Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) and Campus Climate

Student Support Resource Guide

Campus Climate Definition

Campus Climate is a measure of the real or perceived quality of interpersonal, academic, and professional interactions on a campus and consists of the current attitudes, behaviors, and standards of faculty, staff, administrators and students.  A common but simplistic way of thinking about campus climate is in binary terms: campus climate is either good (inclusive, productive) or bad (chilly, marginalizing). However, it may be more accurate to think of campus climate as a continuum that contributes to experiences that marginalize or foster belonging (Adapted from Ambrose et al., 2010). 

Bias Incident Definition

A bias incident refers to any behavior, action, or decision that is motivated by prejudice or discrimination towards a person or group based on their identity such as race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or religion. Bias incidents can take many forms, such as microaggressions, or unequal treatment in education, housing, or employment. They can cause harm and create a hostile environment, impacting the well-being and safety of individuals and communities on campus. Bias incidents may be intentional or unintentional however if unaddressed can undermine principles of equity and inclusion.

Submitting a Report

Reports submitted online may be submitted anonymously. In these cases, the University is limited and may not be able to conduct a full investigation of anonymous reports due to limited information or access to the individual who submitted the report. Individuals who feel that safety is a concern or wish to report a criminal incident motivated by bias or hate crime may contact the Cal Poly Police Department.

What Happens After a Bias Incident Report is Submitted?

After submitting a bias report or complaint of harassment or discrimination, the reporting individual receives an acknowledgment of receipt and information about support resources available on campus. Reports are reviewed by the Dean of Students, Civil Rights & Compliance Office, and the Office of University Diversity & Inclusion. Reports that indicate a potential violation of University policy under CSU Executive Orders1096 and 1097, are referred to the appropriate office(s) for review under existing disciplinary processes. If the incident does not rise to the level of crime or disciplinary process, the BIRT reviewing offices identify necessary response strategies in partnership with the perspective areas in question of the incident. Not every experience can or should be addressed through a disciplinary process, but there are campus resources available to help individuals manage the experience.

How to Report

Anyone who has knowledge of or has experienced a bias incident, on or off campus, involving Cal Poly students, faculty and/or staff, may report using the link below.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

To report an incident of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or retaliation, contact the Civil Rights & Compliance Office at (805) 756-6770 or crco@calpoly.edu.

To report a crime, contact Cal Poly Police Department at (805) 756-2281 or police@calpoly.edu.