Bias Incident Reporting Updates

Greetings North Central College Community,

It is essential for North Central College to provide a safe environment for all community members regardless of identity. Acts that are motivated by intolerance or bigotry have a profoundly negative impact on our campus. While the College adheres to and supports the principles of academic freedom and free speech, each member of the North Central College community also shares a common responsibility to maintain an environment free from bias and hate. To assist with these efforts, North Central College established the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) and the Bias Incident Reporting Form in 2016.

Since that time, the College has received requests from the campus community for more transparency regarding bias response, policies and procedures. Through feedback and collaboration with groups such as the Black Student Association, initiatives have been developed to provide more information and clarity around bias response to the campus community:

• The BIRT has made monthly bias incident logs and aggregate data charts of available online. The logs and charts contain information about reported incidents that were determined to be bias related.
• The Bias Education Team has also created a bias incident resource guide that provides information about bias response procedures and campus resources. This guide can be found on the HUB and will be distributed to parties impacted by bias incidents.
• Additionally, members of the BIRT have developed a presentation that summarizes the College’s policies and procedures around response to incidents of bias. This presentation will be given in September, October and November and will be open to the campus community. Look for more detailed information coming soon. The presentation can also be given on request.

You can find additional information about bias incidents, the Bias Incident Reporting Form and the BIRT on the HUB. The College’s Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policies are found in the current Student Handbook. If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact Dorothy Pleas, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Multicultural Affairs at djpleas@noctrl.edu.

Thank you,
Dorothy Pleas
Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Multicultural Affairs
Chair, Bias Incident Response Team
djpleas@noctrl.edu
Pronouns: she/her/hers