Applies to: (examples; Faculty,Staff, Students, etc)

Faculty , Staff , Students

Policy Overview:

As part of our mission to create a supportive and enriching environment for all students, staff, faculty and guests, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment free from discrimination. This policy establishes a Bias Incident Response Committee (BIRC) and definitions and procedures to  receive reports of bias incidents, ensure that affected individuals receive resources and support and coordinate a holistic campus response grounded in restorative justice to promote accountability, learning, healing and growth.

Definitions:

Details:

University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis (“University” or “UHSP”) strives to create an inclusive culture of people with unique backgrounds and perspectives aligned with our mission to be a supportive and enriching environment for growth, advancement and leadership, preparing our students, residents, faculty, staff and alumni to positively impact patients and society. Toward that end we are committed to training culturally competent professionals to work effectively in community or multi-disciplinary settings and serve patients who identify with different social groups. Intolerance, bias and hate directed at individuals or groups because of race, color, religious belief, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, disability status, age or other protected classification is detrimental to the University’s mission. Any form of bias against these groups go against our fundamental values of diversity and inclusion and will not be tolerated. The University’s efforts to foster a respectful and inclusive learning environment is dependent on everyone’s efforts to help identify, respond to and prevent bias related incidents. This policy establishes a BIRC to serve as a central resource to define bias related incidents, determine how to report an incident and help decide how the University will respond. The BIRC will be responsible for reviewing reports of bias incidents, provide guidance to administrators on investigations and enforcement of the University’s discrimination and harassment policies, and develop informed strategies including restorative justice practices to promote inclusion, support and repair of harm caused to affected individuals and the University community.

How to Report Bias Incidents

A. Title IX Violations

• Faculty and Staff should report Title IX Violations to Daniel Bauer, director, Human Resources, 314.446.8308, Jones Hall, Room 1309, Daniel.bauer@uhsp.edu,
• Students should report Title IX Violations to Rebecca Jones, director, Academic Support Services, 314.446.8352, Residence Hall, Room 2128, Rebecca.Jones@uhsp.edu

B. Hate Crimes: Hate crimes should be reported to the Office of Public Safety in a timely manner in accordance with CLERY incident reporting policy. Reports may be made online at stlcop.edu/safety/clery or by calling 314.446.SAFE (7233).

C. Emergency Bias Incident: In cases involving potential or imminent physical harm or violence on campus, incidents should be reported immediately to the Office of Public Safety by calling 314.446.SAFE (7233) or the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department at 314.444.5385. UHSP public safety officers will deploy as first-responders to the scene and coordinate notification to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and other emergency services. The Director of Public Safety will ensure that timely warning notices are sent to the campus community whenever there is an immediate or continuing threat of harm.

D. Bias Incident: University administrators and employees responsible for receiving reports of bias incidents have an affirmative obligation to promptly report the incidents to the BIRC. All responsible employees will promptly notify the BIRC within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of a report of a bias incident. The BIR reporting mechanism for any violation is the Bias Incident Report Form which can be accessed at uhsp.edu/safety. The BIR Form is automatically routed via a confidential and secure system to the chair of the BIRC and the vice president, Campus Life. The BIRC chair or other member of the BIRC will review the reported incident, gather background information, notify and convene (if needed) the BIRC as soon as possible to review the report. All incidents reported will receive a follow up contact within 48 hours from the time the incident was reported when possible.

Bias Incident Response Committee Composition

The BIRC will include individuals from the University community to coordinate the handling and response to any report of a bias related incident. The BIRC will be composed of six core members including the vice president, Inclusion and Diversity who will serve as chair of the BIRC, one member appointed by the dean of pharmacy, one member appointed by the dean of arts and sciences, one member appointed by the Faculty Senate, one member appointed by the Staff Council, and one member appointed by the Student Government Association. BIRC members will have experience, education or training in the areas including but not limited to cultural competency, discrimination, intolerance, privilege and restorative justice to prevent and address bias incidents when they occur. The vice president, Campus Life will serve as an ex officio member and general counsel will serve as a resource to the BIRC. Outside consultants and experts may be retained to train the BIRC or provide services as needed.

Coordination

This policy is not intended to replace existing reporting structures and procedures that currently exist under other University policies prohibiting discrimination or harassment. The purpose of the BIRC is to serve as a supporting body with expertise as a first-responder to develop and coordinate strategies to respond to incidents and address issues that may impact members of the campus community.

Upon receipt of a report, the BIRC chair or other member of the BIRC will consult with the vice president, Campus Life to determine the complexity, severity or level of harm, and whether the incident requires a formal meeting of the BIRC. Some incidents of bias can be resolved directly with the person or group who was harmed and with the offender without convening a formal BIRC meeting. However, all bias incidents will be reviewed by the BIRC and shared annually with the campus community.

If a bias incident requires a formal BIRC meeting, the BIRC chair will promptly notify the president of the bias incident. The BIRC will work with University administrators to investigate the incident, make recommendations to administrators for impacted individuals to receive adequate support and access to resources, and to ensure that applicable policies for adjudication are followed.

Adjudication/Restorative Justice

The University believes that restorative justice is consistent with its mission of providing a safe and inclusive environment, educating culturally competent health care professionals and pharmacists through the transformative power of learning. Restorative justice provides individuals harmed, responsible parties and communities with opportunities to create a pathway for social justice and personal change. Restorative justice is not leniency and may include taking appropriate accountability measures to protect those harmed or the broader community. The BIRC will recommend, provide or assist with restorative interventions and measures to personnel and University boards or committees responsible for processing such cases to promote individual and community healing, learning and growth.

Privacy

The University recognizes the importance of individual privacy and will honor requests for confidentiality by the reporting party when possible. Individuals may file anonymous reports, however, doing so may limit the University’s ability to respond or take appropriate action. Communications regarding the accused will be handled by University administrators on a need-to-know basis, as required by law, and to the extent necessary for the University to respond properly.

Tracking and Reporting

The BIRC will ensure all reports of bias incidents and hate crimes are recorded in a BIRC Log and summarized in the BIRC annual report. The BIRC will analyze reported bias trends and identify education and interventions. A summary of incidents and/or trends will be made available to the University community annually. Timely notices regarding specific incidents will be provided to the University community as warranted. All notices, reports and logs will be published and made available to the University community consistent with the Clery Act, FERPA and applicable privacy laws.

BIRC Training

The BIRC will make recommendations on education and training initiatives for committee members to the vice president, culture and campus life and director, human resources. These initiatives will include discrimination and harassment training, cultural competencies, social group identities, bystander intervention and creation of safe places.

Related University Policies

This Bias Incident Response Policy is intended to supplement the procedures and important information set forth in the following University policies:

Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking
Care Team Policy
Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy
Student Code, Social Media Policy
Student Code, General Standards of Conduct
Student Code, Professional Misconduct

Responsibilities:

Resources:

The BIR reporting mechanism for any violation should be completed by following this link to the Bias Incident Report Form http://www.stlcop.edu/safety/index.html.

Policy Contacts:

Supplemental Information:

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