Terms and Definitions
At Ball State, we value and respect the diversity our students bring to our campus community. We are committed to helping you if you feel you have been adversely impacted by a bias incident. To understand the concept of bias, you may find these terms and definitions helpful.
Disability: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is the civil rights guarantee for people with disabilities in the United States. A “person with a disability” is anyone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. In addition to people with visible disabilities—such as those who are blind, deaf, or use a wheelchair—the definition includes people with a range of invisible disabilities. These include psychological problems, learning disabilities, or some chronic health impairment such as epilepsy, cancer, cardiac problems, and HIV/AIDS.
Equitable Procedures: All students at the university have a right to fair and equitable procedures for determining the validity of allegations that are in violation of university regulations.
Gender: This term encompasses the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with being male or female.
Gender Identity: This term describes the gender with which a person identifies and is also used to refer to the gender that other people attribute to the individual.
Harassment: Actions that can be physical, verbal or written, that create a hostile or intimidating environment and are directed at a specific individual or group of people are considered harassment. (See the
Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, Appendix I and the Anti-harassment Policy, Appendix C.)
National Origin: A person who has an origin from a specific place is believed to have a specific ethnic background because nationality, ethnicity, or accent.
Prejudice: The process of “pre-judging” something. When applied to social groups, prejudice generally refers to biases toward the members of groups, often based on social stereotypes. Extreme prejudice can result in groups being denied benefits and rights unjustly or, conversely, shown unwarranted favor.
Race: People unified by shared interests, habits, characteristics, culture, history, or language.
Religion: This term includes all aspects of observing and practicing a personal set or institutionalized system of attitudes or beliefs.
Sexual Orientation: This term describes a person’s sexual orientation and includes bisexual (bi), heterosexual (straight), and homosexual (gay or lesbian). Transgender is an overarching term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the typical gender role.
Student: Any person admitted to the university, registered or enrolled in classes either full time or part time, or otherwise associated with the university.
University Activity: This term includes any teaching, research, service, administrative function, proceeding, ceremony, or activity conducted or authorized by students, faculty, staff, or administrators that is held by the authority of the university.