Reporting Bias Incidents

Bias Incident Reporting Procedures

Clark University values diversity, inclusion, and an environment free from discriminatory conduct. The University embraces diversity of all kinds and is committed to providing a safe, respectful, educational, and work environment free of harassment and intimidation for all Clark community members. Clark’s Bias Incident Response Protocol is designed to provide information about reporting bias incidents and/or hate crimes and to outline the procedures the University will follow in response to reported incidents.

Clark takes seriously all acts of bias and/or hate of which it becomes aware. To that end, the University will respond appropriately by supporting the target(s) of such acts. The response includes assessing reports, conducting an investigation, referring to the appropriate department(s) that may initiate a conduct process, and advising the Clark community of the occurrence when appropriate.

Reporting Incidents

Any member of the Clark community who witnesses, experiences, or has information regarding a bias incident should immediately report the incident. In the case of a hate crime (see definition in the section above), University Police may be involved in accordance with Massachusetts General Law.

Reporting is important even if the offending party(ies) cannot be identified. All reports should include the following information or as much detail as possible:

Detailed account of the incident, including date, time, and location
Name of each person involved, including witnesses
Description of what you observed and what was said to the best of your recollection, including any specific language or terms that were used
Name(s) of alleged perpetrator(s) or a detailed description of the individual(s) involved
Other pertinent information that may assist Clark University in responding to the incident

Any physical evidence should not be removed, altered, or tampered with until University Police can respond.

The preferred method of reporting is through the online Bias Incident Report Form. When you submit using the form, all members of the Bias Incident Response Team will receive your report

and will act on it quickly. If you, or someone else, is in imminent danger, you should contact University Police at 508-793-7575 instead of completing the online form.

Reports may also be given to these members of the Bias Intervention Response Team:

bias incident reporting form

Kamaro Abubakar, Associate Dean of Student Success for Community Living

kabubakar@clarku.edu

Kamala Kiem, Dean of Students

kkiem@clarku.edu
1-508-793-7198

Randi Nichols, Chief Human Resources Officer

ranichols@clarku.edu
1-508-793-7643

John Magee, Dean of the College

jmagee@clarku.edu
1-508-793-7558

Lauren Misale, Chief of Police

lmisale@clarku.edu
University Police
1-508-793-7795

Confidentiality

Clark is committed to protecting the privacy of all individuals involved in a report of a bias incident. Every effort will be made to preserve the confidentiality of the individuals targeted and to maintain the confidentiality requested by the reporting party. Any reported incident’s outcome will consider the parties’ confidentiality.

Protocol Response

In all instances where bias incidents are alleged, the totality of the circumstances will be evaluated, considering the nature, severity, and duration of the acts and the impacts upon the targeted person(s).

This protocol should be implemented whenever a bias incident is reported or suspected to have occurred on the Clark campus and/or in our educational or cocurricular programs. Implementation of this protocol will serve as a mechanism to monitor the campus climate and respond to and prevent acts of bias and hate.

The Clark University Bias Incident Response Protocol shall be interpreted and implemented in a manner consistent with Clark’s commitment to academic freedom as described in the faculty handbook.

Upon receipt of any report alleging a bias incident, the Bias Incident Response Team will convene to review and respond to reported incidents. The team will meet as soon as possible but no later than one week following the receipt of the report. The team will assess the report, investigate, and determine the appropriate measures to be taken. Such measures may include, but are not limited to: making a record of the incident, communicating the incident to the Clark community, pursuing disciplinary action through the student conduct or employment process, referring the matter to the relevant office for appropriate action, offering conflict resolution options, and reporting to appropriate internal departments and outside agencies.

In the event the nature of the incident warranted communication with the Clark community, the Bias Incident Response Team will also provide follow-up communication to inform the community regarding the outcome of the investigation and the University’s response to the incident.

The Bias Incident Response Team’s processes do not create a new category of prohibited behavior or a new process for University community members to be disciplined or sanctioned. The Bias Incident Response Team cannot discipline any student or employee. Bias incidents that violate the University’s Student Code of Conduct will be referred to and addressed through the University’s student judicial process. Reports of biased incidents involving staff or faculty will be referred to Human Resources or the Office of the Provost as appropriate. The University may refer to the criminal courts any bias incident that violates Massachusetts law. Bias incidents that violate neither the law nor University policies will be addressed by an educational response that may include conflict resolution led by the Bias Incident Response Team.

Contact Information

Office of Community Standards

Office Location

Alumni and Student Engagement Center
2nd Floor
950 Main Street
Worcester MA 01610

community-standards@clarku.edu