Student Bias Protocol

What is a bias incident?

A bias incident is conduct that discriminates, stereotypes, excludes, harasses, or harms anyone in our community based on their identity (such as race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or religion).

Bias may stem from fear, misunderstanding, hatred or stereotypes. It may be intentional or unintentional.

How do I report it?

Bias Incident Form (Primary)

Students who wish to report an incident of bias should complete the Bias Incident Form.

Informal Reporting: (Secondary)

Informal reporting is any form of reporting that does not include the completion of the Bias Incident Form. Informal reporting may include emailing a member of the Bias Response Team (BRT) about an incident or holding a conversation about an incident with a member of the BRT.

Bias Response Team Members

  • Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards, Co-Chair
  • Vice President of Equity and Inclusion, Co-Chair
  • Accessible Education Representative
  • Residence Life Representative
  • Title IX Coordinator/Special Counsel to the President
  • Faculty Diversity Fellow
  • Athletics Representative
  • Associate Vice President for People and Culture /Deputy Title IX Coordinator

OK, what next?

A Bias Response Team member will contact you to set up a meeting. The discussed plan will be carried out along with follow-up. Meet to discuss support and course-of-action options. 

Reporters’ identities are private and information about bias incidents are used to shape future educational initiatives. If you have questions, contact the Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

Student Bias Response Protocol 

Skidmore College Bias Incident Reporting was used to assist in the development of the Agnes Scott College Student Bias Response Protocol.

Agnes Scott values diversity and seeks to foster an environment that welcomes and supports contributions from all members of the Agnes Scott College community. Discrimination or harassment is unacceptable on this campus. Such behavior is contrary to our intellectual environment and the spirit of fellowship fundamental to our community. Discrimination or harassment may take many forms, including, but not limited to, verbal insults, inappropriate humor, defacement or destruction of property, and physical intimidation. It may be directed at any one of our distinctive human differences. All members of our community are diminished by these acts. Harassment or discrimination of any person or group of persons based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability or veteran status is a violation of Agnes Scott College policy. Persons determined to have engaged in unacceptable behavior, such as activities that substantially threatens or interferes with another person’s academic efforts, property, employment or participation in the life of the college or creates a hostile or demeaning atmosphere, will be subject to prompt disciplinary action.

-Approved by the Board of Trustees, May 18, 1990; Amended, October 30, 2015

  1. Living Honorably – The Bias Reporting Protocol: BRT is charged with addressing cases of both implicit and explicit bias between Agnes Scott students. To do so, the protocol puts into place a safe and confidential reporting system were incidents are sent to the BRT for review. Members of BRT review filed reports and work to bring effective resolutions to incidents reported. The following guidelines are used to assist the BRT throughout the process:
    • Establish the facts and the nature of a reported incident
    • Ensure that support is available to the targeted individual(s) and/or group(s)
    • Directing all parties involved to available campus resources
    • Mediating communication between the individual(s) reporting the incident and the individual(s) responsible for it
  2. Thinking Deeply – Policy Advocacy: BRT not only reacts to bias incidents but also strives towards bias prevention. To prevent future bias, the BRT will provide recommendations to the Diversity Taskforce and the Gay Johnson McDougall Center for Global Diversity and Inclusion to support educational awareness aimed at a bias-free campus.
  3. Engaging Social Challenges – Campus Engagement Programming: BRT utilizes campus engagement as a means to educate and support inclusive excellence as within the campus community. BRT aims to engage the campus in diversity and inclusion work with recommendations for programming to the Diversity Taskforce and the Gay Johnson McDougall Center for Global Diversity and Inclusion.
Agnes Scott College defines a bias incident as an act of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation involving a member of the community that a reasonable person would conclude is directed at a member or group within the community based on race, color, ethnicity, nationality, economic background, age, physical and mental health or ability, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, or religious practice. A bias incident can occur whether the act is intentional or unintentional. Agnes Scott College can successfully foster and preserve the free search for truth and its free exposition by the affirmation and exercise of academic freedom and responsibilities by all members of the college community.

BRT’s membership body consists of faculty and staff from the campus community. Faculty and staff members are on BRT because the nature of their specific jobs complements an investment in inclusive excellence and the anti-discrimination policy.

The persons who hold the following positions will be members of BRT:

Primary Group

  • Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards, C0-Chair Vice President of Equity and Inclusion, Co-Chair
  • Accessible Education Representative
  • Residence Life Representative
  • Title IX Coordinator/ Special Counsel to the President
  • Faculty Diversity Fellow
  • Athletics Representative
  • Associate Vice President for People and Culture /Deputy Title IX Coordinator

Secondary Group (as needed)

  • Public Safety Representative
  • Global Learning Representative
  • Student Outreach and Education Representative
  • Academic Advising Representative

The Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College and Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students will serve as the ex-officio members of the BRT.

BRT Meetings

Meetings of BRT will be as needed to discuss the process of ongoing cases, evaluate and discuss the results of previous cases, as well as address logistical decisions of the team. One of the Co-Chairs will send the agenda and minutes of these scheduled meetings to the team before the scheduled meeting.

Bias Incident Form (Primary)

Students who wish to report an incident of bias should complete the Student Bias Incident Form. The form will be located on the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards website available to the campus community. The questions on the form will provide additional information regarding any incidences reported to the team.

Informal Reporting (Secondary)

Informal reporting is any form of reporting that does not include the completion of the Bias Incident Form. Informal reporting may include:

  • emailing a member of BRT about an incident
  • holding a conversation about an incident with a member of BRT

Because BRT members are required to report any incidences of bias that are brought to their attention, the method of informal reporting is still considered a legitimate reporting process. Though informal reporting is accepted, the best way for a reporter to ensure that an incident is addressed most effectively is to fill out the Bias Incident Form.

In addition to considering reports of bias incidents, the Bias Response Team will assume an educational role in fostering a climate of inclusion, civility, and mutual respect throughout the Agnes Scott College community. In carrying out this responsibility, the role of the Bias Response Team will be as follows:

  1. To make recommendations to the Diversity Taskforce and the Gay Johnson McDougall Center for Global Diversity and Inclusion - as to how to best foster an inclusive campus climate characterized by civility and mutual respect.
  2. To prepare an annual report describing the number and type of bias incidents reported and how the incidents where addressed sent to the Gay Johnson McDougall Center for Global Diversity and Inclusion.

If a reported incident involves an accusation of sexual assault or gender-based violence in any way, BRT will immediately refer the case to the Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinators.

Any student who reports an incident of bias through the Bias Reporting Protocol will have their privacy upheld and protected by BRT. The information on a report and any related information regarding the reporter will not be shared with any persons outside BRT without the reporter’s consent. Although limited there will be situations, in which information of reported incidents maybe requested for the following reasons:

  • when compiling information for BRT’s Annual Bias Analysis Report
  • when incidences require the involvement of Honor Court, Judicial Board, the Judicial Review Committee and potential Title IX

Do you have a lot on your mind?

Self care is important!

Contact the Wellness Center, the Dean of Students, or the Gay Johnson McDougall Center for Global Diversity and Inclusion for assistance.
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