Reports of protected status bias are received, reviewed, and responded to by COCR staff. Response to bias incidents is typically educational in nature with the goal of promoting a healthy learning and working environment. The process for bias report response is detailed below. For any questions related to report response, please reach out to COCR at civilrights@cornell.edu.
Upon Receipt of a Bias Report, COCR will review the report to determine if the report constitutes bias, or if the report is alleging a violation of Policy 6.4, the Student Code of Conduct, or may constitute a crime.
- If a bias incident report alleges conduct that is criminal in nature, COCR staff is required to provide de-identified data regarding the report as part of the University’s Clery reporting requirements.
- If a reported incident constitutes a violation of Policy 6.4, the report will be referred to COCR for response.
- If a reported incident constitutes a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the report will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for response.
If the reported conduct constitutes a Bias Incident, COCR will conduct outreach and assess the report for additional response.
- If the impacted party is known, COCR will conduct outreach to provide supportive resources and request a meeting with the impacted party. If the impacted party chooses to meet with COCR, COCR will discuss the incident(s) reported, the impact, desired outcomes, and the process for resolution.
- If the report was made anonymously, COCR will send a response to the reporter through the Guardian reporting system to provide supportive resources and request a meeting with the impacted party. This maintains the reporter’s anonymity, but ensures that supportive resources are provided.
Whether or not the impacted party chooses to meet with COCR, COCR will assess the reported information to determine if any action is required.
If reported information constitutes a Bias Incident, COCR will assess the information to determine if any action is required.
Response to bias incidents will generally be educational in nature and may include an accountability and coaching conversation, conflict coaching, or mediation.
In some circumstances, a broader university response will be necessary.
