Submitting a Bias Report
The University considers bias incidents antithetical to the Penn State Values. The online bias incident report form provides the Penn State community a mechanism for reporting incidents involving acts of bias due to:
- actual or perceived age
- race or color
- ancestry or national origin
- sex
- sexual orientation
- gender
- gender identity
- physical or mental disability
- religion or creed
- veteran status or service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law)
- marital or family status,
- pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions
- genetic information
- political ideas
Considerations
Students may use the form to report any act of bias that they have experienced themselves or observed directed against anyone else.
Faculty and staff should only use the form to report acts they observe that are directed against students. If no student is involved, faculty and staff should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at 814-863-0471.
You may submit this report anonymously. However, please be advised that, without your contact information, we are unable to follow up with you. Additionally, anonymous submissions may limit our ability to address the reported incident.
What to expect after submitting a bias incident report
- Immediately upon submission, you will receive an auto-confirmation from the secure online system notifying you that your report was received.
- Within 1-2 working days, you will receive an email from the Bias Response Coordinator to let you know when the Bias Response Network will review your report and to provide any needed resources.
- The Bias Response Network will review your report and determine the appropriate referral.
- The Bias Response Coordinator will refer your report to the appropriate party.
- The Bias Response Coordinator will email you to let you know to whom your report was referred.
- If you requested a meeting to discuss the reported incident, the person to whom your report was referred will contact you to ensure that your perspective is heard, gather any additional details you may wish to provide, and provide additional resources if appropriate.