{"id":186,"date":"2025-05-01T17:57:03","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T17:57:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-and-harassment\/?page_id=186"},"modified":"2025-10-23T15:58:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T15:58:24","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-and-harassment\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The following frequently asked questions and answers provide general information on the reporting, handling and adjudication of reports of bias, discrimination, and harassment. Please review both the full <a href=\"https:\/\/policy.cornell.edu\/policy-library\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-harassment-and-sexual-and-related-misconduct\">policy on bias, harassment, and discrimination<\/a> and the accompanying procedures for more complete information. Additional FAQs may be added from time to time as questions arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">General Principles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"expander scripted wp-block-accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">How does Cornell address bias, discrimination, and harassment?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Cornell University is committed to creating and maintaining an educational, working, and living environment free from discrimination and harassment. The University will address acts of protected status bias, discrimination or harassment in accordance with its policies and appropriate educational or disciplinary actions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">Are acts of bias illegal or prohibited by University policy?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Some forms of bias, including hate crimes, discrimination, and harassment are prohibited under law and\/or University policy. Not all acts of bias are a crime or violate University policy, but they may contribute to creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for the individuals and groups affected. You are encouraged to report all acts of bias, discrimination and harassment so that the University can take appropriate action to remedy the effects of such acts and help improve the campus climate. The course of action taken by the University, including any resulting disciplinary penalty, will depend on the particular facts and circumstances involved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">How are bias, discrimination, and harassment defined by University policy?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Descriptions of bias, discrimination, harassment, hostile environment, protected statuses and other key concepts are defined in <a href=\"https:\/\/policy.cornell.edu\/policy-library\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-harassment-and-sexual-and-related-misconduct\">Policy 6.4<\/a> and the accompanying procedures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">What is the difference between discrimination and bias-related incidents?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Unlawful discrimination refers to specific conduct prohibited by law that unfairly treats people differently because of their characteristic or perceived characteristics that the law deems to be unrelated to merit. An example of unlawful discrimination would be to deny membership into a group because a person is Muslim.<\/li>\n<li>Bias is a preconceived negative opinion or attitude about a group of people who possess common physical characteristic or cultural experiences.<\/li>\n<li>Unlawful discrimination often results from bias. Bias-related incidents, however, do not always result in unfair treatment that violates nondiscrimination laws.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reporting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"expander scripted wp-block-accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">I\u2019m not ready to make a formal report. What else can I do? <\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li>Email us at <a href=\"mailto:civilrights@cornell.edu\">civilrights@cornell.edu<\/a> and we can chat about it first.<\/li>\n<li>Call us at (607) 255-2242<\/li>\n<li>Visit our office located at 500 Day Hall (5<sup>th<\/sup> floor).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">I don\u2019t know if what I\u2019ve experienced counts as bias, discrimination, or harassment. How do I know what to do? <\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li>You can still submit a report. COCR will assess the report and reach out to you with questions and to provide additional information. If the reported incident is determined not to be a matter of protected status bias, discrimination, or harassment, it will be referred to the appropriate office for handling, which will be communicated to you.<\/li>\n<li>You can also email, call us, or drop by our office to discuss the situation further before filing a report.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">Can I submit an anonymous report? <\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li>Yes, you can. Our reporting system will allow you to remain anonymous. However, it is important to note that reporting anonymously may limit COCR\u2019s ability to respond to an incident.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">Why should I report bias, discrimination, and harassment?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>All University members are encouraged to report all acts of bias, discrimination and\/or harassment, despite whether the conduct constitutes a crime or policy violation. The University will identify the appropriate response to help resolve the conflict and improve the campus climate, such as facilitating programs, private meetings and\/or other actions to educate the community in ways that are respectful of free speech and expression.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">Is there a time limit on reporting bias, discrimination, or harassment?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>No. There is no time limit or deadline for filing a report. However, to facilitate the best resolution, prompt reporting is encouraged<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">I feel that I\u2019ve experienced bias, discrimination or harassment. What are my options?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>File a formal report of bias, discrimination, harassment online (<em>hyperlink to Guardian<\/em>). These reports will come directly to the Cornell Office of Civil Rights.<\/li>\n<li>Make an anonymous report online (<em>hyperlink to Guardian<\/em>).<\/li>\n<li>If you are concerned for your <strong>safety <\/strong>or feel that the incident may be a <strong>criminal act, <\/strong>please contact Cornell Police by dialing <strong>911.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Still not sure what the best option is?\n<ul>\n<li>Email us at\u00a0 <a href=\"mailto:civilrights@cornell.edu\">civilrights@cornell.edu<\/a> and we can chat about it first.<\/li>\n<li>Call us at (607) 255-2242<\/li>\n<li>Visit our office located at 500 Day Hall (5<sup>th<\/sup> floor).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">What information should I include in my report?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Please include your name and contact information (unless you\u2019re reporting confidentially) and be as descriptive as possible about the incident(s). Try to include any details you have regarding the date of the incident(s), approximate time, location, parties involved and any witnesses or individuals who may have knowledge of what occurred, and any other information relevant to the incident(s).