Confidential reporting of campus violations
If you wish to report an incident of sexual misconduct, such as sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, and dating or domestic violence, please use the Title IX Reporting Form.
Use the Incident Reporting Form below to report an incident of bias, hazing, or one that you believe is a violation of Augustana's Code of Conduct.
Although you can choose to remain anonymous using the Incident Reporting Form, if you would be available to provide more details and feel comfortable doing so, we would appreciate your including your contact information.
Thank you for taking time to improve our community.
What is a bias incident?
A bias incident is conduct, speech, images, or expression that targets a victim on the basis of actual or perceived identity characteristics, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, color, disability, age, gender identity or expression, military status, or other social identities. Bias incidents may be intentional or unintentional. A bias incident does not need to rise to the level of a violation of college policy or the law to be reported and addressed.
What do I do if I have experienced or witnessed a bias incident?
First be sure you are safe and take care of yourself and others in the way that you need. Contact Public Safety if you do not feel safe. You may choose to report a bias incident so that the Bias Education and Support Team can help connect you with resources and investigate the Incident. Reporting a bias incident also can be done anonymously to help the team monitor the campus climate.
You can make an anonymous report as it helps the team to gather information, but there may be limited ability to gather information and respond to anonymous reports.
College employees are expected to notify the Bias Education and Support Team of any bias incidents that are experienced, seen or heard. As always, Counseling Services and Campus Ministries serve as confidential resources on campus and are not obligated to share information.
Who is on the Bias Education and Support Team (BEST)?
- Dr. Gauri Pitale – Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Convener)
- Dr. Wesley Brooks – Dean of Students
- John Cage – Financial Aid
- Dr. Paul Croll – Professor in Sociology, Anthology and Social Welfare
- Dr. William Iavarone – Director Counseling
- Tom Phillis – Chief, Public Safety
- Amanda Tumbarello – Residential Life
- Steve Wehling – Civil Rights Director and and Title IX Coordinator
- Dr. Lina Zhou – Professor in Business Administration
- Mindy Zumdome – Director of Human Resources
*In the event of a conflict of interest, the convener of the Bias Education and Support Team will ask any involved individual(s) to recuse themselves from all discussions involving that particular case.
What happens after I submit a report?
The Bias Education and Support Team reviews every report that is made to assess the situation, including possible resources needed and college policies that may be involved. The team will work to offer support and resources on and off campus needed by individuals impacted by the incident. (See PDF of the reporting and assessment process.)
Based on the assessment, the team also works to better understand the incident through gathering evidence and meeting with individuals involved. The college also may take action to resolve the incident as appropriate through a range of options, including student conduct processes, employee conduct processes, criminal prosecution, and educational intervention. Please note that the action taken may be influenced by the wishes of the individual(s) impacted and college policy.
If a reported incident is suspected to be a hate crime, it will be shared with Augustana Police and Public Safety. A hate crime is any crime committed that is motivated by bias or based on the victim's perceived membership in a specific group. Examples of hate crimes include vandalism, assault and other crimes against a person or property. In some cases, hate crimes also will be shared with the Rock Island Police Department. Hate crimes are a violation of college policy and may be handled as both a criminal offense and a violation of college policy.
Additional resources
Dean of Students Office, 104 Founders Hall, 309-794-7533
Campus Ministries, Ascension Chapel, Founders Hall, 309-794-7213
Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Gerber Center, fourth floor, 309-794-8270
Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity, Gerber Center, fourth floor, 309-794-8270
Office of Residential Life, Andreen Hall main office, 309-794-2686
Student Counseling, 206 Founders Hall, 309-794-7357
Augustana Police and Public Safety, Sorensen Hall, 309-794-7711