Bias FAQ

Bias FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BIAS RESPONSE AND REPORTING:

• 1. Options for reporting incidents 

  Report suspected bias-related incidents in one or more of the following ways:

  • Online: Bias Response Incident Report Page
  • Phone: 209-946-7678 

  You can obtain additional information regarding bias-related incidents at the following locations on Stockton's campus:

  • Dean of Students * (Hand Hall, 1st Floor)
  • DeRosa University Center
  • Intercultural Student Success Center (McCaffrey Center)
  • Housing and Greek Life (McCaffrey Center, 2nd Floor)
  • Human Resources *
  • International Programs and Services (Bechtel Center)
  • Student Conduct and Community Standards Office (Hand Hall, 1st Floor)
  • Library
  • Multifaith Chaplain's Office (Sears Hall)*
  • Office of the Provost For Diversity (Knoles 301B)*
  • Office of Public Safety (available 24/7)*
  • Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (McCaffrey Center, 1st Floor)
  • Student Athlete Services (Athletic Center)
  • Student Victim Advocate (Cowell Center, Public Safety)

  You may report an incident in-person on the San Francisco campus at the following location(s)

  • Associate Dean for Student Services*
  • Dean's Office*
  • Human Resources*
  • Office of Public Safety*
  • San Francisco Campus Director's Office*

  You may report an incident or pick-up printed material in-person on Sacramento Campus campus at the following location(s):

  • Assistant Dean of Admissions*
  • McGeorge Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Office*
  • Human Resources*
  • Associate Dean of Students -Sacramento Office

  Please note that locations noted with a * are places where you can obtain printed materials as well as speak with someone in-person.

• 2. Immediate Assistance! 

  If there is danger of physical harm, violence or threatening behavior, please immediately contact your campus Office of Public Safety or call the Police: 911. Further, please report any and all emergency situations involving a crime, medical emergency or fire to your campus Office of Public Safety or call the Police: 911.  You may utilize the emergency phones located throughout the campus for reporting emergencies. Finally, campus elevators are equipped with emergency phones that also connect to Public Safety.

  Stockton Campus - 209.946.3911
  Sacramento Campus - 916.739.7200  
  San Francisco Campus - 415.929.6411

  Members of the University community are strongly encouraged to report all crimes and suspicious activity to their campus Department of Public Safety/Security or appropriate police agency in a prompt and timely manner.

• 3. Why report an alleged incident?   Alleged acts of bias, hate, discrimination, harassment and discriminatory harassment should be reported so the University can determine if any laws or policies have been violated and to support individuals who may have been victimized. Also, filing a report helps the University create a safe and welcoming campus climate that better supports everyone's ability to learn and/or work. If bias-related incidents go unreported, it makes it difficult for the University to appropriately address the issue, it diminishes campus climate, it may make some members of our community feel unsafe or unwelcome, or additional incidents may occur.
• 4. What happens after a report has been filed? 

  Because Pacific remains deeply committed to promoting and maintaining a civil community and maintaining a community that is respectful of all persons, the University will address all reported incidents that violate the student code of conduct, University policies and/or federal, state and local laws.
  
  An individual filing a report should know that once the University has received a report, the following steps typically occur:

  • Confirmation that the report has been received will be communicated within 2 business days (should the individual(s) filing the report choose to include his/her name and contact information)
    
    
  • Careful review of the details of the report to ensure that we have accurately understood the nature of the occurrence or violation
    
    
  • Conduct an investigation to gather any additional relevant information that may be required in order determine what, if any, conduct, policy or legal violation has occurred:
    • The investigation process may include contacting individuals or groups who may have been involved in the occurrence as a witness, a victim or a perpetrator in order to obtain more information and/or it may include communicating with other appropriate campus officials, departments/offices or organizations.
    • The University reserves the right to review incidents which may have occurred on and off campus when it involves a member of the Pacific community and depending upon the seriousness of the alleged conduct, policy or legal violation.
  • Provide a safe setting for anyone involved in the incident to share information about what has occurred and, as needed, make referrals to appropriate campus and community resources including the University's Victim's Advocate Program and the Counseling Center among others:
    • Individuals will have an opportunity to learn what services are available to assist them as well as how to access and utilize those services.
  • Determine an appropriate response to an occurrence, which may require assistance from appropriate campus offices or departments.
    • In the case of students, the Office of Judicial Affairs may need to initiate the judicial process and convene a board to determine appropriate sanctions.
      • Possible sanctions for students include educational sanctions, disciplinary probation, suspension, and expulsion. When applicable, student employees are also subject to termination of employment at the discretion of the supervisor.
    • Matters involving University employees may be referred to Human Resources.
  • Initiate appropriate outreach and education since the unfortunate occurrence of an incident may create specific educational opportunities for those connected to the incident through additional interventions:
    
    
    • It provides the University with an opportunity to restate our commitment to Pacific's principles "that diversity and inclusion are essential to the fulfillment of our institutional mission. We value inclusiveness in learning, curricular and co-curricular programming, campus climate, recruitment, admissions, hiring and retention."
    • Depending upon the nature of the incident and the type of response that is required, key campus officials may initiate meetings with appropriate individuals or affinity groups to offer ongoing support, advocacy and/or updated information.
    • Educating everyone, students, faculty, staff, alumni and our local community, about bias-related matters is important. Further, without breaching anyone's confidentiality or right to privacy, this may be an opportunity to develop curricular and co-curricular experiences that can be offered throughout the academic-year that foster the advancement of diversity and inclusion.
• 5. Will the campus community be notified of the outcome? 

  It should be noted that to the extent that federal, state and local law as well as University policies permit, Pacific will keep appropriate individuals and groups apprised of the progress of an investigation and the final outcome on a "need-to-know" basis.

  To protect the confidentiality of all the individuals or groups involved, the University may not be able to release some of the details related to the incident; however, at the end of each semester, a report summarizing the status of all reported incidents will be posted to the Bias Response Team Website. Also, keep in mind that in order to remain compliant with the Clery Act, reported hate crimes will become a part of the mandatory documentation that is posted regularly with the Office of Public Safety's crime statistics.