, etc.) to participate in these audits. The more diversity, the better able we are to make our spaces safer and more inclusive for everyone. 

Please contact Amna Siddiqui at sv.hre@lakeheadu.ca for more information.