Know the trouble spots. Identification of issues and indicators, which may give rise to actions motivated by bias, is critical to prevention efforts.

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Magdalene Bates
5 years ago
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1 I. Purpose The Bias Incident Response Protocol outlines an organized response to bias incidents that occur within the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) community involving students, faculty and staff. The primary focus of this document is to outline a set of responses that will provide assistance and support for individuals who are the victims of a bias incident. The primary objectives of the Bias Incident Response Protocol process are to achieve the following: Support the well-being of all SIUE students, staff and faculty. Offer students, faculty and staff, consistent and efficient means to report bias incidents. Provide immediate and direct support to students, faculty and staff who have experienced a bias incident. Provide an appropriate response to the University community. Provide appropriate follow-up with survivors of bias incidents. Document and monitor all bias incidents to respond appropriately and to identify incident trends and release an annual report on reported incidents. Track bias incidents to assess the effectiveness of the University s bias incident reporting and responding systems. Use cumulative bias report information as a basis to develop comprehensive and effective intervention and prevention strategies. Reaffirm the institution s strong commitment to integrity, honesty, respect and support for an inclusive community. II. Principles of BIAS Reporting Prevention Stop it before it starts. Broad constituent/community consensus that actions which are motivated by hatred of others on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, atypical heredity, or military service or veteran status, must be made known to the University community to aid in prevention of bias incidents, acts, or crimes. Monitoring Know the trouble spots. Identification of issues and indicators, which may give rise to actions motivated by bias, is critical to prevention efforts.

2 Response Manage the situation when a bias act occurs. Timely and accurate reporting (to appropriate staff) of and intervention in a bias incident and response to the constituents/community involved, i.e. victims, perpetrators, secondary victims, and witnesses, is required when an incident occurs. Reporting Ensure that facts of a bias incident are reported to the appropriate authorities: Dean of Students, University Police, a Bias Incident Response Team member, Human Resources or the Office of Equal Opportunity, Access & Title IX Coordination. Restoration Heal the environment. Short and long-term steps must be taken by students and staff to normalize the environment in which a bias incident has occurred. Other organizations/departments may be called upon to assist in the healing process. Restoration enables the development of new prevention strategies. III. Definitions A. Bias Incident: A Bias Incident is defined as an act - either verbal, written, physical, non-verbal or psychological - that threatens or harms a person or group on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, atypical heredity, or military service or veteran status. B. Bias Incident Response Team: The Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) is a group of University employees and students charged with responding to reported bias incidents, following the protocols detailed in this document, supporting the victim or victims and reporting and communicating information to the campus community and making recommendations to the Bias Prevention and Education Committee. Members of the Bias Incident Response Team: Chair: Dr. Jeffrey Waple, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Venessa Brown, Associate Chancellor, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Phyleccia Cole, General Counsel Kelsi Delgado, Student, Diversity Officer, Student Government Rex Jackson, Associate Director, University Housing Chad Martinez, Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, Access & Title IX Coordination Courtney Boddie, Director, Counseling Services Lisa Johnson, Lieutenant, SIUE Police Department Deb Talbot, HR Manager Associate, Human Resources Dr. Saba Fatima, Assistant Professor, Philosophy Dr. Jessica Harris, Interim Assistant Provost, Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs A representative from Marketing and Communications

3 C. Bias Prevention and Education Committee: The Bias Prevention and Education Committee (BPEC) is comprised of representatives from throughout the University community. The representatives are responsible for reviewing information provided by the BIRT to identify and examine issues and trends affecting campus climate and for making recommendations for educational programming and initiatives. Members of the Bias Prevention and Education Committee representatives are selected from the following offices who are not members of the BIRT: Provost SOAR Chancellor Counseling Services Dean of Students Disability Support Services Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Marketing and Communications University Housing University Police International Student Affairs Black Studies Program Women s Studies Program Human Resources Safe Zone Student Government IV. Submitting a Report If someone believes they are the victim of, or a witness to, an alleged bias incident, that person may report the incident, in person or by phone at: The Dean of Students, Counseling Services, The Office of Equal Opportunity, Access & Title IX Coordination, University Housing, Human Resources, It will be expected that once a report is received, the Chair of the BIRT will be contacted immediately for follow-up. Students, faculty and staff may also report a bias incident by ing: biasresponse@siue.edu

4 Individuals may also report an alleged bias incident online using a reporting form at this link: This form will go to the Chair of the BIRT for review. Students, faculty and staff may also contact the University Police Department s Nonemergency phone number at , 24 hours a day, to report a bias related incident. If the reporter believes that a crime has been committed, that person will be encouraged to immediately report the incident to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Department. V. Initial Response Protocol Once the BIRT receives a report, a member of the team will respond to the victim or victims within 24 hours. A team member will seek additional information regarding the incident, provide support and resources, and schedule a time to meet with the victim(s). If the reported action did not violate the law or SIUE University policy, the BIRT will explore options for resolution and work with the reporter(s) to resolve the incident. If the action violates the law or SIUE University Policy, the incident reporter may be encouraged to take action through one of the following offices: Dean of Students Office of Equal Opportunity, Access & Title IX Coordination SIUE University Police Human Resources Some actions and situations may not violate the law or policy, but nonetheless, fail to support our values of diversity and inclusion, and a community of respect, openness, understanding and civility. BIRT not only provides support and assistance to victims of bias incidents, it keeps records of these incidents through the Bias Prevention and Education Committee, to ensure members of the SIUE community have appropriate access to information related to these incidents. The BIRT also serves as a liaison to members of the community who may not know where or how to seek appropriate resources. VI. Response and Support The BIRT will be responsible for determining if a University response to the incident is necessary. The BIRT will recommend an appropriate University response to a reported bias incident when a University response is deemed warranted. The team will consider the following: Relevant legal standards with special regard to the First Amendment and academic freedom concerns.

5 Concerns and requests of the alleged victim(s), especially in regards to anonymity and desired outcome(s). Whether the incident is a violation of any university policy which would require following established University procedures.

Bias Incident Response Protocol. I. Definitions

Bias Incident Response Protocol I. Definitions A. Bias Incident- A Bias Incident is defined an act either verbal, written, physical, or psychological that threatens or harms a person or group on the basis