Bias Response
Bias Response is committed to addressing reported bias incidents that target Penn State students by focusing on incident response and support.
We are responsible for:
- providing a centralized method for any Penn Stater to report an act of bias that they experience or witness.
- receiving, responding to, and appropriately referring reported incidents of bias.
- ensuring support to individuals affected by bias incidents.
- collecting and reporting data related to reported bias incidents.
What Bias Response does:
- Meets weekly to review submitted reports and collectively determine appropriate referrals.
- Refers reports as appropriate. Reports are referred to academic or non-academic unit heads (e.g., supervisors of those who are named as alleged wrongdoers). Reports may also be sent to Directors of Student Affairs, Residence Life, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, or other offices, as appropriate.
What Bias Response does not do:
- Investigate reports.
- Determine whether a reported concern violates Penn State policy.
- Recommend actions or solutions.
- Adjudicate cases.
- Discipline alleged wrongdoers or impose sanctions.
Annual Reports
The 2024 and 2025 Bias-Motivated Incidents Annual Reports provide an overview of incidents reported through Penn State’s Bias Response system across all campuses. Each report summarizes the number of submissions received, the types of behaviors reported (such as verbal harassment, classroom bias, or vandalism), and the identities targeted, while also describing how reports were referred to appropriate campus offices for response and support. Together, the reports help track trends over time and inform the University’s ongoing efforts to promote a respectful and inclusive campus climate. See the Bias-Motivated Incident Report Archive for previous years' data.
