Bias Response Team Policy

The Bias Response Team (BRT) is an interdisciplinary group of administrators, staff, and faculty who meet to address the impact of comments, behaviors, actions, or practices that are perceived as bias. The BRT is one of several initiatives that support and further the goal of promoting a campus climate in which all members thrive personally, professionally, and academically. The BRT is not an investigatory group and does not initiate disciplinary action or impose sanctions regarding bias incidents. The BRT does not replace existing protocols and processes (outlined within our Harassment & Discrimination, and Title IX policies) used to resolve alleged violations of campus policy. Rather, the purpose of the BRT is explicitly supportive and educational—to support impacted individuals and groups, provide education, and facilitate dialogue with the aim of repairing harm and preventing future incidents.

Key Definitions

Key definitions of Bias Response Protocol terms are as follows:

• Bias: A bias is a tendency, inclination, or prejudice toward or against something or someone. Some biases are positive and helpful—like choosing to only eat foods that are considered healthy or staying away from someone who has knowingly caused harm. Biases are often based on stereotypes, rather than actual knowledge of an individual or circumstance. Whether positive or negative, such cognitive shortcuts can result in prejudgments that lead to rash decisions or discriminatory practices.

• Bias Incident: A bias incident is an act directed against a person, group, or property, expressing hostility or bias on the basis of perceived or actual race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law or College policy. Bias incidents may consist of verbal, written, graphic, and/or physical conduct such as epithets, jokes, graffiti, negative stereotyping, and threatened or actual physical assault. A bias incident may rise to the level of a hate crime as defined by state and federal law.

How the Bias Response Team Works

Anyone who experiences or witnesses what they perceive to be a bias incident may report via the online Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Reporting Form or by contacting the Title IX & Civil Rights Coordinator, who may, when deemed appropriate, convene the Bias Response Team. Once the report is submitted, the Title IX & Civil Rights Coordinator will follow the process outlined above, under our Harassment & Discrimination Policy. In the event that a staff or faculty member is involved in a perceived bias incident, the Director of Human Resources (for staff-related issues) and/or the Dean of Faculty (for faculty related issues) will be involved as soon as possible. The Title IX & Civil Rights Coordinator will review all reports, will meet with the reporting party to understand the type of response sought, and will determine if the issue needs to be responded to under our Harassment & Discrimination Policy. If the report does not need to be responded to under our Harassment & Discrimination Policy, and if the reporting party agrees, the report will be forwarded to the Bias Response Team for supportive and educational next steps.

The Bias Response Team, as a supportive and educational group, may respond to bias incidents through the following channels:

• Educational conversation with the responsible party: A member of the BRT will arrange for an informational conversation with the person who reportedly caused harm to discuss the impact of their behavior on others.

• Restorative process: Restorative processes focus on repairing reported harm and are voluntary. All parties must agree to participate. They are generally designed to allow the person who reportedly caused harm to acknowledge harm and take responsibility for repairing harm (to the extent possible) experienced by the person who experienced harm and/or the College community. Restorative processes often bring together the person(s) who experienced harm with the person(s) who caused harm in a restorative circle or conference.

• Statement to the campus community: If the impact of the bias incident is not localized and expands to the broader campus community the BRT may opt to send a message to the campus community to name the incident and its impact and to encourage impacted individuals to seek support.

Bias Response Team Contact

The contact information for the Saint Michael’s College Title IX & Civil Rights Coordinator, who also convenes the Bias Response Team is:

Prohibition on Retaliation

The College strictly prohibits retaliation (directly by the person responding to the complaint, indirectly by the person’s associates, or by others) against individuals who make complaints or raise concerns about issues covered by this Bias Response Team Policy, and/or who serve as witnesses or otherwise cooperate with the work of the Bias Response Team, regardless of the outcome of the matter. Any complainant or witness who believes they have been subjected to retaliatory behavior should report the conduct to the Office of Student Life or the Office of Public Safety. Persons found to have engaged in retaliatory conduct are subject to disciplinary action including, but not limited to, dismissal or termination.

Notice

This policy does not alter, amend, or modify Saint Michael’s Student Life Policies, the College Handbook (including but not limited to Saint Michael’s Harassment/Discrimination Policy and Policy Against Sexual Harassment/Misconduct, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking), and/or other applicable Saint Michael’s policies. At the College’s discretion and/or as required, an investigation and process may be conducted under any of those policies in addition to, or instead of, any inquiry or intervention under this BRT Policy. If any conflict or apparent conflict exists, Saint Michael’s Student Life Policy, College Handbook, and/or other applicable Saint Michael’s policy will control.

Confidentiality

All reports will be handled in a sensitive manner. Information will be shared with others only to the extent necessary to assess and manage the situation in compliance with Saint Michael’s College policies, or state and federal law.

In general, the law recognizes and protects the confidentiality of communications between a person seeking care and a medical or mental health professional and religious clergy. The medical, mental health and religious clergy at Saint Michael’s College and their off-campus counterparts, respect and protect confidential communications from students, faculty, and staff to the extent they are legally able to do so. These professionals may have to disclose information when they perceive a serious risk of danger or threat to any person or property. In addition, medical and mental health professionals may be required by law to report certain crimes (e.g., any allegation of sexual and/ or physical abuse of a person under 18). These exceptions to maintaining confidentiality are governed by the law of the state in which the confidential resource is located.

An individual who exclusively reports allegations to a confidential resource must understand that the BRT will not be able to address the allegations.

The Bias Response Team will handle information with sensitivity and discretion. The BRT may need to disclose allegations and/or other information (including the identity of parties and/or witnesses) to the extent necessary to allow Saint Michael’s College to proceed with an investigation and/or adjudication under applicable policies.