Protocol and Guidelines for Students, Staff, and Faculty

A "bias-motivated incident" refers to conduct, speech, or expression that does not violate state penal codes but stems from bias or prejudice against someone's actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity and expression, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, military status, veteran status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other protected classification. This conduct, speech, or expression often contributes to or creates an unsafe or unwelcoming environment. 

“Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT)” ensures the coordination of university-wide communication and response protocols for incidents where bias may be a motivating factor for prohibited conduct. BIRT does not preempt nor replace existing procedures and BIRT does not conduct its own investigations.  

“Complainant” means any person or organization who submits a report or complaint alleging that a university policy has been violated. A complainant may choose to make a report to the university to pursue an investigation and determination under the protocol and may additionally choose to make a report to law enforcement.

“Hate crimes” are acts of physical force, threats or intimidation that are willfully or knowingly committed because of the victim's actual or perceived disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. Hate crimes are expressed in several ways, sometimes physical violence and sometimes violence against property. (California Penal Code, §§422.55 and 422.6).

“Leonard Law” The First Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits the government from creating laws that limit freedom of speech, the press, or the right to peacefully assemble. While LMU, as a private university, is not bound by the First Amendment, it must comply with the Leonard Law under the California Education Code. This law prevents private universities from implementing rules that would punish students solely for engaging in speech protected by the First Amendment.

“Privacy” means, in general, that the information related to a report made under this protocol will be shared only with a limited number of individuals who “need to know” to assist in the active review, investigation, and determination of responsibility or restoration concerning the report. While not bound by confidentiality, these individuals are trained to be discreet and respect the privacy of all individuals involved in the process.

“Respondent” means any member of the LMU community or organization alleged to have committed a violation of university policies.

As a resource coordinator, BIRT ensures that the university supports students impacted by Bias-Motivated Incidents. Students who experience or witness any form of Bias-Motivated Incident or Hate Crime are encouraged to report the incident as soon as possible in order to maximize the University’s ability to promptly and efficiently respond. Even in situations where the reported actor(s) is not a member of the University community at the time of the report, the University will seek to provide appropriate institutional support to the Complainant, identifying any information relevant to pattern or climate and assisting the Complainant in identifying external reporting options.

Reports may be made to DPS:

To report a bias incident within the LMU community, please use this online portal

Please note that faculty and staff should also file their initial report with DPS, which will refer to HR after intake and any needed immediate responses.

See more about the BIRT process.