Kate Ashley

Key discussions included updates on previous business, specifically concerning the topic of scents on campus and the renaming of the policy regarding 'Evacuating persons with mobility concerns' to 'Emergency responses for people who require assistance.' The committee reviewed the draft policy, noting the need for compassionate/discrete handling while prioritizing life preservation in emergencies, and discussed the frequency of fire drills and the visibility of muster points. For the Safety Spotlight article, tick safety was suggested for the current month, and campus muster points for October. Follow-up on policy implementation regarding drones was discussed. New business focused heavily on revisiting the 'dogs in the workplace' policy due to recurring employee safety and comfort concerns, drawing parallels to the existing 'Share the Air' fragrance issue. Additionally, the committee began preliminary discussions regarding upcoming September 1, 2025, provincial modifications to workplace harassment regulations.

The committee meeting involved several key operational discussions and policy reviews. Under business arising from previous minutes, updates were provided on the 'Scents on campus' design, emergency response protocols for individuals requiring assistance, and the status of campus OHS articles, specifically regarding heat safety. Policy follow-ups addressed the newly approved E-bike policy, the status of the drone policy (with interim direction to refer to the Irving Centre's photography policy), and a motion was passed recommending the People and Culture working group revisit the 'Dogs on campus' issue to address pros and cons. Additionally, the committee discussed upcoming legislative changes effective September 1, 2025, that will incorporate psychological health and safety into Workplace Harassment legislation, necessitating a campus-wide policy review. New business centered on determining the protocol for reporting injuries sustained by students during co-op or practicum placements off-campus, concluding that incident reporting should be prioritized immediately through OHS channels.

The committee addressed several action items following the previous meeting, including efforts to identify a new Secretary resource for the Committee. Discussions covered lived experiences with office temperature fluctuations, with instructions provided for individual concerns regarding hot and cold conditions. The committee moved to approve the Sharps Policy and the Workplace Violence Policy for distribution to the Vice President for executive review. An update was provided regarding the condition of the student involved in a vehicle/pedestrian accident that occurred on November 22nd. No new business items were noted.

The key discussions centered on updates regarding business arising from previous minutes, specifically the ongoing task of adding civic addresses to fire escape maps and updates on cylinder gas deliveries and cage lock changes related to Air Liquide. A concrete pad was installed for the Elliot cage, and the Biology cage move was deemed not urgent. In new business, the committee reviewed the implementation and communication strategy for the evacuation plan for mobility-impaired persons, noting that Residence Life completed orientation for a current student, and a mobile evacuation chair is available. The committee also reviewed several incident reports, including a near-miss at AAC, damage in the Gym, nails found in a counter, a student falling from a wheelchair due to uneven pavement, and a near-miss involving a vehicle rolling down a hill in a parking lot. Actions included inviting a new member as an ex-officio member, conducting a risk analysis of the parking lot, and planning communication strategies for mobility concerns.

This document outlines the Acadia University Research Support Fund (RSF) performance objectives and indicators for the 2025-2026 period. Key focus areas include enhancing management and administration through improved grant writing support and administrative processes, maintaining research resources such as library access, ensuring the operation and utilization of university research facilities, and fostering intellectual property development through R&D agreements, industry engagement, and technology transfer.