Annual Bias Incident Reports

56 total reports, 37 unique*

• The Bias Assessment and Reporting Team received 56 reports from June 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025, with 37 being unique*. 
  

* “Unique” is defined as unduplicated incident reports.

Submissions of Reports

• The vast majority of reports were submitted by students about students. “Other” may include community members and anonymous reporters.

* Includes 6 reports made about student clubs

This data is from the 37 unique* reports in 2024-25.

* “Unique” is defined as unduplicated incident reports.

Categories of Bias Report

This data is from the 37 unique* reports in 2024-25.

* “Unique” is defined as unduplicated incident reports.

Locations Reported

• 37 total reports submitted
• 24 individual students accounted for submitting 37 reports
• 7 students within this group submitted multiple reports

This is evidence of a higher proportion of reports coming from a smaller subset of students.

This may indicate:

• Increased engagement/awareness from highly involved students.
• Representation of specific perspectives or experiences
• Potential for additional outreach to broaden understanding of use, function, and processes of reporting system.

Total Number of Reports: Year to Year Comparison

Categories of Bias: Year to Year Comparison

Incident Location: Year to Year Comparison

Most Frequent Incident Location by Academic Year

Who is reporting?

• Students are the primary reporters, which has been consistent over the past four years.
• Staff and faculty did not make reports in the 2024-25 academic year.
• Increased reporting over time may indicate overall increased awareness and effective outreach efforts to alert L&C community members of the BART system.

What is reported?

• In 2020-21 race was identified as the most frequent category of reports, whereas in 2023-24 and 2024-25, religion was the frequent category.
• Religion related reports rose sharply in both 2023-24 and 2024-25 years, which also corresponded with a rise in online and anonymous reports.
• Sexual orientation related reports have been consistent over the past four years.
• Gender related reports have decreased over the past four years.

Where are incidents taking place?

• Most reported incidents are taking place on campus and in classrooms–the locations that students frequent most often.
• There has been a significant increase in the number of reports of online bias and harassment issues over the past two years.
• Online incidents often present unique challenges related to anonymous identities and postings.

In a situation in which there is a Known Reporter and Known Person(s) of Concern, there are several options:

• Informal conversation: BART team staff member meets with one or both parties to discuss the incident and offer supports. Both parties agree to informal outcome (education, learning opportunity, accord, etc.)
• Formal conversation: The parties agree to talk to one another in a guided conversation about the incident in attempts to repair and/or restore the relationship, results, or harm. Ongoing individual supports are also offered.
• Referral to Conduct: If a case warrants the review of conduct policies and potential violations, an investigation may occur involving the appropriate lead offices, at times including a formal hearing and potentially resulting in sanctions.
• In some circumstances, email correspondence with the reporter and/or involved party will suffice, and the case will be closed.

In a situation in which there is an Anonymous Reporter and/or an Anonymous Person(s) of Concern, there are options:

• BART team staff member communicates with reporter (email, phone or in-person–if contact information is provided) to discuss event and impacts.
• There are some limitations to the tracking and resolution of reports involving an anonymous reporter and/or an anonymous person(s) of concern.
• If the report concerns media, postings, or online behavior, the BART team can discuss options, supports, and decisions related to personal agency, safety, current policy, and potential future incidents.
• All reports, even anonymous reports, are logged and maintained.

As a result of the past year’s data, we have identified the following future directions:

• Implement strategies informed by the 2024–25 HEDS Campus Climate Survey: prioritize increasing awareness of the BART system, promoting understanding, simplifying online explanations of campus reporting processes, in response to survey findings.
• Continue to actively engage with campus religious and affinity groups, leaders, and support services to co-create and enact proactive and responsive services that address the rise in religious incidents.
• Continue to improve feedback loops between the OEI office and involved parties that ensure best practices, within the scope of privacy and confidentiality guidelines.
• Offer professional learning opportunities for staff and faculty to strengthen skills in supporting students from marginalized identities, to enhance classroom inclusivity, and to foster welcoming campus spaces.

The BART team does not share specific outcomes of reports, in an effort to maintain confidentiality in a small campus community.

• As part of our usual processes, cases in the 2024-2025 academic year concluded in a variety of outcomes:
  
  • Consultations and sessions with OEI (Office of Equity and Inclusion) and CACE (Community Accountability and Conflict Education) offices
  • Facilitated conversations between parties, at times involving faculty members, staff and outside mediators/consultants
  • Education and learning opportunities for various parties
  • Disciplinary and conduct processes or hearings
• In the last 4 years (2021-2025), there have been 4 or fewer reports referred to the conduct office each year