Nina Anderson, J.D., director of the Office of Equity and Diversity, announced in February that Monmouth University has expanded options for reporting incidents of bias or discrimination on campus. The new online reporting system now includes an option to make a report anonymously, in addition to the previously available option of directly contacting individuals within the Monmouth University Police Department, the Office of Equity and Diversity, or the Office of Student Life.
“Monmouth University is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus where everyone feels safe, valued and respected. When Monmouth community members fall short, we encourage those impacted to report their concerns and seek support from campus resources,” Anderson said.
Expansion of bias reporting options stems, in part, from recent campus climate surveys of Monmouth students, faculty, and staff. Results from the survey instruments indicated that the number of incidents reported to the University for action did not align with the number of incidents of bias or discrimination observed on campus, as indicated by survey data.
Zaneta Rago-Craft, Ed.D., director of the Intercultural Center, who co-led the climate survey efforts has also been a strong proponent of making bias incident reporting easier and less intimidating for all members of the campus community. “Creating and sustaining a welcoming climate requires mutual respect for all. This means that discrimination and harassment are not acceptable at Monmouth University,” she said.
“This new reporting option is one important step in our comprehensive efforts to being a truly inclusive university, and to emphasize how serious the university is about cultivating more welcoming and affirming environment,” Rago-Craft said.
Further information about the reporting guidelines can be found at the Intercultural Center website, while the reporting form and detailed contact information can be found at the Office of Equity & Diversity.