Office of the Dean of Student Life

The Bias Response Team (BRT) is coordinated by the Office of the Dean of Student Life to ensure a comprehensive response to campus situations. The Team is committed to preventing further acts of bias by educating the OSU community about the effects and root causes of bias incidents. The BRT will compile and make available reports of its activities and reported incidents.  

Report a bias incident at OSU

BIAS RESPONSE TEAM

Purpose of the Bias Response Team:

The purpose of BRT is to assess and coordinate the student services response to campus bias incidents.

Individual units who hold those responsibilities will respond to incidents with both direct service to reporters and will coordinate proactive educational and programming efforts to raise awareness of the BRT.

Bias Response Team Core Members:

• Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
• Counseling and Psychological Services
• Diversity Development
• Dean of Student Life
• Educational Opportunities Program
• Intercollegiate Athletics
• Intercultural Student Services
• International Programs
• LGBT Outreach & Services
• Office of Community and Diversity
• OSU Dept. of Public Safety
• Student Conduct & Community Standards
• Student Health Services
• University Housing and Dining Services
• Vice Provost for Student Affairs

A larger group of response personnel collaborates with BRT. They include representatives from the following departments and agencies:

Method of Operation:

BRT will meet regularly to foster good working relationships, to share information, to engage in training, and to debrief events/situations. Each team member is also responsible for the development and maintenance of liaison relationships with the offices and agencies assigned to them.

A call list and protocols for dealing with particular types of incidences and records of all meetings and actions are maintained by the Office of the Dean of Student Life.

Types of Incidents:

• Physical assault/confrontation, stalking
• Damage to property
• Graffiti, signs
• Threatening mail, email, voice mail, telephone message
• Telephone harassment
• Verbal harassment, slurs, threats
• Written slur

GENERAL PROCEDURES

If a person is involved with a student bias situation, that person may contact the Bias Response Team at 737-SAFE or call the Office of the Dean of Student Life (ODOSL) at 737-8748 or report a bias incident at OSU online. ODOSL will activate BRT.

If a member of BRT learns of a student bias situation, that person notifies members of BRT. BRT members follow established BRT protocol. BRT members also notify Public Safety and Oregon State Police and follow established BRT protocol.

If a member of BRT wants to notify the BRT members regarding a person or situation of interest, that person notifies members of BRT. BRT members also notify Public Safety and Oregon State Police and follow established BRT protocol.

If a member of the OSU community learns of a student incident (non emergency), that person should notify the Dean of Student Life or any BRT member. BRT members will notify Public Safety and Oregon State Police.

When an incident occurs, The Department of Public Safety and BRT follow these basic procedures:

• Assess the situation in order to understand and be able to communicate the nature of and extent of the incident.
• Notify other members of BRT for small group fact-finding or to convene the whole team for brainstorming.
• Identify those who may be affected and need support, including friends, roommates, spouse, family, faculty, etc.
• Notify appropriate offices according to guidelines.
• Assure that appropriate services are provided (direct and indirect)
• Follow-up to evaluate what services have taken place and the impact of those services in allowing closure to the emergency
• Initiate further actions if needed.
• Provide follow up and outreach as needed.
• Conduct a post-response review with key participants of the BRT to assess the situation and the adequacy of current procedures. Be cognizant of possible post-response types of academic and personal support that might be needed. Issues of confidentiality should be identified.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The members of BRT, as administrative agents in an educational institution, adhere to the laws and standards governing the disclosure of information to third party both within and external to the University. Such information is only disclosed on an administrative need to know basis and only according to the relevant statutes that govern such disclosure.

The Student Health Services and the Counseling and Psychological Services are governed by additional laws and ethical codes regarding the disclosure of information (medical and psychological records) to third parties of clients or patients under their care.

Report a bias incident at OSU

USE OF EMAIL

Email will be used by BRT to communicate information and actions taken in situations that are being responded to and dealt with by BRT. Efforts are made to protect the identity of students involved by using discretion in the use of personally identifying information, especially on updates and follow-up messages. It is acknowledged that e-mail is not considered a secure or confidential means of communication but will be utilized by BRT for timely notification.

In relevant correspondence BRT team members use the following statement on all e-mails:

"This email (including attachments) contains confidential student information. Further disclosure may be a violation of FERPA. Do not forward or copy the message."

For additional information please contact the Office of the Dean of Student Life at 737-8748

RESOURCES