BIAS REPORTING KEY DEFINITIONS
Protected Classifications: The law prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex/gender, race, age, color, religion, national origin, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, marital status, and military and military veteran status. These are protected classifications under the law.
Discrimination: Any unlawful distinction, preference, or detriment to an individual as compared to others in the terms or conditions of his or her employment or education on the basis of his or her protected category status.
Target: The person alleged to have been subjected to conduct in violation of this policy.
Respondent: An individual accused of conduct that might be a violation of this policy.
Hate Crime: Criminal homicide, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, larceny-theft, simple assault, intimidation, or destruction/damage/vandalism of property, in which an individual or group is intentionally targeted because of their actual or perceived race, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, or disability. 20 U.S.C. §1092(f)(1)(F)(ii).
Bias Conduct/Incident: Completed, attempted or threatened abusive or hostile acts against persons, property or an institution, where such acts manifest evidence that the targeted person/group was intentionally selected on the basis of the their actual or perceived age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, marital/familial status, national origin group, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, veteran status including a Hate Crime.
Bias Harassment: A Bias incident that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a person’s employment or education, or creating a hostile employment or educational environment, and has no legitimate relationship to the subject matter of a course or academic research. In evaluating whether such an environment has been created, the College will consider the alleged conduct from both a subjective and objective perspective. Specifically, it will evaluate that alleged conduct from the perspective of a reasonable person in the alleged Target’s position, considering all the circumstances.
Confidentiality: Confidentiality means maintaining as confidential, to the extent possible, all matters related to a bias incident on a criterion of need to know.
Retaliation: Any act(s) or attempted act(s) to seek retribution against anyone who has reported an alleged bias incident or against anyone who has participated in an investigation or related proceeding under this policy. Prohibited retaliatory acts include, but are not limited to intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination.