Lunch N’ Learn Webinar: 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion in Student Records

A webinar discussing 2024 name change policies and procedures at Ontario universities including a review of Brock’s ‘trigger system’ that they implemented in the same year to streamline their name change process. This webinar was held on March 7, 2024. You can find a recording of the full webinar below including the presentation slides. The presentations were delivered in English and autogenerated English captions are available for each presentation.

If you have any questions or comments about the webinar presentations, please contact us at mwoodford@wlu.ca or contact the presenter directly through their listed email address.

Video Legend

Presentation Title	Presenter	Timestamp
Introduction	Michael Woodford	0:00
Part 1 – Name Change Processes at Ontario Universities	Eric J Van Giessen	8:35
Q & A		30:25
Part 2 – 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion through Student Records: Brock University’s Name Change Trigger System	Alba Kotyk, Tania A. Melnyk, & Chelsea Takalo	36:05
Q & A		1:01:45

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Part 1 – Name Change Processes at Ontario Universities

Presentation description: Universities have a pivotal role to play in fostering inclusive and supportive environments for all students, including trans and non-binary (TNB) students. A critical aspect of this support is accommodating TNB students’ chosen names and pronouns. The Lunch N’ Learn will begin with a brief overview of the various approaches to name change policies at Ontario universities and outline recommendations for responsive policies and practices.

To view and download the presentation slides, please click here. To skip ahead in the video to Eric’s presentation, please click here (8:35).

ERIC J. VAN GIESSEN (HE/THEY) MA | THRIVING ON CAMPUS PROJECT COORDINATOR, PHD Candidate, YORK UNIVERSITY

Eric (he/they) is a sixth-year doctoral student in Sociology at York University. His SSHRC-funded dissertation, Queer Religious Futures: Exploring the Lives, Stories, and Practices of Mainline Protestant Queer Clergy in Canada, examines how queer clergy navigate religious institutions, reorient heteronormative religious spaces, and imagine alternative queer religious futures. Grounded in queer phenomenology, lived religion, and queer utopianism, Eric’s research explores how queer clergy’s embodied experiences and spiritual practices challenge and reconfigure Christian traditions. Using narrative and arts-based methodologies, his work highlights the anticipatory and transformative dimensions of queer religious life. Eric has been involved with the Thriving On Campus project since 2019, first as an Interviewer and later as a Research Assistant and Project Coordinator, contributing to webinar projects, podcasts, and the 2022-2023 Virtual Conference Series.

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Part 2 – 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion through Student Records: Brock University’s Name Change Trigger System

Presentation description: In this lunch n’ learn virtual webinar, we will hear from three of Brock University’s staff who have designed and implemented a name change trigger system, devised to ensure comprehensive name changes throughout their university’s records systems. This system aims to support 2SLGBTQ+ students by ensuring their chosen/preferred or new legal names are seamlessly integrated across university records. The presentation will explore the policy context at Brock, the catalytic moments that highlighted the need for such an initiative and the goals it was designed to meet. This system was a collaborative effort involving key partners from the registrar’s office, IT, and human rights office, whose collective efforts were instrumental in mapping out and building the system. Our speakers will share lessons learned along the way and emphasize the importance of training, awareness, and the ongoing commitment to supporting 2SLGBTQ+ students.

To view and download the presentation slides, please click here. To skip ahead in the video to Alba, Tania, & Chelsea’s presentation, please click here (36:05).

ALBA KOTYK | DIRECTOR, ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS

Alba has been working in information systems for 40 years, 34 of those as a member of Brock University’s enterprise solutions department. The past 34 years have been marked by extreme changes in technology, all with the goal of improving the staff and student experience. Contact: akotyk@brocku.ca

TANIA A. MELNYK (SHE/HER) BBA | DIRECTOR, ENROLMENT OPERATIONS, OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR & ENROLMENT SERVICES, BROCK UNIVERSITY

Tania is a proud Brock Alumna who began her professional career at Brock in Student Recruitment, recruiting undergraduate students to call Brock their home nearly 14 years ago. Throughout her career, Tania has directed and overseen the creation, implementation and monitoring of programming, systems, processes and structures that enhance student success and experience, faculty support, and staff development. Tania is passionate about developing workflows, procedures, and systems to optimize service and operational functions. Tania strives to foster a collaborative environment focused on efficiency, accuracy, and continuous improvement. Contact: tmelnyk@brocku.ca

CHELSEA TAKALO (SHE/THEY) BSW, MSW, RSW | ASSOCIATE VICE-PRESIDENT, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, BROCK UNIVERSITY

Chelsea is an EDI and human rights organizational change specialist with over 20 years of experience in designing and delivering systems change initiatives based on equity, anti-oppression, trauma-informed practices, social justice, and human rights. Their work involves managing complex, large-scale, public-facing human rights concerns and facilitating restorative and transformative responses centred on cultural safety and collective care. Additionally, they have transformed schools and institutions through the co-construction, facilitation, and reporting on multi-year EDI strategic plans including professional learning, policy review and development, gathering of quantitative and qualitative stakeholder data, and community engagement events, programs, and campaigns. Contact: ctakalo@brocku.ca

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