Student Affairs: Bias Outreach, Restoration, and Education- Frequently Asked Questions

Relevant Excerpt

What exactly is a bias incident? 

A bias-related incident is an act, motivated in whole or in part by prejudice against a person or group, based on a person or community’s actual or perceived identities. 

Bias incidents can occur in a variety of settings but have one key factor in common: they can create a hostile working, learning, or living environment and can have a negative psychological, emotional, or physical effect on an individual or community. 

Why is it important for the University to respond to bias incidents?  

Bias incidents frequently have a negative psychological, emotional, or physical effect on individuals and communities. Because community is important to us, we want to do what we can to create, strengthen, and build community whenever possible.  

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What can I do if I experience or witness a bias incident? 

All Rutgers University-New Brunswick community members are encouraged to submitting a New Brunswick Bias Incident Report. Reports may be submitted anonymously, but the ability of the Bias Outreach and Response team to respond to anonymous reports is limited. 

What does the University do when it receives information about a bias incident? 

Rutgers University-New Brunswick has Reported Bias Incident Response Protocol to guide its response to bias incidents. When a report is submitted, the bias teams carefully evaluate the report to identify needs and actions. The teams seek to prioritize a reporter's well-being, health, and safety and connect them to university resources that can offer more specialized support, while also facilitating appropriate educational interventions. See the Bias Incident flowchart for specifics.