University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Report an Incident

Campus Belonging

Alma Mater Statue at the University of Illinois on a summer day.

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, our diversity is one of our greatest assets – our diversity of cultures, identities, perspectives, and values. Illinois values the principles of free speech and academic freedom that are inherent and necessary for the robust exchange of ideas and viewpoints expected in a democratic society and in a university community. Campus Belonging upholds these campus values by bringing members of the campus community together to understand the intersections between free speech, bias, and what it means to be a part of a diverse community.

Campus Belonging is a resource focused on addressing bias incidents that impact the campus community. Campus Belonging, through its educational and reporting processes, encourages understanding of others’ perspectives, identities, and lived experiences. Our processes are designed with the goal of ensuring that the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is an equitable and inclusive community for all.

Submit a Campus Belonging Report

Submitting a Report

Campus Belonging invites members of the university community to submit reports of behaviors that negatively impact their or others’ sense of belonging. This may include behaviors like graffiti, slurs, or other conflicts based on identities.
Campus Belonging offers an individualized response process. Upon receiving a report, Campus Belonging staff will follow up with the reporting party to conduct an intake conversation and to provide resources when applicable.

The Response Process

Campus Belonging staff responds to each report submitted within two business days and tailors a response based on the situation, parties involved, and consistent with the goal of creating a healthy and respectful campus environment for all members of our community. For more detailed information about the process, please see the Campus Belonging Procedures [link to document below entitled Campus Belonging Response Process].

Responses to reports include but are not limited to: providing resources, facilitated discussions, mediation, and education and training.

Anonymous Reports

All fields on the report form are optional, including identifying information. If you choose not to include your name or contact information, we are unable to follow up with you to provide individualized support or referrals. However, all reports will be included in our data and statistics. We will share your report with other units on campus only if the content of the incident described triggers a mandatory reporting requirement (e.g., Title IX reporting or as required by law) or if the report identifies an issue that may have an impact on the greater campus community.

Resources

Campus Belonging staff offers support and other resources to reporters, identified parties, and stakeholders based on the circumstances and the needs of the individuals and communities involved.

Additional Reporting Options

Campus Belonging is not part of the university’s disciplinary systems. It does not perform investigations or impose punishments for policy violations. Participation in the Campus Belonging process is voluntary irrespective of the party’s role. Incidents involving potential policy or legal violations are referred to our relevant campus partners.

Support Resources

Counseling Center: The Counseling Center provides mental health counseling and well-being education for students.

Faculty Staff Assistance and Well-Being Services: Faculty Staff Assistance and Well-Being Services provides confidential assistance to employees and their families who may be experiencing difficulties that impact their lives, assessments, short-term counseling, crisis services, and referrals to appropriate resources.

McKinley Health Center: McKinley Health Center provides ambulatory healthcare and health education to students and medical expertise to University leadership.

Office for Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR): The Office for Student Conflict Resolution supports Illinois’ community standards by promoting ethical decision-making, encouraging personal and social responsibility, and facilitating the effective resolution of conflict.

Student Assistance Center: The Student Assistance Center helps students understand university policies and procedures, educate them about and connect them to campus resources, and support students in crisis.

Student Success, Inclusion & Belonging: Student Success, Inclusion & Belonging units provide support for students to reach their personal, academic, and professional goals through curricular and co-curricular engagement opportunities. The work is rooted in the goals of being more diverse, equitable, and inclusive to create a sense of belonging for students and other members of the university community.

Title IX Office: The Title IX Office oversees the University’s response to reports and complaints of sexual misconduct, including sex-based discrimination, sexual assault, stalking, and other prohibited sexual misconduct.

Data Sharing

Campus Belonging will gather data from reports to share with the campus. Campus Belonging releases an annual report summarizing the reports that Campus Belonging has received over the course of the year. Reporting provides transparency to the campus community about the types of reports Campus Belonging receives and the process. It also allows campus stakeholders to respond to any observed trends. Campus Belonging may periodically share anonymized data via the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (OVCDEI) website.

Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, Campus Belonging transitioned to using Symplicity to receive Campus Belonging reports and house the associated data. The Symplicity database streamlines reporting and allows Campus Belonging to better observe trends, compare data, and share more customized data.

Contact

Please contact the Campus Belonging staff at campusbelonging@illinois.edu or 217-300-9580.

  • Gioconda Guerra Pérez, Executive Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity
  • Kaamilyah Abdullah-Span, Director of Campus Culture and Climate
  • Ross Wantland, Director of Curriculum Development and Education
  • Kellye Smith, Office Support Specialist

Campus Belonging is part of the Office of Academic Inclusive Excellence in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.