Dean of Students Office: Bias Support Team
Lafayette College
Relevant Excerpt
If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of bias, please submit a OnePard form via the link above. You will be given the option to remain anonymous.
What does the Bias Support Team do?
What do we do? We:
- Receive reports from students, faculty, and staff of incidents that may involve prejudice;
- Reach out to and seek to support those who file reports;
- Empower those who file reports to participate in determining what response and support would be most meaningful;
- Forward reports to appropriate offices, as necessary;
- Engage those who were the subjects of reports in voluntary, educational conversations; and
- Monitor trends in the campus climate to inform educational efforts.
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Inclusive leadership is best learned in an environment that models and encourages best practices both inside and outside the classroom. When situations occur that strain these communal bonds, we ask our community to engage in the difficult and rewarding work of practicing inclusive leadership. The Bias Support Team exists to coordinate these opportunities for learning and dialogue, and every community member is encouraged to participate in its efforts.
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The bias support team is not not a disciplinary body. The Office of Student Conduct is responsible for disciplinary proceedings. BST may discuss with a student how to file a complaint with OSC if it appears that a violation of the College’s Code of Conduct has been alleged, but it is not the role of BST to investigate or determine whether a reported concern involved a violation of college policy. (adapted from Michigan).
College Policies
Bias-motivated behaviors that violate provisions of the Lafayette College Code of Conduct or Pennsylvania state law will be addressed through the College’s disciplinary process and/or the criminal courts. Discriminatory or bias-motivated behaviors that violate neither the law nor the Code of Conduct will be addressed through a conflict-resolution process. Examples of bias-related incidents include assault, damage to property/vandalism, defacing signs or images, harassment, physical confrontation, threatening communications (written or electronic), written or verbal slurs, etc.