Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Assessing Campus Climate

As part of its commitment to providing a learning environment free from discrimination and harassment and in support of the Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy, Brown University appoints and maintains a Campus Climate Response Team (CCRT).

The CCRT is responsible for monitoring and assessing campus climate and developing, coordinating, and implementing strategies, interventions, training, and education  to address as needed campus climate challenges and concerns. Members provide subject matter expertise as needed in the  assessment of reports and/or complaints. The team meets on a regular basis to review and assess de-identified information regarding campus climate to carry out its responsibilities. The team assesses, monitors and determines any trends and informs the campus community of significant developments as appropriate.

Campus Climate is the system of cultural meanings, social norms, and shared experiences that bind together the campus and ensure the proper functioning of a diverse and inclusive living-learning community. Disruptions of campus climate inhibit the regular function of the campus. To streamline reporting, the discrimination and harassment reporting form includes an option to report concerns about behavior you believe to be having an impact on the campus community but may not constitute discrimination, harassment, or retaliation that would be subject to resolution or discipline pursuant to the Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy.  This form is for your ease of use and you are not required to use it either to report campus climate concerns or to report alleged discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.  

Team Response

The CCRT can be engaged in taking action in response to individual reports, trends or areas of concern, including but not limited to training, education and awareness, interventions, and/or campus communications. Such actions are not disciplinary in nature and pose no conflict with the Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy, including but not limited to the provisions relating to the Informal Resolution Process and the Formal Resolution Process.

The CCRT serves a vital role on our campus, but it's important to understand its specific focus. The team simultaneously seeks to foster a positive and inclusive environment and to support free expression and open dialogue, regarding these principles as positively and productively intertwined. Towards that end, the CCRT acts as an engaged and supportive resource, dedicated to understanding and addressing broader campus climate concerns, and committed to the empowerment of our community.  The CCRT does not restrict conduct and has no role in any campus conduct process, including the investigation or imposition of discipline for any matter. 

Complaints and reports of information received by the Office of Equity Compliance and Reporting under the Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy will be shared with the Co-Chairs of the CCRT for the purpose of carrying out the team’s charge.

Composition of the CCRT

The CCRT is co-chaired by senior members of the Office of Equity Compliance and Reporting and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and includes representatives of Human Resources, the Provost’s Office, the Department of Public Safety, and additional offices as needed. The co-chairs and members are jointly appointed by the Vice Presidents for Campus Life and Diversity and Inclusion.