The Campus Inclusion Team (CIT) is committed to fostering a campus community that honors diversity, freedom of expression, and inclusiveness through individual support, campus trainings, and resource referrals. CIT does not investigate or adjudicate specific incidents of conduct or advise on disciplinary matters.

CIT welcomes open, courageous, and challenging discussions across the full spectrum of human issues and intersections in our campus communities. CIT encourages the exchange of ideas through academic inquiry, civil discourse, and respect for individuals. CIT recognizes the value of free speech and also that some speech may be hurtful and even disparaging. CIT can provide support for students, faculty, and staff impacted by such speech by listening, discussing, and connecting individuals with resources. University community members may report concerns related to diversity and inclusion to CIT; if a reported concern appears to involve a legal or policy violation, the CIT will refer the impacted individuals or communities to the appropriate resource.

For many years, NAU has had separate offices on campus to address faculty, staff, and student concerns. However, the university has come to realize many individuals don’t know where to go for assistance. Creating a Campus Inclusion Team allows us to improve the visibility of these resources for everyone on our campus. The creation of the CIT also ensures a more coordinated and timely response to incidents that affect the campus community.

Anyone may report an incident of bias or exclusion, however, because the Campus Inclusion Team only provides support and helps identify potential solutions, if a reported incident appears to involve a legal or policy violation, the CIT will help connect the reporting party to the appropriate office.

Reports can be submitted anonymously, however, identifying information may be needed to support the impacted community or individuals. The Campus Inclusion Team may need to share identifying information with other departments if the behavior violates a university policy. The Campus Inclusion Team will notify the individual prior to submitting the information to another entity or campus department. For more information, please contact us at campusinclusionteam@nau.edu

Northern Arizona University honors its commitment to the freedoms of speech and assembly guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution. NAU is a public institution, and public universities are considered to be the quintessential “marketplace of ideas” – where both the campus community and the general public engage in free speech activities. As a public institution, NAU recognizes that freedom of expression is integral to the purpose and process of the University, whose primary goal is education. Many speakers use our campus, and some may have messages which seem inconsistent with the mission and values of the institution. In the “marketplace of ideas” not all ideas will resonate with the listener and some ideas may even seem distasteful or offensive. NAU encourages both the listener and the speaker to exercise this important freedom with respect, civility and responsibility.