Bias Incidents: Reporting & Response

The Bias Education Response Team (BERT) is a dedicated team of Reed College community members trained to respond to reports of bias incidents. Our goal is to create a more inclusive and equitable campus environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued.

A bias incident is any act or behavior, whether intentional or unintentional, that targets individuals or groups based on their actual or perceived identities, such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and other protected characteristics.

Bias incidents can take many forms, including the following:

• Microaggressions: subtle comments or actions that communicate hostility or negativity toward marginalized groups.
• Slurs or epithets: derogatory language targeting specific groups.
• Vandalism or property damage: defacing or destroying property with hateful symbols or messages.
• Threats or intimidation: verbal or physical threats directed at individuals or groups.

You can report a bias incident through our online reporting form. You also can report incidents in person to a BERT member.

If you're unsure whether an incident constitutes bias, we encourage you to report it anyway. BERT will assess the situation and determine the appropriate course of action.

A member of the BERT team will review your report and contact you to discuss the incident and available options. BERT will then investigate the incident and take appropriate action, which may include the following:

• Providing support and resources to the person who experienced the bias.
• Offering educational opportunities to the person responsible for the bias incident.
• Recommending disciplinary action, if appropriate.
• Implementing broader educational initiatives to address systemic issues.

Learn more about Reed's reporting process

Yes, our online reporting form allows you to submit an anonymous report. However, anonymous reports may limit our ability to investigate and respond to an incident fully. BERT prioritizes confidentiality and will only share information with individuals who need it to address the incident. However, there may be limited circumstances where information must be shared to comply with legal obligations or to protect the safety of the community.

BERT can connect you with various support resources, including counseling services, academic support, and advocacy groups. We are here to help you through this difficult experience.

BERT works closely with the dean of the faculty's office, the student life division, human resources, community safety, the institutional diversity office, and other relevant offices and departments to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive response to bias incidents.

BERT offers workshops, training sessions, and educational programs to raise awareness and promote a more inclusive campus climate.

BERT regularly assesses Reed's bias reporting processes and outcomes to ensure that we are effectively addressing bias incidents and creating a more equitable campus environment. We also track data on reported incidents to identify trends and to inform our prevention efforts. We are committed to transparency and accountability in our work. If you have any questions or feedback about BERT, please reach out to the Office for Institutional Diversity: institutional.diversity@reed.edu.