The University has a small and friendly campus which we hope you will find matches up to its aim to be fully inclusive. In order to advance equality the University has a standing equality item on all committee agendas to represent staff and students' interests with regard to inclusivity. In addition, I work closely with colleagues across the campus to help meet the needs of individuals and groups as well as ensuring the University meets its legislative requirements. The University works in partnerships across the higher education sector with other Universities and organisations such as the Equality Challenge Unit (now under the name of Advance HE) to ensure it is pro-actively working to eliminate discrimination and enhance equality of opportunity.
The University also has other policies in place which are there to protect staff and students from harassment and bullying, further details of these policies are available through our staff intranet HR pages or through the student life pages (within our Student Regulations). Our policies make it clear that any kind of bullying and harassment will not be tolerated including that related to gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and disability.
However responsibility for good practice in equality and diversity is the responsibility of all of our community and we hope that you will find the University to be an inclusive and fair place. If you struggle with any aspect of the facilities or services as a student, as a member of staff or as a visitor please contact us to let us know how we can improve (ltout@marjon.ac.uk).
Plymouth Marjon University readily endorses the IHRA statement on anti-Semitism, Working definition of anti-semitism - Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Our opposition to anti-Semitism is set within the context of our equal opposition to all forms of racism and related hate crime.
The University has accreditations for Disability Confident and Mindful Employer. Both of these schemes encourage disabled people into employment and the University is pleased to say that it will offer a guaranteed interview to all potential staff who meet the minimum criteria.
The Disability and Inclusion Advice Service (DIAS) is accredited to provide funded support to students needing mentoring and study skills tutoring. DIAS help students with a range of inclusion issues which can include those related to disability, mental health, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender transitioning and pregnancy.
The University has also signed up to the Student Minds 'Mental Health Charter' which aims to take a whole University approach to improving health and wellbeing across the whole community. This is supported by regular Mental Health Awareness raising events, short informal get-togethers for the whole community to pick up resources; staff training in mental health first aid and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Action Plan.
In terms of equality training all new staff to the University receive mandatory training and development on equality and diversity covering specifically the areas of:-
Staff are encouraged to follow their initial equality training with appropriate and relevant development according to their role in the University. With regard to academic staff, this will include accessing the Higher Education Academy's inclusivity resources and for all staff, this will include accessing resources from the Equality Challenge Unit (now known as Advance HE).
The Student Union President and Deputy, our Resident Life Advisors and Resident Student Advisors are also required to attend equality training to ensure the service they provide to students fully meets the need to provide an inclusive student experience. The equality training delivered raises awareness specifically on individuals and groups of students who may be struggling to settle into University due to a wide range of issues which include disability, mental health and sexual orientation.
Each year, we plan in further optional training on equality for staff, this will usually explore a specific area further. There is a continuing focus on mental health and we regularly ensure there are opportunities for staff to attend workshops exploring various mental health conditions.
Training and development is supplemented by a number of awareness raising or celebratory events in the calendar which the University may hold from time to time. These can include Black History Month, Disability Day, LGBT Month, International Women's Day, Mental Health Awareness week and Multi-Faith Week. If you are interested in an awareness raising occasion and would like the University to celebrate it, please speak to your Student Union in the first instance or raise through your Programme Representative at Student Experience Council. Alternatively contact the Inclusion Coordinator at ltout@marjon.ac.uk.
The University encourages feedback from all within the community to help improve inclusivity. There are several groups and forums for equality issues to be raised at:-
If you would like to get involved with the work of any of the above, please let us know or just turn up to a Forum or meeting. We are always pleased to welcome new faces to forums. Alternatively we have a Marjon Diversity facebook page which you can engage with.
