The purpose of the Protocol is to ensure that NKU is an inclusive, welcoming, and safe learning and living environment for all students by:
[1] A bias-incident is an act of hostility motivated by racism, sexism, religious intolerance, or other prejudices that is intended to target and marginalize people based on their social, political, racial, gender, or religious identities.
This Protocol supplements, and does not replace, the duties of university offices or units that currently respond to reported incidents of harassment and discrimination involving members of the university community.
This Protocol does not apply to faculty and staff. Faculty or staff who believe they have either been the target of bias-motivated conduct or have witnessed a bias-motived incident against a staff or faculty member should contact the Academic Department Chair, Office of the Dean, and/or Human Resources Department for assistance.2 The Protocol does allow for faculty and staff to report a possible bias-motivated incident that they have witnessed.
[1] The Bias Incident Response Protocol, to be implemented in Fall 2018, is a pilot protocol that will be assessed after 18 months for effectiveness and for potential inclusion of faculty and staff.
The Protocol does not limit First Amendment rights. Freedom of speech (also called freedom of expression) is a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. constitution. While individuals have a right to make statements, popular or unpopular, agreeable or offensive, NKU community members share a responsibility to treat each other respectfully and civilly, including when discussing or debating controversial topics. Read more about NKU's Free Expression Policy.
Students who believe they have either been the target of bias-motivated conduct or have witnessed a bias-motived incident against a fellow student should report such conduct using the online Bias-Motivated Incident Report form, located on the websites of Inclusive Excellence and Student Conduct, Rights, and Advocacy (SCRA).
The Senior Advisor for Inclusive Excellence receives online reports and conducts an assessment to make an initial determination regarding the type of conduct described. If the conduct described appears to rise to the level of discrimination or violence, including sexual misconduct, and/or a violation of the Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities, the incident will be referred to the appropriate office. The Office of Inclusive Excellence will also determine if the conduct described should be addressed by the Academic procedures, described in the Faculty Handbook. When appropriate, the reporter will be notified that the matter has been referred to another office.
If the reported incident is not referred to another office, the Senior Advisor may consult with the “Bias Review Team” (a sub-set of the Bias Incident Response Team). If appropriate, the Bias Review Team may identify a “support liaison” who will provide necessary support and resources. Additional interventions may include training, mediation, restorative justice, or campus-wide discussions on related concerns.
The purpose of the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) is to provide support and outreach, education, and resources to individual students and/or groups of students who have been impacted by a bias-motivated incident. The BIRT is composed of faculty members and representatives from the following offices:
All interventions will respect the rights of all parties involved and will comply with appropriate university policies and procedures. Content area experts and partners will be consulted for guidance on specific issues as needed.
The Protocol applies to incidents that occur at NKU on any property owned or controlled by Northern Kentucky University. The Protocol also applies at any NKU-sponsored activity and when a reported bias incident adversely affects an NKU student.
When applying the Reported Bias Incident Response Protocol, the following definitions will be applied:
Bias
A bias is a pre-formed negative opinion or attitude toward an individual or a group of individuals who possess common characteristics such as age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Bias Incident
A bias incident is an act of hostility motivated by racism, sexism, religious intolerance, or other prejudices that is intended to target and marginalize people based on their social, political, racial, gender, or religious identities.
Discrimination
Discrimination is an act that either in form or operation, and whether intended or unintended, unreasonably differentiates among persons on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Link to definition of discrimination in the University’s Anti-Discrimination Policy.
Reporter
Individual who reports the incident–could be a victim or witness.
