Contact Us
Bias Education and Resource Team (BERT)
Email bert@usfca.edu
Quick Links
The University of San Francisco Bias Education and Resource Team (BERT) is a University-wide team that works to gather information about bias incidents and to support those individuals who have witnessed, or themselves become a target of, an act of bias.
Why Report:
- To allow the opportunity to provide affected individuals and communities a space to have their voices heard
- To provide opportunities for education to mitigate or prevent similar occurrences in the future
- To ensure a comprehensive and timely response to bias incidents
What Does BERT Do?
- We assist students, staff, and faculty who report bias incidents involving students
- We keep annual statistical records of bias incidents on campus
- We promote conversation about diversity issues
- We conduct investigations involving bias complaints
What BERT is Not
- We are not a conduct or disciplinary body. However, if after an investigation it is determined there has been a potential violation of the code of conduct, the case will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for adjudication
- We are not a crisis response team. If this matter needs an immediate response, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 415-422-5330 (Monday- Friday 8:30AM to 5:00PM) or Department of Public Safety at 415-422-4201 (After 5:00PM, weekends, and holidays)
What Happens When a Report is Submitted?
When an impacted party and/or a witness submits a report through the Maxient system, here is the general practice for the report (which is reviewed by the Office of the Dean of Students):
- If the BERT report involves ONLY faculty and/or staff, the report is sent to Human Resources
- If the report involves a faculty and/or staff member as the alleged individual, the report is forwarded to Human Resources
- All incident reports involving students as the impacted, witness, or alleged party will be processed through the Office of the Dean of Students