Team Protocol

The Bias Incident Support and Advisory (BISA) team will be convened by the co-chairs whenever a bias incident is perceived to have occurred or is reported to the team. Depending on the circumstances of the incident, additional faculty, staff, and/or content experts may be invited to serve as consultants to the team as appropriate and necessary.

Additionally, the team will convene at least once each semester to review responses to prior incidents and to provide leadership for campus education and prevention. In collaboration with other campus offices, the team will assist in identifying and providing opportunities to enhance and encourage dialogue focused on relevant issues of bias and discrimination and on effective strategies for enhancing individual and community safety and well-being

The BISA team will function under this established protocol and relevant policies, procedures, and other protocols to assist the University in taking a timely and comprehensive approach to addressing bias incidents and to aid in communication with the extended community about incident-related concerns.

Bias Incident Reports

Students, faculty, staff, administrators, visitors, community members, vendors, and contractors, and/or any other member of the campus community who experience or become aware of a possible bias incident will be encouraged to report the incident to any member of the BISA team. Additionally, an online form is available for individuals to report incidents to the University, with an option to remain anonymous. Information regarding reporting options, including information on filing a formal complaint, is posted on the SMSU website located at https://forms.office.com/r/2KWpPmYrtS.

Bias incidents will be reviewed by the team to determine an appropriate response taking into account various factors such as the availability of information and details, severity of the incident, identity of parties involved, and threat to the greater campus community. The team may respond to reported incidents in ways that include:

Incident Assessment

• Identifying what happened and what additional information is needed to understand the incident.
• Referring the matter to law enforcement if warranted and as permitted by law.
• Considering whether the incident has free speech or academic freedom implications.

Support

• Identifying and providing appropriate support, resources, and consultation to those harmed by the incident as well as to the larger learning community.
• Referring affected individuals to other appropriate campus offices such as the 1B.1/1B.3 designated officer, the Title IX Coordinator, Student Conduct, counseling services, University Security, etc. to receive additional supportive services.

Communication

• Recommending and advising on communication to the campus community as appropriate, which would occur through the President’s office with approval.

Education

• Organizing and holding open forums for affected individuals as well as the larger community to gather suggestions, to reaffirm campus values and standards, and to educate.
• Recommending incident-related topic program areas for additional training for students, staff, and faculty to the appropriate campus offices.

This protocol is not a substitute for and does not override established university or external complaint processes, including investigation protocols or services available to the university community. The BISA team is advisory in nature and does not have a role in determining whether campus policy has been violated or in imposing disciplinary action.