Reporting Protocols
The goal of these protocols is to help support a culture of open exchange in the spirit of mutual respect. These protocols operate within the context of the College’s values of community responsibility and the commitment to free inquiry.
Please note that these protocols apply when students and/or their campus guests are the targets of a bias incident, insensitive incident or hate crime. Faculty and staff who have been the target of a bias incident, insensitive incident or hate crime should consult with the Associate Dean of Faculty and/or the dean of faculty. Staff who have been the target of a bias incident, insensitive incident or hate crime should consult with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and/or the director of human resources accordingly.
If a student reports a bias incident, insensitive incident or hate crime, they can expect that their concerns will be treated with respect and sensitivity and that each case will be taken seriously. However, it is important to remember that incidents of bias, insensitivity and hate crimes are very complex and may not be immediately recognizable as belonging to one of these three categories. The protocols laid out below should be considered a work in progress.
Reporting Incidents of Bias, Insensitivity and Discrimination
The Bias Education & Support Team (BEST) is the coordinated system for addressing the impacts of bias and insensitivity by tracking and communicating to the College Community, as appropriate, and by creating moments for community accountability and learning. It is important to note that the work of BEST does not replace or supersede any process dictated by administrative rule or criminal law. BEST will ensure that processes to address bias and insensitive incidences are done timely and consistently while offering support to the parties that have been directly or indirectly impacted. Through tracking and documentation of incidents BEST will also increase awareness on critical issues and create opportunities for engagement and learning within a restorative justice framework.
69¾«Æ·ÊÓƵ will act on reports of incidents of bias, insensitivity and discrimination received through the on-line reporting form or reports received through intake with the Associate Dean of Students, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or their designees. When receiving reports, every effort is made to preserve the privacy of reports and to respect an individual’s desire for confidentiality; however, the College may be legally required to take action depending on the nature of the complaint. The reporter party will be informed if, in the course of satisfying this obligation, the College may be unable to comply with a request for confidentiality. Reports can be made anonymously with the on-line form and while anonymous reporting can help the College monitor campus climate and inform potential program planning it can be difficult for the BEST members to follow up on a specific incident without knowing the parties involved.
Additional Reporting Protocols for Students
Students may go to the following offices/departments to seek help with bias incidents/hate crimes and fill out a Community Insensitivity form:
- Public Safety & Service
- Office of Residential Life
- Division of Student Life
- Counseling Service
- Health Services
- Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Most of these offices have 24-hour on-call capacity.
The Division of Student Life and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work closely to address student-to-student bias/insensitivities and hate crimes reported on campus.
The Division of Student Life also collaborates with the Title IX Coordinator and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to facilitate the student-to-student process, based on the reported behavior.
Below are a list of off-campus resources that are available to provide support and information around bias incidents and hate crimes:
- Northwestern District Attorney’s Office
- Office for Civil Rights
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Anti-Defamation League
Additional Reporting Protocols for Faculty and Staff
Faculty and staff who have been the target of a bias incident, insensitive incident or hate crime should consult with the Associate Dean of Faculty and/or the Dean of Faculty. Staff who have been the target of a bias incident, insensitive incident or hate crime should consult with the Director of Staff Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives and/or the director of human resources accordingly.