non-discrimination
Non-Discrimination Statement
University Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
Filing a Complaint
What is Discrimination?plus or minus
The University’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy defines discrimination as “the denial of rights, privileges, participation, programs, and activities generally provided or made available to Scranton employees, students, applicants for employment and admission and other participants in the University's programs or activities, including vendors, visitors, guests, volunteers or other third parties, parties based on an individual’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, genetic information, national origin, veteran status, or any other status protected by law, that is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with or limits a student, faculty, staff member, applicant or third party’s ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s programs, activities or employment. Discrimination may also occur in the granting of a preference or advantage to an individual based on that individual’s actual or perceived protected status.”
What is Harassment?plus or minus
The University’s Non-Discrimination and Anti Harassment policy defines harassment as “the creation of a hostile or intimidating environment, in which conduct, because of its severity and/or persistence, is likely to interfere significantly with an individual’s life. Harassment can be uninvited or unwelcome verbal, written, visual or physical conduct based on race, color, religion, ancestry, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, genetic information, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law when such conduct:
- Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or educational performance;
- Creates or has the intention of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working and/or learning environment; or
- Interferes with or limits one’s ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program, activity or employment.
Unwelcome verbal and/or non-verbal communication and/or conduct, including but not limited to, in person or via text message, e-mail or any form of social media including actions, threats, gestures, and/or words based on a protected class may create a hostile environment when it (a) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive to limit a student, faculty, staff or other third party’s ability to participate in or benefit from an education program or creates a hostile or abusive educational environment, or (b) explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. In determining whether harassment has created a hostile environment, consideration will be made, not only as to whether the conduct was unwelcome to the person who feels harassed but also whether a reasonable person in a similar situation would have perceived the conduct as objectively offensive.
What is a Protected Characteristic, Protected Category or Protected Class?plus or minus
Under the University’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy these terms mean any individual characteristic of which harassment or discrimination is prohibited by law or policy. These characteristics include but are not limited to: race, color, national origin, religion, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, national origin, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.Reporting an Incidentplus or minus
If you witness or experience bias, hate, harassment or discrimination as defined in the policy, you have several reporting options. It is your decision to participate in a criminal process, the University process, both or neither, if you report. Filing a report with the University may not obligate a reporter to open or participate in a formal investigation. Reporting to the University allows the University to provide any available interim protective measures, resources and support to students, faculty and staff.
Harassment, bias, hate or discrimination based on a protected class (i.e. those described in the non-discrimination statement) are prohibited by The University and are violations of policy. In an effort to support individuals as well as the campus community, the reporting options below will initiate a response process by the University. If you wish to speak with someone for confidential support, please contact on of the Confidential Resources.
Report to the University
The University provides individuals the ability to anonymously report incidents of bias, hate, discrimination and harassment.- Incident Reporting Form: https://scranton.i-sight.com/external-capture
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- Note: Reporting individuals may use this link to file reports anonymously. Reports made here are received by the Executive Director in the Office of Equity and Diversity. All anonymous reports will be reviewed and processed per the University's policy; however, anonymous reports may hamper the University’s ability to fully respond.
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Report to the PoliceIncidents of bias, hate, harassment and/or discrimination based on a protected class are not only University policy violations but may also involved crimes. You are encouraged, but not required, to report these crimes to the police.- University Police: 570-941-7777
- City of Scranton Police: 911 for an emergency, or 570-348-4134
The Office of Equity and Diversity570-941-6645The Office of Human Resources570-941-7767Dean of Students Office570-941-7680Online Anonymous ReportingThe University of Scranton Police Department570-941-7777Non-Discrimination/Anti-Harassment Quick Reference Posterplus or minus
Video Resources Explaining the NDAH Policy, Process and Reportingplus or minus
- Video: 2020 Changes to Policy and Reporting - Student Body President, Jeffrey Colucci, interviews Elizabeth Garcia, Executive Director of the Office of Equity & Diversity and Special Assistant to the President, on the newly revised and approved Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy.
- Video: Introduction to The Office of Equity and Diversity as a Resource - OED serves as the venue for reporting incidents of discrimination and harassment based upon the protected classes covered in the NDAH policy. Liz Garcia discusses training services offered by OED, how and why to report, the process for handling issues, and the safeguards put in place to prevent retaliation from reporting.
