The Saint Joseph’s University mission affirms our rigorous, student-centered education to prepare students for personal excellence, professional success, and engaged citizenship. We work together to cultivate an inclusive and diverse community in which each person feels a sense of belonging and care as a whole person. Members and visitors to the SJU community are expected to demonstrate mutual respect and accountability for one another. This means sharing our experiences, listening carefully to others, and debating ideas in civil, generous, and constructive ways.
Bias- or hate-motivated conduct creates barriers to inclusion and trust, and all campus members are responsible to respond to harmful incidents quickly and effectively in order to ensure the wellbeing of targeted individuals and groups, to facilitate collective learning, and to re-establish clear norms that forestall future incidents. Bias incidents affect not only the targeted individual or group, but often make an entire group or community feel vulnerable and unwelcomed. In identifying and addressing a bias incident, focus will be placed on the impact on an individual or group, not the intention or motivation of the actor.
Be aware that just because the expression of an idea or point of view may be offensive or inflammatory to some, it is not necessarily a bias-related incident. Academic freedom and the open exchange of ideas are fundamental to our educational mission, and the expression of controversial ideas and differing views is a vital part of University discourse. The University honors these tenets and also rejects conduct that undermines the equitable pursuit of educational goals in a safe and respectful setting.
These guidelines outline the responsibilities of departments, groups, and individuals to respond when we learn of bias and hate incidents. To the extent possible, the guidelines use existing, established institutional processes to respond to bias and hate incidents. When you report, this allows the University to address bias-related incidents promptly, to strengthen our support for those in the community targeted or affected by these incidents, to gauge emerging patterns and climate, and to inform educational and training activities.
Use the links below to navigate to the sections of these guidelines