Common Ground

Bias Incident Protocol

The University of Richmond is committed to being a diverse and inclusive community, strengthened intellectually and socially by the range of knowledge, opinion, belief, political perspective, and background of its members, whether of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability status, age, religious, economic or geographic origin (The Richmond Promise, Principle II). Because bias activity has the potential to adversely affect the members of the University community and to undermine the climate of civility and respect necessary to achieve and maintain a diverse and inclusive community, the University has developed a protocol designed to supplement existing University policies and procedures and to coordinate University resources in response to complaints of bias activity.

Definitions

As used in this protocol, the term “bias activity” includes the following:

  • Bias/Hate Crimes – defined as any criminal offense or attempted criminal offense that one could reasonably conclude is motivated, in whole or in part, by the alleged offender’s bias against an individual’s actual or perceived age, ancestry or ethnicity, color, creed, disability, gender,  immigration or citizenship status, marital status, national origin, race, religion, religious practice, or sexual orientation;
  • Discrimination – defined as a violation of the University’s Harassment and Discrimination Policy, other applicable University policies and procedures and/or applicable anti-discrimination laws;
  • Bias Incident – defined as acts that do not appear to constitute a crime or actionable discrimination, but which may intimidate, mock, degrade, or threaten, individuals or groups and which one could reasonably conclude targets a member or group within the University community because of that individual or group’s actual or perceived age, ancestry or ethnicity, color, creed, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, immigration or citizenship status, marital status, national origin, race, religion, religious practice, or sexual orientation.

Bias/Hate Crimes

Students, faculty, and staff who are victims of or who witness activity that is or could reasonably be considered a bias/hate crime, including but not limited to assaults, attempted assaults, destruction or damage to property or defacement of property should report such activity immediately to University Police by calling 289-8911, or anonymously, using Silent Witness. Where appropriate, the University Police will notify the Bias Resource Team of reports of bias/hate crimes occurring on campus.

Discrimination

Students, faculty, and staff who are subjected to or believe they may be the subject of discrimination prohibited by University policies or applicable laws or who witness potential discrimination should file a complaint in accordance with the University’s Harassment and Discrimination Policy. Complaints of discrimination may also be made, informally, to the Director of Common Ground, who shall assist the individual making the complaint in pursuing such complaint through applicable University policies and in accessing available University resources for support and guidance.

Bias Incidents

Students, faculty, and staff who are the subject of or who witness a Bias Incident may report such incident to the Director of Common Ground who shall assist the individual making the report in identifying appropriate University resources for support and guidance and shall notify the members of the Bias Resource Team of such report.  

Bias Resource Team

The role of the Bias Resource Team is to coordinate the University’s response to bias activity that is likely to affect the University community and to ensure that individuals or groups who are adversely affected by bias activity receive appropriate support and guidance. The Bias Resource Team supplements, but does not supersede existing University policies and procedures, and it supports the efforts of University offices and departments that address bias activity. The specific activities of the Bias Resource Team will be tailored to the nature of the bias activity it seeks to address but may include:

  • Ensuring prompt, clear communication among relevant constituencies, units, and the University community as a whole;

  • Coordinating support for affected individuals and communities;

  • Promoting learning opportunities for the broader University community;

  • Recommending policy changes; and

  • Ensuring that the response to bias activity is appropriate and, to the extent possible, transparent.

Core BRT members are listed below, although other individuals may be added as circumstances require.

Steve Allred, Provost
Steve Bisese, Vice President for Student Development
Joe Boehman, Dean of Richmond College
Tina Cade, Director of Multicultural Affairs
Robert Dillard, Chief of Police
Glyn Hughes, Director of Common Ground, chair
Juliette Landphair, Dean of Westhampton College
Peter LeViness, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services
Craig Kocher, University Chaplain
Shannon Sinclair, University General Counsel
Carl Sorensen, Associate Vice President of Human Resource Services
Lori Schuyler, Chief of Staff, President’s Office
Lisa Van Riper, Assistant Vice President for Communications
Student Government Presidents (Richmond College, School of Continuing Studies, Student Bar Association, Westhampton College)

Academic Freedom

This protocol shall be interpreted and implemented in a manner consistent with the University’s commitment to academic freedom, as described in Article III (G) of the Faculty Handbook.