Bias Incident Resource Group

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Guilford College is committed to maintaining a diverse community in an atmosphere of mutual respect and appreciation of differences.

The purpose of the Bias Incident Resource Group is to support the college’s efforts to maintain an inclusive campus climate by establishing a mechanism by which it responds to bias incidents. The Bias Incident Resource Group is not a mechanism by which it responds to bias incidents. The Bias Incident Resource Group is not a mechanism for investigative or disciplinary action. However, it enables the college to track bias incidents, collect aggregate data, identify educational responses, and connect individuals affected by bias incidents.

Bias Incidents

Bias incidents covered under this mechanism include an act of bigotry, harassment or intimidation based on sex/gender, race, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, military status, veteran status, political affiliation/beliefs, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, ordinance, or regulation.

This includes, but is not limited to slurs, graffiti, written messages, or images that harass or intimidate individuals or groups because of their membership in the above listed protected classes.

How to Report a Bias Incident

If you have experienced or observed a bias incident, please report by doing the following:

Online: Report the incident here.

By phone or in person:

Steve Mencarini
Dean of Students
Founders 210
336.316.2186

The Bias Incident Resource Group acts as the College’s first response team in addressing reported bias incidents in which no respondent can be identified. All reported bias incidents will be referred to the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion who will make an initial determination of whether the matter should be referred to the entire Bias Incident Resource Group for review. In making this determination, the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion may consult with the Director of Public Safety, the Director of Human Resources, depending on the nature of the bias incident and the involved parties. Should the Vice President decide not to refer the incident to the entire Bias Incident Resource Group, the Vice President may take any action that the Bias Incident Resource Group may perform, as stated below.

The Bias Incident Resource Group will meet in response to receiving a bias incident report referral from the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Bias Incident Resource Group shall consider and undertake the appropriate measures to address the incident. Such measures, depending on the nature and severity of the incident, may include:

  • Supporting the affected person(s) through referrals to appropriate resources;
  • Engaging community members to maintain a living, learning and working environment free from acts of bigotry, harassment, and intimidation;
  • Assessing the circumstances of the incident as thoroughly and as quickly as possible;
  • Making referrals to appropriate campus officials so that action can be taken;
  • Identifying and assisting in implementing an appropriate educational response and community outreach; and
  • Notifying the community, as appropriate.

The following individuals will serve on the College’s Bias Response Team:

  • Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Director of Public Safety
  • Dean of Students, or designee
  • Director of Human Resources
  • Assistant Director for Title IX Compliance
  • Representative from the Intercultural Engagement Center
Bias Incident Report Process
Records of Bias Incidents

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will maintain a record of reported bias incidents and will provide a yearly summary of reported incidents by total number of reported incidents, the type of bias incident, the number of incidents related to each protected class, and the general locations of the reported incidents. Records of reported incidents will be maintained to identify patterns of reported bias on campus.