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">Will you tell the person I\u2019m reporting that I\u2019ve reported them? <\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>No, the COCR will not share your name with the person and\/or group that you\u2019ve reported. There are potential next steps that would require that we share your name, but we will not do so without discussing this with you first. You will be kept informed every step of the way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">Who will have access to my report? <\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>When you submit a bias, discrimination, or harassment report through Guardian it will be routed to the COCR team. Your report will be held privately and only shared on a need-to-know basis to preserve the safety of the Cornell community.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">Will my concerns be kept confidential? <\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Our office keeps information private, but it is important to note that we are not a confidential resource. As a private resource, COCR will only share information related to your report on a need-to-know basis. Cornell has <a href=\"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/resources\/confidential-resources\/\">confidential on-campus resources<\/a> that you can connect with.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">Can I submit a report against another student, faculty member, or staff member?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Yes. COCR serves as a resource for current members of the Cornell University community. If you have had an incident occur with a fellow student, faculty, or staff member, you may report that incident to our office.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">The incident I\u2019m reporting happened off campus, can I still report it? <\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Yes, you can. If COCR ends up not being the right place for you to voice your concerns, we will point you in the right direction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">How do I file a discrimination and\/or harassment complaint externally?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>In addition to or instead of filing an internal complaint, you may file a complaint of discrimination and\/or harassment with an external body, including a federal or state agency authorized to investigate such claims. The appropriate agency will depend on the status of the complainant and the nature of the complaint. Examples of such agencies include: the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Office for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education, and the New York State Division of Human Rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Support and Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"expander scripted wp-block-accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">What interim supportive measures are available? <\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>COCR can offer a wide array of interim measures, tailored to the specific needs of the incident, these can include, but are not limited to:\n<ul>\n<li>Assistance obtaining access to counseling, advocacy, or medical services<\/li>\n<li>Assistance requesting changes in work schedules, job assignments, or other work accommodations<\/li>\n<li>Referrals for conflict coaching and\/or mediation<\/li>\n<li>Restrictive orders<\/li>\n<li>\u201cNo-contact\u201d orders, which curtail or prohibit contact or communications between or among individuals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">Does Cornell offer any confidential resources?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Yes, there <a href=\"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/resources\/confidential-resources\/\">a number of individuals<\/a> who are required to keep what you share with them confidential.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Incident Report Review Process <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"expander scripted wp-block-accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">I\u2019ve been accused of bias, discrimination or harassment. What happens now? <\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>After COCR receives reports of bias, discrimination, or harassment, we look into these reports following the appropriate processes.<\/li>\n<li>If you are found to have engaged in protected-status bias, you can expect that an educational\/accountability conversation will occur. These conversations are non-punitive with a goal of conveying the impact of your actions on others and forming strategies to prevent future incidents.<\/li>\n<li>When discrimination or harassment that violates Policy 6.4 is suspected, COCR may conduct a formal investigation into the matter. We will talk with you and others as well as gather any other relevant information to determine what likely took place, and issue a report.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">What are the consequences if someone is found to have committed bias, harassment or discrimination? <\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>If someone is found to have committed an act of bias, we would ask that an educational\/accountability conversation be held with that person. This is a non-punitive process.<\/li>\n<li>If a member of the Cornell Community is found to have engaged in protected status harassment or discrimination there are a number of possible outcomes. The offending person may be asked to attend training and\/or may face punitive action, up to and including termination or dismissal, depending on the severity of the behavior.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"block-accordion-header\">If I am the subject of a complaint, will the University keep the investigation confidential?<\/h2> <!-- First accordion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Any allegation of discrimination or harassment brought to the attention of the University will be addressed discreetly to the greatest extent possible. During the course of the investigation, the investigator may gather pertinent information or receive counsel from the Provost\u2019s Office, the Office of the General Counsel, or other offices or parties as needed. In such case, disclosures will be limited to the extent possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The following frequently asked questions and answers provide general information on the reporting, handling and adjudication of reports of bias, discrimination, and harassment. Please review both the full policy on bias, harassment, and discrimination and the accompanying procedures for more complete information. Additional FAQs may be added from time to time as questions arise. General [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-186","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"hentry"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-and-harassment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-and-harassment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-and-harassment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-and-harassment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-and-harassment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=186"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-and-harassment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":345,"href":"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-and-harassment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/186\/revisions\/345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/officeofcivilrights.cornell.edu\/prohibited-bias-discrimination-and-harassment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}