Bias Incident/Crime Response Process

What is a Bias Incident or Crime?

Bias Incident– A “Bias Incident” is defined an act – either verbal, written, physical, or psychological that threatens or harms a person or group on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, atypical heredity or cellular blood trait, military service or veteran status (or other protected class).

Bias Crime– A Bias Crime is a crime that threatens or harms a person or group on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, atypical heredity or cellular blood trait, military service or veteran status (or other protected class).  

Reporting a Bias Incident or Crime: If you think you have experienced, witnessed, or learned about a potential bias incident/crime, whether from a student peer, faculty, staff member, or visitor to the university, you can make a report by:

• Contacting the Monmouth University Police Department (MUPD), available 24 hours a day/7 days a week
• Contacting the Office of Equity & Diversity (OED) by phone, email, or in-person
  • If an incident occurs in University Housing, you may contact Residential Life Staff for assistance in reporting.

When a bias incident or crime occurs and the University is notified through the processes above, the following steps are followed:

1. MUPD follows their mandated law enforcement protocol.  OED will notify other relevant departments. Examples of relevant offices may include but are not limited to:
   1. Reports involving students: Office of Judicial Affairs
   2. Reports involving employees: Human Resources
2. OED and relevant offices will investigate the matter. Investigation may include, but is not limited to: speaking with the reporter; identifying and speaking with relevant witnesses; identifying and reviewing relevant documentation or other evidence; and visiting the location of the alleged incident.
3. Reported incidents are investigated even when the person(s) believed to have committed the act or acts in question cannot be identified (i.e. graffiti), or when the person or persons subjected to an act constituting a bias incident do not wish to pursue campus disciplinary or criminal charges.
4. The investigator will take appropriate action to resolve the situation in a timely manner. Resolution may include one, several, or all of the following steps:
   1. Make a record of the incident.
   2. Refer the report to the appropriate University office for additional action (i.e. Student Life Judicial Affairs or Human Resources)
   3. Coordinate supportive services including, but not limited to, counseling to the involved parties, no-contact orders, and academic accommodations.
   4. Report the incident to appropriate internal departments and/or outside agencies.
   5. Following the investigation process, possible sanctions taken under the Student Code of Conduct or employee handbook. 

5.  If the reported matter does not meet the criteria for a bias incident or a bias crime committed, the report will be referred to the appropriate office (if applicable) or filed with no additional action taken.