Dean of Students
St. Paul Campus
Anderson Student Center, Room 241
deanstudents@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-6050
Office Hours
Mon-Fri: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Closed Holidays
Bias or Hate Reporting
St. Thomas is committed to providing an inclusive living, learning, and working environment that supports the well-being of each member and respects the dignity of each person. Incidents of hate and bias are inconsistent with the St. Thomas mission and convictions and have no place here.
Anyone can make a report – the target of a bias incident, a friend, or a witness. If you believe that you or someone else has been adversely affected by a bias incident, make a report. If you are a student who has experienced or witnessed a bias or hate incident, we want to address the incident and provide you with resources.
The primary purpose of the reporting system is to connect the reporter or target of a bias incident with support and resources. In addition, St. Thomas will use data from the reporting system to track incidents of bias and to initiate investigations of potential policy violations.
The Bias Incident Toolkit is designed to help St. Thomas respond promptly and effectively to reported behavior that does not align with our community's mission and values.
Bias Incidents vs. Hate Crimes
Incidents of hate and bias have no place here. If you have experienced or witnessed an incident, we want to address the situation and provide you with resources.
Bias Incidents
A bias incident is unwelcome conduct that has a negative impact on an individual or group and that one could reasonably conclude is based on an actual or perceived protected characteristic, regardless of whether the conduct is unlawful or violates policy.
Bias incidents vary in degree and some rise to the level of hate crime, harassment, or other policy violation. Other bias incidents do not rise to that level but still have adverse effects on our community members.
Protected Characteristics
A protected characteristic means race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, disability, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, membership or activity in a local commission, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Hate Crimes
A hate crime is a severe form of a bias incident. A hate crime is criminal conduct against a person or property motivated in whole or part by bias based on the protected characteristic of an individual or group. Hate crimes violate St. Thomas policy and the law.
Students are strongly encouraged to call Public Safety or law enforcement immediately if they become aware of a possible hate crime, to ensure an immediate response. St. Thomas may address alleged criminal conduct, including hate crimes, and may report such conduct to law enforcement.
Examples
Bias incidents include, but are not limited to, any of the following: using epithets, slurs or offensive jokes based on a protected characteristic; displaying or circulating written materials, objects, videos, audio or pictures that degrade an individual or group based on a protected characteristic; verbal abuse or insults about people in a protected group or directed at an individual because of a protected characteristic; imitating the speech, walk or movement of a person with a disability with the intent to mock or embarrass them; damaging property or engaging in physical violence motivated in any way by a protected characteristic."
Don’t worry if you are not sure whether the incident meets these definitions. St. Thomas will consider the facts and circumstances to determine an appropriate response and can offer support resources regardless.
Bias Incidents
Bias Incidents
A bias incident is unwelcome conduct that has a negative impact on an individual or group and that one could reasonably conclude is based on an actual or perceived protected characteristic, regardless of whether the conduct is unlawful or violates policy.
Bias incidents vary in degree and some rise to the level of hate crime, harassment, or other policy violation. Other bias incidents do not rise to that level but still have adverse effects on our community members.
Protected Characteristics
Protected Characteristics
A protected characteristic means race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, disability, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, membership or activity in a local commission, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Hate Crimes
Hate Crimes
A hate crime is a severe form of a bias incident. A hate crime is criminal conduct against a person or property motivated in whole or part by bias based on the protected characteristic of an individual or group. Hate crimes violate St. Thomas policy and the law.
Students are strongly encouraged to call Public Safety or law enforcement immediately if they become aware of a possible hate crime, to ensure an immediate response. St. Thomas may address alleged criminal conduct, including hate crimes, and may report such conduct to law enforcement.
Examples
Examples
Bias incidents include, but are not limited to, any of the following: using epithets, slurs or offensive jokes based on a protected characteristic; displaying or circulating written materials, objects, videos, audio or pictures that degrade an individual or group based on a protected characteristic; verbal abuse or insults about people in a protected group or directed at an individual because of a protected characteristic; imitating the speech, walk or movement of a person with a disability with the intent to mock or embarrass them; damaging property or engaging in physical violence motivated in any way by a protected characteristic."
Don’t worry if you are not sure whether the incident meets these definitions. St. Thomas will consider the facts and circumstances to determine an appropriate response and can offer support resources regardless.
Bias Reporting Process
You may submit an online report anonymously by leaving the name, phone and email fields blank. However, understand that reporting anonymously will limit the university’s ability to respond and provide resources and support. Anonymous reports often contain insufficient information to fully investigate and respond.
If you make an anonymous report, please provide as much detail as possible, including the location of the incident, a detailed description of what occurred, and information about groups or individuals who have been negatively impacted.
If you choose to report anonymously, you may choose to identify yourself at a later time.
If you report a bias incident online, the following individuals will receive the report:
- AVP for Equity Compliance
- Dean of Students and/or designee
- Director of Public Safety and/or designee
- AVP for Inclusive Excellence
These individuals will assess the report and share the report as needed with other relevant employees to ensure appropriate and consistent response. For example, for an incident that took place in the classroom, the department chair and/or dean of the school or college may be notified.
St. Thomas also shares summary data collected from these reports as part of an annual report to the community. In addition, the nature of an incident may be shared as part of educational or restorative responses to the report. No personally identifiable information about a target or reporter will be shared by St. Thomas in the summary reports or in campus communications.
The response will vary depending on the particular facts and circumstances. With all non-anonymous reports, the Dean of Students Office will reach out to student reporters to offer support and resources. Other responses may include: investigation by St. Thomas, referral to the student conduct process, disciplinary action for employees, education/training for involved St. Thomas community members, education/training for the community, and/or restorative justice.
St. Thomas will address bias incidents in accordance with all applicable university policies.
In cases where a student is found responsible for violating University policy, the sanctions will vary based on the facts and circumstances and may range from a formal warning to suspension or expulsion. In determining sanctions, the University considers a number of factors, including the nature of the conduct, the intent of the person who engaged in the conduct, and the impact of the conduct on individual(s) and the community.
In a case in which the conduct is considered a hate crime for purposes of Clery Act reporting, the minimum sanction is suspension. In situations where conduct by a student does not violate a university policy but has caused harm, St. Thomas will respond through educational and/or restorative approaches.
The AVP for Equity Compliance or someone from the Dean of Students Office and/or relevant unit will reach out to student reporters who are identified in the report. Their goal is to better understand the incident, ensure that resources and support are offered, and determine the appropriate resolution options for the particular report.
Students can generally expect a response to their report within one business day. If you need a more immediate response, please call Public Safety.
If you make an anonymous report using this form, St. Thomas will not be able to respond directly to you but will assess the information submitted and consider appropriate next steps. St. Thomas is limited in steps it can take in the absence of a reporting party.
Bias Contacts
Human Resources
St. Paul Campus
Aquinas Hall, Room 217
humanresources@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-6510
Office Hours
Mon–Fri: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Closed Holidays
Public Safety
St. Paul Campus
Morrison Hall, 1st Floor
Minneapolis Campus
School of Law, 1st Floor
Non-emergency: (651) 962-5100
Emergency: (651) 962-5555