UW Bias Tool

View UW Bias Tool

This Bias Incident Reporting Tool is for NON-EMERGENCY incidents within the University system. It was created in partnership with the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity, the Office of Student Life, and the president’s Race & Equity Initiative. 

Types of Complaints / Topics Addressed

For the purposes of the Bias Incident Advisory Committee, a bias incident is any discrimination or harassment against a member of the University community based on perception of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability or veteran status. Something does not necessarily need to rise to the level of a hate crime (malicious harassment as defined in RCW 9A.36.080) to constitute a bias incident.

Disclaimers

Retaliation protection:
University of Washington policy prohibits retaliation against people who bring a complaint or participate in the complaint process. An employee who engages in retaliatory conduct is subject to appropriate corrective action, including dismissal. 

Exception to confidentiality:
Any information shared in emails, tools, or reports may be subject to public records requests or released under federal and state law. 

Process

What information you need to submit, what happens after

A member of the committee will review the report and determine next steps. Primarily, the information will be maintained in our database, providing us with an overall picture of the kinds of things our students, staff, and faculty are experiencing. If the reporting individual wants to discuss the matter further and provides contact information, we will reach out to that individual. The committee will determine what kind of follow up activity may be called for, such as asking facilities services to remove graffiti, reaching out to an affected community to provide support or providing feedback to a department or individual. 

Reports made through the Bias Incident Reporting Tool are not used to investigate, arbitrate, or take the place of other UW processes, programs, or services; rather, the intention is to connect those who have witnessed or themselves become a target of an act of bias with appropriate campus support and resources.  

When does reporter hear back?

Every effort will be made to respond to your report within 24-48 hours. The University cannot guarantee it will respond to all reports.

Point of Contact Info

Committee members may be found on https://www.washington.edu/bias/

Other Considerations

If the situation involves UW Medicine personnel, use UW Med BRT instead. 

SafetyNet is a place to report all types of safety concerns, including those in which bias impacts the healthcare we deliver to our patients and families. 

If your experience includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, domestic violence, relationship violence, or discrimination based on sex or gender, please do not report that information here, but instead contact the Title IX Office.  If you do use the bias reporting form for those experiences, please know that the report will be shared with the UW Title IX Office where a Title IX case manager will review the report and, if appropriate, provide support resources and response options. You may also contact a confidential advocate who can provide you with support, resources, and reporting options