RESPONDING TO BIAS
RECOGNIZING AND REPORTING BIAS AT UVM
AGENDA
• How do we define bias at UVM?
• What does bias look like?
• What are the effects of bias?
• How do I report bias?
• What happens after I report a bias
incident?
• What resources do I have?
UNDERSTANDING BIAS
OUR DEFINITION AND EXAMPLES
HOW DO WE DEFINE BIAS AT UVM?
Bias is a personal inclination or temperament based on
unreasoned judgment or belief. Bias may be reflected in
behavior (verbal, nonverbal, or written) that is threatening,
harassing, intimidating, discriminatory, hostile, unwelcoming,
exclusionary, demeaning, degrading, or derogatory and is
based on a person’s real or perceived identity or group
affiliation, including (but not limited to) race, age, disability
status, gender, gender identity/expression, national origin,
sexual orientation, veteran status or religion.
Note: This definition of a bias incident is intentionally broad to
reflect our values to create and sustain an inclusive, safe, and
productive community for all of our members.
EXAMPLES OF BIAS
Bias can be:
• Spoken directly to a person or behind a person’s
back
• Written, spray-painted, or etched on private/public
property
• Nonverbal
• Passive
• Directly or indirectly referencing one or more of the
victim’s perceived identities
• Targeting one individual or an entire identity group
EXAMPLES OF BIAS
EXAMPLES OF BIAS
EXAMPLES OF BIAS
EXAMPLES OF BIAS
EXAMPLES OF BIAS
“From across the street I saw a person in the Red Cross Blood
Drop costume heading my way with a female who was not in
costume. There was no one around me and I figured the person
in the costume was coming to convince me to give blood.
Instead the person in the costume came over and bowed to
me three times until his female friend asked him “what are you
doing?” and he responded “I don’t know” and walked away
from me. I was embarrassed and outraged. My initial reaction
was to kick him but my senses told me not to because I did not
want to lose my job. When a bias related incident occurs you
want to crawl into a hole and feel invisible. I was lucky to have
people that listened and supported me through my emotional
distress. Not everyone is so lucky.”
-Chong Kim (former graduate student)
THE IMPACT
ON INDIVIDUALS AND THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF BIAS?
Victims of bias may:
• Be fearful or suffer psychological damage
• Feel isolated, unwanted, or unheard
• Experience a decrease in grades or work
performance
• Physically or emotionally retreat from the
community
• Consider leaving the university
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF BIAS?
The campus community may
• Experience a “hostile climate” or “chilly
climate”
• View bias as acceptable or commonplace,
condoning or perpetuating it
• Become divided, lack unity
• Experience fear that bias will
continue/worsen and they will be affected
REPORTING BIAS
WH A T Y O U C A N D O A N D WH A T WI L L H A P P E N
BIAS RESPONSE TEAM
The Bias Response Team (BRT):
• Is made up of members of the UVM
community
• Reviews bias incidents in a timely matter
• Promotes civility and respect
• May refer incidents to AAEO, Police Services,
etc. as each case warrants
• May provide educational/restorative
intervention
HOW DO I REPORT BIAS?
• Go to www.uvm.edu/bias and click on
“Report a Bias Incident”
• Enter as much information as possible
(names of people, location, date, time,
photographic evidence, etc.)
• If you or anyone else is facing an imminent
risk of danger, dial 911 or call UVM Police
Services at 802-656-3473
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I REPORT A
BIAS INCIDENT?
• A staff member will follow up with you if you
have given your name
• Options for moving forward will be discussed
with you
• In the case of significant individual/community
impact, other staff members may be involved in
order to address the harm done
• If there is no identifiable perpetrator,
individual/community needs will be addressed
as appropriate
• The response can vary depending on the
severity and scale of the incident
Bias Incident Response Flowchart
Incident Occurs
Incident
(non-emergency)
Report made via Bias Reporting Form
Incident
(emergency or immediate danger)
call 911 or 802-656-3473
Review Incident Report to Determine
Response
(Police Services1, AAEO2, DOS3)
Formal Investigation
(Police Services1, AAEO2, Other4)
Case
Referred to
CSES5
Case Referred to
Supervisor/Dean/
VP/COM6
Resolution/
Outcome
Referred to Sexual
Misconduct
Sanctioning Panel
Educational/Restorative
Intervention
Bias Response Team 7
ADVOCATES AND ADVISORS
Advocates
• Support victims through the reporting process;
• Communicate with the BRT about the needs and concerns
of the victim, and emerging issues related to the reported
bias incident; and
• Refer victims to appropriate resources
Advisors
• Provide information about the process for resolving bias
incidents (including potential options for restorative
practices);
• Communicate with the BRT about needs and concerns of
the accused person, and emerging issues related to the
bias incident; and
• Refer the accused person to appropriate resources
RESOURCES
GETTING SUPPORT AND LEARNING MORE
CAMPUS RESOURCES
• Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (802) 656-3368
• ALANA Student Center - (802) 656-3819
• Counseling & Psychiatry Services - (802) 6563340
• Dean of Students Office - (802) 656-3380
• LGBTQA Center - (802) 656-8637
• Police Services - (802) 656-3473
• Women's Center - (802) 656-7892
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
• Anti-Bias Resources:
http://www.adl.org/education-outreach/curriculumresources/c/additional-anti-bias-resources.html
• Battling Bias: The Struggle for Identity and
Community on College Campuses by Ruth Sidel
• “Incidents of Bias in College Classrooms: Instructor
and Student Perceptions”:
http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/dhe/2/4/219.html
• “Heterosexuals’ Use of “Fag” and “Queer” to Deride
One Another”:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1300/J082v4
0n02_01
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
• If you have questions
about a potential bias
incident, reach out to
your supervisor(s) or
the Dean of Students
Office (802-656-3473)
• When in doubt, go
ahead and report it