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Relevant Excerpt

The purpose of the Bias Response Team (BIRT) is to support the college’s efforts to maintain an inclusive campus climate by establishing a mechanism by which it responds to bias incidents. The Bias Response Team is not a mechanism for investigative or disciplinary action. However, it enables the college to track bias incidents, collect aggregate data, identify educational responses, and connect individuals affected by bias incidents with supportive resources. 

The Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Belonging chairs the BIRT. The BIRT will monitor any trends related to bias incidents and develops strategies to inform and educate the campus. 

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Response to Bias Incident Reports

The Bias Response Team acts as the college’s first response team in addressing reported bias incidents in which no respondent can be identified. The college’s response to a bias incident report will depend on various factors, including the nature and severity of the complaint, whether the respondent is known or not known, the reporting individual’s wishes, the effect on the campus community, and the college’s obligations under the law.

Once a report is received, the BIRT Chair will make a decision whether to involve other individuals and/or offices, using the following questions, for example, as guidance:

• Does the bias incident involve actual or potential violence, or a significant actual or potential disruption to the College?
• Does the bias incident involve multiple people and/or actions that affect multiple people directly?
• Are there individuals that require immediate emotional support?
• Is there continuous and on-going bias behavior occurring?
• Do other circumstances exist that would compel others to be involved and to convene?

Information presented to any individual and/or office will be handled confidentially, to the greatest extent possible, and to the extent permitted by law.

Bias incidents that do not require immediate notification will be forwarded to the BIRT for informational purposes with the possibility for follow up, if necessary.

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What is a Hate or Bias Incident? - A hate or bias incident occurs when behaviors (verbal or non-verbal) by an individual or group are perceived to be malicious (hate) or discriminatory (bias) toward another individual or group based on actual or perceived characteristics such as race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, veteran status, or any situation in which inter-group tensions exist based on such group characteristics.

Hate and bias acts may be violations of criminal law, such as hate crimes. All hate crimes are considered bias incidents, but not all bias incidents are considered hate crimes.