Union Graduate College - Current Students

Hate Crimes Policy & Procedures

Union Graduate College is committed to providing an educational atmosphere in which students can pursue their academic endeavors and can achieve their maximum potential. Maintaining a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff is of the highest priority at the Graduate College.

The following protocol has been adopted by the Graduate College for victims of bias-related activity and for those individuals at the Graduate College who are otherwise involved in bias-related activity.

Bias-related incidents behaviors which constitute an expression of hostility against the person or property of another because of the targeted person’s race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, or disability. Bias-related incidents include, but are not limited to, non-threatening name calling and using degrading language or slurs that are directed toward a person because of his or her membership or perceived membership in a protected class and that create a hostile environment for that person. If a violation of the Student Disciplinary Code is accompanied by bias-related motivation, the sanctions imposed by the Academic Committee for that violation may be more severe.

What is a Bias-Related Incident?

Bias-related incidents are defined as behavior that constitutes an expression of hostility against the person or property of another because of the targeted person’s race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, or disability. They include:

spray-painting homophobic language in a public space of a residence hall
yelling derogatory comments about women in the Campus Center
hanging posters that mock persons with disabilities

Procedures for Responding to Bias-Related Incidents and Crimes

If anyone in the Union Graduate College Community (i.e., faculty, staff, or students) becomes aware that bias- related activity has allegedly occurred on the Union Graduate College Campus, the following procedures, to the extent reasonably practicable under the circumstances, are to be applied:

Determine whether emergency medical treatment is necessary. If medical attention is necessary, immediately contact 911 for assistance. If the incident occurs while on the Union College campus, contact Union College Campus Safety (388-6911 or 388-6178)
If medical treatment is not necessary, immediately contact the Union Graduate College Student Services Office during business hours (631-9910) or the Union Graduate College Safety Officer during off-business hours (631-9912) to report the incident if it has not already been reported.
The Union Graduate College Campus Safety Officer responding to the bias-related activity is to, if possible, photograph physical injuries, offensive graffiti, and evidence of vandalism. In addition, he or she should record where and when the activity occurred and document names of witnesses if applicable. Further, the Campus Safety Officer should document detailed information about the perpetrator(s), if available. He or she should also retain any physical evidence of the incident, if possible, or, in the case of a crime, turn same over to public law enforcement officials. Any and all reports of this nature will be retained in the Graduate College’s Student Services Office.
The Union Graduate College Campus Safety Officer or the Student Services personnel should also, if they suspect that a bias related crime has occurred, report same to the appropriate law enforcement officials and cooperate with same in its investigation of the incident(s).
If the alleged perpetrator is a Union Graduate College student or student’s guest acting against a member of the College community, the victim may file charges pursuant to the Student Disciplinary Code.
All bias-related activity shall be considered confidential, to the extent permitted by law. Every reasonable effort will be made by Union Graduate College to preserve any personal information obtained during the investigation or adjudication of the matter. However, maintaining full confidentiality may be challenging in this context. If anyone in the Union Graduate College Community (i.e., faculty, staff, or students) becomes aware that bias- related activity has allegedly occurred on or around the Union Graduate College Campus, the following procedures, to the extent reasonably practicable under the circumstances, are to be applied:
1. If you have been the victim of a bias crime and immediate medical treatment is necessary, please call 911.
2. If medical treatment is not necessary, immediately contact the Union Graduate College Student Services Office during business hours (631-9910) or the Union Graduate College Safety Officer during off-business hours (518-466-0519) to report the incident if it has not already been reported.
3. If any member of the Graduate College community suspects that a bias-related crime has occurred, he or she should report the incident to the appropriate law enforcement officials and cooperate with same in its investigation of the incident(s).
4. If the alleged perpetrator is a Graduate College student or student’s guest acting against a member of the Graduate College community, the victim may file charges pursuant to the Student Disciplinary Code.
5. All bias-related activity shall be considered confidential, to the extent permitted by law. Every reasonable effort will be made by the Graduate College to preserve any personal information obtained during the investigation or adjudication of the matter. However, maintaining full confidentiality may be challenging in this context. All forms of bias crimes and all attempts to commit such acts are regarded as serious. Graduate College offenses are likely to result in suspension, required withdrawal or expulsion. Any student alleged to have violated this Bias Crime Policy will be subject to the Student Disciplinary Code. The New York Penal Law encompasses the offenses identified above, and prosecution may take place independently of charges under Graduate College regulations. Please see Appendix B for the text of the New York Hate Crimes Act of 2000.

Union Graduate College Resources

Affirmative Action Officer, Jane Fleury. Human Resources Office (518) 631-9851

Off-Campus Resources
NYS Division of Human Rights
Albany Regional Office
Empire State Plaza - Agency Building 2
Albany, NY 12220
(518) 474-2705

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
New York District Office
201 Varick Street - Room 1009
New York, NY
(212) 741-8815 or (800) 669-4000

Counseling Services

Victims of bias-related activity often feel shock, anger, fear, powerlessness and depression. They may need support in order to cope with the incident and life in the aftermath of same if the targeted person is a Union Graduate College student, the student may voluntarily seek assistance from area counseling services for any personal or psychological problems arising from the bias related activity. The Graduate College has contracted with The Wellness Corporation to provide mental health counseling. Students should call 1-800-326-6142

for the most up to date information visit the student handbook

Union Graduate College 80 Nott Terrace, Schenectady, NY 12308 US Phone: (518) 631-9900 Fax: (518) 631-9901
Educating Graduate students from Albany, Schenectady, Upstate New York’s Capital Region, United States, and around the World.