Bias Assessment and Response Team (BART)

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The Bias Assessment and Response Team (BART) is a nimble, far-reaching, comprehensive committee with the necessary specialties, talent, and knowledge to respond to the emergent needs of the Rensselaer student community as it relates to incidents of bias, hate, or other marginalizing acts.

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Bias Definition

An incident of bias typically involves a person or group being harmed or threatened (i.e., physical injury, psychological pain or distress, emotional unrest, inequitable practices that impact one's ability to perform, etc.), by the alleged offender’s bias, which could reasonably and prudently conclude is motivated, in whole or in part, by an actual or perceived aspect of identity:

Age
Race/Color
Ancestry/Ethnicity
National Origin
Citizenship Status
Religion/Beliefs
Sex
Transgender Status
Gender Dysphoria, Identity or Expression
Sexual Orientation
Pregnancy
Disability
Marital or Civil Union Status
Domestic Partnership Status
Domestic Violence Victim Status
Familial Status
Relationship with or Association with Member(s) of a Protected Class
Genetic Information or Predispostion 
Military or Veteran Status

Bias acts are often disruptive to the community and harmful to individuals or groups of people. Some incidents may be in violation of criminal, civil, or Institute policy. Incidents which are a violation of civil or criminal law may be reported and responded to by law enforcement authorities. Incidents which may violate Institute policy, will be reviewed and responded to by the appropriate designees. Incidents that are not in violation of law or Institute policy, but may affect other members of the Institute community, may warrant an informal and educational response through the Bias Assessment and Response Team.

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Reporting and Response Process

If you experienced or witnessed an incident of bias, we encourage you to use our reporting tool in order for our team to assess and respond to incidents of this nature. Remember, acts of bias are perpetrated physically, verbally, through various forms of media and/or other actions. An incident of bias typically involves a person or group being harmed or threatened (ie: physical injury, psychological pain or distress, emotional unrest, inequitable practices that impact one's ability to perform, etc.), by the alleged offender’s bias (that one could reasonably and prudently conclude is motivated, in whole or in part, by an actual or perceived aspect of identity).

Bias incident reports are routed to the Bias Assessment and Response Team (BART), and are reviewed in partnership with the appropriate responding office within one to two business days. If not anonymous, the reporter will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt from the online reporting tool via email upon submission. Some reported incidents may require additional information and therefore the Chair for the Bias Assessment and Response Team will contact the student reporter, if not anonymous.

Investigations and referrals for resolution of reported incidents may take place within other offices such as Student Rights and Responsibilities, Human Resources, the Department of Public Safety and/or outside law enforcement agencies, if appropriate. BART will intervene accordingly once one of the aforementioned offices determines what level and type of response are appropriate.