Table of Contents:

1. Definitions
2. Prevention, Response, and Investigation

Section 1: Definitions

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1. Bias incidents refer to acts of bias, prejudice, bigotry, and/or hatred that do not violate laws but do constitute conduct prohibited by NSHE Code, Chapter 6.
2. Hate crimes refer to acts of bias, prejudice, bigotry, and/or hatred that do break laws and do constitute conduct prohibited by NSHE Code, Chapter 6.
3. Bias incidents and hate crimes are acts, or threatened or attempted acts, by any person or group of persons intended to cause emotional suffering, physical injury, or property damage against the person or property of another individual or group, which is or appears to be motivated, all or in part, by bias, prejudice, bigotry, and/or hatred.

Section 2: Prevention, Response, and Investigation

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1. WNC has a legal and ethical obligation to provide a safe learning and working environment free from discrimination, threats or violence. Just as supervisors, managers, and administrative faculty have a legal and ethical obligation to address and/or report suspected bias incidents and/or hate crimes, academic faculty members have a legal and ethical obligation to address and/or report such incidents that occur in the academic environment. Every employee and student can actively contribute to a safe and respectful campus environment by reporting suspected bias incidents and/or hate crimes immediately to the WNC Human Resources Office, the Public Safety Department and/or local law enforcement authorities. The Human Resources Office can be reached at campus telephone extension 4237 or 775-445-4237. The Public Safety Department can be reached at campus telephone extension 3308; calling 775-445-3308 or 775-230-1952. Local law enforcement authorities can by reached by dialing 911, or 9-911 from a campus telephone.
2. All reports of suspected bias incidents and/or hate crimes will be investigated. Depending upon the circumstances of the incident, the investigation will be conducted by the Dean of Students, the Human Resources Office, the Public Safety Department, the State Department of Personnel, Sexual Harassment/Discrimination Unit or local law enforcement authorities.
3. In the event a member of the WNC campus community, including faculty, staff, and students, engages in a bias incident or hate crime, the college may, in addition to reporting the activity to local law enforcement authorities, place the student or employee on administrative leave pursuant to NSHE Code, Title 2, Chapter 6, Section 6.5 to protect life, limb or property pending a disciplinary hearing, and initiate a Chapter 6 proceeding to determine whether disciplinary sanctions should be imposed against the student or college employee.
4. In the event a person who is not a member of the WNC campus community engages in a bias incident or hate crime, the president or presidents designee may, in addition to reporting the activity to local law enforcement authorities, inform the person that the person is not authorized to remain on the premises and that the persons continued presence could subject the person to liability for trespass or loitering as prescribed by law pursuant to NSHE Code, Title 2, Chapter 6, Section 6.18.
5. This policy will be disseminated to all employees and will be published in the WNC Student Handbook.

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