"It Happened in Class" Racism Reporting Tool
Documenting and addressing racism experienced within learning environments
If racism or discrimination happens in class, it shouldn’t end with “that’s bad”. There should be somewhere to take it further, something that happens next, and someone responsible for it. This reporting also gives students meaningful choices about what happens after they report. A student could choose whether they want information only, welfare/support, incident documented, etc. This makes the system much more student-centered.
Why this matters
Racism in the classroom can directly affect someone’s education. One of the biggest problems isn’t necessarily that universities have no reporting mechanisms. Students might be unsure who to approach to, so a dedicated “It Happened in Class” pathway makes the first step much clearer.
How we implement it
Create an online “It Happened in Class” reporting form and allow students to submit anonymously where appropriate. After submitting, students should be able to select their preferred response, such as support services, formal complaint, documentation, etc. Then, by establishing a clear response timeline, students can see if the report is received and actioned. Every semester, the university could also publish anonymised statistics to publicize what has happened and whether the university taken action