Response Protocol

Download Flow Chart

This bias incident response protocol was developed around three key priorities: 

1) Provide the campus community with a central point-of-contact to which bias incidents should be reported immediately. 

2) Provide immediate attention and care to those impacted by an alleged bias incident and ensure immediate action and, as appropriate, adjudication.   

3) Communicate the issue to key campus constituents and support services to ensure ongoing care, support, and education.   

Central point-of-contact 

All online Bias-Related Incident Reports will be initially received and reviewed by the Director of Campus Safety. The Director will immediately review all reports and direct them, as needed, to the appropriate individual for action.  Individuals may include, but are not limited to:   

• Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students 
• Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs 
• Executive Director of Human Resources 
• Director of Wellness 
• Dean of the Graduate School 

The Director of Campus Safety or their designee will also act swiftly to ensure that immediate attention and care are provided to those impacted by an alleged bias incident.  They will also help coordinate communication with the campus community as needed and as appropriate.     

The Director of Campus Safety or their designee will be responsible to contact the reporter for follow-up conversation and to seek additional information as needed.  They will also be responsible to determine the general nature of the incident reported and engage the appropriate division head or designee as follows:   

• Faculty issue – Provost 
• Student issue – Dean of Students and/or Director of Residence Life 
• Graduate student – Dean of the Graduate School  
• Staff or contractor issue – Executive Director of Human Resources 
• Sexual Misconduct – Title IX Coordinator 

The Director of Campus Safety will also be responsible to notify the Director of Wellness to ensure that immediate support is provided to impacted individuals through the Counseling Center. 

Students, staff, faculty members, visitors, vendors, and contractors who experience or become aware of a possible bias incident may report the incident to a front-line college respondent who will facilitate submission of the online report.  Such respondents can be faculty, staff, coaches, resident assistants, etc. 

In many cases, the online report will be the first and perhaps most valuable piece of documentation of the incident.  Reports will include important details such as when and where the incident occurred and who was involved in or witnessed the incident. Once the report is submitted an investigation will begin immediately, which may include collection of photos, documents or witness statements. The Director of Campus Safety is responsible for leading this investigation.  Support services, including Counseling and Health Services, may be offered or recommended as needed. 

Bias Incident Response Team 

Once the most immediate needs of those impacted by the alleged incident have been addressed, the Bias Incident Response Team will be notified by the Director of Campus Safety or their designee.  This notification will include a summary of the incident and affirm all follow-up actions that are underway.  If a meeting of the Team is deemed necessary by the Director of Campus Safety and division head, that meeting will occur within 7-10 days of the report.  

The Bias Incident Response Team consists of representatives from major campus constituent groups.  Members of this team engage regularly in training and ongoing professional development to support their understanding of the issues under their purview.   

  The Bias Incident Response Team will be comprised of: 

• Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students 
• Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs 
• Director of Campus Safety 
• Dean of the Chapel 
• Ombudsperson 
• Faculty Representatives (2)  
• Student Representatives (2; undergrad and grad)  
• Staff Representatives (2) 
• Dean of Academic Services or Director of Accessibility 
• Executive Director of Human Resources 
• Director of Residence Life or their designee 

Should any member of the Bias Incident Response Team experience potential conflicts of interest, alternate members of the Team will be appointed. 

The Bias Incident Response Team will review all information from the report and subsequent investigation and determine whether it is more likely than not that a bias-related incident or hate crime occurred.   

If the team agrees that a bias-related incident or hate crime occurred, and a perpetrator identified, then they will recommend sanctions to the appropriate judicial body.  In the absence of a perpetrator, the team will suggest follow-up actions, including educational programming, restorative justice sessions, etc.  

Attention and care for those impacted 

The Director of Campus Safety or their designee is responsible to communicate with the Director of Wellness who will coordinate counseling and/or health services for those impacted.  Support may also be provided by the Dean of the Chapel.   

Should those impacted by the incident require housing relocation, the Director of Residence Life will facilitate an immediate move to safe housing. 

Communication 

The communication plan for all bias-related incidents is outlined in the attached flowchart and will be coordinated by the Vice President for Marketing and Communication.  

Sanctions 

There is ZERO tolerance for hateful and discriminatory actions on our campus or within our community.   

We condemn all racism and hatred in any form and believe in the importance of inclusion, diversity and mutual respect.  This belief is rooted in our core values.  The College will take immediate and appropriate corrective action when it determines that these values have not been upheld and an incident of bias, harassment, or discrimination has occurred. 

Perpetrators of incidents will be adjudicated according to existing policies in either the: 

• Student Handbook 
• Staff Handbook 
• Faculty Code/Handbook  
• College Catalog 

For students, potential sanctions for perpetrators of bias-related incidents may include the following and will be based upon the level of severity.     

Level 1 – Deemed low-level and/or isolated impact, etc.   

Reparative, restorative, educational sanctions; financial sanctions for replacement or repair of college or personal property 

Level 2 – Deemed higher level and/or broader community impact 

Further educational sanctions; removal from on campus housing, further restrictions, suspension from the college and/or co-curricular activities (athletics, organizations, etc.); financial sanctions for replacement or repair of college or personal property 

Level 3 – Illicit acts of bias 

Immediate expulsion and possible notification of local police department