Defining Bias Incidents
Bias incidents refer to conduct, speech, images or expression that demonstrate conscious or unconscious bias that targets individuals or groups based on but not limited to their actual or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status or other social identities.
Under Virginia law, a hate crime is any act of intimidation or harassment, physical violence, or vandalism, where such acts are motivated by animosity based on race, religion, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. While all hate crimes are bias incidents, not all bias incidents are hate crimes.
A bias incident may contribute to creating an unsafe environment or have a negative psychological, emotional, or physical impact on an individual, group, or community. A bias incident may occur regardless of intent and regardless of whether or not the incident constitutes a crime or violation of Virginia law or RMC policy.
The Role of the Bias Response Team
The Bias Response Team coordinates prompt, effective, and caring institutional responses to bias incidents on campus. The BRT seeks to support RMC students and other community members targeted or harmed by bias incidents and to educate the RMC community about such incidents, their sources, and their ramifications, in an effort to prevent similar incidents and future harm. The BRT maintains publicly available records of incident statistics and responses and educates the College community about reporting of bias incidents.
The role of the BRT is to support, educate, and refer; the BRT does not impose discipline or sanctions. The BRT may refer or may be required to refer by College policy and applicable law any reported incident(s) to Campus Safety, Ashland Police Department, Title IX Office, or the Non-Discrimination Coordinator for investigation or to Student Conduct, Human Resources, or the Provost’s Office for potential sanctions
Individuals may choose to report a bias incident to the BRT in addition to or instead of Campus Safety, the Title IX Office, Student Conduct, and/or the Non-Discrimination Coordinator. As appropriate and/or required by College policy and applicable law, the BRT may refer incident(s) to Campus Safety, Ashland Police Department, Title IX Office, or the Non-Discrimination Coordinator for investigation, or to Student Conduct, Human Resources, or the Provost’s Office for action under applicable processes. College policies and applicable laws supersede any action(s) by the BRT
For all mandatory reporters, if you have any knowledge or suspicion of any incident(s) of sexual misconduct involving students that may violate our Sexual and Relationship Conduct Policy, then you must still report that incident(s) solely and directly to the Title IX Coordinator via the Sexual Misconduct and Title IX Reporting Form.
Scope of the Bias Response Team’s Purview: The BRT coordinates and facilitates support for people harmed by bias incidents at Randolph-Macon College and educates the community about bias incidents.
