Bryant University Bias Incident Report

This electronic form is used to report incidents of bias on the Bryant University campus or by Bryant University community members on or off campus or online.

  1. A hate crime is any crime motivated by bigotry and bias, including, but not limited to threatened, attempted, or completed acts that appear after investigation to have been motivated by racial, religious, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression or disability prejudice or motivated by prejudice against a person who is homeless or is perceived to be homeless (RI Gen. Laws, § 42-28-46(a)(2)).   

  1. A bias incident is an act of bigotry, harassment or intimidation toward a person, property or group based on the person's or group's actual or perceived race, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, pregnancy, marital status, or any other category protected by law. It can be an event, image, utterance, or behavior that demeans or degrades an individual or group from a protected category. This could occur physically, verbally, in writing or via social media or electronic means. A bias incident can occur whether the act is intentional or unintentional and may or may not be an unlawful act. 

Dr. Kwadwo Asare, Associate Professor, Accounting, kasare@bryant.edu

Jordan Cruz, Intercultural Center Coordinator, jcruz6@bryant.edu

Dr. Edward Kairiss, Director of Faculty Development & Innovation, ekairiss@bryant.edu

Laura Kohl, Director of Library Services, lkohl@bryant.edu

Dr. Mailee Kue, Chair, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement, mkue@bryant.edu

Dr. Heather Lacey, Associate Professor, Applied Psychology, hlacey@bryant.edu

Dr. Kevin Martins, Special Assistant to the President for Inclusive Excellence and Director of the PwC Center for Diversity and Inclusion, kmartins@bryant.edu

Dr. Chris Morse, Associate Professor, Communication, cmorse2@bryant.edu

Lily Otu, Assistant Athletic Director for Inclusive Excellence, lotu@bryant.edu

Meaghan Trayner, Associate Director for Human Resources, mtrayner@bryant.edu

A bias incident is an act of bigotry, harassment or intimidation toward a person, property or group based on the person's or group's actual or perceived race, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, pregnancy, marital status, or any other category protected by law. It can be an event, image, utterance, or behavior that demeans or degrades an individual or group and can occur physically, verbally, in writing or via social media or electronic means. A bias incident can occur whether the act is intentional or unintentional and may or may not be an unlawful act. 

Examples of bias-related conduct could include: 

  • words or actions that contradict the spirit of Bryant's Guiding Principles 

  • jokes that are demeaning to a particular group of people 

  • holding a "date" or "slave" auction 

  • performing a skit in which participants use blackface or other ethnic group makeup or props 

  • hosting a culturally themed party or "Whites Only" party 

  • assuming characteristics of a minority group for advertising 

  • posting flyers or graffiti that contain demeaning language or images 

  • verbally harassing another person for being from another country 

  • making racially disparaging comments in the classroom 

  • using physical or mental disability to insult someone 

  • telling someone to expect to struggle due to stereotypes about the person's gender and/or race 

  • intentionally ridiculing another person for the pronouns that person uses 

  • shouting an offensive name at another person while they are walking down the street 

Students who report a bias incident can expect that their report will be acknowledged within 48 hours, and that a Bias Incident Committee member will be assigned to meet with the student to discuss options for addressing the issue and next steps of the process.  

Once an incident has been reported, the Bias Incident Committee will discuss the report at the next weekly meeting.  Based on the nature of the incident, the Committee can recommend appropriate next steps.  Recommendations can include, but not limited to, further investigation by the Department of Public Safety, a conversation with impacted student, etc.  Once all information about the incident has been gathered, the Committee will meet to review and discuss findings and make recommendations to VPSA or designee.  Due to confidentiality laws, the University may not be able to reveal all the information related to the investigation.  Conduct found to be in violation of the Student Code of Conduct will be referred for action through existing disciplinary procedures. 

The following sanctions may be imposed upon any student found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct after the student(s) has been charged with alleged Code of Conduct violations and a conduct hearing has taken place: 

  1. Warning —A notice in writing to the student that the student is violating or has violated institutional regulations. 

  1. Probation—A written reprimand for violation of specified regulations. Probation is for a designated period of time and includes the probability of more severe disciplinary sanctions if the student is found to violate any institutional regulation(s) during the probationary period. 

  1. Loss of Privileges—Denial of specified privileges for a designated period of time. 

  1. Fines—Previously established and published fines maybe imposed. 

  1. Restitution—Compensation for loss, damage, or injury. This may take the form of appropriate service and/or monetary or material replacement. 

  1. Discretionary Sanctions—Work assignments, essays, service to the University, or other related discretionary assignments. 

  1. Residence Hall Suspension—Separation of the student from the residence halls for a definite period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for readmission may be specified. Students suspended from residence halls shall receive no refund of room or board. 

  1. Residence Hall Eviction—Permanent separation of the student from the residence halls. Students evicted from residence halls shall receive no refund of room or board. 

  1. University Suspension—Separation of the student from the University for a definite period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Suspended students are required to schedule a review meeting with the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs to be considered for readmission to the University. Students suspended from the university shall receive no refund of tuition, room, board or other fees. 

  1. University Expulsion—Permanent separation of the student from the University. Students expelled from the university shall receive no refund of tuition, room, board or other fees. 

  1. Revocation of Admission and/or Degree—Admission to or a degree awarded from the University may be revoked for fraud, misrepresentation, or other violation of University standards in obtaining the degree, or for other serious violations committed by a student prior to graduation. 

  1. Withholding Degree—The University may withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the completion of the process set forth in this Student Conduct Code, including the completion of all sanctions imposed, if any. 

*More than one of the sanctions listed above may be imposed for any single violation. 

 

* Required

Background Information

Incident Information

Involved Parties

Incident Description

Other Departments Notified

If any campus department or agency has been notified of this incident already, please indicate below to whom the inicident was reported. If you did not contact another department please type "NA" *

Supporting Documentation

If you have any supporting documentation (i.e. photos, screenshots, text messages etc) you wish to submit with this report check the box below. If you have video please send it to bias@bryant.edu. You can also submit documentation anonymously by printing a hardcopy and dropping it into Box #1204.

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