Bias Response Team

When You Can Make a Difference

The purpose of the UNI Bias Response Team (BRT) is to coordinate the university’s response to incidents of bias. Bias incidents can create an unsafe environment or have a negative effect on an individual, group, or the campus community.  The BRT makes assessments and referrals to appropriate offices such as Public Safety, Dean of Students or Compliance and Equity Management and other support services, communicates with UNI Administration, and helps educate the campus about the ill effects of bias in order to maintain a campus environment of mutual respect.   

Definition of a Bias Incident:

A bias incident is any inappropriate word or action directed toward an individual or group based upon actual or perceived identity characteristics or background of a group or person and that is contrary to law or policy. Examples of identity characteristics or background may include race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex, gender, disability, age, veteran status or other bases protected by federal or state law or university policy. A bias incident may be an action taken by an individual or group that involves, but is not limited to verbal abuse, assault, damage to property, sending threatening mail or e-mail, writing racial slurs or graffiti, stalking, verbal harassment and other bias motivated behavior that contributes to or enables an unsafe and hostile campus environment.

Mission:

The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) seeks to be an ethical, caring and diverse community and a safe institution for higher education. The university community values intellectual and academic freedom, the free exchange of ideas, and the wellbeing of its students, faculty, staff and visitors. The campus community takes great pride in promoting a healthy environment and will not tolerate bias or hate incidents.