- About
- Diversity Strategic Plan
- Initiatives
- Community Diversity Relations
- Diversity Education
- Bias Incident Response
Oregon State University aims to create and sustain learning, working and living environments free from bias. If you have experienced or witnessed a bias incident you can use this page to learn more about the process, connect with a member of the Bias Response Team or submit a report.
When a report is submitted, the Bias Response Team carefully evaluates the report to identify needs and possible actions. The team seeks to prioritize a reporter's well-being, health and safety, and connects them to university resources that can offer more specialized support.
When evaluating a bias incident, the Bias Response Team can:
Provide care to those negatively impacted by bias
Facilitate restorative processes to mend organizational and intergroup conflict
Facilitate education and dialogue
Coach managers and leaders
Refer bias reports to other university offices for possible investigation and follow-up
Utilize bias response data to inform policy and practice recommendations to mitigate the impact of bias
Allow reporters to inform what next steps they wish to undertake, unless it conflicts with mandatory reporting requirements
There are limits to what the Bias Response Team can do when responding to bias incident reports.
While the team may recommend policy and practice changes, provide care and facilitate learning, the Bias Response Team cannot:
Propose or facilitate formal discipline of faculty, staff or students
Terminate faculty and staff
Expel or formally discipline students
Censor or punish people for offensive or repugnant comments that are protected speech
Change curriculum
Investigate or make any findings of fact
Replace hard conversations between faculty, staff and students
As a reporter, you may have question about what happens when you submit a report. Learn about the steps taken after a report is submitted and what you can expect from the process here.
The bias response process is developmental and educational; it is not a formal investigation nor punitive process. Collaborating in bias response is tough at times, and it’s also worth it. Learn how you can show up fully in the bias response process and achieve positive outcomes for all involved. Learn more here.