As part of its ongoing efforts to foster an inclusive campus climate, The University of Texas at Austin has released its second Campus Climate Trend Report with data collected on bias incidents reported during the 2013-14 academic year.
The report details incidents that are reported to the university’s Campus Climate Response Team (CCRT). Launched in March 2012 by President Bill Powers, the CCRT collects data about bias on campus through an online report form, by phone, or in person and works to support the reporting individuals and to connect campus members to university resources.
During the 2013-14 academic year (including summer 2014), the CCRT received 670 reports regarding 69 separate bias incidents.
- Eighty-nine percent of the reports (597) were related to two high-profile events sponsored by a student group and were, by and large, reports of race/ethnicity bias.
- The remaining 73 reports focused on 67 incidents that cite race/ethnicity bias (42%), gender bias (30%), sexual orientation bias (28%) and gender expression bias (26%).
- Nearly half of these reports (48%) involved verbal harassment or slurs.
“The annual Campus Climate Trend Report offers an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to reflect on our campus climate and culture,” said Gregory J. Vincent, vice president for diversity and community engagement, to whom the team reports. “Creating an inclusive campus is a responsibility for each of us at the university, and I hope this report prompts dialogue and reflection as we work together to achieve this goal.”
For more information on the CCRT and to learn more about what constitutes a bias incident, please visit the CCRT home page.
For more information regarding the trend report, contact Dr. Susan Somers-Willett, DDCE assistant vice president for research and policy.
